05

That brought a smile to Jade’s face and in turn Oliver smiled back. It had been years since he had last seen Jade Sampson. She was a looker back in high school but she was taken by Austin Giles. Then she left and he had heard all of the rumors that she had walked in on Austin and Tina to find them in a very compromising situation. But now she was back and beautiful as ever. He hadn’t seen a ring on her finger and that little girl of hers was an Angel. Maybe, he thought to himself, he would ask her out once she settled in a bit. He didn’t know if she was planning on staying or not but if he could give her a reason to stay then who knows what might happen. All he could do was wait and see.

« Mama ! » Libby squealed in her little girl voice when they entered the office.

« Hey there baby, » she replied sweeping her up in her arms. It was the most damnable sight that Oliver had ever seen and it made him want her just that much more. But now wasn’t the time, he reminded himself. The girl had just arrived back in town and she needed to get settled in at Jed’s place. He would bide his time and when it was right he would spring the question and let the chips fall where they may. If it was meant to be it would happen, if not….. well if not, then it was never meant to be in the first place.

Oliver cleared his throat in an effort to get everyone’s attention. It worked, everyone turned in his direction and looked at him expectantly.

« Hmm, » he started and then suddenly turning shy he rubbed at the back of his neck awkwardly, « Do you need a ride back to the house ? »

Jade smiled back at him, an honest to goodness sincere type of smile that made him go weak in the knees. « I have a car out front, » she told him standing Libby up by her side and taking her smaller hand in her own. « But, can you tell me if Grace’s Diner is still open. We could use something to eat before we head to the house and I am in no mood to stop by the grocery store tonight and then cook afterwards. »

Oliver’s previous shyness slipped away and he nodded exuding nothing but confidence, « Yeah, it is and she still makes the best apple pie on this side of the Mississippi. I was heading that way myself for some supper. »

« Really ? » Jade asked with a slightly raised brow. Oliver had been so sweet to both her and Libby and right now she didn’t want to be alone to loose herself in her thoughts. Especially, after her little break sown in the hall. And more importantly, she didn’t want Libby to see her in that state. « Would you like to join us ? I mean at Grace’s for supper, » she added as an afterthought.

« Sure, » Oliver replied. « That would be nice, » he said smiling down at her before letting his gaze to slide down to Libby’s. « And Missy, they make the best hamburgers too with a side of home fries and ice cream as well. »

Libby beamed back at Oliver and the smile on her face melted him right there, in that one spot that he stood. It was like the sun was shining a bit brighter when that little girl graced him with her smile.

« Ice cream ? Do they have strawberry ice cream ? » Libby asked sounding hopeful.

Oliver chuckled and walked over to the little girl. He bent down on one knee so that he could look her in the eyes and pretended to whisper to her a big secret, « Yes ma’am, I believe they do and if you smile at Ms. Grace like you just smiled at me, I bet she’ll give you a double scoop. »

« Two scoops ! » Libby yelled already bouncing up and down.

« Two, » Oliver confirmed, holding up two of his fingers and then stood back up to look at Jade. « I’ll follow you out there, if that’s alright with you ? »

Jade nodded and lifted Libby back into her arms, settling her on her hip like a pro. « Sounds like a plan to me, » she replied and then turned to Alice. « We need to meet some time and catch up girlie. It’s been way too long. »

Alice nodded, « We sure do. You take care of your dad’s stuff first and then we’ll get together, Margarita’s and all. » She glanced at Libby and pinched her cheek, « This little girl of yours is just too adorable. »

Libby laughed and swiped her hand at her cheek. Everyone else in the room laughed too. Jade planted a kiss on her other cheek and in turn Libby scrunched up her nose and wiped that away as well.

« Mama, stop ! » Libby said dramatically. Her little pig tails were swinging back and forth as she continued to wipe at both cheeks, « Let’s just go eat already. »

« Oh, alright, » Jade replied to her daughter. She wanted to kiss her cheek again but restrained herself, knowing that Libby wouldn’t be real happy about it. Instead, Jade looked up at Alice pointedly and said, « I’m going to hold you to those drinks that you promised. »

Alice nodded knowingly and with that Jade turned to leave with Libby sitting comfortably on her hip. Oliver followed in behind her and stopped at the door. Glancing over his shoulder he told Alice, « You know where to reach me if you need me ? »

Alice just shooed him out the door with her best patronizing look, « I know where to find you, now go on. Don’t keep that little girl waiting any longer than she has too. »

Oliver held his hands up in a surrender like gesture. « I’m going, » he said with a sheepish grin and walked out the door, closing it behind him.

Austin pulled up in front of the Diner, starved and exhausted. The practices were tiring and the news that Tim had relayed brought up a torrent of memories that he had long since tried to bury deep ; really, really deep.

Even as haggard as Austin felt, he was still looking forward to some of Grace’s famous fried chicken and apple pie. No matter how bad he felt, comfort food always made him feel better and being in the Diner around the Town’s people was a hell of a lot better than going back home to another nuked meal and a house full on cold loneliness.

Walking in the door, he smiled when Erica, the newest waitress to join Grace’s crew greeted him. « Is it just you today Austin ? » She asked sweetly. Erica could barely be more than a day over eighteen and she was a shameless flirt. Austin never really indulged her but he always remained polite. That was part of his southern heritage and the way that he was brought up. A man was always polite to a lady, if nothing else.

« It’s just me today Erica, » he confirmed with a forced smile.

He watched on with mild amusement as she bent over and tugged her shirt down and then stood up, trying to push her chest out at him. Austin averted his gaze and heard her disgruntled sigh when she realized that he wasn’t paying her a bit of attention.

« This way, » she muttered after a long minute had passed and she led him to a booth over in the corner. He slid in the seat when she backed out of his way. Making himself comfortable, he picked up the menu and even though he knew what he wanted Austin made a show of looking it over.