The spicy aroma of sizzling eggs and newly brewed coffee was the first thing that hit my nostrils when we stepped into Galaxy Grill. We’d hiked from where I spotted the Bergers to my car. Their plan initially was to take a stroll to the diner after the draining exercise they just did, but I was worn out I looked like I would faint when we got to my car. I gave us a ride using their direction instead.

     Before we settled in my car, I lied that the passenger seat was messy, so it was best I tidied it up first. Fortunately, they believed me and when I stepped inside, I turned on the AC and downed my water till the bottle was dry. Now as I followed behind them into the interior, I couldn’t stop the saliva that rose to my throat.

     A number of strangers stared at us. Their faces were blank, it was difficult to tell what they were thinking. If I were eating at a local diner and a trio—an exhausted woman in a jogging suit who looked like she hadn’t eaten in a million years, and a couple in similar outfits holding arms suddenly entered, would I lift my head and look at them?

     Probably. I wouldn’t look at the lone woman. But the couple? Of course. They were head-turners. Immediately you laid eyes on them, you’d want to look. They had this glow radiating from them that mesmerized anyone to watch. If not, then glance at least. Maybe that was the blessing that accompanied newlyweds.

     The place was nearly full, but I spotted an empty booth. I was sure the Bergers also did because they suddenly increased their steps to take it. Two or three strangers still stared at us. I didn’t blame them.

     We walked past a long counter of stainless steel appliances gleaming in the overhead light. Uniformed women stood by the counter, dexterously flipping pancakes on griddles, scrambling eggs in cast-iron skillets, and brewing coffee.

     Clink, clink, clink ... everywhere as they cooked.

     We didn’t seem to stop. It felt as though we were sneaking past celebrants to take the first pew at a late wedding ceremony. We moved from one booth to the other, passing by diners who occasionally laughed, giggled, or murmured. Waitresses stood close by, scribbling something into a small notepad while others carried food on a plastic tray.

     When I thought I was about to fall, we reached our booth with vinyl upholstery. I was the first to sit, plop down actually and after I did, I watched the Bergers take their sweet time in sitting across from me, their eyes never leaving each other. They still held hands.

     Amy withdrew her slender arm and sighed, then leaned forward. “You look better now, Elodie. How’s your leg?”

     I had almost forgotten about it. I feigned a smile, shuffling my feet toward my seat. “It’s fine.”

     “You got lucky. Last time I hit my leg, I stayed at the hospital for three days.” She glanced at Alec. “Isn’t that right, honey?”

     Alec bobbed his head, stretched a hand toward her nape, and soothed it. “I was worried sick. When you were discharged, I was so glad.”

     She smiled wistfully at him, then faced me. “You should have that checked if you don’t want to end up with crutches.”

     “You better listen to her, Elodie,” Alec said.

     I giggled. “I will.”

     An eager waitress neared our booth, a notepad in one hand, a pen in the other. Her dark hair was rolled up into a bun, her uniform, pristine. The smile plastered on her face would make a customer come to this diner again.

     “Welcome to Galaxy Grills,” she said. “What are you guys having?”

     I let the Bergers go first, ordering waffles with syrup and butter, along with two mugs of tea. She scribbled so fast that she turned to me in a matter of seconds. I told her I’d have scrambled eggs with sausages and latte.

      She stuffed the pen into the notepad. “Comin’ right up,” she said and skittered away.

     Her enthusiasm was so perceptible I kept watching her as she hurried to the counter. Then I realized all the workers here had that same readiness to assist customers. No wonder the place was full when we arrived.

     “You lovin’ the place?” Alec asked.

     “Very much. The workers here don’t stop to amaze me,” I said and my mind raced to my assistant Shelby. When I first hired her, I didn’t think she was good enough for the job. Most of my past assistants were slobby. They never paid attention. If they did, I wouldn’t have caught them stealing from the security cameras.

     Shelby was different. Apart from her hard work, she was very nice to the customers. My website had many five-star ratings with good reviews and a couple of bad reviews from unsatisfied customers. I wouldn’t have gotten to where I was without Shelby.

     “This place is like that,” Amy said. “They’re always eager.”

     “It’s the best over here,” Alec added.

     “I see.”

     “My wife told me you own a boutique.”

     I gulped. She’d already told her husband about my boutique. What else did she tell him? “Yes.”

     “In New York, I guess,” he said.

     I almost forgot we’d met in the convenience store, and I told him a bit about myself. “Yes.”

     “So you’re a collector of clothes. No wonder. It reflects in your choice of outfits.” He ogled me, and I thought he was leering.

     I had no idea how my love for fashion could be seen in the joggers I wore when clearing it wasn’t even expensive or fashionable like the ones they were wearing. Amy had said she loved my outfits. Maybe I was hitting too hard with my clothes.

     Amy noticed he was just staring at me, but she said nothing. Weird. She wasn’t jealous, or she was and was just turning a blind eye.

     When I was a newlywed, I’d get annoyed if Tom talked to another woman, but it passed with time after we built a connection. I learned to trust him.

     I expected Amy to do something to get Alec off from straying, but she did nothing. I was impressed. She wasn’t the jealous type and it only meant one thing. She trusted her husband to be faithful.

     Alec didn’t strike me as someone who’d want to hook up with another woman or have an affair. He hadn’t flirted with me at the convenience store, and I didn’t think he’d try it on me. I was sure he knew I was married too or had an idea. At the convenience store, he’d been surprised when he saw me, but now he looked relaxed around me.

     He was still staring.

     I need to veer his attention off me since Amy won’t even do anything. “So...,” I said, clearing my throat, “where are you guys from?”

     “New Hampshire,” Amy replied, smiling.

     “I had a friend there. A very long time ago. I had been there once too, and I loved the place.”

     “Can’t agree more with you,” Amy said, reaching for Alec’s hand. She entangled hers with his. “That’s where we met.”

     Alec smiled at her. Nostalgia was a strong feeling. When you gave in, you found yourself wanting to go back into the past. A lot of poignant memories were buried at the place you met your current spouse. If your marriage was perfect like theirs, you’d want to tell others how you met and share the wonderful moment. But if your marriage was a disaster like mine, you wouldn’t want to remember, much less talk about it. Every single day, I wondered how my life would’ve been different if Tom and her Mom hadn’t come to my shop.
    
     I wouldn’t have to leave home and try to stay off the grid.

     When Amy started narrating how they met, it wasn’t a big surprise they wanted to share their moment with me. To be frank, I wasn’t interested. It was going to be perfect as usual. Most people didn’t meet their spouse as a bogeyman or woman.

     It was a chilly night in Littleton. Her car broke down on the highway. Luckily, Alec was driving by, saw the situation, decided to help and—

     And then the waitress arrived with our orders. I sighed. Perfect timing. They didn’t have to continue. I was starting to hate spending time with them. Since I met them, I had been telling lies, and I was sure I would tell more in the future. They only reminded me of how imperfect my marriage was, but I was still following them. Was I infatuated? I definitely was. That would explain why I always watched them.

     Somehow we managed to eat our food in silence. The only noise came from the other diners. Our booth suddenly turned into a cemetery in the middle of a clubhouse. I couldn’t be happier. I was first to finish, then Amy. Alec couldn’t empty the plate.

     As he sipped a glass of water, he asked, “Got any kids?”

     My eyes widened. Where did that come from?

     I was sure he noticed my shock. He added, “Amy told me you’ve been married for a long time, so I guessed perhaps...”

     “No kids at the moment. My husband travels a lot. And I’m always busy with the shop.” I wiped my hands across the floral napkin.

     Amy dapped her lips, then set the napkin aside. “Well,” she sighed, “I must say kids are great, but we can’t bear to have our space occupied by crawling and toddling beings at the moment. Isn’t that right, sweetie?”

     Alec glanced at her. “Yeah. I’d love to have kids someday but not now. My mother...” He sighed. “...doesn’t seem to understand the wait. She’s ol’ school. She views marriage as the only way of procreating.”

     I wondered why we were suddenly talking about children, but then I was worried about Amy. If Alec’s mother was pressuring them for her grandchild, how would she feel, especially when she wasn’t ready?

     Stella’s Botoxed face appeared in my mind, and then her voice echoed. It’s been two years already, Elodie. When am I meeting my grandson?

     My skin crawled just from remembering her voice. She didn’t want only a child. She wanted a male child. She was a pain in the neck. The more reason I wanted to divorce Tom and get rid of them.

     “Honey, I think I forgot the wallet in Elodie’s car.” Amy’s frantic voice brought me to the present.

     “Oh, really?” I said, my face lit up.

     Amy didn’t look like someone who’d forget things easily.

     “Yeah.” She groped her pockets. “It isn’t here.”

     “It’s fine. It’s probably in the back seat. Let me grab it for you.”

     I hadn’t lifted a leg when she held my hand. “No. Let me get it. You look tired.” I stared at her slender face which looked so innocent.

     “No, I will get it,” I said emphatically. I didn’t like people going through my things in my absence. There was my driver’s license, a picture of me and Tom, my calendar, the card of the therapist I saw months ago, and other stuff in the glove compartment. I’d hate it if she saw Tom’s face.

     “I insist, Elodie. Besides, you’re hurt. I’m sure your ankle still hurts.”

     I wasn’t convinced. Why was I suddenly being on my guard? Probably because I had lied to them about so many things, and it’d be embarrassing to be exposed by her.

     “Let her get it, Elodie. She’s right. Your leg’s hurt,” Alec chipped in.

     I reconsidered it. They sat in the back seat. I didn’t keep anything valuable there. She’d just grab the wallet and rejoin us. I suddenly wished I brought my purse. I’d have paid for our orders and case closed.

     “All right,” I said, reaching into my fanny pack. I brought out the key fob and handed it to her.

     “I’ll be right back.”

      “Sure,” we said in unison.

     I glanced back, moving my eyes from the fat man on the counter stool blocking my view to the athletic stature of Amy. She moved with the agility of a monkey. When she opened the door and stepped out, I couldn’t shake off the feeling I’d made a terrible mistake.