“Dianna, good luck.” That’s the last thing my father said before he got in the car that killed him. He had just dropped me off at my college after a wonderful Thanksgiving at home. My mom died during my birth. It was just the two of us. I waved goodbye to my father, then in high spirits, and went to my dorm room.
It was 10:38 when the police arrived on my welcome mat.
“Are you Dianna McKenna?” The rather pudgy one asked. I nodded stiffly.
“Miss McKenna,” said the taller one. “I’m afraid that your father has been in a terrible car accident.” I shook my head back and forth.
“That can’t be. I just saw him a couple hours ago.” I said.
He ignored me. “Unfortunately, the paramedics couldn’t resuscitate him.”
“What are you saying?” I asked. Pudgy answered.
“Miss McKenna, your father is dead.” His face showed real sadness about what he just said. The other guy was trying to keep it unemotional.
I
just stood there stunned.
* * *
Four days later, the funeral was held. I buried my father next to my mother. Peter Castro and his family stood next to me. He held my hand through the burial. My father hadn’t really any other family.] other than me, but he thought the Castors as extended family.
On the sixth day after my father entered the afterlife, the will was read. My father left the house to the Castros until I finished college. He left Peter his baseball cards and everything in the garage. Some of the other things were handed out to people he had met over the years. “Finally,” stated Mr. Krane, the lawyer, “I give all my money, $903.437.21, to my only daughter, Dianna.” My father ws a published author and his books sold amazingly. I was still amazed that we had that much.
After three months, I left. I used the money dad left and bought a one way ticket to Maine. I ended up in Blessings, Maine. It was a small town on the coast. It was chilly there the first few months I lived there. I bought winter coats and things to keep me warm since I had only decided at the train station where I was going. I rented a house on the coast and got a job at a local bar. The only things I brought with me from home were clothes, my father’s dedicated books to me, and a picture of my parents.
* * *
“Dianna, your order’s up.” Said Sonya, the cook. I was working my shift at McManus Bar.
I grabbed the two hamburgers and put them on my tray. “Here ya go fellas.” I handed Jim, the hardware store owner, and Tim, the fishing store owner, their food. “Need anything else?” they shook their heads and thanked me. It was close to 9 o’clock, and my shift ended at 1. McManus Bar wasn’t as filled as it was usually this time of night.
I gave the check to Tim and Jim and they tipped me handsomely so I gave them a big smile as they left.
“Dianna, love, could you assemble the silverware?” asked Mason, the owner. Mason was a mystery to me. He didn’t really hang out with any of the other men in town except Josh Collonna, the bartender here. I nodded to him and he set the napkins and silverware at the end of the bar. I was onto what felt like my millionth silverware set when a young man came and sat in my section. I glided over to where he sat and was still grinning when I said, “Hello, I’m Dianna, what can I get you?”
“A Budweiser.” He said. I nodded and went to the bar.
“Mason, Budweiser.” He grabbed one from the cooler and took off the cap for me. “Thank you.” He nodded.
“Here you go.” I gave the guy his beer. “Anything else?” He shook his head. I wandered away from him.
“Who’s the hunk?” asked Sonya. She was standing behind me. I glanced back at him. He wasn’t as sexy as Johnny Depp, but he had that ruggedly handsome thing going for him.
“You mean Mr. Personality?” I asked.
“He’s cute, honey. Did he ask you out yet?”
“Sonya, I do not know why you always assume that every guy I come in contact with is going to ask me out.” She always asked that question.
“You kidding me? You got that fire red hair with those curls and that curvy little body. Don’t even get me started on that face of yours with those emerald eyes and those full lips. Honey, where I’m from, your considered a rarity.” Sonya was from Brazil but was raised in Savannah. “So has he?”
“No.” I looked down. “It doesn’t matter anyways. I wouldn’t want to date him anyway.”
“Umm-hmm.” She said.
“What?” I asked and she just laughed.
“Your boyfriend’s looking at you.” She nodded in his direction. I turned around and he sure was.
“Probably wants something.” I muttered and she just laughed more. I hit her arm with my writing pad.I walked over to him. “You need anything else sir?” I asked.
“No, I think I’m good. Could I have the check?” He held out his hand.
I ripped it off my pad and gave it to him. He paid me quickly and left. I gaped at the door. “Did you see that Sonya?” She was already by my side.
“Umm-hmm, honey. How rude! He’ll be back tomorrow.” She walked away but I threw my notepad at her. My aim was so horrible I missed and hit Mason coming out from behind the bar. “Sorry,” I said. He made some manly grunting sound and handed it back to me.
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