She'd been pretty much able to not think about it until that night. Thursdays were always slower than usual, but that night it was abnormally slow. Ashley had heard something about the first baseball game of the season the night before, and she was pretty certain that that was where the crowds had disappeared. Her boss had let nearly all of the waitresses off that night after the rush hour traffic had left. However, Ashley stayed on for any stragglers who might wander by.
At 8 o'clock, a dusty pair walked in the door, snickering quietly at some private joke. Ashley immediately recognized the man whose arm was tossed around the young girl's shoulder. Her boss told her to go and give them a menu. Nervously, she picked up 2 menus, and walked to the table where they had sat down. Taylor watched her out of the corner of his eye as she approached, reciting his planned words in his head.
"Welcome to the Caboose," Ashley said. "I'll be your waitress for the evening. Just holler…I mean, get me if you need anything." She placed the menus on the table, and then turned to hightail it back to the kitchen.
"Ashley!" Taylor said, grabbing her arm and laughing. "What's the rush?"
She turned slowly and ducked her head sheepishly. "I'm just kind of…"
"Ashley, I'd like you to meet my daughter," he said. "This is Marie. Marie, this is my best friend from the good ol' days, Ashley."
"Hi!" the young, blond chirped. She extended her hand. Ashley shook it gingerly.
"Hi," she said.
"Ashley and I have known each other for - how many years? - 28?" Taylor asked. Ashley nodded, and Taylor went on. "We've known each other for 28 years. Of course, I haven't spoken to her in a long time, but I'd like to change that."
"Really?" Marie asked, interestedly. "You've known her longer than Mom?"
Taylor chuckled. "Way longer than your mom. She was in our wedding. She was my best girl."
Marie grinned. "I remember you! I've seen all of the wedding pictures! Wow, you looked so pretty then. I mean, you still do, but… You were gorgeous."
Ashley blushed and mumbled a, "Thank you."
"Ashley was the prettiest girl I knew for the longest time," Taylor said, winking. "Until I met your mother…and we had you."
Ashley smiled and tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. Taylor noticed her awkwardness and said, "I had lots of girlfriends, you know. I was a real lady's man."
Ashley shot him a look. "I believe 'Player' is the more accurate term."
"Oh, yeah right!" Taylor said. "Just because I flirted with lots of girls doesn't make me a player. It just seems that way because you were such a prude!"
"I wasn't prude!" Ashley exclaimed, a smile surfacing.
"You were so!" Taylor argued. "I still remember when you kneed Tim Johnson in the balls when he tried to hold your hand. Good lord, you didn't let any guy come within 10 yards of you!"
"I didn't mind you so much," Ashley sniffed. She glanced at Marie, who was watching on with a look of amusement on her face.
"That's just because you knew I was as harmless as a puppy!" Taylor laughed. "And we'd only been hanging around each other forever."
"Harmless!" Ashley scoffed. "You could really do some damage to a girl's heart!!"
Taylor saw the flicker in her eyes as she spouted off the accusation in the guise of a joke. "Well, Mrs. Heist," he said, in the same nonchalant - and yet pointed - tone, "I'm sure you've done your share of heartbreaking."
Ashley glanced at her shoes. "Not really," she mumbled. "Guys were never too interested in me, and I think the feeling is mutual."
"See?" Taylor said, looking at Marie. "Prude. She won't come near a guy."
Marie giggled. "I don't think you're so bad, Ashley," she said. "You're just choosy. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that."
"Exactly," Ashley said. "Thank you."
"Hey! You're supposed to be on my side!" Taylor said, poking Marie. He looked at Ashley mischievously. "Choosy, huh? Well then, Missy, what kind of guy are you looking for?"
"Tall, dark, handsome, and with an income that would put Bill Gates to shame," Ashley said. To herself she added, Or maybe just Taylor.
"Amen," Marie piped. "Hey, can we order? I'm starting to get hungry…"
"Sure," Ashley and Taylor said in unison. They looked at each other, smiles on their faces.
"Um, we'll have 2 cheeseburgers, an order of fries, and 2 Dr. Peppers," Taylor said.
"Coming right up," Ashley said, already moving away. Once in the safety of the kitchen, she allowed herself to wonder what Taylor was up to.
