Chapter Three-Breakfast at Purgatory
The Purgatory Bar & Grill
Alex crossed the lot, stomach grumbling at the smell of bacon and coffee. The sun was warm on her shoulders as the gravel crunched underfoot. The sky was clear, not a puff of a cloud. It was a balmy day.
The Purgatory Bar & Grill wasn’t much to look at: a worn diner with cracked leather booths and a dusty old jukebox. A phantom of stale smoke lingered, but it was tidy and clean inside. It felt a little like home, like your favorite bar or corner store.
A tall, broad, tan man with locks of curly black hair spilling out of his ball cap, in a grease-splattered apron, jeans and a T-shirt, glanced up from the griddle. His nod was barely perceptible. “Siddown,” he said, nodding at the mostly empty booths before turning back to flip something that hissed and sizzled, making her mouth water.
Alex slid into the booth and studied the menu: eggs, bacon, coffee. I wonder if the biscuits and gravy are any good. A woman waved from the big corner booth. “Hello, dear! Sleep well?”
The familiarity rankled. She caught herself mid-glare as she recognized the motel keeper from the night before. She composed her face into a purely social smile. “Just fine, thanks.” She returned to the menu.
“C’mon over and sit with me. Keep an old lady company.” Christ. Alex thought.
“Oh, I’m not much company…especially in the morning.”
“That’s alright, I can do the talking.” Josie picked up her coffee cup and made her way to Alex’s booth, sliding in across from her. “Small towns,” she muttered.
“Yes, dear, and lonely ones,” the lady murmured back sympathetically. “You don’t look like a desert rat. Certainly not a local–I know them all!” she said brightly.
“I’m…” Alex hesitated. “I’m from the desert, but across the state line. I took a drive last night to look at the stars. Had a truck light me up and lost the road. Must’ve gotten a bit turned around. Ended up here, too tired to–”
Bob interrupted, dropping the plates with practiced precision. Alex jumped, startled at his sudden appearance. The slow-moving man behind the counter had somehow reached her table without her seeing him cross the floor.
“Poached egg, fruit, biscuit and gravy.” He turned to Alex. “You?” Alex stared, uncomprehending.
“He wants your order, dear,” Josie prompted.
“Oh…uh…eggs and bacon, eggs over easy, fruit instead of hash browns, toast and coffee,” Bob grunted and retreated to the kitchen with the same slow, measured pace he had shown behind the counter.
“That’s a light order for you, Alex.”
Alex stared. How does she remember my name? Probably the only check-in last night, she thought. “That’s a pretty…” Alex hesitated again, the familiarity throwing her off, “… normal order, I think.”
In fact, she’d wanted hash browns and biscuits & gravy, but she knew she had a long drive ahead and was anxious to get started, and had decided against a heavy breakfast that would only make her sleepy. There was no cell service out here, and she was sure her mother would be worried by now.
Josie stared doubtfully over her cup. “Okay. So you slept well? No dreams…” She sipped her coffee. “That’s unusual.” Alex hadn’t dreamt. She also hadn’t mentioned it, but doubting herself, guessed maybe she had. This conversation, this place, was getting more unsettling by the moment. Josie dug into her breakfast, insisting that Alex try the biscuits and gravy.
“These are fantastic!” Alex exclaimed. “I’ll have to order them the next time I pass through.” Plates dropped in front of her, and she jumped again. Bob was there suddenly, with no warning. How does he do that? Alex felt mystified.
“Enjoy.” He shuffled off. Alex looked down at eggs, bacon, hash browns, biscuits & gravy, and tried to wave him back.
“Excuse me, sir? I ordered fruit and toast… not hash browns and biscuits & gravy.”
“Not what you wanted, though.” Bob kept walking.
“Don’t worry, dear,” the motel keeper reached across and patted her hand. “The coffee is strong.”
***
Three cups and a clean plate later, Alex couldn’t help but feel she was running late. She’d fallen into easy conversation with Josie, once Josie had reintroduced herself, about music, the stars, desertscapes, forests, and oceans. Despite her promise, Josie asked much more than she answered.
She did let on that Bob had lost his last short-order cook and server because they’d moved on, and was currently working the roadhouse alone, though Josie helped during rushes. “Pretty dead most times around these parts,” Josie drawled.
She asked about Alex’s people, and Alex talked a bit about her mother and her sister, her dog, who was the center of her world. As Alex mentioned her people, Josie looked very sad and twisted away, wiping tears.
She must’ve lost someone dear…no wonder she’s lonely, Alex thought, with growing sympathy. She stumbled for words to say, reached out to touch her hand, then pulled back, uncertain.
For a while, she tried to pry, but Josie wasn’t as forthcoming as she was deflective. Finally, they settled into a companionable silence. “Well, I’d better head out. Is there a gas station nearby? I should fill up… not sure how far out I drove last night.”
“Pretty far. The gas station is two blocks down on the right. Glad you fueled up…you’ll have a long drive.” Bob crossed the floor at a measured pace and dropped the check, gathering some dishes.
“Settle up with Josie.”
“Umm… okay.” Alex pulled out her wallet as Bob walked away. Josie shook her head.
“I’ve got you covered, kiddo. No need to check out either. It’s a long way back…best get on your way.” No arguing would change Josie’s mind, so Alex gave in, tossing the motel key on the table.
As Alex slid out of the booth and headed for the door, Josie called out, “See you in a bit.” Alex shook her head and headed for the car, feeling a little uneasy and more than a bit baffled.
Well, none of that was normal. Hopefully, the gas station would be a bit more straightforward.
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