His heart thudded into his ribs when he spied her where he hadn’t expected. He thought she’d be in the bathroom, where he wanted her. But there she stood at the counter near the back wall.

William skidded to a halt, sliding sideways, to plonk himself into a chair at an empty table. Head still down, he picked up and opened a menu, which he held above his face to gather his thoughts. With the slowest of movements he lowered it to peep over the top. Orelia pointed into a cabinet filled with colorful cakes and cookies.

Oh damn it to hell, she hadn’t come inside for the bathroom; she was ordering dessert. Now he needed to decide whether to stay and risk being seen or turn and flee back to his vantage spot. He hated the thought because it had taken him all morning to build the courage to act the minute he saw an opportunity. The problem he now had was he wasn’t sure how much longer his bravado would last.

Her voice and a tinkling laughter drifted over to him, but the distance prevented him from overhearing the conversation. Easy for her to nod and smile when she controlled everything. If the wait staff knew what became of those poor souls who received money from her—like Jan, it’s not a woman’s name—they wouldn’t be quite so friendly.

The server leaned down to the sweets cabinet and pulled out a large chocolate torte. She nodded, and he turned away, probably to cut her a slice. William prepared himself to get up and get out the door. But luck was on his side today.

Orelia didn’t walk his way, but instead disappeared behind a wall back of the counter. Yes, yes, yes! She had to be heading to the bathroom.

Just thinking the thought sent William’s bladder a message that he too needed to visit the men’s. No time for that; he’d just have to wear the ache a few minutes longer. He’d come so far, he had to keep going.

A final glance around the room to confirm he hadn’t attracted any patron’s attention, and he was on his feet and in moments at the wall behind the counter.

He snuck his head around the corner and saw an empty—oh mercy—hallway, only wide enough for one person. Milk crates lay stacked against one side and on the other barrels of flour. Beyond them above two doors, hung the men’s and lady’s bathroom signs; cartoon pictures of a cow and a bull. Cute and stupid.

As he navigated around the obstacles, he continued assuring himself he could do this, even though he felt at the pace his heart beat it had other ideas. His imagination wasn’t helping either. He saw his body lying prone in the hallway as Orelia exited the bathroom, shaking her wet hands and stepping over him with an amused expression.

Five steps was all it took to bring him facing the door to the lady’s bathroom; the male’s lay to the right.