She’d been in such a rush this morning, she hadn’t bothered to bring anything for lunch, so she called over to Ruby’s Diner and placed an order. She hadn’t eaten dinner last night, only that gingerbread cookie at Beth’s and half a slice of pecan pie, and she was famished. Glancing at the clock, Lauren hurried to the front of the store, placed her OUT TO LUNCH sign in the window, exited through the front door, and raced down King Street, covering the two blocks to Ruby’s in record time. The midmorning air cut right through the heavy wool sweater she wore. As she picked up her pace, she felt silly for not taking an extra minute to put on her jacket. The sharp icy air stung her cheeks, and the gusty wind sent her long, blond hair dancing around her shoulders. She managed to gather a handful, smoothing it down as she stepped inside Ruby’s. Lauren smelled the famous yeast rolls and smiled. She’d ordered the lunch special, no clue what Tuesday’s was, but she knew that whatever it was, it would include those soft, buttery yeast rolls that practically melted in her mouth. She found a seat at the counter while she waited for her order.

“I thought you wanted this to go,” Ruby called out from the kitchen. At almost noon, the place was practically empty, but Lauren knew that in ten minutes, the place would be packed with diners from many of the local businesses.

“I’ll eat it here today,” she said, suddenly changing her mind. She hadn’t had a single customer all morning, and she needed a change of scenery.

“Gotcha,” Ruby called to her. “Two minutes.”

“No hurry,” she replied.

Ruby came bursting out through the kitchen’s double doors, a plate in each hand. She placed them on the counter. “Tuesday’s special. You let me know what you think,” Ruby said before returning to her kitchen.

Macaroni and cheese, with chunks of ham, a large portion of green beans, a freshly made salad, and, of course, three yeast rolls. Lauren wouldn’t be able to zip her jeans if she ate all the food, but she was hungry and was going to give it her best.

Each bite tasted divine, and each warm, buttered roll practically slid down her throat. Eating at Ruby’s was heavenly. It was a good thing she didn’t eat here often or she’d be in big trouble. A couple of times a week was more than enough. “Ruby, you’re the best. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted mac and cheese like yours.”