“My thoughts exactly.” She placed two slices in the cooler to hold for the Yorks.

“Thanks, beautiful.” He blew her a kiss, then got to work on the order.

I’m the luckiest girl in the world. She and Andrew had known each other since grade school, but it wasn’t until high school when he’d landed a job bussing tables here at the cafe that the two of them had started dating. He loved to cook, and she loved to bake, so they spent nearly all of their extra time in the kitchen of the Main Street Cafe making up recipes and testing out ideas. They never tired of it, or each other.

The dinner crowd started to roll in, and the noise level grew exponentially. She pulled another order from the call window. With three plates balanced up each arm, she made it across the diner and dropped them off at table fourteen. “Can I get you anything else?” Everyone was already digging in, so she whisked back into the kitchen to pick up the next order.

Andrew tapped the bell at the window and shoved two more plates of the daily special under the heat lamp, giving her a wink before turning back to the cooktop. Kelly’s dad barked an order, and Andrew hopped to it without a single grumble. Andrew loved being in the kitchen as much as he loved her, and she loved watching him cook.

Kelly spotted the Yorks as they walked in. There was no mistaking Andrew’s father. Except for slight graying at the temples, father and son looked just alike. Tall, athletic, with wide lean-on-me shoulders, light brown hair and green eyes. His mom wore her signature cowboy boots, jeans and pearls with that ever-present smile and an air of kindness you could sense a mile away.

“Good evening. How are y’all doing tonight?” They weren’t big talkers most of the time.

Mr. York gave her a nod.

Mrs. York said, “It’s so good to see you. We’re doing great.”

“Follow me. I’ll get you seated.” She grabbed two menus as she passed the register.

“Thank you, Kelly,” Mrs. York said with a smile.

“I might recommend the savory fried pork tenderloin,” she said as she seated them in a booth. The pork tenderloin wasn’t only the special on tonight’s menu, but it was one of her favorites of Andrew’s recipes. When Andrew’s dad tasted that, he’d have to finally admit his boy really did have a future as a chef, something he hadn’t been supportive of.

“Works for me,” Mr. York said.

Andrew’s mom scoured the menu, which was funny because she always ordered whatever her husband was having. “Let’s keep it simple. I’ll have the same.”

“Great. I’ll be right back with your sweet teas.” She walked over to the kitchen window and waved toward Andrew. “This is your parents’ order.”