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window and considered his question.  Naturally, there was nothing she'd like more than to continue staying home with her children.  But just because she'd apparently won an argument for once, didn't mean she believed for a second that he was going to straighten up.  Or that he ever would, if she was being honest with herself.
    "We’ll see," she'd finally answered, deciding to simply not address the matter just then.
    Chugging her travel mug of coffee, Mary Jane soon turned onto Main Street where the diner was situated.  When she swung into a parking spot, she saw no other vehicles around.
    Except for an idling police cruiser.
    It was far too early for anyone to be downtown yet, and because they were already so familiar with Mary Jane, the management had provided her with keys.  She'd been hired to be the opener for the restaurant.  So there were also no other employees present.  Just that lone police cruiser.
    Too tired to be angry, or any emotion really, Mary Jane stepped out of the truck and trudged to the cruiser.  She bent slightly to peer into the passenger side window and confirmed that it was Dominique sitting there in the shadows.  He rolled the window down and gave her one of his almost indiscernible smiles.
    "What are you doing?" she asked.  There was nothing angry in her tone.  Only tired.
    "I asked Doris what hours you'd be working," he commented simply.
    She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Wow, stalker much?" she said smartly.
    He smirked.  "Oh please.  I'm just making sure you get in the door safely, Mary Jane.  I'm a public servant, if you recall."
    She couldn't help but smirk back, though she still wasn't ready to show him a smile.  "Yes, because this town is just so dangerous."
    Something dark passed across his eyes and he was back to frowning.  "It's not as safe as you think, Mary Jane," he said softly.  Then he nodded toward the door.  "Go on in, and lock it back up behind you while you get ready to open."
    She gave him a salute.  "Yes, officer.  Will do, thank you."

Chapter 6
    M ary Jane whisked through her busy morning in the diner.  Nothing much had changed.  All the procedures remained the same, so she required no training.  All the same customers flowed in and out, and they were abundantly happy to see her.  Even the old grouchy men revealed how they'd missed her over the years.  She hardly had a free second to think about any of her personal problems and she quite enjoyed herself, and the stack of cash accumulating in her apron pocket.  She thought of little else beyond what she was doing, except that the sound of Dominique saying her name played in the background of her imagination as she worked.
    It surprised her that he never came in throughout the morning.  But at noon, an hour before she got off, Zander did enter the diner.  She thought he was just there to give her keys to the van, but instead, he took a seat in one of the booths.
    She walked curtly up to him holding out her hand.  "Hey, it’s the middle of lunch rush, so…"
    He seemed to be oblivious to how busy she was.  "So, I got a new job already!" he exclaimed smiling broadly at her.
    She tried not to let her frustration show as she watched three of her tables fill up out of the corner of her eye.  "That's great, Z, we'll talk about it when I get off."  She wiggled her fingers, inviting him once again, to hand over the keys.
    "I'm gonna have lunch, can I have a menu?"
    Mary Jane stifled a groan.  "OK, hang on a sec; let me get my new customers first, alright?"
    "Sure," he said good naturedly.
    She buzzed around delivering menus to the new customers and grabbing drink orders.  She also refilled coffees as she made her way through the dining room.
    "Thank you, Missy," said one of the old farmers who regularly drank coffee in the diner.  He patted her hand as she poured.
    "HEY!  KEEP YOUR FUCKING HANDS OF MY WIFE!" Zander screamed, leaping out of his seat and rushing at the old man.
    The entire jam