Chapter 6 - The Diner That Changed Everything
Three months later, Gabriel walked into Benny’s without security clearing the room first.
Leo nearly had a heart attack.
“You cannot keep doing this.”
Gabriel slid into his usual booth.
“I have six men outside.”
“That isn’t the point.”
“It’s exactly the point.”
Benny approached.
“Coffee?”
“Yes.”
“Food?”
Gabriel looked toward the kitchen.
“Where’s Norah?”
Benny smiled.
“Hospital.”
Gabriel stood.
“What happened?”
“Relax.”
Benny laughed.
“She passed.”
Gabriel stared.
“Passed what?”
“Her nursing exam.”
Gabriel slowly sat.
Benny placed coffee before him.
“She got hired at St. Matthew’s.”
Leo smiled.
“Good for her.”
Gabriel said nothing.
Benny leaned closer.
“You could look happier.”
“I am happy.”
“You look miserable.”
Gabriel glared at him.
Benny walked away.
Leo sat opposite Gabriel.
“You miss her.”
“No.”
“You’ve driven here four times this week.”
“The food is acceptable.”
“You order toast.”
Gabriel looked toward the window.
Leo smiled.
“This is painful to watch.”
The bell above the entrance rang.
Gabriel turned.
Norah walked inside wearing navy-blue scrubs beneath a winter coat.
She stopped when she saw him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Eating.”
She looked at his table.
“You have coffee.”
“I was about to eat.”
“Toast?”
Gabriel frowned.
Norah sat opposite him.
“I heard about Victor.”
“He’ll spend a long time answering federal questions.”
“You gave evidence to prosecutors?”
“Yes.”
She looked surprised.
Gabriel shrugged.
“You told me fear only keeps people quiet.”
“And?”
“I needed people talking.”
Norah smiled.
“So you listened to me.”
“Once.”
“Dangerous habit.”
Gabriel studied her scrubs.
“You passed.”
“I did.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
A pause settled between them.
Then Gabriel slid an envelope across the table.
Norah stared at it.
“What is that?”
“Open it.”
“If it’s money—”
“It isn’t.”
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a lease.
Norah read the first page.
Then the second.
She looked up.
“Gabriel.”
“I bought the building.”
“Why?”
“Benny’s landlord planned to sell.”
“And?”
“And Benny couldn’t afford the increase.”
Norah looked through the papers.
The lease guaranteed Benny’s diner could remain open at the same rent.
For twenty years.
“You did this for Benny?”
Gabriel looked uncomfortable.
“My mother liked places like this.”
Norah smiled.
“You’re getting soft.”
“Tell anyone and I’ll deny it.”
She noticed another document.
“What’s this?”
“A scholarship.”
Her expression immediately changed.
“No.”
“It isn’t for you.”
Norah stopped.
Gabriel continued.
“It’s for nursing students from the Narrows.”
She stared at him.
“Rosa Hayes Memorial Scholarship.”
Gabriel looked toward the kitchen.
“She helped you.”
“Yes.”
“She helped me.”
Norah looked down at the document.
“So we help someone else.”
Her eyes softened.
“That’s a good idea.”
Gabriel nodded.
“I occasionally have those.”
Norah laughed.
Then Benny appeared carrying a bowl.
Gabriel smelled it.
Thyme.
Garlic.
Cinnamon.
His expression changed.
“Who made that?”
Benny pointed.
“She did.”
Gabriel looked at Norah.
“You came here to cook?”
“No.”
She pushed the bowl toward him.
May you like
“I came here because apparently someone still needs supervision.”
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