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Authors: Gloria Herrmann
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Five
Liam
Liam stretched leisurely in his bed, his naked chest warm under his thick comforter. He had overslept, but it felt great. Eyeing the digital alarm clock on the oak dresser across from his bed, he saw he hadn’t missed the chance to have breakfast with his brothers at their favorite morning haunt, Herrick’s Diner.
The little restaurant was one of the best places to eat in Birch Valley, and Patrick and Daniel went there almost every morning for coffee and breakfast. They also stopped in for lunch sometimes. Not that Liam could blame them; the coffee was terrific, the bacon was perfectly cooked, and they made some of the best pancakes in the county. When Liam had time off, he enjoyed catching up with his brothers at Herrick’s. The O’Brien siblings had grown up eating there as kids, and the owners were kind people and an important fixture in town. They had kept everything about their diner the same for generations, from the menu to the slightly uncomfortable booths. Above the door, an ancient bell hanging on a weathered string would chime as you entered, the smell of diner food would slam into your nose, causing your belly to tighten with hunger, your mouth would salivate, and neighbors would wave or nod as you walked past them to slide into one of the orange, vinyl booths. Liam hadn’t ever been to another restaurant that could cause so many bodily reactions to food or generate such a sense of community and belonging.
***
Rachel
The next morning, Rachel sat in the small dining section of the hotel. A side from one other guest skimming the morning paper, it was empty and quiet. Large windows let in the cold morning sun, and the sky was filled with thick, gray clouds. Rachel stirred her coffee as she looked through the glass, taking in the foreign landscape. She could now see mountains covered with snow, which had been shrouded by darkness the evening before.
She pulled herself out of the trance the stunning view seem to have put her in and began to review her directions to Birch Valley. She was anxious to get on the road and see her new home. Rachel downed her coffee and went to turn in her room key.
Pulling the dirty silver BMW out onto the busy street that would ultimately turn into the highway leading out of this lovely city, Rachel put on her internal game face as she drove away from Spokane.
A thick line of trees greeted her as she crested a small hill. The sun shimmered on their frosted tips, and the splendid view enchanted Rachel as she continued her drive. The vastness of the landscape seemed to encompass her, and as her car went down the hill, she was submerged in an evergreen wonder. Tall pine trees lined the highway, and the road seemed to tremor and crunch slightly under her car. Slowing down a bit, Rachel tightened her grip on the leather-bound steering wheel and refocused her attention on the road. She had never driven on snow, and the sudden awareness of her lack of experience frightened her.
Rachel mentally kicked herself for not having considered what driving conditions might be like here. As tiny white flecks splattered against her windshield, she said a silent prayer, worrying she may have made a terrible mistake.
After passing several small towns, Rachel found herself coasting downhill and applied the brake a little too hard. Fear flooded her veins as the BMW fishtailed, but she was able to regain control of it. A large wooden sign at the side of the road announced her arrival in Birch Valley.
The town was surrounded by small mountains frosted with snow, and large barns and farmhouses blanketed in white lined either side of the road as she continued driving on the single-lane highway. As she entered town, Rachel reduced her speed and tried to take in everything. She noticed only one traffic light, which remained green as she passed it. Storefronts lined the main street, and the shopkeepers who were outside shoveling snow waved as she drove by. The buildings
Liam
Liam stretched leisurely in his bed, his naked chest warm under his thick comforter. He had overslept, but it felt great. Eyeing the digital alarm clock on the oak dresser across from his bed, he saw he hadn’t missed the chance to have breakfast with his brothers at their favorite morning haunt, Herrick’s Diner.
The little restaurant was one of the best places to eat in Birch Valley, and Patrick and Daniel went there almost every morning for coffee and breakfast. They also stopped in for lunch sometimes. Not that Liam could blame them; the coffee was terrific, the bacon was perfectly cooked, and they made some of the best pancakes in the county. When Liam had time off, he enjoyed catching up with his brothers at Herrick’s. The O’Brien siblings had grown up eating there as kids, and the owners were kind people and an important fixture in town. They had kept everything about their diner the same for generations, from the menu to the slightly uncomfortable booths. Above the door, an ancient bell hanging on a weathered string would chime as you entered, the smell of diner food would slam into your nose, causing your belly to tighten with hunger, your mouth would salivate, and neighbors would wave or nod as you walked past them to slide into one of the orange, vinyl booths. Liam hadn’t ever been to another restaurant that could cause so many bodily reactions to food or generate such a sense of community and belonging.
***
Rachel
The next morning, Rachel sat in the small dining section of the hotel. A side from one other guest skimming the morning paper, it was empty and quiet. Large windows let in the cold morning sun, and the sky was filled with thick, gray clouds. Rachel stirred her coffee as she looked through the glass, taking in the foreign landscape. She could now see mountains covered with snow, which had been shrouded by darkness the evening before.
She pulled herself out of the trance the stunning view seem to have put her in and began to review her directions to Birch Valley. She was anxious to get on the road and see her new home. Rachel downed her coffee and went to turn in her room key.
Pulling the dirty silver BMW out onto the busy street that would ultimately turn into the highway leading out of this lovely city, Rachel put on her internal game face as she drove away from Spokane.
A thick line of trees greeted her as she crested a small hill. The sun shimmered on their frosted tips, and the splendid view enchanted Rachel as she continued her drive. The vastness of the landscape seemed to encompass her, and as her car went down the hill, she was submerged in an evergreen wonder. Tall pine trees lined the highway, and the road seemed to tremor and crunch slightly under her car. Slowing down a bit, Rachel tightened her grip on the leather-bound steering wheel and refocused her attention on the road. She had never driven on snow, and the sudden awareness of her lack of experience frightened her.
Rachel mentally kicked herself for not having considered what driving conditions might be like here. As tiny white flecks splattered against her windshield, she said a silent prayer, worrying she may have made a terrible mistake.
After passing several small towns, Rachel found herself coasting downhill and applied the brake a little too hard. Fear flooded her veins as the BMW fishtailed, but she was able to regain control of it. A large wooden sign at the side of the road announced her arrival in Birch Valley.
The town was surrounded by small mountains frosted with snow, and large barns and farmhouses blanketed in white lined either side of the road as she continued driving on the single-lane highway. As she entered town, Rachel reduced her speed and tried to take in everything. She noticed only one traffic light, which remained green as she passed it. Storefronts lined the main street, and the shopkeepers who were outside shoveling snow waved as she drove by. The buildings
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