The sound of the door opening and traffic outside caught Gabby's attention. She turned, and saw a woman, visibly pregnant, come into the diner. This woman had been doing her fair share of crying recently; the two black eyes and the bloodied nose indicated why. The woman looked outside, back at what must be her car. Gabby wasn't psychic, but she was absolutely certain that the woman was questioning her decision.
She waved the woman over. "Have a seat at a table, honey."
The woman sat down, and Gabby joined her. "I haven't been exactly where you're coming from," she said, "but I know the neighborhood pretty well. I just recently got out of one of my own."
She looked sheepishly at Gabby. "Do you... do you think I'm doing the right thing?"
"Absolutely. The right thing for you, and the right thing for your little one. I grew up in a house where my father treated my mother like that; if she'd gotten out when the getting was good, she'd be able to tell you herself it was a good idea." She pointed to her own black eye. "When my ex started, I didn't need to read the tea leaves to know what was coming next."
The woman put a hand on her belly. "I'm so afraid... of doing this without a man... "
"For right now, concentrate on doing it without the wrong man. Later, when you're ready, you can look for the right one; even if you don't find him, you'll still be raising your baby to know what love looks like, and what it doesn't look like."
"Where do I go from here?"
"Do you have a family of your own?"
She nodded.
"You're one up on me. Go to them; tell them your situation. They'll help you out. If they don't, try your friends. And whatever happens, you'll know that you and your baby will be okay."
"You... you really think so?"
"I know so."
Mike showed up, and handed the woman a menu. Then, he silently signaled for Gabby to go with him.
Once they were out of the woman's earshot, Mike said, "You handled that pretty well."
"I just told her what I wish someone had told Mama."
"Well, that's what I meant about our customers before. We give them what they need. Usually, all that means is some food and a cup of coffee; sometimes, it means getting them on the right path, or telling them they're already on it. And sometimes, it means giving them a job at the Quantum Diner."
"A job? You-you mean I'm hired?"
"Why don't you look up that job listing?"
She did; or, at least, she tried to. "It's gone!"
"Then I guess you're hired."
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