My Husband Pretended to Love Me novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: Room Above the Diner

Tamara's POV

The key from the envelope fit a door at the top of a narrow staircase behind a diner on Sheridan Road.

I got there at one in the morning, still in the blue dress, with my hair wet and my feet bare because I had kicked off the heels somewhere on the highway.

The room had a single bed made up with clean sheets, a hot plate, and a window that looked out on a parking lot.

I lay down on top of the quilt and cried until I fell asleep.

Someone knocked at seven.

I opened the door and found a short woman with silver curls and reading glasses on a beaded chain, holding a mug in each hand.

"Morning," she said. "I'm Dolly. I'd say welcome, but I'm trying to work out how you got up here."

My stomach dropped.

"I have a key."

"I know you do, honey. I've checked the lease book twice." She held out one of the mugs. "Tamara Kerr, signed six months ago, in my handwriting, rent paid through March. I don't remember a word of it."

"I'm sorry. I can leave."

"Did I say I wanted you to leave?"

She walked in, set the mug on the hot plate, and looked at my dress with a very straight face.

"Whatever happened to you," she said, "you're not walking into the world today looking like a bridesmaid who lost a bet. Can you carry a tray?"

"I waited tables for six years."

"Then you start at eight."

I drank the coffee.

It had one sugar in it, by accident, and I almost cried again.

Dolly lent me a cardigan, a pair of black work shoes two sizes too big, and an apron that said Dolly's on the pocket.

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