Asking questions with her little frown

 "You gotta stay out of this," Boone wondered how many more times he was going to have this conversation with Maddie over Junie and her real Dad. "There will be a time, but it's not right now."

Junie was still not receptive to the family. She acted as if they were strangers. "Bringing in her real Dad won't help. She just needs time."

Maddie's frown was small, but it was there. He'd never had a riff like this with her. How could something like this drive them apart?

"I thought of all people, you would understand." Her words were bitter as if she was in no mood to wash dishes, so he took over.

"I do understand," he said, looking at her blankly. "We just don't want to make things worse."

He cleaned the kitchen while she plopped herself at the dining table in thought. "I don't know how to make it better."

"What? This with Junie or yourself?" He brought her big thermos cup of water to sip on. He could see she was forgetting to keep hydrated these days. They'd both decided to drink more water instead of caffeine. They both drank coffee and even tea, which kept them up at night when they should have been sleeping.

"I guess me," she shrugged. "I don't know what happened. When did Junie change? Why couldn't I have..you know, been the one to notice?"

"Well, don't let her change you. You are being a big sister. I know you are worried. You've worried over her more than she'll ever know." He told her.

"What are you trying to say?" She looked at him as if she were the one with the problem.

"Oh, Maddie," Boone smiled as he clasped her hand on the table. "I love you. I want you to know, you are a good person. You're great. You use your ingenuity. You're positive, and well, you always make my day better. Don't fuss over something you can't change."

Yeah, he was certain he'd said the wrong thing, but she smiled back as if he were the only cheerleader she would ever need.

Nico & Amy Interview

 

So what's it like working at a Coffee Shop?

NICO: It's all I got, man. (Nico shrugs, even lip-locked) I mean, I got a place to live, and I'm learning new skills, but it's crazy, man. (He shakes his head, and lets a smile slip) It's just (he's thinking with a sigh) I feel like the odd man out. (He looks away as if he can't explain it).

AMY: This is my first real job. (Her voice is a bit whiny as she hugs herself, practically scowling) I didn't really want to do it, but (She looks up to the ceiling, then to the camera with a dead serious stare) Everybody was making me feel bad that I wasn't, you know (she nods) help out while Junie was gone. (She reaches to rest the palm of her hand on her cheek while her elbow is a bit wobbly on her nervous knee, and she swings with her legs crossed.) I didn't really want to do it. (She sits up then as if she needs to clear the air.) I was pressured.

NICO: Oh, really, (Nico turns to look at her) weren't you happy getting all those tips on your first day?

AMY: Well, it was probably pity (She looks back at him as if he wouldn't really know). It's not happening as much these days. (she shrugs)

NICO: Yeah, you're not as nice as you were when you first started (he stares at her as if she's been taking a lot out on him). Look, I'm the head dishwasher, I clean tables, and I have to be the second guy on the grill, too. You won't even clean tables.

AMY: Nobody said I had to (She looks away as if it's not her job).

NICO: Look, I like it here, but..but when I have to work with people like her who won't do anything. (He gives her the eye).

AMY: It's my first job! (She yelps back at him.)

NICO: Thank God, she's only here on the weekends. (Nico smirks)

This is a tricky situation

 "We're going to make doughnuts?" CW cringed at the thought. Didn't they make enough money at the coffee shop on brownies and pie? He sighed as if he didn't get paid enough to do all this extra kitchen work. After all, he was just a fry cook on the griddle, making his way through breakfast. During the week, it wasn't that hard, but by the weekend, his shoes felt tight, and his lower back ached.

"I guess." Crysal shrugged back as if she'd had enough herself.

"It was your idea," he winced hard, wondering where her mind was lately. They couldn't afford to make those keto brownies she suggested. Sure, she made them at home on occasion, but there were so many eggs. Basically, eggs and sugar-free chocolate chips.

CW yawned with a sigh. It was warming up outside. He had better things to do than talk about new ideas to serve. No way could they compete with fast food, even if the going rate for their best burger ran a good fifteen bucks for a combo.

"What happened to your idea about a salad bar?" That was a bust. Wilted salad, basically. They did better with keeping lettuce in the fridge for a garden salad or the Cobb salad. Even so, another cost.

"Let's stick with the basics," he told her at their afternoon meeting in the back booth of the old place. "Folks come for coffee. They like breakfast even at lunch." He nodded. "And no way am I going to start liver and onions that just stinks the place up." Suddenly, he felt like the old timer. Thankfully, Nico was learning the basics, and they were getting used to the teamwork of cooking together on the weekends. But Nico was already off to do his own thing.

"Just forget the doughnuts," he shook his head, no. "We'll do the Reuben special the week of Saint Paddy's and move on."

Crystal sighed as if she was defeated, perhaps, but she OKed his idea. She'd finally gotten around to hiring some help for the weekends, and Millie's mom filled in during the week at breakfast. Chili came in to tend to tables at lunch. 

He knew all this would fall into Crystal's lap. After all, Millie was out after finding out she was pregnant all along. There didn't seem to be an end in sight. CW didn't really have a day off. It was supposed to be on Wednesdays, but it hadn't happened yet. When it came to small business, the cook had to make sure the equipment worked properly, which meant the refrigerator too. Still, everything he'd learned was from Crystal.

"Now we need to get down to the park for a walk." She prodded him along. Yes, life could make you old if you stayed in all the time.

Was it always in your plan to leave eventually

 Jude couldn't help but think, 'What about Connor?' in this whole Junie mess. It wasn't that she hated the girl who looked a lot like her [even if she couldn't see it]. It was the fact of not knowing what happened to Connor.

Still, Darry was beginning to grow on her. They seemed to be sticking together lately as if they might be a couple. And Jude felt awkward about this development. She sensed Darry felt it too. Especially, she found herself bumping into him when she knew all along she didn't need this closeness. It would only bring her grief.

There was loss, yet a gain. She disliked it when she found herself dreaming about Darry. Her Darry, not the Darry she hung out with. Not the guy she picked up from work. Of course, this was a delicate matter to keep from her mother as well. But Jude needed to know. Where in the hell was Connor?

"Connor!" 

Jude heard the echo from Junie's hospital room, and it made her skin crawl. Was Junie having nightmares about him? Jude found herself lurking in the hospital hallway. She didn't really want to make her presence known, especially, to Junie. She hated being alone like this. There was a fear that a nurse might come by and ask if she was waiting to see her sister.

Jude leaned against the wall, hugging herself, but a shiver shook through her, wondering what she was trying to prove, even being here. Of course, she came because of someone else.

Darry surprised Jude with a bubble tea. She took it, wanting to say thank you, but she couldn't. It was as if Junie might hear them.

"What's going on?"

"Oh, you know, " Jude's face tensed. "That Keegan guy is there. She keeps calling  him Connor."

Darry nodded as he sipped on his Earl Grey while he'd gotten her a lavender-flavored drink. It seemed he knew a lot of favorite things now. He knew she only ate chicken tenders or chicken nuggets, never burgers, and she was an onion rings girl.

She looked at him, thinking she couldn't give him up. Maybe it was best to stop thinking about Connor when she knew he was trouble. And she had to find a way so that her mother wouldn't think Darry was trouble, either.