The Owl & Moon Cafe: A Novel (No Series) by Jo-Ann Mapson Read Free Book Online Page A

brings you all the way from the land of plaid and haggis to Pacific Grove? You’re from Scotland, right?”
    He folded his paper napkin, set it alongside his plate, and smiled a toothy grin. “I’ve never heard my homeland referred to in quite that way. How novel.” He turned on the stool to watch Mariah take her first order of the day. “So what’s the poor girl been weeping over? Jilted by a callous lover?”
    Well, fine, then don’t flirt with me, Allegra thought. There are plenty of other fish in the sea. “Oh, she lost a job,” Allegra said. “But the way she’s carrying on, you’d think her whole life had come to an end.”
    He looked up at Allegra. “Single?”
    “As a matter of fact, I am, and I’m free tonight.”
    “Actually,” he said, “I was inquiring about your daughter.”
    “Oh. She’s unhitched, and a single mother, to boot.”
    He frowned. “What exactly does ‘to boot’ mean? I’m attempting to master your vernacular, but in Scotland, a ‘boot’ is the luggage compartment in the rear of an automobile.”
    Allegra cleared a customer’s plate and folded the newspaper he’d left behind. She walked over to the magazine basket near the door and popped it inside, at the same time reaching down into Khan’s bed to give him a pet. “A bonus. Something you don’t have to pay for.”
    “If she has a child, then that makes you a granny, doesn’t it?”
    Well, wasn’t this turning out to be quite the happy morning! Allegra tapped the counter with her order pad. “Watch it, buddy. You’re treading on thin ice.”
    He smiled. “There you go again. The odd phrase. Although this one makes sense in metaphoric context.”
    “You’re a smart one, aren’t you? And by that I mean ‘intelligent.’ ”
    “Thank you,” he said. “And I mean that from my heart. May I bother you for more hot water?”
    “It’s no bother.” She moved away from the counter, trying to get used to the idea that the man was more interested in Mariah than he was in her. Maybe she did look sick. Maybe she should use blusher. Burt’s Bees made natural makeup. God knows what went into the stuff they sold in department stores. Whale fat, probably, and did anyone ask the whales’ permission?
    “Alice!” Gammy called out. “Phone for you.”
    Allegra took the receiver. “Hello?”
    “Am I speaking to Mrs. Alice Moon?”
    Allegra sighed. “It’s Allegra Moon, and not Mrs. Who’s calling, please?”
    “This is Dr. Goodnough’s office. We’ve had a cancellation and can work you in this afternoon.”
    “Dr. Good who?”
    “Goodnough. Dr. Alvin Goodnough. The hematologist your emergency room physician referred you to? You made an appointment to see him next week?”
    “Oh,” Allegra said, twining the phone cord around her hand. “Today’s not really convenient for me. Actually, I’m feeling so much better, let’s cancel the original appointment, too. Thanks for—”
    The woman on the other end didn’t let her finish. “Ms. Moon, Dr. Goodnough reviewed the test results the hospital faxed us. He told me to stress that it’s imperative that he see you today, not a month from now.”
    Allegra’s heart took a leap. She pressed a hand to her chest. “Why? What does he think is wrong?”
    “I’m sorry, I’m not allowed to discuss your test results. The doctor will go over them with you.”
    “That’s crazy,” Allegra said. “It’s my body. Why can’t I have my test results?”
    “You can. I’ll make a copy for you when you come to the office.”
    “Oh, for crying out loud, fine. What time? I work until three.”
    “Four o’clock.”
    “What’s your address?”
    She scribbled it on the back of the order pad, and then hung up the phone, trembling with fear. Yesterday, while she lay on the gurney feeling stupid—because by the time they’d gotten to the hospital she felt absolutely fine—she’d observed the medical world. Overworked nurses cleaning up kid barf. Mangled teenagers