Charlie’s Diner: A Novel

By Dennis F. Killeen

Charlie Winter was a grieving widower who mourned not only the loss of his wife but also the death of his young daughter a few years prior to his wife’s death. All of Charlie’s wealth could not make up for the pain he endured, and he envied happy families. His grief and envy were enough for him to seek ruining those families who were happy.
Although the Owen family struggled with ordinary household finances, they seemed to be a happy family. Paul felt he made sufficient money so that Ann could stay home and raise their two kids. Ann had a different opinion as she paid the bills. This typical family disagreement was challenging the portrayal of a happy family.
A chance lunch at Charlie’s favorite diner will alter the lives of the Owen family forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664151000

Dennis F. Killeen

After fifty plus years of designing and implementing computerized business and security systems, Dennis Killeen was in need of a new challenge. Having written business contracts, proposals, and documentation, in which there may have been some fiction, most led to qualified successes. Years of poetry and small articles in newspapers along the way still left a hole in the writing quest. Telling stories is a time-honored tradition and certainly among his family and friends. Dennis finally applied fingers to the keyboard to write stories for himself and share them with everyone.

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Copyright © 2021 by Dennis F. Killeen.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 01/12/2021

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter 1 Charlie and Flo

Chapter 2 Who Is Charlie?

Chapter 3 Charlie and Retribution

Chapter 4 Ann and Charlie Connect

Chapter 5 Flo Hassles Charlie

Chapter 6 Bonus Month and a Brown Dress

Chapter 7 Cemetery Confrontation

Chapter 8 Day 0 Cemetery Is a Bad Meeting Place

Chapter 9 Day 0 The Journey Has Started

Chapter 10 Day 0 + 1 A Funeral and Crime Scene

Chapter 11 Day 0 + 1 Ann Trades in the Car

Chapter 12 Day 0 + 1 Notify the Next of Kin

Chapter 13 Day 0 + 1 Ann Reaches Iowa

Chapter 14 Day 0 + 2 The Neighbors Come Clean

Chapter 15 Day 0 + 2 Steve Is Interviewed at the Shop

Chapter 16 Day 0 + 3 Molly Interviews Flo

Chapter 17 Day 0 + 3 The Owens’ Apartment

Chapter 18 Day 0 + 3 Ann Plans the Next Step

Chapter 19 Day 0 + 4 Owen-Winter Case Update

Chapter 20 Day 0 + 5 Probate Meeting

Chapter 21 Day 0 + 5 Ann Arrives in Omaha, NE

Chapter 22 Day 0 + 6 Renting Furniture and Finding a Job

Chapter 23 Day 0 + 7 Ann Moves into the Apartment

Chapter 24 Day 0 + 8 – Start Work and Counseling

Chapter 25 Day 0 + 10 Owen-Winter Case Update

Chapter 26 Two Years Later

Chapter 27 Flo Comes to Visit

Chapter 28 Ann Meets Flo

Chapter 29 Cold Case – Month after Flo Returns Home

Chapter 30 Tony Goes to the Hospital

Chapter 31 Tony’s Surgery Recovery

Chapter 32 End of Recovery and Betty Visits

Chapter 33 Last Day of Tony’s Recovery

Chapter 34 Ann Tells Tony about Paul

Chapter 35 Frank Tells Flo that Ann Is a POI

Chapter 36 Flo and Tony Set Up a Second Visit

Chapter 37 Ann and Frank Talk Friday Night

Chapter 38 Frank Talks to Betty Saturday Morning

Chapter 39 Ann and Tony Catch Up

Chapter 40 Epilogue

Preface

Thanks to the Chinese flu pandemic of 2020, this lifelong quest to complete a novel was achieved. Three months of languid living among the populous fear of contracting a deadly flu was rather weird. I was able to just write and not worry about deadlines, contracts, or even the flu. At my age, the flu was purported to be a death sentence, but alas, all is fine.

My uncle’s book, Recognition, published a few years before he died, lay on a desk across from me. It was my impetus to start and finish. The title comes from the last time I had lunch with him in a diner on the outskirts of Wildwood, NJ. I miss our conversations and his views on life’s travails and rewards.

To borrow a line from Bob Hope, thanks for the memories, Uncle Charlie. See you on the other side.

June 10, 2020

Chapter 1

CHARLIE AND FLO

Charlie was sitting at his favorite seat in the diner where he could watch the people pass by the window. He used to wonder who they were, what they did for a living, or if they were old-time residents or just passing through. After almost thirty years, some of the mystery has vanished. He now recognizes the guy from the hardware store, the woman from the post office, the tattooed guy from the beer distributor, and many others. He may not know their names, but their faces are all familiar. There are still those who are strangers, and some are regular faces without any links to the community, at least in Charlie’s mind.

Charlie has been coming to the diner for almost thirty years. He stops in each morning for breakfast before heading to his shop. His shop, which was once a four-hundred-square foot machine shop, is now fifteen thousand square feet and employs fifteen full-time machinists and a bookkeeper. His business has been good to him, and he has shared his good fortune with his employees.

Flo approached him for his order, carrying both a cup of coffee and a seltzer with a lime. She has been his waitress for the entire thirty years, give or take a few months. She knows he will ask for one or the other for lunch.

Well, you’re back. I guess there was not enough poison in the breakfast this morning, Flo said with a smile.

Cannot take me down with a little poison. I needed a break and decided to drive over and have some lunch. It is a nice sunny day, replied Charlie.

Needed a break? Come on, Charlie, you haven’t worked hard in years. Probably back in the office, counting your gold, Flo quipped.

You don’t think it is hard work counting all those coins? he shot back.

Well, what tickles your fancy for lunch? she asked. Soup and what else?

Charlie always had a cup of soup for lunch, along with a sandwich or a salad.

I’ll have the vegetable soup and the ham and swiss on rye, toasted, he said. How is your son?

He’s doing fine. He may be home for a visit in a few weeks, she answered.

That’s great, Charlie answered with sincere enthusiasm.

Flo turned and headed for the kitchen. She was mindful that Charlie would be eyeballing her from behind. He was always a flirt but never went over the line. He would also deny that he ogled her, but the other waitresses were all witnesses.

Charlie watched Flo as she walked away and always enjoyed the view. Flo has always been one to eyeball, for even after thirty years, Flo still looked good. She was the waitress who waited on him the first time he came to the diner.

That first meeting was an eventful day. Flo was puffy and had been apparently crying when she approached Charlie to seat him. He asked for a window seat, and she led him to a booth that faced Main Street, directly across from a bank. She blotted her nose, stuffed the tissue in her apron pocket, and asked him if wanted coffee. He said yes but asked no questions. A different waitress, Lisa, brought his coffee and said Flo would be back to take his order.

Flo was a very attractive blonde with legs of a dancer, muscular and toned. She had a curvy figure and appeared to be in her twenties.

When Flo returned to his booth, she asked Charlie in a shaky voice, What will you have today?

I will have the hash and eggs over easy and rye toast. Are you okay? asked Charlie.

Yes, I will be right back with your order, she said. She turned and headed toward the kitchen. Charlie had his first ogle view of Flo from behind.

Flo brought his breakfast and asked if he wanted more coffee. He replied yes, and she refilled his cup. Charlie ate his breakfast, read the paper, and watched the early-morning passersby. Charlie had finished his breakfast quite a bit ago and was anxious to get going. He flagged Lisa, the other waitress.

Can I help you? Lisa asked.

Yes. I would like my check so that I can go.

I’m sorry. Let me go see what happened to Flo. I will be right back.

Lisa returned with the check. She explained that Flo was having an unusually bad morning. Lisa relayed that Flo was a couple months pregnant and the father just walked out. She was concerned about her rent, among other things. She apologized. Charlie said he was sorry to hear about Flo.

Charlie’s check came to $6.90. He put a $10 dollar bill on the check. He then pulled a $50 dollar bill and wrote on the napkin, I hope this helps. Charlie got up and left the diner.

The following morning, Charlie showed up for breakfast, and Lisa showed him to the same booth as yesterday. She told Charlie that it was a very generous gesture he gave Flo yesterday. Lisa said Flo was mad at her for talking about her problems to a total stranger. She said Flo would be his waitress and asked if he wanted coffee.

Flo approached Charlie and asked, Why did you leave all that money yesterday? I cannot take it as it is too much.

Charlie replied, I will have the pancakes with a side of bacon and a glass of V8 juice. I do not know you, but you have a need, and I could help. No strings attached.

But …, she stammered.

My breakfast would be a nice thank-you, he interrupted her. Please keep it and let it drop.

Flo was flustered. She turned and headed to the kitchen. Ogle number 2.

When breakfast was over, Charlie left money for the bill and then started a tradition of always tipping Flo double the bill. This has continued for thirty years. If, by chance, he had a different waitress, he tipped them generously, but not like Flo.

Charlie and Flo came to see each other as friends. Their conversation could be fun, serious, flirtatious, and even risqué at times. But Charlie never pursued any relation with Flo outside of the diner. The only time Charlie and Flo met outside of the diner was during her son’s high school graduation. Flo had invited Charlie as she felt he was instrumental in Tony’s upbringing. Tony would often be in the diner before school started, and Charlie would ask the proverbial questions one would do of any kid growing up. Flo would use Charlie as a sounding board throughout the years in how to deal with Tony’s pubescent and teenage challenges.

Chapter 2

WHO IS CHARLIE?

Charlie kept to himself most of the time. Several years after Charlie started eating at the diner, Flo was surprised to learn that he had gotten married a couple of years earlier. Flo was annoyed that Charlie did not tell her when it happened and was somewhat pissed that he got married. Even though they had no relationship outside the diner, she was a bit jealous of whomever was his wife. She could not understand how he opted not to tell her something of that importance. Over the years, they talked about all kinds of things: Christmas, vacations, religion, baseball, football. She sought Charlie’s advice on buying a car, a condo, or even if she should date the guy who owned the bakery down the street.

Learning of Charlie’s marriage and, on top of that, that they were expecting a baby put a real damper on Flo’s attitude toward Charlie. The announcement of the baby was what exposed Charlie’s marriage. It took Charlie a while to understand why Flo had become standoffish. He could be a little dense. For the next twenty years, Flo and Charlie kept their conversations going, and over time, it relaxed into the old give and take.

It was a tragedy that befell Charlie that gave Flo the impetus to let things slide. Charlie’s daughter, Rose, and his niece, Katie, died in a car accident coming home from a high school event. The car they were riding in was T-boned by a Suburban SUV in an intersection. The driver of the car and the passenger seated behind the driver were seriously hurt but survived. The driver of the SUV died. The woman fell asleep at the wheel and went through the traffic light. Rose and Katie were only fourteen years old.

Three years later, Charlie’s wife succumbed to cancer. His wife, Tania, fought a good fight. Charlie went into a state of disbelief. Within four years, he lost his daughter and his wife. The only thing that kept him going was his business. His business was doing great, and now there was nobody to share it with. They had built a good life, a nice comfortable house, a vacation house in Florida, a boat on the lake, and college funded for his daughter. Charlie thought hard and long. He would sell the business, the house, and the boat and move to Florida. Hanging around the house was torturous. Too many memories.

Two people intervened to guide him through the grieving process: Steven, his number 2 man in the business, and Flo. They both suggested he take a year or so then decide on an action plan. Charlie took the suggestions, but not exactly in the same manner as his friends suggested. He took no action for a year, but he kept working. In that time, the business doubled again. At the end of the year, he sold the vacation home and the boat. Charlie, amid his misfortunes, became wealthier than ever. But he was sad on the inside. It felt like an empty success.

Charlie’s business started as a small machine shop making parts as a subcontractor for the navy. He got the contract as the contracting purchasing agent was billeted with Charlie during his two years in Alaska with the Army’s 101st Airborne. The work was steady, and after a few years, Charlie had to hire two people to manage the orders. Six years into the navy contract, Charlie responded to an Air Force Request for Proposal to make parts for aging aircraft. To his surprise, he was awarded the contract, and he has held onto both contracts for twenty plus years. His business expanded to making parts for heavy equipment manufacturers and Amtrak. None of the private industry contracts were long term, but they were very profitable. Charlie’s business was secure, and he was rewarded with good fortunes.

Usually in March and July, Charlie handed out bonuses to all employees. He thought if he gave them the bonuses at Christmas, they would overextend themselves with unnecessary gifts and waste the money. He figured they could use the money in March to pay the bills they generated at Christmas and, in July, use it to take a vacation. He did the same for himself. He knew he was susceptible to the same habits as the employees.

Chapter 3

CHARLIE AND RETRIBUTION

When his family died, Charlie withdrew and became bitter toward families that looked happy and content. He fought the demons but found himself stalking young families at fast-food joints, playgrounds, and movies. Every time he saw them enjoying themselves, he sunk further into the abyss of envy and hatred. The only thing that kept him on an even keel was work and his conversations with Flo.

Today, Charlie was observing a young family of four in a booth across the diner. The children seemed happy and were engaged in what appeared to be coloring books. The mother answered their questions with a smile and encouragement. The father seemed more inclined to ask them to be quiet and behave when they got too excited. The parents seemed stoic and said little to each other. Charlie had never seen them in the diner before, or least he had not noticed them. He was curious about them, similar to when he stares out the window at a passerby on Main Street. Did she work? What was his occupation? The husband, presumedly, had a ruddy complexion as though he worked outdoors. The wife was attractive in a girl-next-door sort of way. The children were maybe four to six years old, definitely not school age. He caught himself staring at them and felt weird, but he had made them a target.

The family was getting ready to leave as they started putting coats on the children. Charlie had finished lunch. He left money for the check and the customary tip for Flo. He pulled out his money clip and counted out a thousand dollars in hundreds. He was timing his exit so that he would leave the diner on their heels. He paced himself so that he could determine which vehicle they were heading toward. It looks like the Ford pickup truck. As the family got closer to the truck, Charlie picked up his pace.

Excuse me, he said to the wife. "I could not help but