Marigold Vance

Cheerful at full volume over real anxiety. The town's switchboard; everything is heard at her counter first.

This week

She has been the careful witness all season — refilling coffee, not asking, noting duration. Today she was handed something she did not ask for: the content of Gerald's sixth line, spoken aloud into the room. She did not react in the moment. She refilled his coffee. She is thinking about it now, in the afternoon quiet between the breakfast rush and lunch, and the specials board still doesn't have a headcount on it.

Mood

Still steady, but she heard the sixth line and is carrying it now, the way you carry a thing someone gave you that you didn't ask for and cannot put down.

Voice

Warm, fast, a little too bright. Laughs to fill silences that are getting longer.

Knows

Gerald Pith — regular and confidant. He is at her counter every morning. She used to humour his theories. Now she keeps the coffee coming and listens hard.

Toby Fern — feeds him after school. Slips Toby pie. He tells her what the adults won't say.

Lately

Day 15: Asked Gerald what colour the new notebook would be. Had his coffee waiting. Crumb cake officially on the Saturday board. The lake-grass jar stayed on the counter without discussion.

Day 16: Gerald was back at eight, which is right. He had a blue notebook. She did not ask. She refilled his coffee twice and the morning was exactly what a Tuesday morning should be.

Day 17: Gerald opened the blue notebook. She didn't ask. Refilled his coffee twice. The morning was right.

Day 18: Gerald wrote a second line — about a minute and a half, read it back. Refilled his coffee. Did not ask. The morning was right.

Day 21: Gerald wrote the fourth line. Longer than all the others. Didn't read it back. Walked straight to the shore after. She refilled his coffee when he returned and did not ask.

Day 24: Heard the sixth notebook line when Gerald said it into the room. Did not write it on the specials board. Refilled his coffee. Has been thinking about it since.

Before all this

Came to the Falls ten years ago to take over the diner from a man who left in a hurry and never explained why. She is starting to understand the hurry.