Miller's Redemption

MILLERS REDEMPTION

PREAMBLE RAMBLE: Of all the stories I've written Miller's Trauma had the most comments and calls for a continuation. So I decided to give it a go. I've changed some things from the original story. Millers parents are very much alive. Jill received a two year sentence despite Millers request for leniency. It made this story better.

For those who like to be critical of our stories. Many, if not most of us, are not professional writers. We're like those guys who play basketball in recreational leagues at the Y, or club games of football in Europe. We will never play in the NBA or the Premier League. Like them, playing for the love of the game, we write for the same reason. It's not always pretty, but damn it, we are having fun. Good-natured ribbing or helpful tips are one thing. Out-and-out hurtful comments are another. Especially from the sideline when that person isn't playing the same game. So remember when reading these stories, it's not written by Steven King, Cormac McCarthy, or Joseph Heller. It's written by some guy or lady who works at the local Acme, or is an accountant, or like me, someone who can't work because of an illness, and does this so I won't go stir crazy sitting in the house all day.

No editor, I used a new writing program and Grammarly the free version because a brother is still broke. So any mistakes are still mine.

Even though this could go into several categories I kept it in Loving Wives with the original story..

Let's find out How Miller is doing.

I Hope you like the story.

****************************************************************

THE END OF MILLER'S TRAUMA.

Can I say my life is better. I'm a single father with a 7 year old daughter who loves me to pieces. I have a thriving business that takes up to much of my time. I'm physically stronger than ever. Mentally, everyday takes me further away from that awful Saturday that changed all our lives. I just tucked in my daughter, I'm going to bed because I have tomorrow to look forward too.

THREE YEARS LATER:

Miller was trying to get Heather up and out for school. Mrs. Jerkins, the nanny, was even running late today. He hoped the rest of the day would get better. "Heather, hurry up, you're making me late!" He yelled up the stairs. They had been in this house for just under two years.

"You're the boss, you can afford to be late," Heather yelled back down the stairs. Making Miller roll his eyes.

After the day he had been assaulted, both Heather and he had trouble sleeping there. He had been taking Heather to a therapist as well as going himself. The first six months were the hardest. He had to be strong for Heather, no matter how weak he felt. His wife's lover had brutally beaten him in his own home. What made it worse was that Heather witnessed the whole thing. Then she ran off with Heather for several days, delaying the needed medical treatment Heather required when she was pushed against the dresser, hitting her head. Heather had suffered a concussion and luckily had no lasting effects. She had been very clingy for months afterwards. She would jump at noises, sit with all the lights on, even during the day, and worst of all, wake up in the middle of the night screaming for him. Many a night he slept at the foot of her bed.

The therapist, Dr. Nichols, suggested he buy a dog and take karate classes. Not just any karate but Goju-Ryu style. She said it might give him peace of mind. After the third class, he figured out it wasn't about fighting or even defending yourself. It was about building self-confidence. Heather asked to take classes after hanging out, waiting for him. She took to it like a fish to water. He eventually stopped going, but Heather loved it. She was even doing tournaments now. She was fearless on the mat. Now she had her Orange belt and was getting ready to take her test for Blue belt.

The dog was a completely different matter. She said it would give Heather something to focus on besides him. They went to the SPCA and found a mutt. It looked like a beagle and husky mix. She named him Pappy. When asked why she named him Pappy, Heather said it's because he looks old. Thankfully, Pappy was already house-trained. When he became accustomed to the house, he made a habit of walking around like he was checking things and then sleeping at the foot of Heather's bed. If you saw Heather you could bet Pappy was close by.

He didn't get back to work for four months. Thank God for Ed, He kept the business running until he could get back on his feet. He gave him 15% of the business. They now had three food trucks working all over the area, one in Greenville and two in Charlotte. The question always was is why he didn't open a brick-and-mortar. One answer, flexibility. He could post on Instagram if he is closed for the day, or move trucks around. The only

concession he made was having a catering kitchen. Business had grown so much that it was needed. It made things a lot more convenient. Carolina Delights now had over 14 full-time and 8 part-time employees. Three managers are running the trucks, as well as a catering director. Ed Hogan was the President of Operations.

"Here I come, Dad, sorry I'm late. Pappy hid my sneaker." She said, running down the stairs, followed closely by her shadow, Pappy.

"Okay, Honey, you want to drive today?"

"Yeah, right, you'll let Pappy drive before you'll let me." She laughed

After dropping her off at school, he headed towards the kitchen, which also held the offices. The trucks were being loaded and prepared for the day. The two Carolina Delight trucks and Ed's Egg Rolls in Paradise. They were 60/40 partners since Miller had bankrolled it. Ed would eventually have 80% in two more years.

Chennell wouldn't be in the office for another hour. He went out and talked to the crews that were loading up and getting ready to head out for the day. It was the one thing he missed about growing the business, being on the trucks. He was a cook, not a chef, and not a desk jockey. He never went to culinary school; he just loved cooking. During college, he set up a pop-up stand before they became popular. He sold the kind of food he liked to eat and at good prices. Two years later, he had a truck and quit college. Now his main responsibility was to make sure the bills were paid, find events to appear at around the region. He would do supply runs during the week and prep cooking for the next day. Monday and Thursday's were egg rolling days when it would be him and two other people making several hundred egg rolls.

Touching base with Ed and going over what was planned for the week. Besides the trucks, they were working at the Spring Festival in the city. The Polish Day parade in Dallas, plus a wedding in Huntersville. Pretty much a regular week. They talked about getting another truck just to do events on the weekends. Ed's truck was growing in popularity.

It was a normal week. Heather was spending the week at her grandparents on her mother's side. Even after everything that happened, Miller never denied them access to their only Granddaughter. Doris and George were good people. He understood them standing by their daughter, his ex-wife, but they were disgusted by what happened. She spent a weekend once a month with them. Also, a weekend with his parents. They split the summer up with 2 weeks each. He had to talk to both of them because he was afraid Heather was going to become spoiled. There are only so many amusement parks around the country. They have taken her to Disney Land and Disney World, Cedar Point, Dollywood, Knott's Berry Farm, and several Great Adventure Parks. Who takes a kid to Sandusky, Ohio? It helped Miller as the summer was his busiest time.

The only thing Miller was missing was a companion. In those three years since that day, as he referred to it in his head, he's had no sexual urges at all. Friends had introduced him to nice ladies, and even customers approached him for dates. He was always able to politely decline without hurting their feelings. He had talked to Dr. Nichols about that. She had been telling him to take it slow, but three years was long enough. He needed to start living a full life. He needed something besides taking care of Heather and work.

By the time Chennell came in, he decided to work a truck. They went over the week. Talked about any fees that needed to be paid for events and other financial matters. Chennell has been with him for a little more than two years. He found he needed someone with a little more business proficiency than he had. Chennell had worked for a small law firm but needed something with more flexibility. As long as the job got done, he didn't care how many hours she worked. He knew she took work home with her and was okay with that.

He drove out to the truck that was parked on Reese Blvd in Huntersville in an industrial complex. It was only 20 minutes away from the kitchen. Pulling up, he greeted Dillon, letting him know he was working today. Most of the crew was okay with it since he would pop up now and then. He tried not to get in the way. Crews who worked together developed a rhythm that was needed in such a small space, especially when it was busy. Service was smooth as usual. They came out to Huntersville once a week. They had an unwritten agreement with other trucks, so each had a different day. Less competition the more money they each made.

They were getting ready to close when a pretty lady ran up to the truck asking if she could order something. Miller was at the window and asked what she wanted. It was only a sandwich, so Miller made it for her as the crew started the clean-up and break down.

"Here you go, Miss, a Delight Special, specially made just for you," he said with a smile.

"Oh, I bet you say that to all the customers." She responded with a smile.

"No, not all, only the pretty ones who came at the last minute." The crew looked up at him since what he just said was so out of character. Even Miller was shocked he said it.

"Oh, you think I'm pretty, do you? Or is it because you want a big tip?" Looking at Miller coyly.

Realizing he had dug himself a hole, he said, "No tip needed because I'm not charging you, it's on the house."

"Wow, a compliment and no charge. Next, you'll be asking me out on a date." Leaving it as an invitation to do just that.

The truck got quiet. Everyone was waiting to see how Miller would respond. As the meme goes, "This is when Miller knew he fucked up".

"Go ahead and ask her out, Boss," Kera said, standing next to him.

Looking at Kera with an undistinguished look, "Well, my mother told me never to ask a stranger out. I'm Miller, and you are?" Miller could feel the sweat running down his back from nervousness.

"I'm Eva Miller, nice to meet you."

"Well, Eva, it would be my honor to take you to dinner this Friday at one of the finest establishments in the city."

"It would be my pleasure to go to dinner with you, Miller."

Miller was surprised she said yes. Suddenly, Kera piped up, "Give her your number, Miller. Do I have to do everything?" Miller hastily reached into his wallet and gave her his business card.

As she was looking at the card, Miller asked, "What kind of food do you like?"

"I'm a Midwest girl, so I like all kinds. I'm easy to please,' She realized what she said and blushed.' I'm running late, Miller. I'll give you a call tonight, okay?"

"I'll be waiting." He said to her as she left.

"Way to go, Miller, you smooth devil you!" Kera said as she hugged him. Dillon and Andre came up and gave him handshakes like he just hit the game-winning basket.

"Where are you going to take her?" Kera asked

"I think Culinary Dropout is good," Dillon suggested

"How about STIR or Supperland? They are both good." Andre added, who hardly ever spoke.

"If it was me, I would want to go to either Spice or Roosters. Maybe Angeline's. You can't go wrong with any of those." Kera said

"Jeez, I just asked her out. Let's see if she calls me, then I'll decide, okay?" Miller responded with a smile. "Great job today, guys. I appreciate working with you." He gave Dillon and Andre and handshake and got another hug from Kera.

Driving back to the kitchen, he thought about what he just did: he asked a total stranger out on a date. "What the hell was I thinking. She's not going to call anyway, so why worry about it? She was just flirting for a free sandwich. She might not be interested in me," he realized he was talking to himself. He thought if she calls, she calls. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Walking into the office, he was greeted by Chennell. "Well, hello, Casanova. We're picking up customers now, is that what we're doing?" Miller was caught short.

"What the heck, how did you hear about that already?" Miller asked in confusion.

"It's in the group chat that's how. I have to say when you break out of a slump, you don't go halfway, do ya?" Chennell said, laughing.

"It's only a date, and she has to call me. So we'll see what happens."

"Well, good luck, Miller, you deserve it." Of course, she knew what happened at the end of his marriage and was truly hoping for the best.

"Thanks, Nellie, I'm heading home."

On the way home, he stopped and picked up some food at Taco's Dona. While there, he talked to the owner. Ernesto. They had known each other for years. They had even partnered at some events.

Getting home, he was greeted by Mrs. Jerkins as she was leaving since she had seen him pulling up.

Heather ran into the living room and grabbed the bags from him, taking them to the dining room table.

"So who is this lady you're taking out this weekend, huh?" Heather asked as she stuffed a bit of Lengua Taco into her mouth.

"Excuse me?"

"You got a date this Friday, right? Who is she? You got any green sauce?" Miller didn't know if he was more surprised that she knew he had a date or how lackadaisical she was acting about it.

"Um, its in the other bag. Yes, I have a date, it's no big deal. I met her at the truck." Trying to downplay the date.

"It is Dad, and I'm happy for you. Did you get Cabeza?"

"Other bag, Ms. Piggy." Pappy was dancing around the table, waiting for scraps that weren't going to come. Miller reached into the last bag, pulling out a container. Opening it he set it down on the floor so Pappy could get the cabeza, lengua, and tripe inside.

Heather cleaned the table. They both walked the dog, and Heather went to her room, and Miller sat in the living room watching Wheel of Fortune. Halfway through the show, his phone rang. He didn't recognize the number but answered it anyway.

"Hello"

"Hi, is this Miller?" He immediately knew it was Eva.

"Yes, it is. How was the rest of your day?"

"It was good. Not as good as that delicious sandwich. Did you make it specially for me?" He could hear her smile through the phone.

"I'm glad you could tell. I made it especially for you."

"You are a smooth talker, Miller. Do I need a chaperone for this date?

"No, I'll be a perfect gentleman, Scout's honor."

"Oh, you were a Boy Scout?"

"No, I only made it to Cub Scouts before I quit. So Cub Scouts honor than."

"Okay, I'll take it. Do you always pick up women coming to the truck?" She asked inquisitively.

"You're the first. My crew was just as surprised as I was that I did something like that."

"WOW, I feel special."

They continued to talk for the next hour. They agreed to meet at Spice at 630.

**************************************

The rest of the week was pretty normal, except for being asked by everyone about his date. Kera couldn't keep the smile off his face since he picked Spice to take Eva too.

He called his ex-in-laws about dropping Heather off on Friday. "Is everything okay, Miller? You never bring her early." Doris asked in shock.

"No mom, I um have a date Friday is all." Why was he nervous to tell her about the date he didn't know?

"Oh, a date, okay, sure you can bring her over Friday after school." Miller could tell something was wrong, but he didn't ask.

Friday finally came. Everyone had been giving him advice about the date all week. Even Ed offered his opinion.

Heather was especially excited to go to her Grandparents as well as her fathers date. She said they had a surprise for her.

Miller went to drop off Heather and say hello to Doris and George. He took Heather to the door to say hi to George and Doris. George greeted him as usual, but for some reason, Doris seemed what could only be described as guarded. He wasn't there long, but had a funny feeling about the interaction.

Getting to the restaurant a little early, as was his habit, he waited for a couple of minutes. He went inside, not seeing Eva, and he told the hostess he was waiting for someone. Being late was a pet peeve of his. Jill was either late or making him late. He always preached to his employees that being 10 minutes early is on time, being on time is late, and being late is unacceptable.

Eva came in 10 minutes after Miller arrived. "I'm sorry I'm late. My sister and sister in law stopped by and I couldn't get them to leave. I had to answer a thousand questions about you and the date."

"No worries, I've been getting the inquisition myself at work all week. I think I have to give a full report on Monday," he said, laughing. Taking a good look at Eva, he decided he could overlook her lateness. She was 5 feet and around 7 inches tall, slim without being skinny. Long flowing blond hair and piercing blue eyes, her Nordic heritage shining through. She was wearing a nice pink sundress with short heels. They made her legs look great. Miller had decided on khakis and a collared shirt with a blue blazer.

Once they were seated, she ordered a sweet tea, and so did he. He was pleased she wasn't a drinker. "So really, Miller, why did you ask me out? Was it a lost bet or something?" She asked, starting off the conversation.

"Lost bet? No, honestly, I didn't plan on doing that. It just kind of happened. Are you regretting your decision already?"

"No, no, it's just that no one has ever asked me out like that before. My sister freaked out when she found I was going out with a total stranger." Just then, the waitress came to the table. They decided to share truffle fries, bang bang shrimp, edamame, and Korean wings.

Getting back to the topic at hand, "You're telling me men don't fall at your feet to ask you out? I find that hard to believe."

"Nope, I'm as surprised as you that it doesn't happen more often,' she broke out with a hardy laugh. 'My sister and sister in law have been trying to fix me up. Usually, guys from my brother-in-law's job. So far, no connection."

"I'm in the same situation. Friends and employees are always trying to introduce me to someone."

"So how can a handsome, successful businessman still be single. Why is that?"

"I got divorced a few years ago and have been focusing on raising my daughter and running the business. They take up a lot of my time." Hoping she wouldn't delve deeper for the full story.

He was saved by the waitress bringing out the food. They started picking out what they wanted, making small plates of each item.

"I can't place your accent, Eva. I know it's not southern."

"I'm originally from Minnesota. The big city of Elbow Lake, population 3500. I've been here for eight months."

"That's a big change. What made you come here?' He was very interested in this story. 'Not running from the law, are you?"

"Let's just say, don't post any pictures of me online. My sister moved here 4 years ago and got married to the nicest guy you've ever met. Her husband Ramon works for a construction company, and my brother moved and got a job working with him. I call his company a cult. They all party together and somehow seemed to be married to each other's cousin, sister, brother, or something. He met a beautiful woman and got married last year. I came out to help with the baby and ended up staying. I love it out here. It's like a big city with a small-town feel, if you know what I mean."

"Yes, I do. Sometimes it seems like everyone knows each other." Suddenly, they were interrupted by the chef.

"Miller, long time no see, brother!" The chef came up, patting Miller on the back.

Miller jumped out of his seat. "Javier, Amigo mío, qué bueno verte. ¿Cómo has estado? (My friend, it's so good to see you. How have you been?)

"Soy bueno y tu" (I'm good and you?)

"I'm doing good also. Let me introduce you to my date,' turning back towards Eva, 'Eva, this is Javier, Javier, Eva."

Looking at Eva with approval, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Eva. What is a pretty lady like you doing with a scoundrel like him?"

"I have a weakness for scoundrels, plus he makes a pretty good sandwich." Eva and Javier both laughed.

"I can tell already she's too good for you mi amigo.' Turning back to Eva, 'If you need to escape, blink twice."

"I can hear you two, you know that, don't you?" Miller said

Eva asked, "So how do you two know each other?"

"Miller hired me when I got out of high school and taught me almost everything I know. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be the best dishwasher in the city."

"Now cut that out, Javey, he was nominated for a James Beard Award for best new chef in the state two years ago. He was cooking better than me in the kitchen, so I had to fire him."

"Wow, Javier, I'm impressed. The food is delicious. Almost as good as the sandwich Miller made me."

"I can imagine he makes a mean sandwich. I can guess he made it special for you, huh?"

"Okay, okay, you two. Next date we're going to McDonald's."

"Hey, Brooke and Hector work here now," Javier informed him.

"You have to tell them I said Hi," Miller said with some pride that his former employees were doing well.

They chatted some more, then Javier went back to the kitchen.

"So, how many people do you know?" Eva inquired

"Well, I've been in business for a while. Employees grow and move out or up. I'm proud that many of them have stayed in the business and are doing well. Most of the restaurants in the area have or had former employees. One or two have opened their places." Eva could see the pride in his statement. Miller went up a couple of notches in her book.

The rest of the night went very well. Conversation seemed to flow easily for both of them. They agreed to a date next Saturday. She said it would be her treat. When they were ready to leave, they found the check had been taken care of. He walked her to her car and parted with a hug.

He checked his phone on the way home. The group chat was full of talk about how his date went. He was happy that many people seemed to hope that everything went well.

***************************************************

Saturday, he had planned on taking the rare Saturday off. He called Heather to touch base. As usual, she was having fun. Then he did some yard work. He always wanted to have flowers in the front yard to give it a more lived-in look. He had people who normally cut the grass. For lunch, he went to Tino's on Union. They had the best buffalo chicken wraps in the city. Well, almost as good as his. Tino was there, so they talked about the problems with the food business. The usual finding is qualified responsible help and increasing food costs. Tino was kind of off the beaten path, so he never had to worry about food trucks setting up near him. The rest of the day, he rested, catching up on Star Trek Strange New Worlds.

On Sunday, he slept in late, waking up at 8. Well late for him. He touched base with Ed, Dillon, Hakim, Elena, and Sylvia. The managers of the trucks and catering. They all wanted to know how the date went. Once he updated them on that, they finally got down to business. Once that was done, he went to finish streaming some shows he wanted to catch up on.

Around 1:30, he got a call from Heather. "Daddy, can you come pick me up, please?" He could tell she was upset.

"What's wrong, baby?"

"Dad, I need you to come get me now, please, Daddy. Can you come?"

"I'm on my way now honey, don't worry, I'll be right there!" As he grabbed his keys and ran out the door. The last time Heather sounded like this was when she had one of her nightmares. So many things were going through his head. Why was she so upset at her grandparents' house? His only thought would be that something happened to them, but Heather would say that. The normal 15-minute drive took 10. He pulled up to the house, and everything looked normal.

He jumped out of the car and ran to the door. He started banging on it, and George answered it. He looked upset and nervous. "Where is Heather? She called me upset. Where is she?"

"She's upstairs, Miller. I'll get her." Just then, Doris came into the living room. She looked more nervous than George did.

"What's going on, Doris? Why is Heather so upset?" Looking at Doris.

"It's not bad, Miller. I wanted to surprise her, and I didn't know she would react the way she did." Doris said sheepishly.

"How the hell can a surprise upset her like this! What are you not telling me?" Miller asked heatedly.

"I... We.... well, Jill had been asking to see her for a couple of months. We thought it would be good for Heather, also. But she started yelling and screaming when she saw her mother. She started crying and ran upstairs and locked the door. We have been trying to calm her down. That dog was going to bite Jill!"

Miller was livid. "You had Jill here and never told me about it! After all she put us through! You know she was in therapy for months. Waking up with nightmares because of what her mother did, and you have the nerve, the gall to bring her around. What were you thinking, Doris? Jesus Christ, Heather! Heather." He yelled up the stairs.

Heather, Pappy, and George came down the steps. Seeing her father, she ran to him and wouldn't let go of the hug. She was crying. Pappy was running around them, only knowing that his best friend was hurt, so he had to protect her. "I can't believe you would do something like this. I thought you cared about her."

"Of course, we do, Miller. But a girl needs a mother, and she is her mother. Jill needs to be in her life." Doris pleaded with him. George stood by his wife stoically, but said nothing.

"I'm not going to have this conversation in front of Heather. But we will be having it sooner than later." Taking the still-crying Heather and walking to the car.

Once they were inside the car and buckled, he backed out of the driveway. Driving home, his knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so hard. His jaw was starting to hurt from grinding his teeth. He looked over to his daughter, who now just sat quietly looking out the window. "I'm sorry that happened, Honey. I didn't know she was going to be there." Slowly rubbing her shoulder.

She didn't say anything for a long time. Not until they were pulling into the driveway. "I never want to see her again!" and ran into the house, followed by Pappy.

Miller sat in the car trying to control his anger under control. He had to be calm for Heather. After a couple of minutes, he gathered himself and went into the house. He found Heather in her room, lying on her bed with Pappy next to her. "I'm sorry that happened to you. If I knew they were going to do that, I wouldn't have let you go. If you don't want to see your mother again, you don't have to. I'll make sure it never happens."

"I'm sorry, Daddy, I didn't mean to mess up your weekend."

"Oh, baby, it's not your fault. I was missing Pappy anyway," he said jokingly.

"Pappy almost bit her. Even he knows she's evil."

"Honey, she's not evil. She made a lot of mistakes. She loves you no matter what happened between the two of us. I'm going to talk to Dr. Nichols about this. Maybe it is time you reconnected with your mom."

"I don't want to meet her. She hurt you, Daddy, I never want to see her ever again!" as she turned away from her father and hugged Pappy.

Miller decided not to push the issue. He would talk to Dr. Nichols about all this and would talk to Doris and George very soon.

They had a quiet dinner that Miller had cooked. Nothing fancy. Jerk Chicken with mango chutney and pickles.

Suddenly, "Oh my God, I forgot about your date. How did it go?" Heather asked

Glad for a change of subject. "It was good, she's a very nice lady. She's from Minnesota and has only been here six months."

"So are you going out again?" She asked, giving Pappy a bite of chicken.

"Jerk chicken makes Pappy poop, so be prepared to walk him tonight. Yes, we have a date this coming Saturday."

"Where are you taking her?"

"She said she would plan the date. So I don't know yet. She'll probably call this week."

They talked a little more and Heather cleaned up the table and walked Pappy twice before bed.

For the first time in almost 18 months, Heather woke up in the middle of the night. She was screaming, and Pappy was barking. Once he got her settled down, she and Pappy slept in his bed. He would call Dr. Nichols tomorrow. It had been more than a year since they had seen her.

Luckily, that was the only time Heather had a nightmare.

***********************************************

Monday, when he got to work, he felt like he was being interrogated by the FBI. They asked everything from how the dinner was to what he wore, how dinner was, and when the wedding was scheduled. When everything finally settled down, he went over the week with Ed. This week they had three festivals and two weddings. They had enough staff scheduled to handle the events. The more they talked, the more a fourth truck looked like a good idea. Ed had told him about an empty drug store that would make a great event hall to host small to medium-sized events. They made arrangements to go look at it on Wednesday.

While the trucks were out, Miller, along with Sylvia, tried some new recipes for the trucks and catering. She said things were getting busy and it was getting harder to staff events. She said, "I had to turn down 3 events because we were already booked. We could easily do two to three weddings or parties a weekend with the right staff."

"But can we keep those people on a part-time basis? I can't see hiring a bunch of people and them not staying." Miller said thoughtfully.

"I've been thinking about that. We can start marketing corporate catering during the week. Businesses already know us from the trucks. We advertise that we do corporate catering, and I can see us doing three to four a week. Starting it would be a loss leader, but we would make up for it on the weekends." She said with certainty.

Miller gave it a thought, "I like the way you're thinking, Sylvia. Let me give it some thought, and while I'm doing that, give me some type of workup about advertising, menu's and other costs." They also talked about the space Ed had mentioned. Sylvia said. "I know the place. It's on Garrison and York. I think it would be perfect, not only would we get south Greenville business, but also events out of Bowling Green and Clover." (Which are in South Carolina, just over the border) Miller could see the wheels turning in Sylvia's head over the idea.

"You're already decorating the place, aren't you?" Miller said with a laugh.

They spent the rest of the time working on recipes and talking about nothing in particular. During a break, he walked outside and called Dr. Nichols. She was with a patient, so he asked to be called back. He was worried this had set Heather back in her recovery.

Dr. Nichols called him back an hour later. "Miller, I wasn't expecting to hear from you. I would ask how you're doing, but since you're calling, I figure something bad has happened."

"Yes, it has, Doctor. I appreciate you calling me back. It's about Heather. She saw her mother and didn't react very well to it."

"Mmm, okay, tell me what happened."

He explained how she was ambushed at her grandparents' house and the phone call he received.

"I can understand how that would be upsetting to her. They had the right idea, but handled it all wrong. See how she does the rest of the week. If she has any issues, we'll schedule an appointment. Kids are very resilient and bounce back quickly. Keep an eye on any changes in her behavior. You know she's a good kid and very strong."

"Okay, Doc, I didn't want to panic. It's been months since she had that type of reaction. It really worried me."

"You did the right thing in calling me. Don't worry, but I think it might be a one-time event. Don't let her see you worried either. If anything changes, call me."

Luckily, Heather didn't have any more nightmares and seemed to get past that weekend. She helped out on a truck on Saturday. She loved working the trucks, and tips usually increased 30% when she did. He had been putting off talking to Doris and George. They hadn't called him, and he hadn't called them.

*****************************************************

Tuesday brought crazy good news for the company. The Food Network called him. They wanted them to appear on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives next month. They were doing a food truck special in the Charlotte area. Everyone was excited and wanted to be on the show. He didn't want to be the one to pick people because there would be hard feelings from those not picked. So they all would put their names in a bowl and have Chennell pick the names.

Once that had settled down, business continued to increase. He was still dating Eva once a week and talking two or three times. It had been a month he felt it was time for Eva and Heather to meet. Heather had been interested in his dates and asking about them and her more and more.

He planned a picnic at Rankin Lake Park. They were going to meet at 1 pm. He was nervous because he didn't know how Heather would respond to another woman in his life. Eva was already at the park waiting in the parking lot when they pulled up. She got out of the car and started walking towards them. Heather jumped out of the car and ran towards her, and gave her a big hug. Pappy followed close by barking and wagging his tail, trying to get in on the hug. Any worries he had were relieved at that moment.

They had a beautiful day. They ate and talked and walked around the park. Eva and Heather got along like they had known each other all their lives. It made Miller feel like a third wheel at times. When they parted, Heather gave Eva and big hug and made her promise to stay in touch. On the way home, Heather asked, "Is she going to be my new mom?" It wasn't a question Miller was expecting.

"Honey, we haven't been dating that long to talk about marriage," Miller responded, hoping that would settle the matter. He was wrong.

"But you like her, don't you? She's the only woman whom I have dated since your mom left."

"Yes, I do like her, but liking and loving someone are two different things, honey. You have to love someone to marry them."

Heather pondered that for a second. "I think you should marry her. I like her and she likes me. She said she always wanted to be a mother."

A surprised Miller asked, "When did you talk about that?"

"When we were playing on the swings. She said her brothers and sisters all have kids. She's the last one, and her parents are bugging her to settle down. Plus, I think she loves you."

"You're ten years old, what do you know about love? Better yet, don't answer that. It's too soon to talk about marriage. Give it some more time okay?"

"Okay, but you're not getting any younger, old man, and she's a hottie so don't mess this up."

"Sure thing, boss." As he smiled.

******************************************************

The next Wednesday, Ed, Sylvia, and he went to look at the building. The real estate agent met them there. As they looked over the building, they talked about renovation cost, zoning, and other matters. Miller was worried about having enough parking. The agent said the vacant lot next door is also for sale, but he wasn't handling that.

They all could see the potential in the building. It was in an undeserved area of the city, but near a major intersection. Ed said he would talk to a couple of contractors to get some pricing. Sylvia would handle things on her end as far as pricing whatever they needed outside of renovations. Miller told the agent he would get back to him in 2 weeks. Miller felt good about getting the building. Knowing he had an excellent team made life so much easier.

***************************************************

Later that week, he got a certified letter from a law firm. Wondering what it was about, he tore open the envelope. Jill was requesting weekly visitation for Heather. He almost ripped up the letter in anger. Going into his small office, he called his attorney, who handled his divorce. He quickly explained the letter and made an appointment for next week. He knew this was the last thing he wanted. After what happened, how would she think Heather wants to be around her? He would have to let his lawyer handle it. He wouldn't say anything to Heather until he had to.

During this time, his relationship with Eva had progressed to the point where she would come over to dinner or just hang out. Many times, he would come home and find her, Heather, and Pappy sitting watching TV, waiting for him to get home, or her helping his daughter with her homework. She had met his parents a few weeks previously. His mother thought very highly of her. He met her brother and sister and their spouses at a family barbecue. There must have been 30 people there. Most were from Ben's company. It was a nice time, except when three ladies pulled him to the side and questioned him on his intentions. Ben told him everyone goes through that and not to worry.

The physical part of their relationship was another issue altogether. They had only gotten to serious kissing, but nothing more. Miller knew it was his issue, and he needed to overcome it. He could tell she would be receptive, but he didn't know if he was ready.

One Friday, he came home to find Eva cooking dinner with Heather helping. Before dinner was served, his parents showed up. While they all talked, Heather ran upstairs and came back with a small bag she usually took when spending the night. Heather kissed her dad and Eva goodbye and dragged her grandparents out of the house with Pappy following close behind. He saw some type of interplay between Eva and Heather, but couldn't figure out what was going on.

They sat down to eat. She made Swedish meatballs over rice, Lefse, and corn on the cob with garlic butter. It wasn't gourmet, but it was good. She had never cooked for him before. They talked about their day and some other small talk. She was excited that he would appear on Triple D. Once dinner was done, Eva took him into the living room and sat down next to him.

"Miller, I know we never talked about our past. For me, it doesn't matter what happened before you met me. As for me, I've only been with two other men. I want to make it three, and that third one is you. We've been dating long enough for me to know I care deeply for you. I'm ready for the next step." She stopped and looked deep into Miller's eyes. She saw fear? Hesitation? Questioning? She couldn't quite tell. "Take me upstairs, Miller, show me you care as much about me as I care about you."

With a slight hesitation, he stood and reached down and picked her up. Kissing her deeply, he carried her up the stairs into the bedroom. For the next hour, Miller showed his love to Eva.

Once their pent-up lust was mutually satiated, they made slow love again. Miller was glad his worries were baseless. Maybe it was his true love for Eva. Or the way she responded to him. She was very vocal and giving. He excised three years of celibacy, reveling in the joy she brought him physically and mentally.

After the second time, they went to take a shower. It was the first time he thought about Jill. She never wanted to shower together. He didn't have the biggest shower, but the small space felt intimate. Miller was glad they were already in the shower because they would have needed another with everything that went on until the water ran cold.

They went back to bed as it was only 1:30. They cuddled together and eventually fell asleep with Eva in his arms. He had never slept so well in his life. He woke up with a numb arm, not knowing why until he looked over and saw Eva smiling in her sleep. He had no choice but to move as he had to use the bathroom. "Where are you going?" She asked groggily.

**********************************************

"I have to use the bathroom, but I'll be right back as quickly as I can," as he got out the bed and quickly went to the bathroom. When he came back out, she was sitting up in the bed and got out and ran to the bathroom herself. She came back out, jumping back into bed. "So, Mr. Scales, what do we have planned for the day?"

Reaching for a nipple, "let's get through the morning first and see what happens." Spending the next hour making love, followed by another shower. They went out for brunch at Clover Harvest. During brunch, they talked about everything. "I haven't said anything, but Jill is requesting visitation with Heather."

With her fork of waffles halfway to her mouth, "What? When did this happen?"

"A couple of weeks ago. I have the hearing on the same day we're supposed to be on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I'm trying to get it either moved up or delayed."

"How do you feel about that? How does Heather feel about it?" She inquired

"I haven't told her."

"You haven't told her? Miller, this involves her. I know she's only 10 but still, you should talk to her about it." She implored him.

"No, I told you how she reacted last time she saw her mom. I can't put her through that again. She already said she didn't want to ever see her again.' He was getting angry at the memory of his daughter's screams in the middle of the night. "She's had months of therapy to get over what happened. So no, I don't want her near her mother." He said with finality.

Eva had known him long enough to know the conversation was over about that. Her had told her about the day, as he calls it, and what Jill put him through. She was glad he had given her a chance to enter her life. "Have you talked to an attorney?"

"Yes, He's trying to change the date of the hearing. I have so much stuff going on right now. Between getting ready for the show, buying the new building, and all that goes into it. And Ed wants to buy another truck. It's one thing after another."

"Don't worry, babe, everything will work out." She said, hoping it would.

***************************************************

The next week, he called Dr. Nichols to find out what she felt about Heather seeing her mother. "So, you're saying she filed paperwork for visitation? How do you feel about that, Miller?" Dr. Nichols asked.

"After what happened last time, I'm against it. You know how she reacted when she saw her. I don't want her around Heather at all!"

"How does Heather feel about this? Have you talked to her?"

"I haven't told her about it. She's only ten years old, and it's not her choice. It's mine as her father." He said defiantly

"Miller, I think it's best if we meet in person. This isn't an over-the-phone discussion."

"You're right, Doctor." They made an appointment for next Friday.

With everything that was going on, Miller was becoming more and more stressed. They signed for the building and were in talks with the property owner next to it. Sylvia was taking the lead on that project, which meant they would need an assistant catering manager. An advance person from the Food Network was coming to go over things, what food they wanted to feature, how to set it up, and so on. He let Ed handle that.

People noticed he had things on his mind. He was quick-tempered with people and seemed to be in a foul mood. Chennell pulled him to the side one day. "Miller, you need to get your act together. I know you have a lot going on, but taking it out on other people is unfair." She said in her mother's talking to a child.

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about, Nellie." Responding more angrily than he wanted.

"That's what I'm talking about. I know you have a lot on your mind with the new building and the TV show. These people you keep yelling at are doing a wonderful job. You have never treated people like this. I don't know what's going on at home, and it's none of my business. But you need to leave it at home." As she looked him in the eye, demanding that he say she was wrong.

Miller was the first to blink. "You're right Nellie. I do have a lot going on, and I shouldn't take it out on anyone here. Maybe I need a break or something. I'm sorry for yelling at you."

"It's okay Miller. I think it would be good to go away for three or four days. Take that hot girlfriend of yours with you."

"Maybe that's what I'll do. I just have to check my schedule and see when I can do it."

"Your schedule is free. There is nothing Ed, or Sylvia, can't handle. Just pick a date and place to go and go please because you're getting on my last nerve." She said with a smile.

"Okay, I get it. Mark me out for a long weekend. Now I have to figure out where I want to go."

"Think outside the box,' Nellie said, 'you've been all over the southeast. How about Chicago, maybe Seattle?"

"I've never been to Seattle before. That sounds interesting. Maybe I'll see if Eva wants to go."

"That would be nice, a family trip with your three favorite girls."

Miller decided he would leave after his appointment with Dr. Nichols. He sent Eva a text asking her to call when she had a chance. He didn't have to wait long. Less than ten minutes. "Hey, babe, what's going on?" She asked when he answered the phone.

What are you doing this weekend?"

"Spending time with my man, I hope, why?" She was intrigued. He had never asked about her plans for the weekend before.

"Have you ever been to Seattle before? I need to get away for a while and let loose. You want me to come along?" She was shocked. A whole weekend away. "Just you and me, or is Heather coming along?"

"I wanted to have my two favorite ladies with me. Don't worry, we'll have enough us time in the future." Miller said with a smile.

"Oh, you're pretty confident there will be a next time, Mr. Scales."

"Yes, I do because you love me, that's why. Ms. Olson." She could hear his smile through the phone.

"Okay, you got me there. When did you want to leave?"

"I have an appointment with Heather's therapist in the morning on Friday. I was thinking after that. I have to check the airline schedule and make hotel reservations."

"I don't think I'll have a problem getting off early Friday. Count me in!"

"Great, I'll call you later with the information. Love you."

"Love you too." It still amazed him that he was able to find someone he was comfortable saying that too.

Miller bought three round-trip tickets out of Charlotte. The earliest they could leave was 6:15 pm. It was non-stop, so it was worth it. Next, he rented an AirBnB close to downtown.

He was feeling good about the trip. It was costing an arm and a leg, but what cost is relaxation?

Heather was excited about the trip and was even happier that Eva was going too. Miller's parents were going to watch the dog for those three days, so everything was falling into place. Heather was a little upset that she would be in school all day Friday.

***********************************************

Friday morning, he met with Dr. Nichols. Sitting in her office in one of the overstuffed chairs that faced each other. After a quick greeting, they got down to business. "Miller, have you talked to Heather about meeting her mother?" Dr. Nichols beginning the session.

"No, I haven't. I don't see any need to. After what Jill did to her and me, she doesn't deserve to be in her life."

"I understand how you feel. You both suffered a traumatic series of events and don't want to relive them. How have you been lately? Are you having any nightmares or feelings you need to examine?" She asked in that soothing therapist voice.

I haven't thought of Jill or what happened in months. At least until Doris and George brought her around Heather last month. Being with Heather and business has kept me pretty occupied. Plus, you'll be happy to know that I'm dating someone."

"Oh, Miller, I'm glad to hear that. How long has this been going on?"

"For almost two months. Heather really likes her and keeps talking about marriage. We're going to Seattle for the weekend after I leave here." Miller said with a smile.

"Okay, an overnight trip. That's a big step. I take it you're serious about her?" Dr. Nichols inquired.

"I am, and she seems to be also. We're happy together." Miller said with satisfaction.

"How do you think this new relationship with... what was her name again?

"Eva"

"Yes, Eva, how do you feel this new relationship with Eva affects Heather's relationship with her mother?"

She doesn't and will not have a relationship with her mother. It doesn't matter if I'm in a relationship or not. She's too dangerous to be around Heather!"

"What if the court decides otherwise? That's a possibility. It has been three years since the incident. She could have changed since then." She said

"I'll fight it, She hasn't changed. I have more resources than she does. I'll find every piece of dirt on her I can." Miller was now pacing around the small room in agitation.

"Miller, How do you know she hasn't changed. You haven't talked to her since that day. it's something you need to consider. If the court decides that Jill deserves visitation, they will grant it. Have you talked to your attorney about legal options?"

"Not really, He knows about the court date and has seen the paperwork. I let him know I want to fight it."

"Let me ask some hard questions, okay?' Miller nodded his consent.' What are you most afraid of, if Jill does get visitation?"

Miller thought for a minute. Was he mad because of what happened to him? Is he being selfish, or does he have her best interests at heart? "I don't want her to be hurt again. She had those nightmares for months afterward. I saw how she reacted when she saw Jill. It's wrong to put her through that again. I'm trying to protect her."

"Like she tried to protect you?"

Miller stopped at that question. He looked at Dr. Nichols like she had slapped him. "This is totally different, Doctor, and you know it. It has nothing to do with me. It's about Heather and her feelings and emotional well-being. That's my only concern."

"I know you put Heather above everything. How about the three of us meet after you get back from your trip? And what if I have a talk with Jill to see how she is doing? I feel it's better if you talk to Heather about what her mother wants. Kids have a way of finding these things out themselves."

"I'll give it some thought. Not making any promises. I don't have Jill's number but I can give you her parents information." They scheduled the appointment for when he got back from his trip. He also gave her his ex in-laws phone number.

He left the doctor's office not feeling very hopeful. Maybe he should talk to Heather about her mother wanting visitation. She's smart for a ten-year-old, and he doesn't want her to become disillusioned as she grows older. Coming home, he made a decision to tell her about her mother's request when they got back from Seattle.

***********************************************

The trip to Seattle was everything he hoped it would be. They visited the tourist spots, ate at some of the best restaurants, drove into the mountains, and went to the beach. It was the perfect city for a family. There was something for everyone to do.

The trip ended much too soon, but Miller felt renewed. He knew that He and Eva had cemented their relationship. It wasn't just two people who loved each other. It was a family. They had never talked about marriage. Maybe it was too soon. He felt he could have a life with her, and Heather would love for her to be her mother.

Going to work on Monday, he talked about the trip with those who asked. He gave Chennell a present since she was the one who suggested the trip. Everything was good the rest of the week. He planned on talking to Heather about her mother that Thursday. He spoke with Dr. Nichols about the best way to handle it.

He felt he was doing the right thing, but he was still nervous. He got home a little after Heather did. She did her homework while he prepared dinner. While they were eating, "Heather, honey, I need to tell you something important."

"What is it, Daddy?" as she handed Pappy some streak under the table.

"Your mother wants to see you. She is asking for visitation once a week." He stopped to see how Heather was reacting.

She put her fork down and looked at the table like she was deep in thought. He gave her the time she needed to digest this new news. Finally, she looked up at him. "What do you think Daddy?" She said in a voice without the usual confidence she normally had.

"Baby, I can't make that decision for you, if you want to see her. I'll support you. If you don't, I'll support that also. But I have to let you know. If the court says she is awarded visitation, then it's out of our hands."

She put her thinking face on again. "What if she tries to hurt me again?"

"She wouldn't hurt you. She didn't hurt you the other time. She made some mistakes and she paid the price for them. I think she wants to make up for those mistakes."

Miller was conflicted; he didn't want Heather to be around her mother. But he had to put her before his feelings. "Think about it, okay, Baby? The court date isn't for a couple of weeks yet. Like I said before, I'll support whatever decision you make."

She got up from the table and hugged her father. He said he would clean the table and dishes. She took Pappy for a walk. She was gone longer than usual. He figured she was out there thinking about everything.

The next time he spoke with Eva, he told her he had talked to Heather about visitation. She asked how Heather responded, and he could only tell her she was undecided. He felt she didn't want to hurt him with her decision. He could tell she was happy that he told Heather, but kept it to herself. They talked a little more and hung up after making plans to get together later that week.

He spoke with his attorney to determine his options. He wasn't optimistic after the call. Since she had no other crimes and had been a model citizen since she had gotten out of jail, the bare minimum he could hope for was Supervised Custody. He wasn't able to get another court date, so Miller would have to miss out on filming the Food Network episode. For him, it was an easy choice.

*******************************************************

Things were going smoothly in Miller's life. Eva and he were getting closer every day. She was spending more and more time at Miller's house. They talked about moving in together and even the possibility of marriage. He was worried because of the age difference. Eva didn't care that Miller was eight years older than she was. If he were interested in having more children, she could live with the difference. Miller never thought about having more children. He and Jill never talked about it; it just happened that they only had Heather. At 32, he was still young enough to have more children. Six months ago, he would have never thought he would be thinking about more children or marriage. Yet here he was smiling about it.

Two weeks before they were going to film the episode, he received another email from the Food Network. They wanted to feature Carolina Delights and also Egg Rolls in Paradise. He was aware of the effect the show had on businesses that were featured. And business would be even better. That Friday, he had Chennell pick six names from the hat. It would have three for each truck plus a manager. Ed would be on the Egg Roll truck, and he had to decide between Hakim, Dillon, and Elena to run the other truck. He had them draw straws, and Elena won to run the Carolina Delight truck.

The day before filming, Ed and Miller gave them all a pep talk. They also gave everyone a $250 bonus for doing well, and as a thank you. Some people asked why he wouldn't be there that day. He told them he had personal business that needed to be taken care of.

He and Heather had already talked about how she felt about her mom asking for visitation. They met the lawyer at the courthouse. He was surprised to find Eva waiting for them in the lobby.

Heather ran to her and gave her a big hug. He looked at her with a smile. "Did you think I would not be here to support my two favorite people?" She gave him a kiss on the cheek. He was happy to see her and welcomed the moral support. As they were entering the courtroom, he looked over and saw Jill, her lawyer, and her parents on the other side of the courtroom.

Heather didn't know what to do. Miller could see the indecision in her face. She hadn't seen her grandparents in almost 3 months. Since the day Jill popped up unexpectedly. Miller saw Eva whisper something to Heather. Heather nodded, and they both walked over to the group. Her grandmother started crying as she hugged Heather tightly. He could see that Jill didn't know what to do. She sat by as her mother hugged her daughter. Eventually, Heather and Doris broke their hug, and she turned towards her mother. After a slight hesitation, she went and hugged her. Jill started crying. It had been more than three years since she had touched her daughter.

Miller's attorney pulled him to the table and, after finding out who Eva was, asked her to take Heather outside until they called her to testify. Jill and her mother gave Eva a questioning look as she took Heather outside.

The bailiff called the court to order as the judge entered. Once everyone was seated, he called for Jill's attorney to present his case.

"Thank you, your Honor, Lee Carmichael representing Ms. Jill Bennett. She is requesting visitation for her daughter, Heather Scales. She would like weekly visitation, but is willing to accept twice a month to start off until they become comfortable with each other. She has not had any contact with her daughter for three years. She wishes to become a part of her daughter's life.

She is gainfully employed with a steady income and in a very nice apartment complex with a pool and playground that Heather would be free to use. I have presented several referrals from coworkers, friends, and members of her church praising her character. She's willing to work with Mr. Scales to suit whatever schedule he desires."

The judge took a minute to look over the papers her attorney handed to the court. So did Miller and his attorney. Miller was surprised. Jill had never shown any interest in going to church, let alone believing in God. The letter from the Pastor said she had been a member since she got out of jail and is very active in helping young girls stay out of trouble. The judge looked up and asked Miller's attorney to present his case.

"Thank you, your Honor, Elwood Fountain representing Mr. Scales. I have talked to Mr. Scales, and while he has some reservations. He is willing to give Jill twice monthly, limited supervised visitation for three months, with a review after that."

Miller was looking at Jill while his lawyer was talking. The look on her face when he agreed to supervised visitation was priceless. Heather had come to him a few days later and said she would give her mother a chance. He found out a week later, she had talked to Eva. She was afraid Eva would think she didn't love her if she was around her mother. Eva calmed her fears and explained she would always love her and to give her mother a chance.

After that declaration court lasted another twenty minutes while the finer points were ironed out. They were in court for less than an hour. As they were leaving, Jill approached him. "I can't thank you enough, Miller. I know you feel I don't deserve a second chance, so I won't ask for one. I see you have a new lady in your life, and she seems lovely. I wish the best for both of you. Thank you for letting Heather back into my life. I won't disappoint you this time."

"I did it for Heather. She needs her mother in her life, no matter how I feel. It was her choice. I was against it, but others talked me into giving you a chance. Don't let me down. I won't be nice this time. I'm not the same man I was before that day." He walked out of the courtroom after thanking his attorney. Eva and Heather were sitting on a bench just outside the room. He hugged them both, then gave Heather a chance to say bye to her mother and grandparents.

Once hugs and goodbyes were done, he asked Eva if she would watch Heather. He wanted to see if he could catch one of the shoots before it was over. She readily agreed, saying maybe they would have a spa day. Heather became excited hearing that, as she had never done that before. He watched them run off, and all he could think was, Jill had a lot of competition for Heather's love. They left with kisses and hugs as they went their separate ways.

He called Ed to see how things were going. He said it was a lot of hurry up and wait. They had set up outside the kitchen to go over some items they sold. Ed's Pulled Pork egg rolls, as well as his apple pie egg rolls. Elena would feature the Delight Sandwich and the Pimento and Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich. They had told people in one of their usual spots that they set up that they would be on 3D, and the first 50 people could eat for free. He said they were getting ready to leave the kitchen now. Miller would drive by to see how it went. He wasn't worried about being on TV. He had enough publicity when everything happened with Jill on that Day.

*******************************************************

He reached out to Elena. She said pretty much the same as Ed. He let her know he would probably stop by sometime today. He sat in his car before leaving the courthouse parking lot. He was thinking about everything that had happened in the last six months. He had found love with someone he truly felt he could count on, and shared his values. She loved his daughter as much as he did. His daughter was doing well and was emotionally stable. Even though he still had reservations, Heather was reconnecting with her mother. Business had never been better, and was going to grow even more after the 3D episode.

He drove by both trucks, and it was a madhouse. He stopped for a few minutes at each one. He had a chance to meet Guy Fieri at Ed's truck. He did a quick interview, but he wanted Ed to have the Spotlight. As he was watching the crew working and people raving about the food, he couldn't help but smile to himself. He made one of the most important decisions of his life.

He texted Eva that he was ordering dinner for when they were finished. He got back three pictures of them being pampered, getting their nails and toes done. He had not seen Heather smile like that in a while. It was her first time putting on fingernail polish.

They got home at 4:30 and spent the next hour telling Miller about the fish that nibbled at their feet, and the ladies talking Vietnamese as they did their nails. They ate the Chinese food and enjoyed each other's company.

Out of the blue, he asked Eva, "Hey, honey, when was the last time you've been back home?"

"I left there this morning, silly. Where else would I be?"

"No, I meant Elbow Lake. You know the place where you were born and raised, that home." He could see the wheels turning in her head.

"Not since I left to come here, why?" She had stopped eating and gave Miller her full attention.

"Don't think a trip back is long overdue? How about a visit in a couple of weeks? What ya say?

"Are you serious?" She asked incredulously.

"Yes, I am, I've never been to Elbow Lake or Minnesota. I hear great things about it. The Grant County Historical Museum is worth the trip. And Hans House has a great Breakfast, not to mention The Knotty Pine is great at night." He could no longer keep a straight face and started laughing.

"You really want to go to Elbow Lake?" She asked, giving Miller her full attention.

"Honestly, I never thought about it, but it's where your parents live. I've met your brother and sister, and I'm sure they have heard all about me. Don't you think an in-person visit is warranted?"

Eva was speechless. He wanted to meet my mother and father, which probably meant he was going to ask my father for permission to propose.

"Umm, sure we can go next week if you really want to." She responded timidly.

"Great, I'll get the plane tickets. You know the area, so let me know the best hotel, okay? Miller couldn't keep the smile off his face. She reached over and gave him a big kiss on the lips.

"There is a child present," Heather said as she scoops more lo mein into her mouth. This caused both Eva and Miller to laugh.

*******************************************

The next week, everyone was still on a high from the 3D filming. Word had gotten around the region, and business had picked up. Their Instagram account had grown 6,000 followers, and they started a TikTok account that Kera ran with a couple of others. They were getting calls asking them to set up in front of their business. Catering orders were increasing to the point that Sylvia was asking to hire additional help.

They got approval for the renovations to the new building. The owner of the vacant lot next door made a counter offer, and the offer was accepted. After some talk, they decided that they would expand the kitchen so it could handle catering as well as doing prep for the trucks. The contractor gave them an estimate of being done in three months.

Heather's visitation was scheduled for Saturday to meet her mother at the local park. A social worker would be present the whole time. The first meeting was only for two hours. Miller could tell Heather was nervous. He talked with her about trying to reassure her that everything would be fine. When he dropped her off, he met with the social worker for a brief moment. He saw Jill sitting on a bench by the park entrance. He nodded to her as he turned to leave.

He spent the day going through and returning emails. Setting up new menus that they had been working on. All too soon, it was time to pick up Heather. When he got there, he saw Jill and Heather sitting on the bench, talking together. When Heather saw her father, she hugged her mother and ran to the car. Miller got out with Pappy and told Heather he needed a walk. Heather motioned Jill over to them. She stood but appeared hesitant to approach either the dog or Miller, possibly both. Miller waved over to Jill, letting her know it was okay to come over.

Heather said to her mother, "It's okay, Mom, he's safe as long as I'm here. You have to get to know him eventually." All three walked Pappy for fifteen minutes. Heather chattered on and on. Miller and Jill never said a word to each other.

********************************************

Heather was excited to fly to Minnesota. It wasn't the flying part because she had been on a plane numerous times. It was going to meet Eva's parents and see her hometown. She and Eva talked the whole way about the little town and the stuff she did growing up. We landed at the Minneapolis airport and rented a car for the two-and-a-half-hour ride. Before going to Eva's parents' house, they checked into the Elbow Lake Lodge. After dropping off their bags and cleaning up, they drove the 15 miles to the Olson home. Eva was trying to hide her excitement. It has been almost three years since she has seen her parents.

Following Eva's directions, they pulled into the long driveway of a craftsman-style home. Before they got to the door, it burst open, and Eva's mother came rushing out. Eva ran up and hugged her mother. Miller noticed her father standing in the doorway. He was a big man, at six feet three inches tall and solidly built. Looking at Eva's mother, you can see the resemblance. The girls took after their mother, while the boys took after their father. He knew her oldest brother, Karl Jr., still lived in the town.

He walked up to Karl Sr., "Hello, sir, it's good to meet you. I'm Miller Scales. Karl put out his meaty hand and pulled Miller in for a hug. Miller heard Astrid, Eva's mom, "Oh my goodness, look at this little darling, you must be Heather, I've heard so much about you." She reached down and pulled her into another hug.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Olson," Heather said to her.

"She's sweet. How old are you, honey?"

"Ten, but my birthday is next month."

"Aren't you growing up?"

They went into the house and sat in the living room. Astrid and Eva talked about what was going on in town and some of her old friends. Her best friend Cecila got married last year and already has one child. Eva got the hint.

Miller and Karl talked business. Karl was interested in the food truck business. They didn't have that in Elbow Lake. The town was too small. Miller told him how he got started and expanded the business from one truck to eventually three. He spoke about catering, and they just brought a building to host events. Karl was impressed when he told them about the filming for a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episode several weeks ago.

Astrid, Eva, and Heather went off to start cooking dinner. There was a barbecue planned for tomorrow when the rest of the family would be there. Dinner tonight consisted of sandwiches and fries. After dinner, they parted with hugs, kisses, and handshakes. Getting back to the hotel, Heather was asleep within minutes after her shower. Miller had reserved a two-bedroom suite for him, and Eva would have some privacy.

They were tired from the trip but still able to make slow love to each other. Afterwards, they fell asleep in each other's arms.

Saturday morning came much too early for both of them. Heather was already up and calling for Eva and Miller to get up, also. He dragged himself out of bed, got showered and dressed soon followed by Eva.

************************************************

Astrid insisted they have breakfast at her house. So they loaded up the rental and headed over. They got there around 9:30. When Miller walked in, he immediately smelled the freshly cooked bacon. After greeting Karl and Astrid, they led them to the dining room table that was loaded with enough food to feed a small army. As they were getting ready to sit down, the front door opened and more people entered. It was Karl Jr, his wife Emma, and two kids, Karl the Third, whom they call Trey and Astrid.

Karl Sr. introduced Miller and Heather to Karl Jr, who was a larger version of his father. Emma, his wife, who was almost a foot shorter than Karl, had long blond hair and a quick smile. Both of the children resembled the Olson clan. Miller wondered how tall Trey would become. He was only 13 and almost as tall as his father. It had been a long time since everyone had been together. So the family caught up during breakfast. Heather and Astrid talked about what was going on in the town and at her school. Astrid was a year older than Heather. Heather talked about things happening in her city and school.

As Eva caught up with Junior and Emma about her life over the last year, Miller noticed Senior looking at him curiously. When breakfast was finished, the ladies went about cleaning the table and putting things away. The kids went to the basement to play video games. Senior invited the men outside to the back deck.

After sitting, Senior looked at Miller. "I don't expect you to come all this way just to say hello, Miller." He didn't say it in an accusatory tone, but more of an open statement.

Miller looked at Senior than at Junior. "No, sir, I didn't. I've come to love your daughter very much. Meeting you and your wife only confirmed what I already knew. She's a wonderful woman who has brought much joy, not only into my life, but Heather's life as well. She has been a wonderful influence on her. I don't know how much of my history she has told you. I have nothing to hide. I never thought I would be in this situation again. I love your daughter, sir. I love her with every fiber of my being. I am asking your permission to marry her with your blessing." He could see the smile on Junior's face, but Senior was unreadable. Miller sat waiting for a response.

Senior sat back like he was thinking about solving all the world's problems. Finally, after what felt like an eternity to Miller, he said, "Son, you have my blessing." Miller realized he had been holding his breath.

"Thank you, sir, I appreciate your blessing very much. I won't let you down and will do everything in my power to make Eva the happiest woman in the world."

"I believe you will, Miller. She's spoken very highly of you. I know she loves you and that little girl of yours."

"Congrats, Miller. Now, if you want the real dirt on her, let me know. I got some secrets I can tell.' Junior said with a hearty laugh 'When are you planning to propose?"

"I thought about doing it back in Carolina, but decided to do it at the Barbecue if that's okay with you, sir?" As he looked towards Senior.

"Yes, it is, but don't say anything to the woman, they can't keep a secret to save their lives.

Later on, Eva took Miller and Heather on a tour of her small town. They got to see where she went to school, the local make-out spots, and other places of interest.

After a late lunch at Hans House, they headed back to her parents' house. Somewhere along the way, they decided that Heather would spend the night with Eva's niece and nephew.

They were prepping for the BBQ tomorrow, so Miller jumped in to help. He truly enjoyed himself. He felt welcomed and loved. Heather was being treated like another grandchild. They had a small dinner before heading back to the lodge.

Miller and Eva lay in bed, talking as they usually did. "I can't thank you enough for this trip, Honey. It's so nice to see Mom and Dad again. Dad speaks very highly of you already. And Mom can't get enough of Heather."

"I'm glad that you're happy. This is a beautiful little town. Almost like a smaller version of Greenville. You probably know everyone who lives here."

"I do, either went to school with them or saw them around town. A lot of them will be at the Barbecue tomorrow. I can't wait." Her excitement was bubbling over.

"I can't wait to meet more of your friends and family." Again, they made love and drifted off to sleep.

On Sunday, they woke up. Miller thought he could get used to waking up to Eva in his bed. Since the barbecue wasn't going to start until three and they didn't have anything else to do, they just relaxed in the room for a while. Miller wanted to take a ride around the area until Eva explained there wasn't much to see except woods and elk. So they went to her parents' house to see if they needed any help. When they got there, they found almost 10 people fixing food, setting up the backyard, and generally helping out wherever they could. Astrid refused to let Miller help as he was the guest of honor. "Don't fight it, Son, you'll never win that battle, trust me," Senior said with a laugh. He followed Senior to the basement to watch a Twins game with a couple of the other men. He was introduced around, mostly forgetting names since there were so many. Eva had disappeared into the kitchen. Downstairs, he was grilled by the guys more than the ribs would be. The guys wanted to know all about him, his business, and his intentions with Eva. He had no problems answering any of their questions. They seemed impressed with his business and how it was going to be on TV.

Senior went up to start the grill. Miller offered to help, but he declined. He made his way upstairs and found Eva in the kitchen with an apron on, helping to make rolls. He pulled in for a hug and said, if she did a good job, he would let her work on one of his trucks. He gave a kiss on the cheek, much to everyone's chagrin.

People started coming little by little until the backyard was full of people. Miller and Heather were the guests of honor and were taken around and introduced to everyone. Heather was soaking up the attention.

When he got a moment, he pulled Heather into the living room. "Baby, I need to ask you a very important question." Heather had not seen this serious in a long time, and she began to worry.

"What is it, Dad? You're scaring me."

"No, it's nothing to be scared of, it's a good thing. How do you feel about Eva?"

"I love her, I think she's great. Why?"

"Okay, how would you feel if I asked her to marry me?" He looked at her, hoping she would say yes.

"Oh my God, yes! It took you long enough!" She grabbed her father in a huge hug and started crying.

Once he wrestled himself out of her grip. "Okay, but you can't say anything to her. I'm going to propose today. I bought the ring last week." He pulled it out of his pocket and showed Heather the 2 caret diamond-encrusted ring.

"Oh, Daddy, it's beautiful. She will love it!" Heather beamed.

They walked back out to the backyard. He caught Senior's eye and nodded. He nodded back and raised his voice. "Everyone, can I get your attention, please? Folks, quiet down for a second." When he had everyone's attention, "Our guest of honor has something he would like to say." Motioning to Miller to step up.

"First, I would like to thank you all for making me and my daughter feel like family. We have enjoyed every minute here in your beautiful town. I wanted to see the place where the woman I love so much was raised and born. And you have exceeded my expectations.

Eva, could you join me up here, please?' She came up to him and he took her hand. He knelt on one knee. There were gasps from the women in the crowd. He heard Astrid "OH sweet Jesus," and started crying.

"Eva Olson, I never thought, in a million years, I would be doing this again. The moment I made you that sandwich, you changed my life. It has been full of joy and love. You have become a role model, friend, and confidant to my daughter. You have made my life complete. Everyone who knows me sees it. My family sees it. I'm a different man with you in life. And I can't imagine a day without you. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" There was a moment of silence. Just a second.

"Yes, I'll marry you, Miller Scales. I love you with all my heart. He put the ring on her finger, stood, and kissed her deeply. He was so focused on Eva, he didn't hear the cheers and applause that erupted from the crowd. When they broke their kiss, Heather was standing right there next to them, crying. "Can I call you mom now?" as she hugged Eva. That made Eva cry, "Only if I can call you my daughter."

Needless to say, the party was a huge hit. The rest of the day was spent with people coming up to congratulate the couple. Heather held onto Eva for dear life.

They had packed their bags as they were leaving straight from the BBQ to the airport for the 9 pm flight. Before they left, Senior pulled Miller to the side. "I just want to say I'll be proud to call you son. Eva has always spoken very highly of you. And everything I've heard is good. Even Ben and Ingrid say you're an A1 guy. It showed me a lot that you would fly out here to ask for my permission for marriage. Thank you, Son.

Astrid gave him a hug and a kiss and told him not to be a stranger. But he couldn't come back without Heather. And she gave him a bag of food for the flight home.

On the flight home. Miller took a minute to look on either side of him at the two ladies who meant the most in his life. His daughter and future wife. He laughed when he thought about how much a sandwich changed his life. Now, for the first time in years, his life was truly complete. He fell asleep with a smile on his face, as well a BBQ sauce residue.

EPILOGUE

Eva and Miller got married 4 months later in late August. It was the first event hosted in Miller's event space. His employees insisted on catering the event. The space was at full capacity with over 300 people. Ed was Miller's best man, Dillon, Hakim, and His brother Lee were ushers. Ingrid was Eva's Matron of Honor, her sister in law Isabella, and two other friends were bridesmaids. They honeymooned in Hawaii.

There were some bumps along the way. When Jill found out he was going to get married, she didn't take it very well. It was worse when she overheard Heather call Eva Mom. Heather was hurt when she canceled the next two visits. Eva got in touch with Jill, and they had a talk. Miller didn't know what it was about, but the visits resumed afterward. They were never friends but had a respectful relationship.

After the 3D episode aired, business skyrocketed. The trucks would set up at the same location all week, and people would seek them out, instead of going from place to place. People were requesting them to set up infront of their business, knowing it would draw a crowd. All their social media grew by 60-80% It got to the point where Kera became the Social Media manager.

Instead of buying a fourth truck, they went a totally different route. They went wholesale with their egg rolls. They are available all over the southeast in Publix, Kroger, and Harris Teeter. He is a 50/50 partner with Ed in that LLC, which falls under the Carolina Delight Corporate umbrella. Other retails have reached out to them about putting them on their shelves.

They still do events around the region with smaller carts and pop-up tents. They now employee 48 full time people plus 23 part-timers.

Almost nine months after they returned from their honeymoon, they welcomed Douglas Miller Scales. A year later, He became a big brother to Lindsey Marie Scales. Heather loves being a big sister. Almost as much as Eva loves being a full time mother. And Pappy is really protective of all three kids.

For Miller, life is good!

The End

This is dedicated to Pappy, the best dog I ever had.

Jill Burnett appeared in Miller's Trauma as Jill Scales

Eva, Astrid, Karl Sr. and Jr appeared in Sawdust and Swedish Meatballs

Ben Olson appeared in Sawdust and Swedish Meatballs, February Sucks in Greenville.

Doris and George Burnett appeared in Miller's Trauma

Ed was mentioned in Miller's Trauma