Judy looked around the old diner. It was the last thing she had to remind her of her husband. She remembered how they had started this old diner back when she still felt young, and he still had the mentality of a Marine. It was four am, and she was just starting to shuffle about. Her younger son would be in in about twenty minutes to get the grill and kitchen started. Her other son would close up, as they weren't a twenty four hour diner. At least, not anymore.

She shuffled over and started getting the coffee running. It was an old machine. She didn't offer anything special like some of the diners and the fast food places. She didn't need to, truth be told. What the fast food and other businesses that tried to compete with her didn't know was that she had a very unique clientele. 

She smiled as she thought of the first time Bel had shown up looking for some coffee in the wee hours of the morning. How her husband had looked at him once and said, "Son, you might have a condition." The look on Bel's face had actually made her laugh for a solid minute. 

Bel was one of her favorite customers. He was always quite respectful, and took the time to give her a greeting every morning that he came in. Of course, there was the matter of him remembering to pay with currency that she could actually use. But she had mostly settled that by getting him to pay in gold or silver. 

As she waited for the first batch of coffee to brew, Paul showed up. She could hear him in the kitchen, having come in through the back door. He would be prepping for breakfast and the first deliveries. Some of the customers they served preferred to barter than actually pay in any currency. 

It was fine as they weren't the biggest diner or anything. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that they were on the main highway south out of Orlando to Miami, Dennis probably would have chosen to build his diner somewhere else. But he was counting on there being enough traffic between Orlando and Miami that they'd get enough customers to stay in business. 

And that had worked. Of course, it turned out they were also in a rather unique spot for another reason as well. She smiled as she thought back to the four who had come in and sat down to explain to Dennis and her that they had set up a Diner on top of the Fountain of Youth. 

Yahweh, Satan, Odin, and Zeus were the old guys who had come in and asked to talk with her husband and her. They had explained that the Fountain of Youth wasn't quite what everyone else thought it was. Instead, the fountain's water was something vital for the supernatural community. Angels, Demons, and all of the other supernaturals that didn't actually live on Earth, needed waters from one of the Fountains to maintain their presence on Earth. There were actually quite a few, but it was agreed that Sunny Side of Heaven would be Neutral Territory. It was also agreed that the owner of the Diner would be treated as an equal to the gods. 

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Not exactly something she brought up to the Church group. Of course, she stopped going to church just before World War Two. She saw how badly Yahweh was hurt by the events that were happening in Europe. In fact, it was a letter sent from Dennis to Paul during the war that allowed Paul to lead his platoon to a concentration camp. 

Yahweh had been a good friend since. 

"Morning Mom," Paul called from the back, once he was sure, she was up front. 

"Morning son, how you looking back there?"

"Not too bad. Got three deliveries this morning. Bacon from Brigid, Beef from Apollo, and Hermes said he was going to drop off some honey from one of the Mexicali guys. Can't pronounce the name. "

She thought about it for a minute, dredging up the deities name. "Ah-Muzen-Cab?"

He looked through the window to the kitchen and nodded his head. "That sounds about right. Like I said, I don't want to try and pronounce it. But the guy apparently owed Hermes, and Hermes called the favor in to get us some good honey."

"Well, if there is enough I might see about making some Honey Wine as well. That's for later though. Anything else you got going?"

"Just the one thing." he says, giving his mother a look. She glared back at him.

"I'm not stopping."

He sighs, "I'm not asking you to stop. I'm asking you to hire some outside help. I know that the secret is pretty important. And that Isis actually made it so the diner will keep mortals from seeing the truth unless they work here. But hiring one or two waitresses shouldn't be a problem as long as we can vet them. 

"We'll talk about it later." she replies.

She doesn't really want to think about it, but Paul is right. At this point, the Diner isn't even twenty four hour anymore. Only John and Paul are the cooks, and Daisy her daughter was the only other waitress. The diner didn't allow anyone to have time off. True, there were times when some of the customers would stand in for them. Bast had been a great help after Dennis had died. 

"Okay Paul," she says finally, sighing as she does.

"If you can find someone who won't panic at our regular clientele, I'll think about it. But this means it's all on you right now. I'll talk with the old guys and see if we can't get some help on occasion. But I'll go over to the Bank after the breakfast rush when Daisy comes in and put you on as a co owner."

Paul looks at her, blinking in surprise. Then he comes out of the kitchen giving her a hug.

"It'll be okay, Mom. You know Dad wouldn't want us hung up and just doing the business."

She nods, "I know. He told me that when you went and joined the Army. It's just...."

"I get it Mom. And I won't just pick up anyone off the street."

She smiles. "Well that's good to know. Just remember, until I die you have to get any approvals on the place through me."

They laugh as they return to getting ready for breakfast.