Starke got to the honky tonk at eight forty-five and he didn't see her jeep so he went in and picked out a booth for them and ordered two beers. She got there promptly at nine o'clock,
He couldn't believe his eyes, she looked great, and she had on a pretty ladies western shirt with a fringe, a denim skirt and boots.
"Well Hi there pretty lady," he said, as he got up and swept his hat
Off in one fluid motion as he ushered her into the booth. She said, "Do you approve?" He said "sure do Mam", she said, "I went shopping on my lun ch hour for just the right outfit so I would fit in here this time," well you sure do, Starke said.”
They danced and had fun till the band took a break and then they talked, So Candee tell me about yourself, I don't even know your last name, it's Clark, and I don't know yours either Starke? Well it's Romel, now that we've cleared that up. What else do I need to know about you Miss Clark? "Except that I'm crazy about you already," he thought.
"Well" she said, I'm kind of alone in the world was orphaned at 3 yrs. old never really knew my parents nor do I remember them much, I lived in foster homes, till I was able to get out on my own, decent people cared for me mostly so I considered myself lucky. I work at the daily newspaper, until recently I led a rather mundane life, now what about you Mr. Romel. The band had started up again so he said my story will have to wait till the next break, and so it did.
Well. I have the greatest mom in the world, we lost my dad two years ago, and I've been keeping an eye on my mom, and helping around the house whenever I can, and she keeps me well fed. Like you I'm an only child except that I have a friend who is as close to a brother as anyone could ever have.
I was married, he noticed one eyebrow raise slightly, yes, he said, " I was married ten years actually, to my wonderful Marie" Candee said, that's the name of the diner across the street where we met for coffee, how odd? Starke said," not so odd, Marie's parents owned that diner, and years ago when she was born they changed the name to Marie's, Carl her dad sold it and bought a Laundromat, he thought there would be less work, less hours, as he was trying to slow down, but he had a heart attack and died six months before retirement, his wife moved to Florida to be near her sister, they were good people, and helped me through the loss of Marie, she died of leukemia five years ago, I was devastated even though I knew in my heart, it was coming one day."