Work Text:
February 1976
“You gotta try the apple pie here, Karl. It’s the best in town.” Sonny holds the door open for his friend as they enter the Cornerstone Diner. Karl has been here before, of course - there's not many other restaurants to choose from - but not with Sonny. He's never thought too much of this place, but he doesn't have strong opinions about the diner he usually goes to, other than that it's more convenient for him.
“Heya, Sonny,” one of the waitresses says as she walks over to them.
“Hi Marlene, how ya doin’?”
“Doin’ great, now that I see you,” she giggles. “Anywhere ya like. But my section’s over there,” she smiles as she points him towards the other end of the diner. Karl’s stomach drops, he knows that was more than just friendly service talk. She likes him. ...But what does it matter to me? Sonny’s an adult, he can do what he wants. Marlene is cute, blonde - naturally, from what Karl can tell - and her hair isn’t overly styled like the other waitresses. He imagines that Sonny appreciates that, even though they’ve never had that kind of conversation before. He gulps as he follows Sonny to one of the booths she’d pointed to, and takes a seat across from his friend.
“Good choice,” Marlene smiles as she places waters and menus on the table for them.
“Marlene, this is my friend Karl. He usually goes to Sterling’s on the other side’a town. But just ‘cause it’s closer to his office.”
“Oh, yeah? Whaddaya do?” Marlene asks.
“I’m a lawyer.” Karl speaks more quietly than he normally does - he’s usually able to command the whole room without a problem, but right now he feels like he’s intruding on a conversation he’s not really a part of.
“Well jeez, Sonny, I didn’t know ya had friends in high places!” Marlene laughs. Karl feels like the wind gets knocked out of him as he watches her brush a hand against Sonny’s shoulder. He’s single now, it’s only a matter of time before he gets a new girlfriend, and their male bonding will have to be put on hold - and Karl’s starting to suspect that Marlene is the reason Sonny likes coming here so much.
“Okay, I’ll go getcha your drinks. Sonny, you wanna root beer, right?” She smiles as Sonny nods, then looks over to Karl. “And what can I get for you, Paul?”
He knits his brow and considers correcting her, but decides not to. “Ah, coffee. Black.”
“Alrighty, I’ll be right back,” Marlene turns around and heads for the counter.
When Karl looks from Marlene to Sonny, his friend is looking him up and down with concern. “...You feelin’ okay, Karl? Somethin’ wrong?”
“No, nothin’s wrong. Just, ah, a lotta work stuff on my mind.”
“Oh. You should try not to think about any’a that, it’s what lunch breaks are for. And I’m sorry Marlene got'cher name wrong,” Sonny winces.
She had no trouble with your name. But he doesn’t say that. “It’s fine.”
“Well, except for bein’ bad with names, she’s great, she always takes good care’a me. I think she only likes me ‘cause I tip her good, though,” he laughs. Karl tries to hide his sigh of relief by picking up the menu and pretending to read it. She probably has a boyfriend, and just flirts for extra tips. And Sonny obviously knows their friendship is based on a business transaction, so he doesn’t need to worry.
Sonny looks down at his menu. “So what’re ya gonna have? I was thinkin’ the meatloaf. But I guess ya can’t have that today, it’s Friday.”
Karl grunts in affirmation and looks over to the fish options. He tries not to dwell on the fact that Sonny takes notice of his dietary habits.
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“Okay, you were right, this pie is pretty good,” Karl concedes as he cuts off another bite. “But I haven’t tried it at Sterling’s.”
“I have. Trust me, this is better.”
Marlene appears and places the checks in front of them. They hadn’t asked for her to split them up, but Karl supposes she guessed correctly.
“Thanks, Marlene. Great as always,” Sonny smiles up at her as he hands over his empty plate.
“Thanks, hon. Say, ah, you doin’ anythin’ fun this weekend?”
Karl opens his mouth to answer for him - Sonny does the same thing every weekend, it’s not hard to guess - but he shuts it before he can say anything.
“Goin’ fishin’ with Lou tomorrow afternoon, then the VA. And a’course church on Sunday, and laundry... plus I gotta get some groceries.”
“Nice relaxing weekend.” Marlene sounds a bit disappointed, like she was expecting him to invite her somewhere. Maybe she doesn’t have a boyfriend.
Just then, Karl notices a crowd start to come in the front door, and Marlene rushes over to greet everyone and get them sat. Karl puts down his fork and pulls out his wallet.
Sonny eyes him pulling his cash out, and speaks up. “I can cover the tip, Karl.”
“You sure? I don’t mind.”
“Yeah, I’ll give it to her on our way out. Don’t worry about it.”
As they walk towards Sonny’s van, Karl weighs everything about their experience at the Cornerstone to Sterling’s. He doesn’t see anything particularly special about this place that makes it so much better, but Sonny obviously does. It must be Marlene. ...But there’s no reason for him not to like her. Karl can just be glad that Sonny didn’t get a chance to make his move today, so at least they’ll get to spend one last Saturday night together at the VA before it becomes his date night.
Over the next month, Karl goes with Sonny to the Cornerstone on several occasions. He keeps waiting for Sonny to flirt with Marlene with more intention, but it never happens. Karl considers mentioning it - it’s what a good friend would do, right? Is he a bad friend if he doesn’t point out how obvious it is that she likes him? But he’s not ready to start seeing Sonny as few and far between as he sees Lou. At least that’s what he figures, is the reason he feels sick to his stomach at the thought of suggesting Sonny ask her on a date.
“I invited Lou to come to lunch with us, I hope that’s okay.”
“A’course,” Karl replies as they walk into the Cornerstone.
Lou stands up from the bench to greet them. “Heya, fellas. They’re gettin’ our table ready.”
“Betsy didn’t pack you a lunch today?”
“Nah, she’s visitin’ with her sister. And I slept too late to fix myself one.”
Karl looks over to the host stand to see Marlene waving Lou over. “Sally’s got’cher table ready, hon, you can go sit down. - Oh, Sonny, I didn’t know you were comin’ in! I’ll ask Sally if I can take care’a ya.”
“Heya, Marlene - you don’t hafta make a big fuss, whatever’s easier.”
“Sally just told me she wanted a smoke anyway. You go sit down, and I’ll get your root beer.”
Karl follows behind Lou and Sonny as they walk to the table, and notices Lou give him a little nudge to the arm. The three men shuffle into their seats at the square table Sally had gone through the trouble of clearing off for them.
Marlene takes their orders, and soon comes back with their food. After she hands everyone their plate, Sonny looks up at her.
“So how’s everything goin’ with ya? You finish that sweater you were workin’ on?”
“No, not yet, still got some embroiderin’ to do. And, well, I might be goin’ out with Tom Jacobson this Friday night. ...But I haven’t said yes yet.” She licks her bottom lip pointedly as she looks down at Sonny. Karl glances over to Lou, whose eyes are flitting between the two of them.
Sonny laughs, a hint of nerves in his voice. “Oh yeah? Well, ah, Tom sounds like a pretty lucky guy, if you decide to go.”
Marlene bites her lip before composing herself, and looks to Karl and Lou. “Well, anything else I can get you fellas?”
“No, this is great. Thanks,” Karl answers, and Marlene steps away without looking back at Sonny.
Lou’s mouth hangs open for a second before he blinks and forms a response. “...Sonny, didja not notice what she was insinuatin’? You saw it, right, Karl? And you saw the way they were flirtin’ before?”
Karl almost chokes on his sandwich and gives an unconvincing nod.
“She wanted you to swoop in and ask’er out, Sonny. You should go up to her and tell’er how ya feel before she calls Tom up.”
Sonny purses his lips and looks over at Karl, then down at the table. “I dunno. I’m not really sure if I feel that way about ‘er.”
“That’s why you go on a date. Ya feel it out and see if you wanna do it again.”
“...I don’t think I’m ready. Maybe next time.”
“Well it sounds like there might not be a next time, if ya don’t take the chance now.”
Instead of responding, Sonny starts to cut up his chicken breast. Lou looks to Karl, but instead of chiming in, he takes another bite of his meatball parm.
There’s an awkward energy over the table whenever Marlene comes to check on them. Karl would understand if she left them alone after what had happened, but she really is a great waitress - she just focuses mostly on Karl and Lou. Instead of ordering a slice of pie along with Lou, Sonny meekly asks her for a to-go box, since he’d mostly just pushed around his food instead of eating it.
“Well, I’m gonna hit the head. Don’t eat my pie if it gets here before I do,” Lou hoists himself up and heads for the restroom.
Karl purses his lips. Sonny has barely contributed to the forced conversation Lou and Karl have been able to keep up during their meal. He should probably say something - he knows what he wants to say, but it’s too... real. He and Sonny have never had that kind of talk before. Karl should stick with something safe, like 'there’s other fish in the sea,' but he doesn’t know if that really applies here.
Marlene comes by with Lou’s pie, the box, and their checks. Karl thanks her, and she gives a cordial “come back anytime” before walking away, leaving them alone once more.
“You know -” Karl clears his throat, and looks Sonny in the eye. “You, ah, don’t hafta do something just because everyone else thinks ya should.”
Sonny lets out a breath and relaxes his shoulders a bit. “Thanks, Karl. I really needed to hear that.”
Karl’s expression softens, just a bit, before he sees Lou return to the table. He straightens his posture and reaches for his check.
August 1979
“Thanks again, Marlene. Take care.”
“You have a great day, Sonny,” she says as she waves at him and Karl as they leave the diner.
“I can’t believe her son’s three already. Have ya seen him? He looks just like Tom,” Sonny exclaims as he unlocks his car.
“Yeah, I saw ‘em at the bakery the other day,” Karl sits down and shuts the door. Once Sonny is inside, he clears his throat. He'd never asked Sonny more about that awkward lunch. “So there’s no, ah, hard feelings between you two?”
It takes a moment for Sonny to register what he’s talking about. “Oh, no. No, that’s ancient history. And she’s married, and I’m - well, I’m not hung up on’er, you know that,” he blushes. “And ya’know, I apologized back then. I don’t think she got it, I mean - she doesn’t know about us or anythin’. But I told ‘er I shoulda known I was leadin'er on, and she forgave me.”
“Ya’know, I assumed you were interested in'er, up until that day. I thought she was the reason you always wanted to eat there, as in maybe one day she’d quit and move over to Sterling’s and you’d wanna go there instead.”
Sonny blinks, and cocks his head. “Well, I do like havin’ the same waitress every time, and makin’ friends with’er... but I mean, I could be a regular for Sally or Lynette and that’d be fine too. Marlene’s not the reason I like the Cornerstone more than Sterling’s.”
“...Then what is it?”
“Well I told ya already. They have the best apple pie in town.”
Karl chuckles, and shakes his head. “You’d save a lot on tips if ya just bought the full pie and ate it at home.”
“Yeah, well... I like havin’ lunch with you, Karl,” Sonny smiles as he starts the engine.