Kayla Lane, a server at the West Side Cafe in Fort Worth, Texas, has a penchant for remembering customers. She’s also amazingly generous, but we’ll get to that soon.
For now, our story begins when Lane spotted a couple she hadn’t seen in a while. They were Shaun and Debbie Riddle, and Lane remembered that the last time they’d been in, they had their baby daughter with them. On greeting them, Lane asked the couple how the baby was doing.
The Riddles grew silent. Shaun Riddle explained to Lane that their baby, Glory, had passed away about a month prior at only nine weeks old. Glory died in her sleep during a nap. The cause of her death is still unknown.
Naturally, Lane was mortified. “I’m like, ‘Oh gosh, I made them remember!’ even though it’s going through their minds all day, every day,” she recalls. She knew she had to do something, perhaps even a small gesture of support for this grieving couple.
When the check arrived, the Riddles were astonished to see this instead of a regular bill.
The couple was shocked to receive this instead of a bill. However, this isn’t the first time Lane has intercepted a bill and paid for someone’s meal. She’s been known to pay for customers before, specifically military personnel and firefighters. Usually, she prefers to keep things anonymous, asking another server to bring the bill over.
“I didn’t want any recognition. I just simply wanted the satisfaction of being a helping hand in a time of deep sorrow for this family,” Lane says via Facebook. Still, the massive response to this story has made her happy. It also brought Lane and the Riddles together, and their friendship has since blossomed.
Kayla Lane (on the right) and the Riddles.
Watch the Riddles tell their story here.
If you’re feeling down about the state of the world, remember that even in the worst times, there are people like Kayla Lane who offer these small but deeply touching gestures. Let her be an inspiration, and be sure to lend a helping hand when you can!
