Chapter 11
The diner is slow, and Clarke regrets deciding to fill in for someone on her day off. It’s not like she needs the money. She just wants to keep busy.
She’s wiping down the plastic menus when the sound of the door ringing catches her attention. At first it appears to be a man and his son. The guy is wearing a baseball cap and the boy has a hood on to keep the evening storm from getting him all wet.
Clarke puts her supplies down and walks toward them. “Is it just the two you tonight?”
“Yeah, just us.”
His voice startles her, causing her to stop dead in her tracks. Clarke’s swift turn almost lands her into the approaching Eli. Their eyes meet and she’s suddenly speechless.
Eli pulls the menus from her grasp and uses his head to motion the booth he used to frequent when they were kids. Clarke knows it’s not just the booth he sat in with friends. It was also the seat his father chose, every single time he came into the diner. It was sentimental in a lot of ways, and as Clarke looks from Eli to the small boy, she sees a tradition being made. Following them to the seats, she pulls out her pad and prepares to be as professional as possible giving her current uncomfortable situation. “What would you like to drink?”
The whole time she waits she’s silently thinking, ‘don’t say chocolate milkshake with two cherries. Don’t you dare say it. Anything but that.’.
Eli peers across the table at the little fellow. “What do you think, Jonny, two chocolate milkshakes with double cherries to start us off?”
“Mom doesn’t let me have milkshakes before dinner.”
Eli turns and offers a ornery smile. “Two milkshakes, double cherries. Make sure his has double whipped cream, will ya?”
“Sure. Anything else to drink?”
“Do you want a couple Coke’s too?” She knows she’s playing into this by remembering his favorite things, but she can’t help herself. It’s too cute to see him bonding with someone so much like Tyler. The boys are cousins, not that they’ve ever been introduced. It’s a real shame too. They could grow up being the best of friends if life wasn’t so screwed up. As it stands, Tyler goes to public school, while she’s certain Jonathan attends some private academy. His mother is a snob. If Clarke knows anything about Siobhan it’s that she’d never allow her children to get a public education. Clarke loathes people like her; the kind who think they are better than everyone.
“Yeah. We can go ahead and order. I promised Jonny a night like Pop used to do for me, so we’ll be having two cheesesteak subs, all the good stuff inside, and two orders of fries with gravy.”
Clarke whispers under her breath. “Are you sure you want to have all that? His little tummy can’t possibly eat so much.”
“I can eat a lot,” the child corrects her.
“He’s good.”
Their eyes meet and Clarke can feel her face turning a bright red. He still has that affect on her, even after breaking her heart and making her hate him. If only she could hate him more.
While heading to the back to put in the order she contemplates spitting in his food, or poisoning him with laxatives. As much as she wants him to suffer, she doesn’t have it in her to be ruthless.
Instead, Clarke makes the special shakes and takes a couple deep breaths before delivering them. She plasters another fake smile on her face and sets them on the table. Before she’s able to turn and walk away Eli grabs onto her wrist. “Excuse me, miss, but you forgot straws.” This time when she looks at him he’s got a sly grin going that causes her to jerk her hand away. She pulls them from her pocket.
“Sorry. Anything else?”
“You could give me your number.” It’s so unexpected she laughs. It’s evident this is all a show for the boy, but each time she glances at the kid she sees the resemblance to her own son; the one Eli wanted her to abort. Clarke wonders if Eli knows she kept the baby, or if he’s come back to apologize for expecting her to make such a hard decision without him. Either way, she knows it’s best to keep her son a secret. Without his father to fill him in, Eli will never have to know Tyler is alive and perfect with someone in his life who wants to be his father more than anything else.
As much as she wants to speak to Eli, she knows it’s not the right time or place. Forced to suffer while the two of them eat and drink, Clarke keeps a mindful watch. Every once in a while Eli will catch her gaze. She never lets him hold it long. He might get the wrong idea about her.
More than ever she wonders why the other little boy that had been at his house isn’t with them. Clarke can tell Eli isn’t used to being around little kids. It makes her wonder about the woman and youngster, even when it’s none of her business.
While taking a short break she calls Tim. Whether it’s guilt or the need to hear his voice, she’s reassured when he answers and greets her. “Hello, my love. How’s work going?”
“It’s slow. I just wanted to say hello. How’s Ty?”
“He’s in the middle of a game at the moment.”
She checks her watch. “He’s not allowed television after seven.”
“I’m teaching him how to play checkers. He’s pretty good. You should see how many pieces he’s kinged.”
Clarke is relieved that Tim abides by her rules for her son. It’s important his mind isn’t tainted by things on television and in video games. Tyler likes to use his hands. He’s into nature and building things with blocks and Legos. It’s important to her that he uses his imagination as much as possible.
After saying her goodbyes, she ends the call to discover that Eli and Jonny are finished with their food. When she goes over to clear the plates, Eli places his hand over hers. She jerks it away, but not before giving him all of her attention. “You look good, Clarke. When I came home I didn’t think you’d still be living here. I’m glad I got to see you.”
“Leaving so soon?” She can’t exactly say what she wants with a child staring at her.
“We’ll take the check for dinner, and as far as me leaving town, well I’m not real sure. I’m thinking about flipping Dad’s house. It needs a ton of work to make it move in ready. Everything needs updating. Why? Already sick of seeing me around?”
Clarke can’t believe the nerve he has. First he comes back acting like he’s done nothing wrong, and now he’s going to tease her about it? Who does he think he is? “I’m sure you need get back to your life, wherever you settled down at. Was that your wife the other day?”
He chuckles. “God no. I mean, Michelle’s a great woman, but we’re not hitched.”
“Some things never change.” Clarke rolls her eyes. She’s ready for Eli to pay his check and leave. It doesn’t even matter if he refuses to tip her. She just wants him gone.
With shaky hands, Clarke delivers the bill, slipping it onto the table. She turns and walks away, holding her breath until she’s out of sight.
From behind the counter she watches them stand and head to the cash register. Avoiding eye contact, Clarke rings them up and takes the cash from his hand. He purposely brushes his fingers over her palm as the money is exchanged.
Against her better judgment, Clarke looks up into those blue eyes and finds herself lost in the memories of being in love. It’s so out of character for her to lose control that she quickly snaps out of it.
When the change is offered, he waves it away. “Keep it. Thanks, Clarke. We’ll see you around.”
She doesn’t reply. She can’t. It’s like she’s frozen in place. She’s unable to wrap her head around what transpired between them. Now more than ever, she needs answers. He can’t just waltz into her place of work and pretend he left her on good terms. He can’t act like he didn’t have his step-mother deliver the heart shattering news of him leaving, or the fact that he didn’t want the child she was carrying.
Clarke is so pissed when she clocks out that she knows she can’t go home.
Traveling at an unsafe speed, she heads to the one place where she can put all of her uncertainties to rest. She knows the risks. It’s possible Eli will be able to see right through her, but at least she can tell him where to go, and that she never wants to see him again. His charming ways aren’t going to change her mind. He ruined her life, and just as she’s about to get a second chance he shows up. It can’t be fate intervening. She won’t get robbed of her happiness for a second time.