“Thank you guys,” I squeaked out. “This means a lot to me. Really.”
“No sweat. It’s not much, but we wanted to do something for you,” Big John said from behind me. He patted my back and went back to the grill. “So, how’s your dad taking all this?”
I pulled myself from Smarty’s grip and wiped my eyes as Mena put her arm around me. “He’s actually...I don’t know. He had some kind of breakthrough or something. He’s almost back to his old self.”
“Really?” Mena said beside me. “Well, that’s great, honey.”
“Yeah, it is.”
I looked at them. Big John, I’m sure you can understand why he’s called that. He’s big and his name is...you guessed it. He’s the owner and the best boss anyone could ever have, I might add. He’s about forty five, bald, six seven and about two hundred seventy five pounds on him. So, big. His wife is Smarty, her real name is Alice but we all go by nicknames that Big John gives us so as to ward off stalkers. I think John just likes the feel it gives the place. She’s about thirty five and a slim as a woman can be without being gross. Her blonde hair is always in a ponytail and she’s the sweetest thing.
They both treated me like a daughter since I started working here right after both my parents abandoned ship. It was a perfect arrangement.
And then there are a few other waitresses that work here as well. Mena Bena, Rock Steady and Little Mama and another cook, Slim. I’ve never had any other job so I don’t know what it’s like anywhere else, but as much as I hear people complain it can’t be like this place.
We all laugh and cut up. The cooks sling burgers, pancakes and eggs to each other. The crowd we get loves to see them doing their little show when we get busy. They yell orders loudly, along with our nicknames and we bustle about with the radio blaring country the whole time. The customers seem to eat up the atmosphere as much as the food.
The revolving door chimed to signal a customer so we all dispersed and I headed to the bathroom to clean up my smeared face.
When I returned, I grabbed my pad and got to work.
After the lunch rush and dinner rush my shift ended. It flew by today and I was surprised to find I wasn’t as tired as I usually was. I blamed the good sleep I got from Caleb and secretly smiled. But I did feel the aches in my legs and back still. My head began to pound as I grabbed my purse and clocked out. I felt the ping of excitement as I realized I was about to see him.
I walked home briskly and put my bag on the foyer table as I came in the door. I went into the kitchen to see Dad trying to make dinner.
“Hey, Dad, what are you making?”
“Well,” he sighed unhappily as he lifted a lid and wrinkled his nose, “I was trying to make risotto, but apparently, cooking rice isn’t as easy as it sounds.”
I stifled a giggle. “Well, I can make us some grilled cheese?”
“I guess if we want to eat you might have to. I can’t cook. It’s sad how much I depended on you and your mother to do everything for me.”
“Dad.” I hugged him from behind and he patted my hands. “It’s ok. I’m not that great of a cook either. We’ll work it out, but for now, grilled cheese sounds pretty good to me.”
“You always take care of me,” he said softly.
“It’s no problem.”
I went to the fridge to grab the stuff I needed and when I turned back he was gone. So I made the sandwiches and called upstairs for him. He came down and thanked me for the sandwich, but ate in easy silence. When he was done he washed his plate and then took mine from me to wash as well. Then he smiled and kissed my forehead.
“Night. Sleep tight.”
“Goodnight, Dad.”
I then made my way upstairs, feeling lots of aches in my legs and back. My head pulsed with a headache so I took a scalding shower, placing my new bracelet on the sink, and waited for Caleb to get here so he could take it all away.
He came up and climbed in the window I’d left open almost as soon as I sat down in my chair. I ran to the window to greet him. He dropped his bag to the floor and pulled me into a feet-off-the floor hug. I moaned out loud as my face rubbed his neck and it eased every pain away. He chuckled.
“Me, too,” he whispered.
He cupped my chin and pulled my face up to kiss him. His lips were eager, but soft as he kissed my mouth and his arms enveloped me. The warm sensation spread from my lips to my face and neck. I finally pulled away and felt a ping of cold at the loss.
“Can we go to bed now? I’m just so ready to lie down with you,” I pleaded.
“Yeah,” he said firmly, like it was his idea.
This time he pulled off his jeans and stayed in his boxers leaving his t-shirt on. I silently compared him to Chad, mentally putting up a wall to block him first, of course…hopefully. Chad’s legs were skinny and really hairy. Caleb’s were thicker and tan with some hair, but not too much. The short view of his hips I had showed the same similarities. Where Caleb was more bulky and tan, Chad was skinnier and hairy. I have to say I was enjoying the change up.
We lay down after I put in Robin Hood, the one with Russell Crowe, on my little TV sitting on my dresser. I practically threw myself over him to lie on his chest as he wrapped his arm around me. He sighed several times as he ran his fingers through my hair and down my arm.
“You like Robin Hood?” he asked.
“I like all the Robin Hood movies, even Men In Tights.”
“Really?” He laughed. “That’s an odd girl choice.”
“I’m an odd girl,” I sighed.
“You’re not odd. You’re just different, in a good way.”
I smiled and nestled in closer. “So how did it all go with your dad today?
“Good. We've got the family helping us try to figure something out. Try to see what it is that Marcus is doing.” I nodded. “Today was almost unbearable,” he admitted into my hair.
“Yeah, it wasn’t fun,” I said and wondered if he ached the way I had. “And I have to work tomorrow, too.”
“Mmm,” he groaned. “What time do you go in?”
“Same,” I sighed.
“Well, we’re definitely testing the limits of our separation, aren’t we?” he said wryly. “Maybe we can see a movie or something after you get off. If you want to.”“Yeah,” I said through a yawn, feeling utterly loose and at peace after spending the last few hours in complete knots.
“Great. Go to sleep, Maggie,” he ordered softly.
“Thanks for staying with me so I can sleep. I felt better this morning than I ever have, I think.”
He kissed my forehead. “There’s nowhere else I want to be.”
And I probably fell asleep before he even finished his sentence.
The next day was pretty similar. It was horrible saying goodbye to him that morning knowing I wouldn’t see him until after work again, my veins protesting at the thought. He kissed me as we said goodbye and it was borderline painful. He tried to pull away and I reached around his neck to keep him there. He groaned a little against my lips so I didn’t think he was complaining, but he had to go and I had to start getting ready for work, so I pulled from him and licked my lips as if to keep the taste of him.
“Miss you already,” he declared gruffly.
“I can’t wait for tonight.”
“Me either. Have a good day at work.”
I nodded and that seemed to be enough to release me and he took off out the window as I ran to get ready.
I made sure to grab my bracelet before heading down and went slowly through my coffee and breakfast routine. Dad was MIA. Washing clothes in the basement I assumed as I heard the steady bang of the washer against the wood slats. I shook my head at him, but smiled at the same time.
I got to work and it was pretty busy already so I got right to it. The hours flew by in unheard of fashion and soon I was clocking out with aching legs and a pounding behind my eyes. I longed for Caleb and knew I would see him in a few minutes had my fingers twitching with anticipation.
When I checked my phone in my purse, I had a text.
Sorry. So, so sorry. I can’t make it tonight for movie. Helping my dad with some important stuff, but I’ll come later tonight and climb through your window, Juliet, if you’ll still have me?
My heart plummeted. As I waved to everyone and walked through the revolving door, I sat on the bench outside, not wanting to go home yet.
Though I was disappointed, I understood that I wasn’t the only thing in his life, just like he wasn’t mine—hello, I’d just spent all day at work—and texted back.
It’s ok. And you can climb through my window anytime, Romeo. Can’t wait.
I waited and leaned back on the bench feeling the effects of not being with Caleb all day starting to dominate my thoughts. I felt more tired and my back was starting to feel crampy. It was amazing how this worked. It sucked, but it was amazing.
My phone dinged with a message.
You’re an angel. I promise to make it up to you. Can’t wait to see you. Be there after 10:00 with a snack :)
I stood, threw my phone into my bag and almost ran into someone.
Kyle.
“Hey,” he said with a hand to steady me on my arm.
“Hey,” I said and pulled away gently. “I’m just getting off.”
“I know. I hoped I’d catch you before you got home.” I looked at him quizzically. “Caleb sent me to watch out for you.” Now I knew that was a flat lie and gave him a look that said so. He recanted. “Ok. He didn’t send me, but I knew he was gone so I figured I’d come keep you company.”