“Thanks.” Everyone says in unison. We all dig in while Angie continues going over what’s happening for the week, and what we need to do. Thank God the list isn’t long. Though she’s always telling us if we find other people looking for work to send them her way. She wants to give us enough employees that we can take off whenever we need.
Now that the meeting is done, everyone forms their own little groups to talk and finish eating. Carlos pulls out a chair next to mine. “So how did the everything go with Joan’s son yesterday?”
“I’m not sure.” I kept waiting for her to let me know, but my phone never went off. I checked it the entire time I was at my mom’s house. Not a single missed text or call.
“Oh.” Carlos rubs his neck. “Hopefully it went well. Coming into a family isn’t exactly the easiest.”
“So, I’ve heard.” If anyone knows it’s him. He’s gone through this with less than stellar circumstances. Caroline’s ex-husband was kind of a jerk and didn’t make things easy for either of them.
“Are things okay between the two of you?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You look like someone just kicked your puppy.”
“Just a misunderstanding, but I plan on clearing it up as soon as I can.” It sounds like it needs to be sooner rather than later. Also, I kind of hate that everyone can read me so easily. I guess it’s because I’m always the happy one. The person who brings everyone else up.
“Good.” Without another word he stands and walks over to Angie and Stella. He’s looking at a paper Stella is holding and shaking his head. I’m guessing it’s about Halloween and we’ll be having the party on the weekend. Perks of being one of the bosses. He’s part of the final call.
We have about an hour before we open, and I make my rounds to get everything cleaned up. Bands only play here on the weekend, so I go to the radio we have set up and pick a station to set the mood. Once indie alternative plays through the speakers, everyone else groans. They should have beat me to the radio.
Patrons trickle in as the day progresses. Our regulars are here for lunch and they order the same thing every time. It must be a comfort for them because I know I’d get tired of it. I help the waitstaff by refilling drinks and taking care of any tables they need me to.
An unexpected face shows up at the bar, and I pause wondering what the hell I did now. Joan’s ex-husband is the last person I expected to see. He takes a seat in front of me, and leans his elbows on the table. “What can I get you?”
He doesn’t even bother looking over the menu I slide in front of him. “Sweet tea and wings.”
“Do you want fries with that?”
“Sure.” Well, isn’t he all warm and cuddly?
I put the order in with Patrick and get Keith his tea. A part of me wants to hang out in the kitchen for a bit. Whatever brought him here can’t be good, and it most certainly has to do with Joan and their kids.
Before I chicken out, I bring Keith his tea and set it in front of him. “So, why do I have the pleasure of your company today?”
There’s no need to beat around the bush. Better to get this confrontation out of the way so we can both get on with our day.
“What’s going on with you and Joan? When we saw the two of you at the fair, she was happy and looked lighter than she has in a while. Then yesterday when we told our kids about her dating, she was upset.”
We really need to be around people who can’t read us so well. Now to figure out how to answer. “Well, I may have overreacted when I found out she hadn’t told the kids about us yet. It leaned into an insecurity I had, and I didn’t handle it well.”
“Figures,” he mutters just loud enough for me to hear. “Do you plan on figuring it out? Or, are you going to keep acting like a child about it?”
I see the dig for what it is. He doesn’t think she should be dating someone my age. Too bad it’s not his call. “I’m actually working on my plan right now.”
“Good.” Patrick interrupts us to set Keith’s order in front of him. “I don’t want to get involved in your relationship, but you need to know Joan is probably the best woman I’ve ever known, and she deserves the world.” As much as I want to interject about him not being able to provide that for her, I don’t. “She’s happy with you, and you need to fix whatever is broken between you.”
“Understood.” He’s giving a directive and not asking what I want to do. Making up with Joan is at the top of my list. I leave him to his lunch to serve another customer who sits on the other end of the bar. It doesn’t take long, but when I come back with the bill his card is already out to pay.
I take it from him and process the payment before bringing it back to him for his signature. As I slide him the receipt, he hands me a napkin with writing. “If you really care about Joan, you’ll make things right. That’s where Isaac’s tournament is this weekend.”
“Um, thanks.”
He signs his receipt and leaves. When I glance down at it, I’m shocked to see he left a decent sized tip. Maybe he doesn’t hate me after all.
Since there’s only one person at the bar now, and he’s happily eating his lunch, I pull out my phone and send a text to Joan.
Eric: Will I see you at work this weekend?
