By me.For us.
I pullinto the diner’s lot, the familiar neon sign of Bennett’s Place flickering against the midday sun. The parking lot is full, a testament to the popularity of the establishment despite its modest appearance. Through the windows, I can see the bustle of activity within and the new staff I hired moving seamlessly between tables. A small victory, perhaps, but it’s not enough. Not yet.
The staff I placed here have already proven their worth, lightening the load her parents seemed so eager to pile onto her shoulders. But even as I admire their efficiency, I hate that she feels obligated to return here at all.
Olivia shifts beside me, her gaze fixed on the diner. “It’s so busy!” she says before glancing at me, offering a small, hesitant smile. “Thank you for this. For everything.”
Her gratitude stirs something deep inside me, a mix of triumph and tenderness that makes my resolve all the stronger. I will ensure she never has to thank me for what she should have always had.
We step inside, and the noise greets us like a wave.
Claudia is the first to spot us, her face lighting up with the kind of beaming smile that has nothing to do with seeing Olivia and everything to do with seeing me. She approaches quickly, her voice overly bright.
“Nathaniel! Olivia! Welcome back!” she exclaims, her eyes darting briefly to the hired staff before returning to me. “Everything’s running so smoothly. Those workers you brought in—they’re a godsend.”
I incline my head. “I’m glad they’re helping,” I respond coolly, my hand resting on Olivia’s lower back as we move toward a booth.
Claudia follows, her tone turning sweeter than saccharine. “You know, I was just thinking…it would be wonderful if they could stay a little longer. Maybe a few more months? That would give Olivia so much more time to focus on her job hunt after graduation. Such a thoughtful gesture, don’t you think?”
The audacity fractures my patience. Still, for Olivia’s sake, I nod. “I’ll consider it.”
As we slide into the booth, Olivia offers me a menu, but I shake my head.
“You decide,” I tell her, watching a blush rise in her cheeks. She orders two club sandwiches as Claudia hovers like a shadow until we place our order.
The kitchen door swings open, and Ronald steps out.
His gaze sweeps the room briefly before landing on us, though his expression betrays no warmth or welcome.
“Back for lunch, huh?” he says curtly, his tone carrying the same dismissive edge I’ve come to associate with him.
His attention flicks to Olivia for the briefest moment, but it doesn’t linger. Instead, his focus shifts almost immediately to the floor staff, his eyes scanning the diner’s operations as though we’re nothing more than background noise.
“Things have been busy,” he adds, the words directed at no one in particular, his voice more commentary than conversation.
I straighten, my fingers brushing against Olivia’s beneath the table in a subtle gesture of reassurance.
“It seems the staff I hired are doing their job well,” I note, my tone calm but pointed.
Ronald pauses, glancing briefly in my direction. There’s something in his expression—a flicker of acknowledgment, perhaps—but he says nothing further. With a grunt, he turns and disappears back into the kitchen, his dismissal as clear as it is deliberate.
I feel Olivia shift beside me, her posture tensing. She doesn’t look up, but I can see the clench of her jaw.
I lace my fingers through hers beneath the table.
“Ignore him,” I coax softly, my voice for her ears alone.
The food arrives quickly, and we eat in relative silence, save for a few quiet compliments Olivia makes about the sandwiches. I can tell she’s trying to focus on the meal, trying to carve out a moment of peace despite the charged air around us.
But peace is fleeting.
Ronald returns to the booth, leaning against the counter as he speaks, his voice carrying a sharpness that slices through the space. “You know, Olivia, it’s nice of you to visit now and then. We’ve been fending for ourselves ever since you went offto Halford. I hope you remember how much we’ve sacrificed for you.”
The words have their intended effect, and I feel Olivia shrink beside me. My grip on her hand tightens as I turn my gaze to Ronald, my voice measured but cold. “What sacrifices, exactly?”
The question hangs in the air like a blade, the weight of it pressing down on the space between us.
Ronald falters, his mouth opening and closing as he searches for an answer.
