Page 8 of Bring me Back
I said nothing to Marian. I never tried to be more outgoing like my parents, but I had a suspicion I wouldn’t be able to do it even if I tried really hard.
Fear was my most loyal companion.
It followed me down the streets I knew so well, and to the coffee shops I liked. It burned with me at every corner, every blond girl I saw. At least at the diner, I had Marian’s watchful eyes over me. Working there gave me more human interaction than I’d ever wished for, but my fear stayed away with Marian and Torres at my corner.
The owner took my training into her hands. Her eyes followed me around, correcting every other order I took. Marian might have sounded like a brute - the smoker’s voice didn’t help - but I took comfort in her personality. Not only it was familiar, but I had a lifetime trying to decode people’s half-words. Her brass attitude was godsend.
“Join us among the living!” I was taken from my head, as Marian poked a finger into my forehead.
I had the apology right on my tongue, but she continued talking. “You’re never present. You gotta be present, baby girl, because even with a big brain like yours, you won’t remember shit.”
She was full of confusing advice that didn’t help with the actual task in hand. With the same breath she spun her inspirational crap, she’d say, “I thought you knew the menu by heart, bubblehead.”
By the time I could take a break, my feet were protesting the incessant standing and my head was dizzy from all the talking. I decided to stay in the kitchen, chatting with Torres as he fried my crispy onion burger and told me tales of people I didn’t remember.
“The Bradshaw kid only lasted a couple of weeks…” Torres drawled, not worried who else could hear him over the fryer. “Too greasy, he tells me. Kid ever fried goddamn bacon? Telling you…”
Marian’s face appeared by the open door as she knocked it twice to get our attention.
“Preston is out there. Go have your burger with your daddy.”
It was a Thursday afternoon. Without the Thompson’s kid to mind the shop, Dad had to close it to come over. The uneasiness gripped me by the throat. I thought things were going well between us, but maybe I was wrong. Torres passed me my burger and fries, and even though I felt like I did something wrong, I headed to the customer area.
Turning the right corner, I could see Dad’s head over everyone else. He was a tall man, but it was his smile that always drew attention. Watching him from afar, I wondered why he never dated again. At forty-five, he was still young, but to my knowledge, he remained single all these years.
I shook my questions away and dropped my food on the table at the same time Marian approached with fresh coffee.
“How are you keeping, Preston?”
“Alright, Marian. Taking care of my girl?”
“She’s ours too.”
I curved my mouth in a little smile. Marian left without taking Dad’s order, but if I wasn’t mistaken, he wasn’t planning on staying for a meal.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Fried onions?” He started with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
It put me on edge. “You know me.”
Dad’s eyes scanned the diner, with a big inhale he asked, “Are you doing ok here, bug?”
I parted my lips, but closed them just as quickly. It was my first week, of course I was struggling. Again, I failed to reply to him. I didn’t mean to be silent, it simply happened. Dad rolled his shoulders back, his piercing blue eyes traced my features.
“What happened in the city, Hallie?”
I gulped and looked down. The rehearsed line fell off my lips. “I ran out of money.”
I heard him sigh, but I didn’t dare to look his way. “You were doing well out there. Working with that school theater…”
“I’m doing the same here,” I argued.
Well, technically, I hadn’t started just yet, but soon my life in Bluehaven was going to be very similar to the one I left behind. Minus the expensive housing.
“Yes, yes…” he agreed. “But I’m your dad and it’s my job to worry.”
I chewed on a fry, feeling like shit. I didn’t want him ever to worry about me. I could handle myself. “I’m ok, dad.” I looked straight into his eyes, trying to make him see.