Chapter 4 Brunch in Town
After Naya dropped me off that night, she instructed me to be ready for brunch the next day.
So, there we were, sitting at Moon Café.
They offered brunch on the weekends with a live deejay, and it would be my first time hanging out in town.
The whiskey tour was on the outskirts, like my family’s place.
That day, I attempted to prepare myself to see people I hadn’t seen in ages.
The music was loud but not overbearing, so it didn’t drown out conversations. Old school reggae was always a vibe. While Naya and I looked over the menu, I overheard a conversation from the table behind us.
“I heard she came back. Guess it’s true. She’s gotta be sad as hell after losing Jude,” said the girl seated behind us.
“I know, right? Losing the love of your entire life, that’s some sad shit. The insurance money probably ran out. She’s probably broke and had to run back home,” said the other girl at the table.
Naya couldn’t hear them, because she sat on the opposite side of the table, but I tried to keep my composure. The small-town gossip was to be expected. On a normal day, I wouldn’t entertain it. I understood people gossiped, but the music wasn’t that loud.
I turned around to see who sat behind me, and as soon as I did, their conversation stopped. Two girls I went to school with named Cindy and Tisha stared at me.
“Hey, ladies. Good to see you both. Just in case you were wondering, I still have the insurance money. Enjoy your meal,” I said and turned back around.
Naya burst out laughing. “Do you want to move tables?” she asked.
“No. We’re good right here. I just don’t want anyone to think money was the reason I came back,” I explained.
Naya shook her head as she continued to laugh. The server came over, and we placed our orders. Just as we finished placing our orders, I overheard Cindy and Tisha call the server over, asking her to change their table. I was glad they moved because I wasn’t going anywhere.
“How does it feel being back home?” Naya asked once the ladies left.
“I’ve been trying to figure that out. Being here brings up so many memories of my mom and Jude. I’m happy to be here with you and my grandparents; you know that. It’s just hard moving on without some people I love,” I said.
“I know that’s why you stayed in Oak River. I’m just glad to have you and Reign close. If it ever gets too hard being here, Harley, just let me know. I have some speeches prepared that’ll convince you to never leave me again,” Naya teased.
“I’m sure you’re prepared. I don’t plan on leaving. Reign needs stability. It’s important to me that she knows she has family,” I said.
The server came back with our meals and drinks. Once she left, Naya lifted her glass to toast. “To family,” she cheered.
I smiled as our glasses touched. Our conversation slowed as we enjoyed our meals.
“I’m so glad you brought me here. This food is good as hell,” I said.
“Right? This place never misses. Come on. Let’s go dance for a bit,” Naya said as she stood from the table.
I took a sip from my mimosa, then followed her to the dance floor as old-school 90’s hip-hop played. For a brunch spot, the place was jumping like a club. We danced until I felt myself sweating, then I went back to our table.
“I’m going to have to come here once a week,” I said.
“Maybe next time, it’ll be with a man. Harley, we need to get you back in the dating world.”
“I’ve technically never been in the dating world. I’m not even thinking about a man,” I replied.
“Why not? I mean, the way you and Micah were lost under each other’s gazes yesterday, something tells me you may change your mind about that soon,” she teased.
“Oh, please. There was no gaze between us. That man was being polite. Nothing more. He didn’t even speak to me again while we were there,” I replied.
“I thought he said plenty when he told you he would see you soon, Freckles,” she joked.
“Girl, please. Let’s get this check. All this heavy food and alcohol has me tired,” I said.
Naya pushed her food around her plate with a smirk on her face.
She was reading entirely too much into what Micah had said the day before.
Micah and I went way back. His mother and my mother were best friends.
Since our mothers were so close, we used to hang out often.
Once my mother passed away, I didn’t see his family much.
Micah and I were always cordial, but we didn’t hang out.
I didn’t think anything of his comment. After being back in town, I was sure we would see each other again.
It was a small town, after all. Naya and I settled up our tab, then headed out of the spot.
As we walked toward Naya’s car, I noticed an older gentleman across the street.
He stared at me as I walked toward it. I found it strange, but I didn’t let it bother me. He looked as if he’d seen a ghost.
Later that evening, I was at home, waking up from my nap.
I initially had a hard time falling asleep.
The look on the stranger’s face bothered me, but I was well rested, so I shook off the feeling.
It was six in the evening. My grandparents would be sitting down for dinner, so I headed downstairs.
Nana cooked every day, but on Sundays, she always made a feast, and my mouth watered as the smell of food hit my nostrils.
“Look who it is. Just in time for dinner,” PopPop teased.
“Yup, the smell of Nana’s Sunday ham woke me right up,” I joked.
Reign was in the dining room, helping Nana set the table as PopPop and I each grabbed a dish to take to the table.
Once everything was set, we sat down for dinner.
When PopPop led us in prayer, I was relieved.
I didn’t want them to ask me to bless the food again.
My head pounded from the drinks at brunch.
All I wanted to do was eat and get Reign ready for bed.
“I hope your time with Naya is helping you ease back into town,” Nana said.
“Yeah, we saw Micah yesterday at his family’s barn. That was a nice surprise. There were some gossiping chicks at brunch, but other than that, we had a good time,” I expressed.
“The town gossip mill is at it already, huh? They sure move quickly,” Nana expressed.
“They sure do, but I didn’t let that ruin my fun. The food is good at Moon Café, and the drinks were flowing. That was all I needed to have a good time,” I said.
“We’ve never been there. We leave the partying to the young folk,” PopPop said, causing Nana and me to laugh.
We continued to chat while we devoured the feast Nana prepared.
There was honey ham, mac and cheese, green beans, and cornbread.
I peeped under the cake container to see an apple pie.
If I wanted to enjoy the food there, I would need to work out.
I hardly ever ran in Oak River, but that was about to change.
In high school, I ran track, and it was my time on the track team that earned me a full scholarship to Tennessee State University.
“Oh, Harley, how is Micah doing?” Nana asked.
“We didn’t have time to chat. There was a large turnout at the whiskey tasting,” I explained.
“That’s good. It’s a shame you guys didn’t remain close after your mother’s passing. His mother—poor thing—she took losing your mom so hard. I mean, we all did,” she said with sadness.
It had been years since my mother’s passing.
No matter how much time passed, it was still hard to talk about her.
The mood shifted at the mention of my mom.
Nana and PopPop shared a sad look between them, and I focused on my plate.
My mother passed away when I was six years old, and the older I got, the less I remembered of her.
It was frustrating because I never wanted to forget her.