Chapter 5 Reese
Looking at her–with her round cheeks, straight nose, and wide green eyes–pulls at something in my chest. I realize I’m staring and should probably stop, but so is she, and I’m not sure if it’s a good thing.
Her expression looks practiced, poised, almost as if she’s had to mask her inner self before.
This morning at her flower booth, she was glowing. Absolutely radiant with joy, it’s almost like a completely different person standing in front of me now.
“Reese?” Mama pulls my attention with a soft chuckle. “What’re you drinkin’?”
“I’ll have whatever y’all are having,” chancing a look back up at her, meeting her eyes once more.
She nods and turns on her sensible shoes for walking on slick greased tile, and heads to the counter where an officer who looks familiar follows her movements until she disappears behind a swinging silver door.
I can’t dwell on it too much as an older woman wearing an apron smacks her behind with the towel thrown over her shoulder. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but I can see their eyes. They flit from me to where she disappeared and they whisper to each other.
Shaking my head, I glance back at my family realizing I’ve missed most of what my mother’s said in lieu of watching Goldie. The name suits her, even if I hadn’t bought the marigolds.
“What’s her name?” I ask no one in particular, hoping that I can get one of them to tell me.
“Who, the waitress?” Mama asks, and I nod.
Jarrett scoffs, and I catch the tail end of an eyeroll, “She’s Levi’s ex.”
That gets my attention, and one look at my mother confirms what he’s said. “And her name?”
I know my mother will sniff out my interest, there’s no hiding it, so I won’t bother.
“Dude,” Jarrett scorns, “she’s off limits. It’s weird.”
“Says who?” Leaning my elbows on the table, I level him with a stare, daring him to tell me I can’t be interested in a grown woman.
He leans back in his chair, throws his arms up and looks at Mama, “He can’t be interested in Lucy, she’s Levi’s girl.”
Mama doesn’t say anything, only offers him a look filled with tears ready to fall. Yates reaches across the table to grip her hand and squeezes.
“Let’s table this conversation for now,” Yates says.
Pulling my elbows off the table, I lean back satisfied with myself. I know her name now despite Jarrett’s temper tantrum.
Lucy.
She comes out holding a tray with four drinks and a pitcher that looks like more tea. Setting them down on our table she works with practiced movements, and if I had to guess I’d say she’s been doing this for a while.
“Do y’all know what you’re wantin’?” She asks, looking at everyone but me, though I notice her upper lip curl when she looks at Jarrett, and he has the good sense not to look at her.
Everyone orders, leaving me last. I haven’t had the chance to go over the menu, but it’s just like any other diner I’ve eaten at I’m sure. Her gaze lands on mine, and she grips her pen tighter.
“I’ll have whatever you recommend,” raising a brow I smile.
Her mouth twists down in a frown and she opens her mouth but nothing comes out. She closes her lips and rolls them, looking around the table at the rest of the family I hardly ever see.
She nods, and takes the menus, placing them between the napkin holder and the wall. Her smile looks forced as she walks away, and Mama once again begins a conversation that doesn’t revolve around Levi.
I know she doesn’t like to acknowledge the things Levi did and how many women he hurt. So I allow her topic change and we continue in relative whispers, until the older woman with the apron walks over with a tray of food.
“Cheeseburger?” She says with a smile, holding up a basket with a buttered bun to which Jarrett raises his hand.
She sets the basket down in front of him and announces the next, with practiced ease sliding each one across the table to my Mama and Step-Dad.
There’s nothing left on the tray and my smile tips up.
“Well, hon, what did you order?” She looks at me with a smile, and places the tray against her hip.
With a chuckle, I nod to Lucy. “I ordered whatever she recommended.”
There’s a twitch in the old woman’s cheek, a sneaky little smile tugs at her lips and I get the feeling she knows exactly what Lucy did.
“Well, let me go check on that, anythin’ else?” She asks, holding back the smile I recognize as conspiratorial.
Mama lets her know we’re good and she goes on her way. I can’t focus on whatever it is the table’s talking about, my eyes won’t leave Lucy. She makes a point not to come over, tending to other tables and making herself look busy.
The older woman comes back over with a basket and slides it in front of me with a smile.
The toasted sandwich looks perfect, melty cheese bubbles over the sides and a handful of onion rings sit beside it. She places a cup of ranch on the table with a wink and walks off. My eyes slide to Lucy who’s watching with thinly veiled contempt and a slack jaw.
Our eyes are locked as I lift the sandwich, take a large bite and wink.