14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Aunt Beth lets me come back to the diner a week later, once I’ve been fully cleared by my doctors.
I don’t remember seeing Jake at the bar that night but Raquel attests to the fact that he was there.
The police department got the security footage from the restaurant that night and Aunt Beth told me that Jake was brought in for questioning not long after we got home from the hospital.
It’s nice to settle back into my routine of being at the diner and around my friends. Raquel and Penny checked up on me while I was off work, and Graham text me every single day to check in. He’s thoughtful that way.
I’m sitting in the break room with Raquel while Penny is out on the floor. It’s been a busy morning so far, but there’s a lull and we’re taking advantage of it.
Graham walks in, holding two plates of steaming breakfast. I catch a whiff and my stomach grumbles. He sets one in front of Raquel — a bagel sandwich, and then sets the other one down for me. My breath catches as I read the words he’s written around the plate and on my omelette in ketchup.
“So?” he asks, cocking an eyebrow. “Will you go to dinner with me tonight?”
Raquel is frozen, bagel in hand and her mouth open. They both stare at me, waiting for my answer.
“Absolutely,” I say and a smile spreads across Graham’s face.
“Told you it was a matter of when and not if,” he says, grinning.
I recall our conversation during the Fourth of July festival while eating our pickle pizza.
Raquel sets her sandwich down and squeals with excitement as she grabs for her napkin.
“Graham!” Beth calls out from the kitchen.
He quickly glances behind him and then looks back at me. “I’ll pick you up around five tonight, okay?”
“That sounds great.” I pick up a fork and stab at the omelette, my stomach growling.
“Oh, this is perfect!” Raquel exclaims after Graham ducks back into the kitchen. She grabs her sandwich again and takes a bite. She chews her bite for a moment before she asks, “What are you going to wear?”
I glance down at my jeans and sneakers, baggy T-shirt, and apron.
“What, is my apron not sexy enough for you?” I ask playfully. I grab the loose ends from the knot holding it to me and swing them at her in my best burlesque move.
She laughs. “You have to look good,” she says, “not that you don’t now, but this is important. You both deserve some happiness. Besides, we’ve been waiting for this all summer.”
I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean, ‘we’?”
“Beth and I,” she says as she takes another bite. “He’s had it bad for you since day one.”
I think about what she’s said, replaying every interaction Graham and I have had since we met. I start to get self-conscious about my appearance. I mentally flip through my closet as we sit there, wondering what I can wear and if it will be up to her standards.
“We’re both off at three,” she continues, “I could come over and help you get ready if you want.”
“Sure,” I say. I don’t want to admit to her that besides the date with Jake — if you can really even call it that — I’ve never been on a decent first date before. I have no idea what I’m doing.
“Perfect.” She smiles. “It’s a date.”
Raquel and I head back home later that afternoon to start making me over for my first official date with Graham. I sit on my bed, watching as she stands in front of my closet, flipping through item after item.
“No,” she repeats as she moves another hanger to the left. “No, no, no.” Three more slide along to the discarded section.
At this point, I’m beginning to wonder if I have anything at all that she will deem worthy of such an occasion. It isn’t until she is at the back of my closet that I hear her say, “Yes. This…” she turns around, “this will work.”
She’s holding a pale pink sundress with small roses on it. I’d forgotten that I had it and it honestly reminds me of the wallpaper in the bathroom I share with Beth. She tosses it to me and declares, “I want to see the full visual. Try it on.”
I laugh at her dramatics but do as she commands.
I trudge down the hallway and close the bathroom door before stripping my work clothes off and sliding the dress over my skin.
It’s airy and soft, perfect for a late-July evening in Driftbay.
I glance over my reflection for a moment before I open the door and walk back to my bedroom.
She smiles as she sees me.
“I love it,” she says. “It’s perfect. Now.” Raquel puts her hands on her hips and glances around my bedroom. “What are you planning to do about your hair? Makeup? Shoes?”
I shrug.
She turns back to my closet and starts surveying the options for footwear.
“What size shoe are you?” she asks as she picks up a pair then sets them back down.
“Nine,” I say, resuming my perch on the bed. I fidget with the chain around my necklace, the peridot charm turning into a worry stone.
She turns around and bends down, undoing the sandals on her feet.
“Me, too,” she says, “and these would look perfect with that dress. Trade me!” She tosses the sandals to me and I barely catch them. I slip them on and then get up, grabbing a pair of Converse out of the closet to give to her.
She directs me to the bathroom, to help me with my makeup.
She carefully applies a touch of eyeliner and directs me on how to properly apply contour and blush.
It’s like a crash course in the beauty industry by the time she’s done with me.
She curls my hair, something I never do.
By the end of the afternoon, I barely recognize myself, but in a good way.
My features are highlighted by the makeup, not overshadowed.
My hair flows gently down my shoulders like a waterfall and frames my face nicely.
She steps back into the hallway and smiles as she admires her handiwork.
“You’re ready,” she says.
“Really?” I ask. I look down at my feet and wish I'd had time for a pedicure.
“Have fun,” she says before kissing my cheek, “and I expect to hear about everything!” She lets me go and heads to the front door. She turns back to blow me a kiss and ends up colliding with Beth in the doorway.
Raquel is a hurricane no matter where she is.
“Sorry,” Raquel says as she steps around Beth. She offers me a small wave before she dashes out the door.
Beth shuts the door as I walk down the hallway. She slowly turns around and sets the bag of groceries down on the table in the entryway as she takes in the sight of me.
“Thea,” she breathes, her lips curling up into a smile. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I blush at her compliment. “Graham asked me to dinner tonight.”
“So I’ve heard.” She places a hand on her hip. “He talked about it all afternoon after you left.”
“Really?” I ask. I find it hard to imagine someone being that excited to take little ole me out to dinner.
“Really.” She nods. “Is he coming here or are you meeting him somewhere?”
“He said he’d pick me up here.”
She nods again. “Well, I won’t keep you.” She glances at her watch. “He should be here any minute.”
“Is Charlie coming over for dinner?” I ask, nodding at the groceries.
“Yes,” she says and I can’t help but notice the giddiness in her voice.
Being smitten looks good on her.
“Be safe and have fun. I love you!” she calls out over her shoulder as she heads towards the kitchen.
I laugh as I walk to the doorway, unsure of what to do with myself until Graham arrives. I look at the phone in my hand; it’s four fifty-eight.
Two minutes later at exactly five o’clock, Graham rolls into the driveway…on his golf cart.
I meet him outside as he climbs out of it.
“Hi,” he says, grinning. There’s a bouquet of daisies in his hand.
“Hi,” I repeat, eyeing the golf cart suspiciously. I laugh nervously.
“The golf cart,” he begins as he walks around it to me. “I remember you saying cars still freak you out after the accident, so I thought it might be better to take you to dinner in this.” He hands me the flowers and motions at the golf cart. “Your chariot awaits.”
My heart swells at the gesture. I can’t believe he remembered that small detail from a conversation weeks ago.
I bring the flowers to my nose and take a breath of their sweet scent as I reach for his outstretched hand.
“Thank you,” I say, with a smile.
“You’re quite welcome.” He takes my hand and leads me to the golf cart and helps me in. I know Beth is watching from the kitchen window but I’m too excited to care.
Graham looks good tonight. He’s exceptionally handsome in his dark jeans and light blue polo. He smells freshly showered, his minty aftershave sharp and clean.
He climbs in and starts the engine. It rumbles to life and jerks a bit as he puts it in reverse to back out of Beth’s driveway.
Graham pulls out onto the main road and we ride along, well under the speed limit.
Thoughts of the last time I was in his golf cart surface, but I banish them from my mind.
I don’t want to think of that disastrous night, not when one so good is within my grasp.
I can’t help but laugh each time we get passed by other drivers.
He makes a big show of motioning for them to go around us.
It’s endearing that someone would put this much thought into making sure I am comfortable.
For the first time since the accident, my chest doesn’t feel heavy being in a moving vehicle.
“So, where are you taking me?” I ask as the warm late-July air whips my hair around my face. I brush a strand behind my ear as I wait for his answer.
“Regiano’s,” he replies. “I hope you like Italian food.” He glances at me and winks.
Notably, the same restaurant that Charlie and Beth had their first date at. It’s the fanciest restaurant in town. I’ve heard it’s decent, but not as good as the diner, according to Beth’s customers. Though, they might be a tad biased.