Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 135652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
“What?”
“Are you deaf? I said you’re looking at it! This is everything I have left.”
His harsh eyes soften slightly, his face seems to slacken, “Shit.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “Shit.” Then I sigh, sick of his presence. He’s too tall and it’s got to be hurting his back bending over like that. “Why are you here Nathan?”
He looks at the house, to the back of my car and then to me, “I don’t know.”
“Right. Well then maybe you should leave.”
“Yeah,” he agrees and stands. I watch him via the wing mirror returning to his large and flashy, black car that’s parked behind my crappy metal box on wheels. I didn’t see it pull up but I’m seeing it now, it’s huge. He climbs in and two seconds later he pulls away. Leaving me once again to my own thoughts.
Was he wearing a suit? He was wearing a suit.
Who wears a suit during a casual visit?
Caleb would rip the shit out of him for it I have no doubt about that. But Caleb isn’t here and he isn’t coming back.
I turn on the ignition, giving one last lingering look at the house that was mine. Then with tear filled eyes I head to work.
My boss lets me park directly outside of the doors, due to my car being full of my things, he winces when he sees me. “Go into the back, wash your face, have a few minutes and come back out.”
I don’t argue with him, I need it as much as he thinks I do. Probably even more.
My stomach gets in the way as I work, my ankles are swollen but I’m determined to keep going. The best part is I keep getting large tips because people see my stomach and how young I am and take pity. Right now I’ll take that pity. Their pity is what’s keeping me fed.
The ones who know about my circumstances don’t make eye contact with me. I’m unsure why this is. Maybe it’s a guilt thing because they have a house and a support unit. Knowing I don’t have either probably makes them feel bad to be in my presence. These people give me tips too.
“Hey,” Sasha says as she comes in with a few of her friends. “How are you doing?”
I shrug, “I’m fine.”
“Are you okay… to be working?” Honestly no, I’m in agony and everything hurts but it helps me get through the day. I don’t say this though.
“I’m fine I promise,” I respond and lower my eyes from her concerned stare. “What can I get you?”
She orders their drinks, I scribble it down on my notepad, my mind on where I’m going to go tonight. Then my boss swaps places with me, he starts taking orders and serving, I just make the drinks. I’m relieved for this change, my back ache’s becoming too much.
“Do you want to call it a day?” Sasha asks me as I potter about behind the counter, filling drink orders and toasting croissants. “I can take over your shift.”
I shake my head, “No. I…” have nowhere to go and I don’t want to sit in the car for another minute. “Thank you though. You’re a good friend Sasha.”
She touches my hand gently, “I wish I could do more.”
We share a sad smile before she leaves, it’s then I notice she’s left two twenties and a ten on the counter. Is this what I’ve become? A charity case?
I know she wouldn’t think of me like that but it still hurts to take hand outs. I’ve sunk so low.
“Why’d you leave me Caleb?” I whisper and turn away from the customers to reassemble myself.
I imagine him up there, outraged that he’s been taken. I imagine him banging his fists on the pearly gates watching me with tears of his own. He hates it when I cry, it breaks his heart.
So I need to stop.
For him I need to find my strength and get my shit together.
“You shouldn’t be working in your condition,” I wince at the sound of his voice and turn to face him. Two cups of coffee in my hands. “You look exhausted.”
I stare at Nathan and then I look away. “Why are you here?” Please leave, you look too much like him.
I place the drinks on a tray and slide them towards my boss.
“I followed you,” he states without hesitation. “I didn’t realise your pregnancy was so far along.” His familiar brown eyes flick to my protruding stomach.
“I didn’t realise you cared,” I say and it’s supposed to sound snappy but my voice sounds dead and flat. Exactly how I feel inside.
Nathan leans on the counter, chewing his lip like his brother did. It makes my eyes burn. “Where are you staying?”
“Why are you here?” My life isn’t his business, he didn’t care about his brother so why should he care about me? Not to mention the fact he assaulted Caleb the last time we saw him. “You live three hundred miles away. What do you want?”