It wasn’t a large diner, but then are they ever? There might be 14 tables then the bar. I had just gotten up from my table and walked the bill up to the cash register. These are the best places. The small places. These places where they know your name, know what you’re going to drink, even when to expect you. There are no surprises here. I know what they will be serving and I know the people who are going to be there.
I look back at the booth where Jenny is. What A life we’ve had. I remember back to when we were dating. All the great times we had. We were high school sweethearts. How often does that happen? I remember prom. I drove my dad’s ’57 Chevy. It was two-tone black and white. Not that candy-apple red you always see now. It had matching two-tone vinyl interior and a backseat the size of a motor home. Her blonde hair looked like golden fibers against it. My dad spent years restoring the car and that was the first time he ever let me drive it. That night as I stared into her blue eyes she told me that no one had ever made her feel like I did, and I told her that I felt the same. Later the same night she gave me her pendant necklace and from that moment on I knew we would be together forever.
When we danced it was magic. Sometimes everything around us seemed to move so fast, and others everything was completely still. Only she and I existed. We were alone on the dance floor with nothing except the music in our ears.
I took her to the coast that summer. We spent the days in the ocean, the evening dining and drinking, and the nights in the shore where the water met the land. She said that my love was like how the water collapsed over her and was able to caress and touch every part of her body at once.
“Hey there blue-eyes, how are we today?” Carol asked shaking me from my memory.
“Doing great Carol.” I replied. “Really great.” And I handed her my bill and a twenty.
She began pushing buttons and I turned back to the booth and little Andrew was back. He was 4 years old now. I could see myself every time I looked in his eyes. Sure he didn’t look much like me; he got most of his facial features from his mother. He is the most beautiful child I have ever seen with his multi-brown-toned highlighted hair and eyes as dark as the coffee in my cup. I guess I might be a little Bias. He’s a great kid though. You take him out to eat and he’s always so good, listens to his mom and doesn’t ever whine or complain. He even says please and thank you to the waitress.
“So how was your meal today?” Carol asked.
“Great as always Carol.”
“Any plans for today?”
I looked back at the booth.
“No, just kind of laid back I think.” I said with a smile growing across my face.
I turned back to Carol as she handed me my change. I shoved the few fives and ones into my pocket keeping the odd change and some ones in my other hand to leave as a tip.
I set the tip down on the table and when I looked up John was sitting next to Jenny with his arm around her. His long auburn hair and beard, so perfect, so different. He wore khakis to breakfast on Saturdays. He didn’t fit, not here. He leaned over and gave Jenny a kiss on the cheek and Andrew screwed up his face thinking it was gross.
I stumbled over a chair leg as my attention was focused on the booth across the way. An older couple passed by the booth and I heard the woman comment on how Andrew looked just like his father. My brow furrowed and I reached the door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I said as I pushed open the door to leave. No one responded.
I crossed the street to my car and opened the door. I leaned on the top of the car and looked back into the diner. I could still see Jenny as she laughed. I slowly slid down into the car where my exposed skin almost instantly stuck to the vinyl seat s in the car and I closed the door. I sat there in silence for a moment watching the sunlight reflect from the triangular charm hanging from the mirror, then started the car. I turned the dials on the a.m. radio until I found a station playing music, trying not to be too obsessive. I didn’t have to obsess though, not this time. Most people anymore only know Otis for Sitting on the Dock of the Bay, but not the a.m. I sat back in the seat leaning against the headrest as Redding bellowed “Don’t make me stop now! No, no, no, don’t make me stop now! I love you, I love you, I love you with all my heart. And I can’t stop now!” Before pulling away I looked in my rearview to make sure nothing was coming, but settled my eyes on the backseat forgetting to pull away.

end.

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