I contained my startled laugh. Barely. “No. I guess you can thank my great Grandmother. We make dinner together every night. So I’m used to the prep, serve, and cleanup process.”
“Leave the rest of those tables for me and come sit.” She set the sandwich on the table I just finished wiping down. “This is for you. Let me know what you think.”
She sat in the chair across from me, dumped the contents of the tip jar on the table and started counting. I sat and took a bite savoring the delicious flavors. She smiled at my expression. While I ate, I watched her count.
“I have to admit this is more than usual. Don’t get your hopes up that it’ll be this much tomorrow. Someone tossed in a five.” She handed me nineteen dollars and some change. Half of the tip jar for less than half of the work she did.
I wanted to protest, but I needed the money. I knew my future. I’d be alone raising kids in just a few short years. Well, not alone. I’d have my mom just like my mom had Gran. So, I nodded my thanks and pocketed the money. Then, I finished my sandwich.
When I stepped outside, the wind buffeted me and I thought again of getting a different coat. In spite of the cold, I looked up at the overcast sky hoping for snow. A Christmas without snow just didn’t feel like Christmas. The money in my pocket called to me wistfully. It’d be nice to earn enough to buy everyone real presents, but we had a standing rule in our house. No purchased gifts. Everything had to be homemade.
Lost in thought, I didn’t hear someone calling my name at first. The second time it rang out, it registered, and I turned around.
Parked a few feet behind me, I spotted Clavin’s car. Clavin himself opened the driver’s side door and struggled to get out. He looked pale and unhappy. Limping toward me in his cast, he wordlessly handed me a note.
Go to her. She’s at the Coffee Shop. She will help you get the rest you need.
I read it again. Say, what?
Looking up at Clavin, I really studied his face. The sunken dark flesh around his eyes, the hollowness of his cheeks, he didn’t look well. “Are you having problems sleeping?”
“Since I last saw you, every time I close my eyes I see…” he hesitated, closing his eyes briefly. “Its eyes...” He shoved his shoved his hands in his pockets and ducked his trying to keep his ears warm. He spoke softly and I had to strain to hear his next words. “Its horns…”
So he dreamt of Morik. But why would Morik send him to me? I thought he didn’t like Clavin. My eyes flicked to his cast. Wasn’t the idea to prevent me from picking a boy so Morik would have a chance to spend with me? I looked at Clavin again. Although I’d forgiven him, there was still no way I would ever choose him. Maybe Morik knew that. But it didn’t explain why he sent him to me. Did Morik really care that Clavin wasn’t getting any sleep? Maybe he felt guilty for walking Clavin in front of a car.
While I debated, Clavin started to shiver.
“Fine,” I said with a sigh. “Give me the keys and I’ll drive us to my house.” He handed them over willingly. I hadn’t thought he would. “You really look like crap.”
Taking pity on him, I helped him to the passenger door. “I’ll let you sleep at my house for a while, but I’m kicking you out in an hour. Got it?”
He nodded his agreement, relief plain on his face.
I parked in front of our house a few minutes later. Listening to Clavin’s hobble as he followed me to the door, I dreaded what Gran would say. Silence greeted me when I opened the door. Danielle’s chair sat empty. A called out a hello as we removed our jackets, but no one answered. A first. I wondered if they’d gone to visit the widower Gran had mentioned.
A note sat on the table from Mom and Aunt Grace stating they went shopping and would be home before dark. I shook my head at the last part. Of course, they would. She also added a note asking me to take a picture of myself. The camera lay on the table. I ignored it.
After hanging Clavin’s coat over mine, I led him to my room and pointed him in the direction of my bed. I stayed far away from him and he wearily laid back. A boy in my bed. I couldn’t quite process the thought. A boy I didn’t really care for. I still questioned why he was even here as I watch him pull a quilt over himself.
Trying to stay in a charitable mindset, I didn’t think about how I would need to wash my bedding quick before dark… well, I didn’t think about it much.
Clavin had barely closed his eyes when his breathing deepened. Tired from work, I turned to leave the room and relax on the couch. Morik’s voice stopped me.
“I trust you don’t mind if I use Clavin?”
I spun around and stared as Clavin sat up. It was one thing for me to talk to Morik at school. Talking to him here made my heart jump in fear. I’d brought this unknown creature into my home. I backed toward the door another step. Suddenly, I was very glad no one else was home.
“How did you know where I was? Where I would be?” My voice remained steadier than my pulse.