by Pepper Pace
The drive to Nicole’s apartment was quiet. Marty pulled into the parking lot but stopped her before she could jump out of the truck.
“Nicole, if you need anything, let me know. I mean it.”
“Thanks.” She replied without looking at him. She grabbed her bags and rushed to her apartment.
As soon as she had the door closed behind her Nicole began to shake. She leaned her back against the door and closed her eyes surprised to feel wetness there. She was just too disappointed to fight back the tears, though.
***
Nicole had dumped the smelly items in her refrigerator and did the laundry before she even noticed that she had a number of telephone messages. Who would be calling her? She didn’t have any friends anymore and her family was a joke.
She listened anxiously to the recorded voice of Mr. Rodriguez of District 12 Police. They had found the woman that had hit her, or rather she had found them. Apparently the poor lady had been looking for her.
After the accident she had been too frightened of moving Nicole so she had gone looking for a pay phone. Even after she had found the telephone she couldn’t tell the police how to get to the site of the accident. When she finally got back to the accident site with the police Nicole and the bike were gone.
Officer Rodriguez had left the woman’s phone number for Nicole to contact her concerning Insurance issues and instructed her on how to get back in touch with him in case she wanted to press charges. Nicole’s heart lightened. That lady hadn’t screwed her! The world wasn’t full of fucked up people with fucked up agenda’s!
The last thing on Nicole’s mind was pressing charges. After all, an accident was an accident. But if she could, maybe the insurance could get her bike replaced, and not to mention the out of pocket hospital and medicine expenses.
Nicole called Miss Westmoreland, the woman who had hit her, and she really was a nice motherly type. They exchanged insurance information and Miss Westmoreland insisted on paying for a new bike out of her own pocket. Nicole didn’t feel comfortable with that, but trying to change the mind of a motherly-type with a guilty conscious was impossible so before they hung up, the two made a date to go out bike shopping the next morning.
That night when Nicole finally went to bed she was exhausted for the first time in a long while. The strain of seeing Kendall and Marty together not to mention the move made sleeping difficult. A big part of her wanted to quit her job so she’d never have to see either of the two again. But it had been a while since she’d gotten a decent paycheck and there was rent and living expenses to think about. Besides, the big reason she had chosen THE DOWN HOME CALABASH was the flexibility in hours. She could get her 40 hours a week spread evenly over the weekend. How many places allowed you to do that?
Eventually she fell into a restless sleep. She dreamt about the past, but it was Marty and not James that she was with. Alicia was with them and it was the way Nicole had always wished it could be…Mommy, Daddy and Baby. She awakened the next morning with tears on her cheeks.
Miss Westmoreland picked her up bright and early the next morning and insisted on taking her out for a big breakfast and then they went to the sporting goods store. She replaced Nicole’s mediocre bike with a state of the art European Tour-de-France racer. Nicole drew the line when Miss Westmoreland tried to purchase the matching helmet. Although it was out of her price range she bought it herself to appease her. They ended their day by stopping at the grocery store where Miss Westmoreland craftily paid for Nicole’s purchases by mixing them with her own and paying for them on her credit card.
It made Nicole nostalgic for a mother. She had to wonder if this is the way a normal Mother would be? Nicole had never had one or been one. Her mind slipped back to the past and once more she could see the drug paraphernalia spread out on the cocktail table. James was nodding and Alicia…
She picked up the telephone. She had one purpose and one purpose only, and that was to move ahead; even if she had to live in a crappy one bedroom efficiency, even if she had to work with Marty and Kendall.
Despite her resolve her palms began to sweat as the phone began to ring. She hated that she felt the least bit of nervousness at speaking to Marty. She refused to entertain that it wasn’t nervousness but anticipation.
With relief she heard Fred’s voice instead of Marty’s.
“You know you don’t need to come back so soon.” He said.
“I feel better and I need to get back to work and school. What’s the schedule like Friday?”
“Kendall was scheduled at your station. But she’s here now. I’ll let her know to either take the day off or do prep. Guess what?”
“What?”
“Marty made me Manager. And I got a big-ass raise.”
Nicole screamed and jumped up and down happily.
“It’s about time!”
“Yeah, it was right on time. The dang fool went and broke his hand so he’s out today.”
Nicole felt an unwelcomed jolt. “Marty broke his hand? How?”
“You know Marty. He probably punched the wall or something.”
“Alright Fred.” She said, forcing thoughts of Marty out of her head. “Are you going to be in tomorrow?”
“I’m not supposed to be, but I’m like a Doctor on call…”
Nicole chuckled. “I hear ya. Well I’ll talk to you later.”
Friday evening Nicole strapped on her new helmet and tentatively sat on the bike. As she pedaled into the street she dry swallowed and realized that she was afraid. She looked at the busy traffic, heart hammering in her chest. With sweat pouring down her back she kept pace with the traffic. Her thighs burned a bit from a lack of exercise but after a few moments her confidence returned in small baby steps.
With the better bike she was at work in next to no time. She chained it out front and walked through the back door removing her helmet.
“Hey, Nicole.”
“What’s up Baby Girl?” She heard the familiar greetings and instantly felt at home. This restaurant was more than a job to Nicole; it was her family…her only family anymore.
Marty was grilling T-bones, some burgers, and making a deep fried catfish, expertly juggling each task even with the cast on his hand. He didn’t raise his eyes once to greet her.
God he looked good, she thought. He was just wearing the same clothes he always wore; jeans and a t-shirt with the sleeves cut off. But somehow his arms looked bigger and the tattoo on his bicep stood out more. His shaved head gleamed still retaining the summers tan, smooth and newly shaved. Marty’s goatee even looked…better. And not to mention his muscled legs in the faded jeans…booty looking like it should be pinched…full lips looking like they should be kissed…
Nicole’s cheeks felt suddenly warm. She inhaled slowly and approached her station.
Marty paused long enough to glance at her. “Baby Girl, I need two banana puddings.” Although his tone was flat, the use of the nickname surprised her. At his house he called her Baby Girl, or Baby, all the time—but had never done it at work.
“Thank you.” She replied and quickly plated the desert.
Fred gave her a quick hug. “You ready to take over?” She smiled and nodded. “Okay, then I’m outtie. Yo, Marty. Call me if you need me.” Fred said as he headed out the back door. Marty just grunted some reply. It lLooked like he was back to his old self.
“Nicole.” Marty said. She turned to him, heart racing in expectation.
“Yes?”
“You’re going to need to do some stock. We’re almost out of 10 inch lids and carryout trays. Also bring back some condiments; salt, pepper and ketchup. When you get back make salad dressing.
“Okay.” He turned back to the grill and plated some burgers. She went out back to the shed a little hurt that he was so impersonal. Didn’t he care how she felt anymore? He was setting the stage. It only made it easier for her to play the game.
The next few hours went just the same. He wasn’t mean to her, nothing like that. But
she couldn’t stop remembering evenings on his oversized sofa watching movies and munching popcorn, laughing and going for walks…not to mention the feel of his rough hands again as they stroked her breasts. But, at the same time, she could still see him in the freezer kissing and moving his body intimately with Kendall in the way she had hoped-
With a grimace she closed the door on the memories of good times with Marty. Closing those doors was nothing new to her.
11:00 couldn’t come soon enough. She hurried to leave bidding everyone goodnight. Marty was staring at her so hard that she hesitated; remembering how he had said that he didn’t think it was safe for her to be riding her bike at night. But when he didn’t speak she silently strapped on her helmet and left. Marty no longer had a say in her well being.
Saturday dawned bright and sunshiny. Saturday and Sundays were her long days where she worked ten hours each. Monday was the only day a week that she had off and it made it very difficult for her to get as close to a 40 hour work week as she could. Sometimes she didn’t make it and had to juggle everything but the essential—schooling, which always came first. Eating, electricity, heat came last.
After taking a long hot bath she examined herself critically. The bruising had faded considerably. The cuts and scrapes were for the most part gone. Her shoulder no longer hurt when she raised it and other then some bruising still visible on her legs and thighs Nicole felt pretty well onto good-as-new.
She slipped on a pair of black jeans that she hadn’t been able to fit into for months and then a sleeveless t-shirt. Even though it was fall you could count on it being hot in back.
She pulled on her bomber jacket and secured the helmet on her head. Then got on her bike and pedaled quickly to the restaurant. Her resolve was even stronger to put thoughts of her and Marty’s past week together out of her mind. It was quite possible that he would be starting something with Kendall and if that was the case she was going to ignore it.
‘Lord, just let me finish school. That’s all. Then this nightmare can end.’ She prayed. With one final thought she lowered her head before she pedaled off. ‘Lord, I think I love him…’
When Nicole got to work Kendall was already there and at Nicole’s station. Awkwardly she walked up to her.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Nicole asked in the way of a greeting.
Kendall gave her an up and down look before answering.
“Somebody needs to let me know where the hell I’m supposed to be working. The schedule had me on this station this weekend.”
Marty flipped a sheet of bacon on to the grill. “That’s not your station. That’s Nicole’s station. You’re filling in for her.”
With that said Nicole tied on an apron and moved on to check her stock. This wasn’t her fight.
“Well what do you want me to do, Marty?” Kendall asked with an attitude.
Obviously she had forgotten who she was giving attitude to; King of the bad attitudes. Marty turned to her slowly.
“Kendall.” Marty’s voice was even but his look was heated. “Do cold prep.” That’s your station, isn’t it?” Kendall huffed but retreated. Nicole just kept loading her station thinking the same thing that Marty was probably thinking; this is what happens when you screw your employees.
“How are you feeling?” He asked matter-of-factly. Well at least he was back to acknowledging her.
“Fine. Thanks.” She responded politely.
He hesitated. “It’s going to be a long day, Nicole. If you feel tired just let me know and you can go into the office and rest.” He took in the sight of her fading bruises but instead of commenting on how good she was looking he turned and went to the walk-in, which happened to be where Kendall was. Nicole dismissed her curiosity although she couldn’t completely rid her mind of an image of their previous refrigerator unit humping. She made herself an extra large coffee and hunkered down for a long day.
At six Marty sent her on break before the dinner rush. Unfortunately he sent Kendall on break as well.
Nicole didn’t have much of an appetite but she ladled up a small bowl of chili and a large glass of iced tea. She sat down at the bar to talk to the waitresses and get caught up on gossip, which politely didn’t include her.
Kendall suddenly appeared beside her with a plate of french fries. She sat down.
“Why didn’t you say you were fucking Marty?” She asked in a casual voice. The front line waitress gasped and then there was almost a stampede as the others rushed to witness-what they assumed- would be an impending fight.
Nicole’s mouth dropped and she looked at Kendall in shock. “Kendall, are you out of your mind?!”
“Whatever.” Kendall placed a french fry nonchalantly into her mouth. “I came to you and told you exactly where I stood, and you could have said something at that time.”
She gave Kendall an amazed look. “Why would I tell your flighty ass anything significant about myself? Look at you; telling your business to the entire restaurant!”
Kendall’s green eyes took on an evil glint. “Just back off, because you don’t need to interfere with what we got going on.”
“You truly are psycho.” Nicole said as if she were seeing her for the first time. “This conversation is over. You do what you need to do, but keep me out of it because I haven’t done anything to interfere in your life.” Nicole stood up but Kendall wasn’t finished.
“Then stay out of the walk-in when you know we’re back there.” Kendall’s smile widened when Nicole’s footsteps faltered. “You never know what you might see next time.”
Nicole’s blood began a slow boil. “Don’t play those games with me, little girl. Instead of telling me, you need to be having this conversation with him!” Nicole knew that Kendall was trying to press her buttons, but despite this she could do nothing to stop herself from reacting.
Kendall smirked. “Oh I intend to tell him tonight when I see him after work.” Though she never showed it on her face, Nicole felt as if a knife was being plunged into her stomach. Marty’s home had been like her home for the past week and picturing the two of them snuggling on the oversized couch watching tv, kissing, touching…was sheer torture. I could kill this ho, she thought and that thought shook her.
“HEY!”
Everyone looked up. Marty was standing at the pass-through, a look of fury on his face. He had slammed his spatula onto the counter and now the entire restaurant was frozen.
“Both of you, BACKLINE!” He bellowed. If they hadn’t had the attention of the customer’s before—they had it now. The waitresses scattered and pretended to find something to occupy them. Kendall got up and headed to the back. Nicole watched her. As far as she was concerned she could just turn right around and walk right the hell out of the restaurant. And maybe she would even just tell the both of them to kiss her black ass! When her feet finally moved, she wasn’t sure if it was going to lead her out the front door or not. In the end she followed behind the cocky young girl.
Marty was standing at the entrance of his office as the two women marched past him. She had never seen him so angry in her life. His face was past red and his eyes looked dark and dangerous. Even Kendall hesitated. He gestured for them to go inside. Nicole’s head began to pound in suppressed rage. Neither would sit. Kendall crossed her arms and tapped her foot nervously. Nicole leaned against the wall and stared at the floor in front of her. She hadn’t done anything wrong and had no intentions of being apologetic in order to appease his anger.
Marty closed the door and sat on the edge of his desk. He was quiet for what seemed like a long time before speaking. And then his voice didn’t match the way his face looked.