by D. R. Mather
Kevin gave her a small smile, “I have extra keen eyesight because I stay away from liquid Drano,” and they both entered the diner giggling.
Inside, the diner was rustic without being so on purpose, but it looked clean as far as he could see. Someone from behind a counter saw them and told them to sit where they wanted because they were there just before the lunchtime rush. Kevin scanned the booths along the edge and the tables in the center area, as well as the counter. He chose the third booth from the end and they both went over and sat.
“Ok, that was weird Kev. Why the third one in? The first two were empty also.”
Kevin looked at her but his wonderful smile seemed to be going away. “It has to be this one.”
“OK, when did we take the turn down to weirdville, Kev?”
“What? I’m sorry, what?”
“What’ is right, as in ‘what the hell happened between the point that we were about to have a nice discussion over the best way for dust to float and settle on a pile of tires, versus the suddenly strange way you’re behaving now?’”
“Am I?”
Judy sat back and just looked at him. She said nothing, just stared at him and thought to herself, ‘It’s like he just, well, broke!’
He took his trench coat off when they first sat down; it sat beside him in the booth. He looked at it several times in the span of five minutes, grabbed it a few times as if to reposition it, and then let it go again.
“I don’t think anyone’s going to steal it Kev.”
Kevin came around a bit. “Yeah, you’re right. Yeah …no…one...is…”And he trailed off.
A waitress came over and took an order from them. They both decided on her suggestion, and went with the Denver ’Fatboy’ burger with fries, as well as coffee for both. As they were sitting and eating, the place was filling up for lunch and Judy mentioned that it seemed to hold a lot more people than it looked like it could. Kevin was just picking at his lunch, still off in another world.
“Oh, that’s because there’s another dining area through a set of doors around the corner over there,” he answered.
“Really? You come here often, do you?”
“Huh, Me? No, I saw it when we came in.”
“I see, like you saw the diner from way down the street, huh?”
“Yeah, same thing.”
Judy looked over Kevin’s shoulder to the closed doors. They were closed when they came in as well. She had a worried expression on her face now, but remained silent.
The place was packed now, with four people standing and waiting for a seat. A tall man came in and slowly maneuvered around the standers, making his way over to the end of the counter where the waitress was leaning over writing up an order. He pulled out a large handgun and pointed it directly at her nose.
“Give it up bitch, all the money in the register.”
Now Kevin began acting a LOT different from how he just was. He was watching the man closely. Judy also saw what was going on. Sudden panic rose from her throat but she held it back, only releasing a near-silent mew.
The noise in the place had stopped the thief’s voice from being heard much past the waitress and no one paid any attention except Kevin and Judy.
Judy looked to Kevin and saw that he was watching the event as if he was waiting for his part to play out. What she didn’t know was that was exactly what Kevin was doing.
‘This man is a ‘dispatch’ man,’ Kevin thought. Only Kevin knew this man had murdered three times and he was about to kill again unless that waitress did what he said in the next thirty seconds. The problem was, the waitress didn’t know it, and she stood panicked and frozen on the spot.
‘NOW,’ Kevin’s mind told him.
He stood up; the murderer was only four feet from him once he stood. Kevin started forward when he felt Judy grab his arm.
“Kevin, no, please don’t do it.” Tears were running down her cheeks as he turned to look at her.
He slipped her hand from his arm and walked behind the man. Kevin put his hand firmly on the murderer’s shoulder, leaned in and whispered to him, “You need to leave here now and go out behind the diner. Use your gun and put a bullet in your head so we can be rid of your sorry ass.” As Kevin said these words, he squeezed the man’s shoulder hard.
The man never flinched. The waitress was staring at Kevin now, instead of the man, and she saw as Kevin squeezed the man’s shoulder even harder. The murderer suddenly lowered the weapon and turned. He looked at Kevin once, and then walked out the door.
Everyone in the diner heard the shot a minute later and the excitement began.
Kevin went over to Judy and stood her up, grabbed his trench, and handed the waitress fifty dollars. She took it, but absentmindedly. She just followed Kevin out of the diner with her eyes. Later, under police questioning, she never mentioned the man with the trench coat.
Kevin and Judy were slowly walking back to the garage when Judy reached out and took Kevin’s hand. He grabbed it as they walked.
“You’re not normal, are you?” she asked.
“I’m afraid not Judy, but please don’t’ worry, I’m not normal in a ‘good’ way.”
She swung the hands that were joined together. “I know that, or else I wouldn’t be standing next to you right now.”
They turned to each other as they walked and they both smiled. Until the car was ready, they sat in silence, but still holding hands.
On the way back to the Inn, Judy asked if she could take off her shoes and put her feet up on the dash.
“I believe the law calls that attempted murder kid.”
“HA, attempted hell, I’m going for murder one now Kev,” she said as she removed her shoes.
“Are those….TOE SOCKS?”
“What, you don’t like them?”
“Oh no Judy, it isn’t that, you just caught me by surprise with them.”
“Oh, you’ll find I’m chock full of surprises.”
“I’m finding, I’m finding,” is all Kevin could say.
She reached over to the radio and turned it on. “OH THE REAPER, I LOVE THIS SONG!”
“Come on, baby.
(Don't fear the reaper)
Baby, take my hand.
(Don't fear the reaper)
We'll be able to fly.
(Don't fear the reaper)
Baby I'm your man…”
Kevin looked over to Judy and she seemed lost in her own world. She was twitching and bopping in her seat with her eyes closed.
‘Will nailed it on the head; she’s a ball of fire,’ Kevin thought with a smile. He already knew he was falling head over heels in love with her.
When they got back to the Inn, as Kevin was driving around the main entrance area which also led to the garages, they both spotted Stan, sitting on a marble bench, just looking at them. As they got close to the drop-off area, Stan got up and faced them as if his sole reason for being there was to wait for their return. Kevin had planned to drop her off there and then go and put the car away.
“No, keep going,” said Judy. “I’m come up with you, okay?”
“Yes Ma’am, you da bozz!”
He kept going down to stall ten, used the door opener Will had given him and then drove inside. As Kevin started to get out of the car Judy grabbed his arm and yanked him back in.
“Please, give it a minute.”
“Is there a problem kiddo?”
“Yeah, Stan, I need to prepare myself for our ‘special’ little encounters. Just give me a minute to compose myself.”
“This is a lot worse than you led me to believe isn’t it Judy.”
“I can handle it Kev, don’t worry.” She turned, grabbed the door handle and got out. “You get your tires out of the back and put them under the bench; it looks like your car is going to explode in a flash of rubber and wheels.”
She was half right; the four large tires filled the back seat from floor to roof and left to right.
“Are you sure you don’t wa
nt me to go with you?”
“No, no, I’m fine, you do your thing Kev.” And with that, she left through the smaller door which was built into the large garage door.
As Judy reached the area where Stan was, he walked up to her and asked where she’d been.
“I wasn’t aware you were my guardian Stan, and I don’t believe it’s any of your business,” she said, starting to move along.
Stan did something he’d never done before; he grabbed her arm and pulled her back hard. “I’m making it my business, slut.”
Judy was silent and her eyes grew wide. She saw something in him she hasn’t seen before: insanity. As she tried to pull her arm away, they both heard the sound of someone clearing his throat. They both turned to see Kevin standing there in his leather trench, his hands folded in front of him at the waist. Stan let go of Judy and she turned to head inside.
’This part is best left to men, I believe,’ she told herself as she left.
Kevin walked up to Stan and put his hand on his shoulder.
“I don’t think we need to ever see that again, do we?” Kevin felt it instantly, nothing was happening to Stan. His face hadn’t changed.
“KISS OFF SHITHEAD, your day is coming soon enough.” Stan yanked away from Kevin and walked off around the side of the building, out of sight.
Kevin was standing there looking at his hand. “Nothing. It didn’t work. It’s ALWAYS supposed to work.” He stood a second or two longer, and then headed inside.
As Kevin hit the top stair of the second floor, he noticed that Judy wasn’t around. He could hear swearing though, in a bathroom. He followed the sound and found Will in a bathroom under a sink. Tools were all around him and Will was cussing up a storm.
“Problem there Will?”
Will pulled out from under the sink. “Yeah, this damn drain won’t come loose. Thing’s leaking like a sieve but I can’t replace it because I can’t get it out.”
“May I, Will?”
Will stepped back and Kevin went under to take a very fast assessment. He then ducked back out and looked at Will.
“No Will, you’re not going to get it out the way you’re trying to do it. This is copper plumbing, which means that more than likely hidden just under the floor board is a braised joint, not threaded.”
“Well son of a bitch, I guess that would explain the problem then.”
For the next half hour Kevin helped Will fix the plumbing in the bathroom next to room 12.
After they had finished, Will asked Kevin to follow him downstairs for a minute. When they got to the ground floor, Will walked over to the desk and took out a one hundred dollar bill and handed it to Kevin, only Kevin wouldn’t take it.
“What are you doing?”
“Go on and take it Kevin, I pay my way same as anyone else.”
“I’m afraid not Will. If we ever discuss something like that, it will be beforehand, not after, that was just helping out a friend.”
“Now Kevin, I don’t take advantage of anyone, so take it.”
“Will, put it back now or I don’t help again, get it?”
Will saw the point being made and gave in, returning the money to the desk.
“I just knew I was gonna like you right off,” said Will as he walked away from the desk and then headed out to the kitchen; harness and whip time no doubt.
Kevin turned and looked outside. It was beginning to snow. Kevin felt something that he hadn’t felt in a very long time, like he was home.
Chapter Eleven
Cindy and Emma were sitting at the kitchen table in Cindy’s apartment. There was a good reason for that as well. Emma was a bit of a slob and not many people liked to visit her place. It was also in a bad location in town, which didn’t exactly help with visitors. Cindy had been trying to get Emma an apartment where she was, but so far, no luck.
“Ok Cindy, so tell me the news, how did the ultrasound go?”
“Well, it went, that’s for sure. Only you could say it’s more like ultra ‘SOUNDS’ I guess.”
“What? And that is supposed to mean what exactly?”
Cindy took Emma’s hand and looked at her; “Twins is what it means.”
“OH MY GOD CINDY, what are you going to do now?”
“I’ll just have to find a way. I may have to give up college for now, and maybe I can pick it up again next year.”
“Oh Cindy, give up college again? Are you sure you won’t take up my idea about adop…” Cindy stopped her right there.
“NO EMMA, I told you that once, and once should be good enough. Besides, I think I’m supposed to have them. Let’s just drop it for now, can we?”
“Sure, no problem Cindy.” Emma was easy that way; she was easily distracted unless it was a man or clothes.
“So what’s with this teacher, Mr. Cowell anyway?”
“Oh, you know, not much. Not yet anyway. He teaches the class and looks at me a lot, and in turn I just stare mesmerized at him all day long. Nothing big.”
“Maybe you should try asking for a date? You said he isn’t attached.”
Cindy got up and went over to the coffee pot, brought it over, and poured more into each cup. Then, without looking at Emma, she said, “Well, actually, I already have.” Before Emma could speak, Cindy walked back over to the coffee machine and put the pot back, spun around slowly, and just stood there.
“WHAT????” Emma cried out. It looked like she was about ready to pee. She jumped up, ran over to Cindy and pulled her to the table.
“SIT!”
Cindy sat, along with the smile she carried with her.
“Speak woman, and fast,” said Emma.
“Easy there Emma,” laughed Cindy, “it’s just a movie and a small dinner, nothing more. He isn’t moving in for god sake.”
“Ya, Ya, I know, but Cindy, aside from that Kevin guy, you haven’t been with a man since when, senior year in high school?”
Cindy sat back and rubbed her growing belly. “Is this what you’d call ‘that Kevin guy’ Emma?”
“Well, that was because you didn’t have any experience with men.”
“It seems I have some now and be careful what you say Emma, I heard about the two trips to the clinic that Michelle took you to.”
“That’s what I mean Cindy, I lacked experience then. I’m all experienced up now.”
“Yeah, you get much more experience and you’ll be a mother of ten or more before you know it.”
For the next hour or so, they threw the usual digs at each other as only best friends can do.
***
The date went well. Okay, the date went FABULOUS! They saw an absolutely horrible movie and left half way through it. Roland must have apologized ten times for it. The final time he did it she looked at him:
”Do you moonlight as a movie producer or something?”
“No, why?”
“Then stop apologizing for that disaster we just saw. I’d heard it was good as well. We can chalk it up to our first date chuckle later on, after our third child.” Roland was a bit flabbergasted by that and wasn’t quite sure what to say.
“Relax Roland, let’s go find a place to eat.”
Off they went and had a wonderful time. All during the dinner, Cindy could feel the beginnings of what she thought were major changes inside her. She smiled to herself and decided right then and there to tell Roland about her pregnancy.
He sat quietly for a while and then smiled. “I don’t see it as a problem, so don’t worry about it. Is the man still involved?”
“No, it was a one-time thing, I don’t believe I’ll be seeing him again.”
After the date was over, Roland brought Cindy to her apartment.
“Want to come in for a nightcap?” she asked.
“Am…” was all he said as he pointed to her tummy.
“Oh, yeah, the timing could suck for this, huh?”
“No, not at all. There isn’t any rush, slow pace is best anyway.”
They kissed each other go
odnight and she went inside. Roland sat in his car for a minute before driving off. He had a warm smile. She could be the one.
Chapter Twelve
Kevin must have been made of the same stuff that a glue stick is made of, because for the last three days, Judy had been stuck to him. He was absolutely loving it except, he may have to pry her off for a while. He had to figure out all the players here and it needed to be one-on-one for a part of it. His big problem was how to do that without hurting her or himself.
As he sat in his chair by the window, the answer was given to him without him having to worry about it. As he sat and pondered, ‘the voice’ came to him.
“Hello Kevin, it’s good to see that you’re well.”
“I’m surprised to hear from you, I thought I was going to be on my own for a while here.”
“You are never COMPLETELY alone Kevin, you should be aware of that by now.”
“I am. You know what I meant. Did you see the incident with Stan?”
“Yes we did. We still don’t know what’s blocking us from him, but it blocks your power as well. We have however determined that it isn’t good. If you decide you have to remove him, you can do so.”
“Yeah, well I’m still working on him for now. I believe I’ll hold off on any judgment just yet. And were you in my head while I was trying to solve the ‘Judy’ problem?”
“Yes we know – tell her everything. She is going to be the greatest of your allies, tell her all.”
“Everything? The wallet, the backpack, the trench coat, the dispatching and the salvations?”
As the voice faded away he heard it say, “Yes, everything.”
He was alone again. Well, as alone as he got anyway.
“Well, that would solve the problem alright, and then she’d know I have to have one-on-one time and she wouldn’t be hurt.” He got up and went to bed. He faded off to sleep and saw the past…