A Sudden Engagement (Love: Lost & Found)

by Helen Styles

  A Sudden Engagement

   Copyright 2013 by Helen Styles - All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification

  with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

  - From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations.

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  Avery Kaery stared bleary eyed at the ceiling as her phone started ringing again for the fourth time in an hour.

  I really need to change my number. She thought as she reached across the bed and cut on the light. The small lamp cast an amber glow in the room and she squinted her eyes before sitting up. Bright red numbers told her it was 3:00a.m. Avery shook her head and tried to decide if she wanted to get up or go back to sleep. For three nights the phone calls had happened. They started sometime between 1:00 and 2:00, and didn’t end until 3:00 or later. Who was the culprit? The diabolical sleep snatcher was none other than Chuck Dupree.

  What a jerk! He didn’t steal this much sleep from me the entire three years we were together!

  She swung her legs over the side of the bed and placed her feet on the cool hard wood floor. Her entire body ached from fatigue, and she cracked her back like an old woman before shuffling towards her bedroom door. She glanced at the curled up cat on the rocking chair and stuck her tongue out. At least someone was sleeping.

  “He’s still calling?” Joanne asked. Joanne Clark was the only co-worker that had survived the latest management change with Avery. “The Brick Oven” was a typical struggling restaurant. The only thing that stood the test of time was their outstanding menu. However with the head chef now gone, who knew what would happen to the stellar menu.

  Avery nodded and yawned again. Joanne shook her head and placed a plump fist on her hip. Her broad frame leaned closer and she spoke in a conspiratorial manner.

  “What you need is some kind of restraining order.”

  “I already called about it.”

  “And?”

  “And, he hasn’t threatened my person, and he hasn’t harmed my person.” Avery said with a wiry look.

  “That’s non-sense!”

  “Yeah, so it would seem.” Avery covered her mouth again and yawned. Mr. Trevor, the new manager, walked by and looked at her sharply. He seemed barely out of high school and had the acne to prove it.

  “Avery!” he hissed. “You can’t look bored in front of the customers! It’s bad for business!”

  “Hmmph. I doubt that’s the problem.” Joanne mumbled.

  Mr. Trevor turned and glared at her. “What’s that, Joanne?”

  She feigned a shocked expression and then shifted it into a broad smile. “Oh, I just said that could be a problem.” He didn’t look convinced but stalked off anyway.

  “That idiot is going to be the death of this place. All he does is march around with that clip board, and act like he knows something. Did I tell you I had to show him how to count the till down again?”

  Avery giggled. “It’s so sad. Will you go to the unemployment office with me when the place shuts down?”

  “Girl, don’t even go there!” she said and walked through the swinging doors into the kitchen. Avery could hear snatches of heated conversation as Joanne demanded an answer as to where the food was for tables seven and nine.

  “Well, it doesn’t take thirty minutes to fry a little bacon and eggs!” she said pushing her way back through the doors. “My Lord, Avery, he hardly speaks English! I need bacon and eggs, and all he can do is point to the plates with buttered toast on them! I told him the rest of the food needs to go beside the toast!”

  Avery laughed out loud. “Tips will be scarce this morning, I guess.”

  “Sure will...” she said and stopped mid-sentence. “Well, look here.”

  Avery turned to see what had caught her friend’s attention. She was staring out the front glass that faced the street. A tall gangly man was approaching the front door with his head down against the wind. The collar of his jacket was turned up, and there was a folded newspaper under his arm.

  “Oh no.” Avery whispered as the color began to drain from her face. Joel Benjamin. Joel had been her crush since high school. The first time she saw him was the first day of her freshman year. He walked down the hallway with his nose stuck in a book, and seemed to miraculously miss running into any other students. Maybe they all saw what she did, and moved out of his way on principle alone. He was like a Greek god to her. Tall with dark brown hair and the most beautiful hazel eyes she had ever seen. His face was like chiseled perfection, and he hardly knew she existed. He couldn’t even remember her name even though that had shared a few mutual friends. Five years had passed since graduation, and she had never forgotten him.

  “What’s the matter with you?” Joanne asked.

  “Nothing.” Avery replied and began busying herself with putting silverware away.

  “That is one fine specimen!” Joanne whispered leaning close. “And he’s sitting in your section.”

  “You can take the table. I’m busy.”

  “With what?” she asked a little too loudly drawing attention from a man sitting at the counter.

  Avery shrugged. “Stuff, you know?”

  “No, I don’t know. Girl, you better get over there and make that money!”

  Avery sighed and pulled her ticket book from her apron pocket. She wished she could run in the bathroom and check her hair in the mirror, but how much could she do with a pony tail anyway? She was blessed with crystal blue eyes and dark blonde hair, but she never felt pretty. Chuck had rarely told her she was pretty and actually discouraged her from dressing up and wearing makeup. She had started to believe she wasn’t worth the trouble. She still believed it.

  Avery stood next to the table and took a deep breath before speaking. “Good morning. What can I get you to drink?” She knew she sounded flat and like an amateur, but she didn’t want the nervous tremor she felt in her hands to transfer to her voice.

  He glanced at her and back down at the menu.

  Of course, just like high school.

  “Coffee, please, and I would like grilled hash browns with onion and sausage.” He handed the menu to her and
started to unfold his paper as she walked away, but stopped and called after her. “Miss?”

  Avery turned slowly thinking he wanted to add something to the order. “Yes?”

  “Hey, didn’t we go to the same high school?”

  She felt a nervous flutter in her stomach, and her initial thought was that he was mistaking her for someone else.

  A huge smile spread across his face. “Amber, right?”

  She felt her stomach drop and she frowned before she could stop herself. “No, my name’s Avery.”

  His smile faltered. “Oh, I’m sorry! That’s right, it’s Avery Keary.”

  I don’t believe it! Avery could feel her frown being replaced with a slow smile. “Yes, that’s correct.”

  “How’ve you been?”

  “Fine, and yourself?”

  He cleared his throat, a trait she remembered from school. He would do it when he was starting to feel nervous. He would also divert his eyes. She remembered far more about him than he did about her for sure.

  “Oh, good.” He said glancing at the table top. “I went to UVA, and now I work for Goods.”

  “So, you became an accountant?” she asked with her head cocked slightly to the side.

  “Yeah.” He said, meeting her eyes once more. “You seem surprised.”

  “A little, I guess. I just remember you always reading. I thought you were going to be a writer or professor.”

  Joel laughed. “Yeah, I did too, but my father had other ideas.”

  “Well, I better put your order in. Be warned; the cook isn’t very timely this morning.” Avery walked away and was sure her feet never touched the ground. She could hardly believe he had remembered her last name! As soon as she rounded the counter into the waitress station, Joanne grabbed her by the elbow and herded her into the kitchen.

  “Girl that man watched your butt with every step you took!”

  “Was he making a disgusted face?”

  “With a butt like yours, no I don’t think so.” Joanne rolled her eyes. “I could only wish for a butt like that!”

  Avery quickly told her about Joel and how she knew him.

  “Well, no wonder you didn’t want to see him! But high school was a long time ago, and things are different after people grow up.”

  Avery raised an eyebrow. “Wow that was almost poetic. Usually you just quote Jay-Z.”

  Joanne laughed and gave her a playful smack on the arm. She was about to say something else when Mr. Trevor walked into the kitchen. They separated quickly so he wouldn’t have to lecture them again about if you can lean you can clean.

  Avery went back to the waitress station and fixed coffee for Joel. She steadied herself and walked back to the table with his mug and a small bowl of creamers. She set it in front of him and he smiled warmly at her.

  “So, did you attend college?”

  Avery nodded. “I went to the community college for a year, but I wasn’t able to finish.”

  “Oh, that’s too bad.”

  She could feel heat rising up her cheeks. She didn’t want to seem like a loser to him. “I hope to finish soon though.”

  “It’s hard. The economy is rough right now. I see how devastating it is every day with my job.”

  Avery felt her shoulders relax. He wasn’t going to judge her. She remembered how he was in school. He was always polite and thoughtful. He broke a few hearts along the way, but not from being a jerk. He was just honest. If it was over it was over. “I will be back soon with your order, ok?”

  “Sure, take your time. Or rather, tell the cook to take his time. I’m actually off today.” He said with a grin. “Hey, have you had your break yet?”

  “I don’t really get one. I take a couple of ten minute breaks, but I get off at two.”

  “Oh.” He looked disappointed.

  Avery turned and walked back to the waitress station staying busy rolling silverware in paper napkins. She stole a glance at Joel and saw him glance at her too. He quickly looked away. She smiled lightly. The covert glance and then look away was always a good sign. The order came up several minutes later and she walked the steaming plate to his table. He was talking on a cell phone, and ended the call as she placed the plate in front of him.

  “Hey, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go. Can I have a box?”

  Avery tried to crush her disappointment. “Sure.” She went into the kitchen and took a box from the stack by the door and brought it back to him. He quickly slid the hash browns in the box and stood.

  “It was really nice seeing you again, Avery.” He reached out and handed her a folded napkin. “There should be enough there for your tip too.” He said and quickly left the building. Avery stared after him holding the napkin. She had never had a customer pay their bill with the money in a napkin.

  Odd. She thought and unfolded the little bundle in her hand. He had paid an $8.60 ticket with a fifty dollar bill. But the biggest surprise was on the inside of the napkin where he had hastily written his phone number.

  Joanne and Avery walked quickly down the windy street to Avery’s apartment building. The wind was unusually harsh for an October day, and it bit into them as they hurried along.

  “I don’t know, Jo, I just don’t want to seem too eager.”

  “You have pined for this man for how long? Please, be eager.”

  Avery giggled and trotted up the steps to her building. She turned and glanced back at her friend. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Mmmhmm.” She murmured and waved before continuing up the sidewalk.

  Avery walked up the stairs to her apartment slowly. Right after she broke up with Chuck he had waited for her outside of her apartment every day for a week. He would beg her for forgiveness, before shouting that she was being foolish. He had proposed to her and broken off the engagement a month before the wedding. Why had he done such a thing? Because he had met a stripper named Candice, and was having second thoughts. Avery had a few second thoughts herself after that.

  The building was small. There were three floors and each floor had only two apartments. Hers was tiny, but it was all she needed. Who needed more than a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, and tiny living room; all crammed into 700 square feet? It was her daily mental conversation with herself, but in reality, it was all she could afford. She actually dreamed of a beautiful three bedroom house, complete with a white picket fence and barking dog. She doubted she would ever have that type of life.

  She stopped on the landing and shook her head. Unbelievable. A basket of flowers were sitting in front of her door. She snatched the card off of the arrangement and read it out loud.

  “I will always love you.

  Please take my calls!!

  Chuck.”

  Avery picked up the little basket and looked at the flowers. Carnations and baby breath were the only flowers within the greenery. Chuck’s favorite flowers were carnations, hers were sunflowers. He had never thought what she wanted or liked was important. Avery balled the card up in her hand and pulled the card pick out of the arrangement. She walked across the hall to Mrs. Barrimore’s door and sent the floors on the floor. She knocked several times and crossed back to her own door and unlocked it. Mrs. Barrimore was a widow and lived alone with three cats and a parrot. Other than the occasional visit from Avery, the only other visitor that ever came was an elderly gentleman. The flowers would do her more good than Avery.

  Avery’s orange tabby met her at the door with a yawn and long stretch. She bent to scratch behind his ears, and he immediately began to purr. “You love me at least, don’t you, Otis?” The cat wound around her ankles as she stood and meowed loudly. Avery poured food absent mindedly into the food dish as she thought about Joel. It would seem outrageously forward to call him the same day, but it might seem like she wasn’t interested if she didn’t call right away. Besides, he may just want to catch up, not have a date. She sighed and walked into her bedroom.

  Avery looked at the tuna sandwich on her plate and pushed it aside. Otis meo
wed softly with the hope that she would drop it on the floor, or at least break off a piece for her. The napkin was lying on the table and Avery picked it up for the seventh time. She had already memorized the number. With a flash of courage she picked up her cell phone and dialed the number. Joel answered on the second ring.

  “Hello?” His voice was soft and she had a moment of panic that perhaps she had woken him.

  “Hi, this is Avery; I hope I didn’t wake you.”

  She could hear the muffled sound of him clearing his throat. “Oh no, not at all. I may be a boring accountant, but I wouldn’t be in bed at 9:30 on a Friday night!” He said with a laugh.

  “I think I owe you some change from earlier today.”

  “No, you provided excellent service, and it was a guilt offering for getting your name wrong.

  “It’s ok, Joel.”

  There was a momentary pause before he spoke again. “I’m really glad you called.”

  Avery smiled and toyed with the napkin. “Yeah, me too.”

  “So, tomorrow is Saturday.”

  “Yes, it usually follows Friday.” She laughed.

  “Do you work?”

  “Same shift as today, unfortunately.”

  She listened to the muffled voice clearing again. “Would you like to have dinner with me?”

  She couldn’t believe her ears. She had waited nine years to hear him ask her out, and now she was tongue tied.

  “I mean, if you’re busy…”

  “No, I’m not.” She interrupted. “Dinner would be nice.”

  “Great! We can go anywhere you’d like! Should we meet, or could I pick you up?” The excitement in his voice was unmistakable.

  Avery gave him directions to her apartment and they decided he would pick her up at 6:00. When she laid her cell phone on the table she let out a ‘whoohoo’ that sent Otis scrambling into the bedroom.

  Her shift the next day seemed to drag on forever. Joanne was as excited as Avery about the date and demanded that she call her as soon as he got home. Once Avery was back at her apartment she had over three hours to get ready and after looking in the mirror decided that three days might not be enough time. She was much better rested than the previous days; so the dark circles were minimal. For whatever reason, Chuck had decided to not call the night before. Since it was Friday night he had probably gone and done what he did best; bar crawl.