The goodbye cafe, p.12
The Goodbye Café, page 12
“That’s right,” Allie replied.
“And she had to sit at one of my tables.” The waitress grimaced.
“She’s the nicest person you’ll ever meet,” Allie said. “Really. Nothing to worry about.” Allie tried to make a joke, saying, “Unless you spill soup in her lap.”
Penny’s face went white. “Oh God, you heard about that?”
The waitress grabbed a copy of the specials sheet and hustled to Barney’s table, leaving Allie wondering who’d had to wear their soup home and when.
Allie noticed Ben and Red getting ready to leave. She stood near the doorway watching him approach, his eyes on her, sporting that tiny bit of turned-up-at-the-corner smile he seemed to wear more and more lately.
“Hope you enjoyed your meal. Good night, Benny.” Allie held the door open for them, and a heartbeat later, Ben chuckled as he passed by, his eyes still locked on hers.
That wasn’t the reaction she’d been expecting. As if he knew, he turned on the sidewalk outside the café and saluted her. Allie smiled, feeling somehow a truce of some sort had been negotiated. On the one hand, it warmed her. On the other, she wondered what he was up to.
When Barney was ready to take over for the night, Allie made a quick call to Nikki.
“I’m going to be leaving here in a few minutes,” Allie said. “Have you had dinner? Could I bring something for you?”
“Yes, please. A burger would be great. And maybe we could share a salad?” Nikki said.
“Sure. I think I’ll do a burger as well.” Allie paused. “Would Mark like me to bring something for him?”
Nikki asked, and Allie heard his, “Tell your mom I said thank you, but I’ve had dinner.”
When Allie got home, Nikki and Mark were sitting on the front steps, deep in conversation, Buttons between them working over a chew bone. When they finally noticed her, Allie was halfway up the walk. Mark rose immediately, walked to her, and took the package containing dinner from her hands.
“How are you, Miz Monroe?” he asked.
“Great, thanks, Mark. What’s new?”
“Well, I’ve been practicing my driving. Tonight my mom’s taking me out to Seth’s farm to let me practice on his access road.”
“Are you old enough to drive?”
“I’m sixteen, so I have my learner’s permit. But I can drive farm vehicles. Seth taught me how to drive his truck, which has been good practice.”
“Is that legal?”
Mark nodded. “You have to be at least thirteen to drive a farm vehicle.”
“Thirteen? Have you been driving since you were thirteen?”
“Since I was fourteen, and only Seth’s old truck. It has a special farm-use license plate. I don’t drive it around for fun, if that’s what you’re asking. And I don’t drive it at night. I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t be legal. I can only drive it for farm business.” They’d reached the porch. Nikki’s eyes were on Mark, and she was taking in every word, a smile on her face.
Dear God, Allie thought, that’s what young love looks like.
“Like if Seth wanted me to drive some of his produce to one of his customers, I could do that, but it would have to be within a hundred and fifty miles of his farm.”
“I guess that’s the law so that farmers’ kids could help out,” Allie said.
“Right. Delivering produce or chickens or whatever the farmer was selling.”
“Well, you learn something new every day.” Allie took the package from Mark and thanked him. “Nikki, you want to come inside and eat while your dinner’s still warm?”
Nikki looked up at Mark.
“I need to get home. I told my mom I’d be back while it was still light so I could practice driving for a while.” To Allie he explained, “You have to have so many hours with a licensed driver before you can take your driver’s test, so we try to get in an hour or so every day. Nik, I’ll see you later.”
“Tomorrow maybe.” Nikki stood.
“Nice seeing you, Miz Monroe.”
“Same here. Night, Mark.”
Nikki stood on the step and watched Mark walk down the sidewalk, cross the street, and head up toward Market at the far end of Hudson. Once he was out of view, she turned and took her mother’s arm. “Let’s eat outside on the patio at that cute little table.”
“Good idea.” Allie pushed open the front door and Buttons sped inside.
“I’ll get drinks and bring them out,” Nikki said.
“Thanks. Just water for me. Grab paper plates if there are any left.” Allie trailed behind the dog through the house and out the back door.
The patio was in the shade of two large beech trees. While she waited for Nikki, Allie left the package on the table and inspected the progress Des and Cara had made in the flower bed. The pile of weeds had increased dramatically, and the garden was much tidier for it.
“I like those pink flowers,” Nikki said as she joined her mother outside. She’d placed plates and forks and Allie’s glass of water on the table and joined Allie at the edge of the garden. “Those.” She pointed to small hot pink flowers that stood on sturdy silvery stems. “What are they?”
“I have no idea, but Barney probably knows. She planted the beds.”
“Those red things are nice, too.” Nikki bent to take a whiff of the flowers that grew in a large clump. “Hmmm. No fragrance.”
“I guess all flowers don’t have a heavy scent. I was helping Barney out in the garden a little when I first got here, but lately I’ve been so busy at the theater, and now at the Goodbye, I haven’t had time.” Allie reflected for a moment. “I enjoyed it. Maybe when things slow down, I’ll get back to it. When I get home to California, maybe I’ll start a garden.”
“Someday I’m going to have a big flower garden just like this,” Nikki said. She tugged on her mother’s hand to draw her back to the table. “I’m going to have flowers in my house all the time like Aunt Barney does. But not the stuff you buy in the store. I’m going to only have flowers like these.”
“In the winter you might have to rely on the store-bought bouquets,” Allie said. “Though I think you can grow year-round in California.”
“It’s nice to be able to come outside and gather up whatever looks pretty and bring it inside and put it in a vase where you can see them. I’m going to ask Aunt Barney if I can pick some for my room.”
“I’m sure she’ll let you do that.” Allie unwrapped their food, placed some on Nikki’s plate and some on her own, sharing the salad equally. “So what’s going on out at the farm?”
“Seth is taking some stuff—like lettuce and beans and carrots, that kind of stuff—to some restaurants, and Mark’s going with him.”
“You like Mark a lot, don’t you?” Allie knew it wasn’t really a question.
“I like him so much, Mom. He’s the nicest guy I ever met. He’s not all about himself. We talk about all kinds of stuff. He reads a lot, and so does Hayley. We’re going to start a book club, us three and Jack, who’s a friend of Hayley’s, and this other girl, Wendy. She lives next door to Mark and Hayley, and she and her mom are here for the rest of the summer. Her grandma went on a trip and Wendy and her mom are house-sitting. She said it was sort of like a vacation for them because her grandma has a pool. She said we could all come over and swim on a day when her mom is there.”
Nikki stopped to take a bite of her burger.
“Did you stop to eat or to breathe?” Allie asked.
“Both.”
Allie couldn’t help but contrast the Nikki who sat before her, merrily chatting away, with last night’s Nikki. Whatever had been bothering her must have been resolved.
Thank God, Allie thought. She’d been saved from making a decision she did not want to have to make. Des and Cara were right. Snooping in Nikki’s phone would not have worked out well.
They finished eating and went inside once it began to get dark. Allie remembered having heard a story about Joe Domanski being attacked by a bear in the woods behind the house, somewhere near the falls. While the attack had occurred in daylight, once the shadows grew dark out back, Allie headed inside.
She was loading their glasses into the dishwasher and Nikki was leaning against the counter, talking away, when Nikki’s phone pinged. Allie glanced over her shoulder and watched her daughter swipe the screen. She appeared to read for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she began to type furiously. It was evident in her expression and her body language that Nikki was fighting mad. She finished the text and shoved the phone into the pocket of her shorts, still obviously fuming.
The storm Allie assumed had passed—hadn’t.
The tears of anger gathering in her daughter’s eyes finally sent Allie into action.
“Courtney again?”
After a moment, Nikki nodded.
“Nik, what’s this all about?”
“I can’t tell you.” Nikki stared at the floor.
“Baby, there’s nothing you can’t tell me. I’m your mom.”
“That’s why I don’t want to talk to you about this.”
“Why not?” Allie put her arms around her daughter, and at first, Nikki seemed to freeze. Then she began to cry.
“I don’t want to tell you because it would hurt you,” Nikki sobbed.
“Sweetie, the only thing that hurts me is knowing that something’s hurting you.” Allie held Nikki and let her cry. Finally, when it appeared the worst of the tears had passed, Allie said, “Spill.”
“But Mom . . .”
“No buts.”
“You don’t know . . . Are you sure . . . ?”
“I’m positive.”
Nikki pulled the phone from her pocket. She located the text she was looking for, then held up the phone.
“Court sent this to me two days ago.”
It was a picture of Clint and Courtney’s mother in a very tight embrace, kissing as if they’d invented it. Under the picture, Courtney had typed, Tell your father to keep his filthy hands off my mother!!!!!
Allie cleared her throat.
“I didn’t want you to know about Dad and Mrs. Davenport. I was afraid it would make you sad.” Nikki sniffed, and Allie thought she might be revving up for another round of tears.
“Why would it make me sad?”
“Because you and Dad . . . maybe . . .”
“Are you thinking that Dad and I might get back together someday?”
Nikki hesitated, then nodded.
“Sugar, that’s never going to happen. Your father and me divorcing has been best for both of us. I know it’s been hard on you, but we’re really happier apart, and that’s better for everyone.” Allie smoothed back long strands of blond hair from Nikki’s forehead. “As far as Courtney’s mom and your dad are concerned, I figured that out a while back.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?” Nikki pulled away abruptly.
“Because I thought that was a conversation your father should have with you. I didn’t know how he wanted to handle it and I tried to respect that. But when did you find out?”
“When Courtney sent that picture.” Nik pointed to the phone in Allie’s hand. “I knew they got along really well and they liked each other and we spend a lot of time together, me and Dad and Court and her mom. I thought it was because Court and I were friends and we live close and we go to the same school. But I didn’t know they were . . . like that.” Nikki wiped her face with the back of her hand as a younger child might do. “How did you know? Did Dad tell you?”
“No, but you sent me all those pictures of the four of you together, and I thought you looked like a family. I saw your father with Marlo—that’s Courtney’s mother’s name, right?”
Nikki nodded.
“And I could tell by the way they looked at each other that there was something there beyond friendship.” Allie tried to keep it simple and be gentle with her words, since she wasn’t sure exactly how Nikki was picturing her father’s relationship with her friend’s mother. “So how did you respond to Courtney?”
“I told her to tell her mother to back off my father.”
“How’d she take it?” Allie had a feeling Courtney hadn’t taken it well.
“She got all mad at me and said if I didn’t make him leave her mother alone, she was going to . . .”
“Going to what?”
“She was going to tell all the kids in school . . . things about me.”
“Like what things?”
“Like things that aren’t true.” Nikki took a very deep breath and said, “Like that I’m having sex with Mark. And, Mom, we’re not. I swear, we’re not. We wouldn’t . . .”
“Nik, I believe you. But what a horrid little . . .” The names that lurked on the tip of Allie’s tongue weren’t names she should use in front of her daughter.
“She’s already told some kids that. I sent her a picture of me and Mark, and she’s shown it around to the girls, who all texted me and said they thought he was hot and they’d be . . .” Nikki’s face turned red. “They’d be doing him, too.”
Allie could feel the anger rising inside her. How dare that little . . . But for Nikki’s sake, she had to remain calm. In control. Rational. Mature. But what a wretched little bitch!
“Oh, Nik, I’m so sorry. That’s a horrible thing to do to someone who’s supposed to be a friend.”
“I probably won’t even have any friends by the time I go back home.”
Deep breath, Allie.
“Look, if she sends another text, ignore it. Stop responding to her. And let me think this through.”
“What are you going to do?” Nikki asked. “Don’t do anything that’s going to make things worse.”
“Let me mull it over, okay? In the meantime, don’t even open her texts. Just ignore her.”
“All right. I should have come to you right away. I’m sorry I didn’t. I thought if I threw it back on her mother, Court would leave me alone. But I guess not.”
Nikki looked so unhappy Allie’s heart just about broke.
“I also thought she was really, really my friend, but I guess not that, either.”
She’s an evil little witch, and that’s exactly what Allie would tell Clint when she called him after their daughter had gone to her room. Allie went into the office on the first floor and speed-dialed Clint’s number.
“Allie, is everything all right with Nikki?” Clint’s way of answering the phone.
“No, Clint. Everything is not all right with Nikki.” Allie proceeded to tell him everything Nikki had told her. Miraculously, she kept her temper. Clint did not respond well to hysterics. If she wanted him to step up, she had to deal with him in a very cool manner.
When she finished, Clint said, “What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to get your ass on the first flight from L.A. to Scranton, where you’ll rent a car and make the hour-long drive to Hidden Falls, then sit your daughter down and tell her what’s going on between you and Marlo. You should have done it months ago. You’re also going to tell Marlo in no uncertain terms to have a little talk with her obnoxious child and make her tell every single one of those kids that everything she said about Nikki was a big, fat lie. And then Courtney’s going to apologize to Nikki. And by God, she’d better mean it.” Allie took a deep breath.
“Wait a minute, are you saying that Courtney told the kids out here that Nikki is having sex with some guy out there?” Clint’s voice began to rise. “I put that on you. If Nikki is—”
“No. She isn’t! That’s what I’m trying to tell you!” Allie’s control slipped and she reined it in. “Courtney made it up. It’s a lie, Clint. Get it? She made it up because she’s angry about you and Marlo.”
There was a long silence on the phone.
“Clint, are you still there?”
Allie heard him exhale. “We thought it might be more problematic for the girls if they knew we were . . . dating.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because when we started, we had no idea where it was going to go. We thought if the girls knew, and we stopped dating, it might create tension between them.”
More silence. Then, “All right. Yes. You’re right. I should come out there and talk to Nikki. And you better believe I’m going to have a long talk with Marlo and with Courtney.”
“Clint, you should probably leave the Courtney talk up to her mother.”
“Not when she’s spreading such viciousness about Nik.” Another sigh. “Damn it. That little bitch.”
“You might not want to lead with that when you tell Marlo what’s going on.”
“Point taken.”
“You’ll let me know when to expect you?” Allie asked.
“I will. Do you want to tell Nikki I’m coming?”
“I think you should do that.”
“I’ll call her now. Thanks, Allie. I’ll get back to you as soon as I have a flight. And, Al.” He paused. “You did the right thing by calling me.”
• • •
A while later, Allie was in her room, looking at the photos she’d taken with her phone of some of the ceiling designs, when Nikki burst in.
“Dad called. He said you called him.” There was a touch of accusation in Nikki’s tone.
“I did, Nik. He’s your father and he loves you, and he needed to know what was going on with Courtney. Just because he’s dating her mother doesn’t mean he’s going to let Courtney off the hook. It doesn’t work that way.”
“He said he was coming out here on Saturday because he wants to talk to me.”
“Which he should do, of course.”
“He’s going to talk to Court’s mother?” Nikki asked.
Allie nodded. “Yes. Her mother needs to know what she’s been doing. Someone needs to put that . . . girl in her place.”
“That’ll be a first,” Nikki muttered.
“Maybe that’s her problem. I bet it won’t be the last time. Spreading lies about someone to ruin their reputation is an evil thing to do. She needs to learn that actions have consequences.”
“What would you do if it were me, telling lies about Courtney?” Nikki asked.
“You’d be grounded for a very, very long time. After you made a sincere apology.” Allie watched her daughter’s face, but it was unreadable. “You haven’t . . . ?”
