Her Miracle

CHAPTER 22

Eleanor’s was pretty quiet. Our beloved customers who usually do their coffee runs are in their respective seats having their cup of coffee and bagels. They had magazines or the daily newspaper in their hands reading in peace while enjoying the mellow Italian instrumental music Chester played today. 

Rain drizzled in droplets fell on the window falling down. I sat in the high chair at the counter bombarded with my homework. Chester sat beside me minding his own business. 

“It’s okay if you do your homework, Andy, as long as there’s barely any customers,” Chester answered beside me while scrolling on his phone. 

This was a lot of math. Too mind-boggling. I wanted to groan in frustration when I deal with these hard formulas that really take time for me to understand and solve. Maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace? Oh my god! I can't just keep coming to class with my head afloat. It's also frustrating to learn this all by yourself with no guidance.  If Science was my best friend, Math was my mortal enemy. I would’ve asked for help from Izzy or Kai since Math is their faves. I avoided them the entire day. 

“Thanks, Chester,” I replied back, playing with my pencil tapping it unto my papers sprawled on the counter. “You’re too kind.” And I finally scribbled my way out of these exercises that have to be done. Either way, I have to deal with this one way or another. I can't keep having excuses for not answering this. 

“You at least need a father figure. And since you’re here more than your house, at least you have someone to look after you.” He lightly smiled at me turning his head at me. 

“I better work on my homework here when I can than at home… it’s much messier…” I answered awkwardly. 

My brother has been yelling at each other nonstop since yesterday. Maybe it’s about Zach not accepting Aiden is gay or maybe because Zach expected a lot from him. Definitely not the lying. But that just caught Zach off-guard having the telepathic connection in being twins and not being able to figure it out. 

My days are counted. I’m leaving soon and Kai together with Izzy is being jerks. Were they even real in the first place? What if they’re just done with me like everybody else? 

Izzy didn’t even bother explaining to me why she bailed on me. Kai gave the looks of being sorry and I gave him the deadly glare. Because of their issues lately, I didn’t bother eating in the cafeteria. Right after school, I hurriedly walked going here not turning back so that Izzy won’t catch me if she did care. 

I folded all the papers, arranging them to sneak them inside my bag.

 “Thanks, Chester.” I utter. 

“It’s nice to have a daughter. I have sons and my nephews. My sister and my wife are the only women so…”  Chester shrugs and exhales in relief. 

I now understand while he got fond of me directly. His family must be huge. And with the men just like Kai’s is a lot of mess but it’s a fun kind of a mess.

“How’s the carnival with your family? It must be fun with all the guys,” I amusingly responded. I walked to my bag, inserting my papers, and coming back to my high chair. 

“It’s a sight you kind of want to wake up each day, you know? After everything we’ve been through, seeing that they’re having fun and smiling...it’s a relief” Chester grins at himself at the thought of his family. 

He trails, “Having men being the majority of my family is chaos but it’s really what gives me hope. They enjoyed the rides and almost didn’t even want to go home. How about you?” 

“I had fun even if the best friend I expected to be there bailed on me. She also didn’t bother answering my calls and in school today, she didn’t bother explaining herself. She walks like she didn’t give a crap about me.” I mustered the courage to explain. “But my new friend saved me and rode the rides with me. I didn’t see you though! It would’ve been fun.” 

“What’s your favorite ride?” He looked around at the customers. I follow his move too. The sky was dimming. Almost time for closing like the usual. Cars sped outside on their way home past Eleanor's and some frontliners are still on their way to work to get their night shift. It's hard to be one but I don't know if I could commit to that kind of job like my mom's. 

“I think it’s the Merry go round? Makes you feel like you’re in a fantasyland or fairy tale solely for you. How about you?” 

“Roller coaster! But fun fact, I puke right after. I love the hype it gives and my boys love it too.” He laughed with me.

It was also fun. Not going to deny it. Even if I was already receiving glares, I still screamed at the top of my lungs. Enjoying the thrill of the ups and downs. The adrenaline rush within me was something that got out the inner child I’ve hidden for so long. I felt free. 

“Thank god I don’t puke but even if I have the urge to… The parade is a few days from now… hopefully, Castle Rock brewed something fun this year.” I replied.

There was a moment of silence between us. It’s almost closing and Titus wasn’t around. The gentleman as he is. The drizzling stopped while the sky inched darker and darker. A customer left their seats getting out of Eleanor's. It’s the signal that I have to start cleaning the tables now. 

I grabbed the rugs and the tray to clean up the used mug and saucer. While I placed the vulnerable dishes into the tray and wiped the table clean. I missed Titus, looking out the window. His figure that sits steady in his seat is what I glance at when I pause at work. This time, he isn't there. 

The other customers then left and I proceeded to clean their tables.

"Thank you for coming! See you soon when you grab your next cup of coffee!" I called out to them with a grin on my face. 

 Chester was now at the counter counting the money we’ve had for the day. My phone vibrated in my pocket which is unusual. Nobody calls me. No one. Not even my brothers nor my mom. This must be either from Kai again or Izzy. 

I fetch it out of my pocket and see that it’s from Izzy, I shove it back into my pocket and sighed. Wiped the tables instead and directly went to the kitchen to wash them in an instant. 

"Ugh..." I silently groan. 

I washed it with the lemon-scented soap I hated but I can’t do anything now. The soap coated the mug and I immediately rinsed it. In taking my mind of the lemon scent, I focused on the music instead. 

The rack was wiped so I set the damp mugs and the rest off the utensils there to dry up. I then wiped my hands with the rug hanging. Just like the mugs I’ve washed, it was also damp. I shook my head at the icky feeling. 

I walked back to the counter and cleaned the display case with the tiny tidbits of bread crumbs. I crumpled the wax paper and got rid of it and continued wiping it crystal clean. 

After it, I faced Chester. “Is there anything else to do?” 

Chester laid the bills in piles at the counter group together by kind. He shook his head and grabbed a stash and handed it to me. “Here’s your money for the week. You’re doing great, Andy. We’re going to be closed by Saturday because of the parade, alright?"

“Yeah, sure. Thanks for this.” I nodded with a smile plastered on my face. 

“You can go ahead now. I have things to finish. I’ll close Eleanor’s myself. I’m staying late.” He gestures. 

“Thanks for today, Chester. And this…” I raised my hand with the stack of bills for the week.

Another addition to my savings. More opportunities out there. He also nods at me in return in acknowledgment of my answer. A little more patience and hard work and I'll get out of this hell hole. I just need growth. Because I've always thought of... I'll never be able to grow in a town that hurt me. 

My stomach was growling and it would be better if I got home late. I wouldn’t want Aiden hovering over me as I ate dinner and ask for forgiveness. He'd leave me food though and that's how I knew he still cared about me... as his sister. I really just need to cool off for a while and let things process inside my messy head. 

I left Chester at his place and ran at the back to take off my cute apron. “Thanks, Chester! Take care when you leave.” 

“You too, young lady! Take care of going home.” He calls out with a wave.

I grabbed my bag and slung it on my shoulders. And headed out the exit. The rain that stopped minutes ago was now hard rain. It poured too hard that I got drenched the moment I got out. I looked around to see a shadow leaning at the wall. 

Would it be best if I ask Chester for a ride? But he's staying late and I still have homework to do. The rain is going to freeze the hell out of me. The figure that hid stayed steady and calm, still not moving behind the shadows. I raised an eyebrow even though he couldn't see my facial expressions clearly with how dark this alley is. 

“Um.. excuse me?” I called out the unknown person’s attention. 

The shadow seemed like it was going to rob Eleanor’s. Waiting for every minute and every move like a robber or something. The rain poured and poured, the human figure finally stepped out of the light revealing himself. 

Titus. 

He just keeps surprising me which gets me caught off guard.