5. Next Day
645 Words
When the sun rose on the next day, I was already up in the kitchen. I had woken up really early, decided to compensate Mary for my falling apart the day before. She didn’t know it yet, but her diner would be serving some very special croissants that morning, some even had chocolate and almond cream inside. My headache was nothing but a small pain behind my eyes, perfectly bearable, and the night of rest had worked wonders in me.
"Good morning. You’re awake early this morning."
It was her voice, and I looked up to see her at the kitchen’s door, eyeing me carefully.
"I’m feeling much better today."
My answer didn’t c***k a smile on her, and so I continued to work my way around the kitchen, while talking nonstop about the menu for the day.
"I thought I could make a tomato soup with small croutons, before these tomatoes spoil…"
She interrupted by saying very carefully:
"I don’t know what brought that attack yesterday upon your head, but think you fool me. You have the eyes of a caged animal, always looking over your shoulder. I need to know: are you running from the law?"
"No! How could you think that?"
I was sincerely shocked and she shrugged my worries away.
"I don’t. I just had to ask. You almost fainted in my kitchen, you seemed like you had a heart attack and it was I who had to tell my lunch customers that my cook was indisposed. Herbie’s going to be here at lunch today as well, he never got to taste your stew yesterday…"
Her eyes pierced me thoroughly and I felt uncomfortable under her gaze but couldn’t move. One error, one mistake, and I would be found out. And then she said bluntly:
"I know you’re running. Don’t know from whom or what, but you’re running. You jump like a scare little rabbit, you don’t answer for Elisabeth no matter how many times I call you, you’re always looking over your shoulder and you have a look in your eyes that I used to see in mine when I was back in Ireland. And you want me to pay you in cash. In modern days, that’s odd."
I gasped in shock. Mary had been abused as well in the past?
She come to me and patted my hand.
"Yes, child. Long before Mack and Paradise Mountains, I had someone who treated me like garbage and made my life a living hell. My parents gave me strength to move on with my life, and I ended up here where I met Mack. I’ve been with him for fifteen years, and I’ve never been happier. My past took away from me the possibility of bearing children, my present brought me confidence in myself, a husband and a life. Now, I’m not asking for you to share your details with me, as it is not my concern. But if you’re looking for a place to plant roots, Paradise Mountain is a place as good as any." She left me and started peeling potatoes. She had confided in me more than she knew. Could I really trust her like she had trusted in me? Her past was distant, mine was a few miles away. Okay, lots of miles away. But even so… I surprised myself by saying:
"Nadine... My name is Nadine..."
She smiled and said nothing, the potatoes peeled neatly beside her hand.
"I think fresh fries is in order for today, don't you think?"
I hesitated before asking:
"You don't mind?"
"You've already told me that you're not running from the law. That's good enough for me."
Mary was the most generous woman I had ever come across. Her bluntness was her defense; and she had my undying gratitude.
- Writer
