he realized he had made a big mistake in choosing that restaurant.
“Hey, Mitchel. Long time no see. How ya been?” The name tag said LUCINDA. She was wearing a bright yellow uniform with pockets in the front.
Vivian shot him a look.
“Hey, Lucinda. Yeah. Been busy. How ya doing?” Mitchel was trying to be cordial. He had forgotten that Lucinda worked the day shift on Saturdays. It had been months since he had seen her last. And done much more than see her. He thought their fling had ended OK, both of them being married and all. She seemed to have taken it well, but there was an edge to her voice. Or was that the way she normally spoke? He wondered. He really couldn’t remember much except for some extramarital shenanigans in the parking lot after several rounds of anything over eighty proof.
“This here your boy?” She pointed her pencil in Jackson’s direction, cracking her gum.
“Yes. This is Jackson. Jackson, this is Lucinda.” Mitchel was starting to squirm as the rise in Vivian’s blood pressure was starting to show on her temples. “And this is my mother, Vivian.”
“Well, nice to meet cha all. Jackson. Vivian.” She smiled at both of them, revealing a few gaps between her front and back teeth.
“What can I get you folks?” Another crack of gum. Mitchel wondered if it ever got stuck in the spaces.
Jackson ordered a burger from the kids’ menu. His father ordered one from the adult side and a draft beer. Vivian gave him a dirty look.
“Don’t start,” Mitchel growled. “I’m only having one.”
“It’s barely past noon,” Vivian growled back.
“Please, Mother. Can we just enjoy our lunch?”
“Fine.” That was Vivian’s most commonly used response to most things, especially those of which she disapproved.
Lucinda stood there while mother and son bickered.
Jackson was starting to get antsy. “Dad? Can I get a milkshake?”
“Sure. Whatever you want. This is our day today. Right, Mother?” He gave her a stare that could kill a snake.
“And you, Miss Vivian? What would you like?”
“I’ll have a BLT, mayonnaise on the side, and a Coke.” She paused. “Please.”
“Comin’ right up!” Lucinda stuck the pencil back behind her ear and wiggled her way to the kitchen.
Mitchel gave his mother another look as if to say, “Don’t ask.”
Jackson was oblivious to the veiled exchange between the adults. He was enjoying being in a new place, having a burger with his dad.
Lucinda returned with their drinks. “Food will be coming out in a jiffy.” Another wiggle back to the kitchen.
Vivian could not hide her horror, imagining her son carousing with such a loose woman. Colleen was looking good in comparison. So what if she thought Colleen was an educated snob? At least she had all of her teeth and a respectable job. The thought of her baby boy playing rumpy-pumpy with that trailer trash made her lose her appetite.
The gum-smacking waitress returned, carrying a big tray above her shoulder and setting it down on the table next to where they were sitting.
“Your BLT, Vivian, burger for Jackson, and a burger for Mitchel, well done, if I remember correctly.”
Vivian was about to vomit. Mitchel wasn’t too far behind. He finished off his beer as if he were in a guzzling contest.
Jackson slathered his fries with ketchup, not having a clue.
After they finished, Lucinda cleared the plates. “Can I get you anything else?” She put her hand on Mitchel’s shoulder.
He was horrified. Vivian thought she might faint. Jackson innocently asked, “Ice cream? Please, Dad?”
“Not right now, son. We have to get to the movie theater. We’ll have ice cream later. Check, please?” Mitchel really meant, “Please! Now! Not a minute longer!”
Lucinda slapped the check on the table. “Y’all come back here real soon!” Then the final wiggle back to the kitchen.
Mitchel pulled out his wallet and threw two $20 bills on the table. The check was only $26, but he didn’t want to wait for change. “Let’s go.” He moved as fast as he could.
Jackson skipped to the car, while Vivian waddled her way to the driver’s side door. She couldn’t get over what she had just experienced. She slammed the door shut and shot Mitchel another stink-eye look in the rearview mirror. So far, the day had been awful.
The ride to the movie theater took ten long minutes. It seemed like an eternity for both Mitchel and Vivian. Fortunately, Jackson was oblivious and was getting excited about seeing the movie.
“I think I’ll skip the movie and go to the outlet shops.” Vivian thought