coffee.
“How long did my dad work here?” I asked.
He stopped drinking his coffee and put the cup down on the counter. He looked at me scratching his chin. It felt like several seconds had passed before he answered. “For a few years. He was a good cook and a lousy server. Don’t get me wrong. He was friendly with people, but he’d get so wrapped up talking to people, he’d forget to refill their drinks. Now cooking, that was what he was best at.” He chuckled lightly.
“What dishes did you like that he made?” I asked curiously.
“Oh, lots of them. His meatloaf was his best dish though,” he said, he took another sip of his coffee.
“He must have learned how to cook from you,” I said.
He laughed again. “Well, actually, he learned how to cook from your Nana,” he said looking directly at me.
“Really?” I said surprised.
“Yep. She’s quite a cook. But you wouldn’t know it. She stopped cooking long ago,” he said reflectively.
“Do I remind you of him?” I asked, hoping that some part of me was like him.
He looked at me, but was really looking beyond me, deep in thought. “A little,” he said quietly.
“How?” I wanted to know.
“When you set your mind to something, you do it.” He grinned and laughed quietly to himself. He patted me gently on the head and walked away. It was the first time he had ever shown affection for me. I didn’t mind it. He was a hard man to decipher. He was like an onion with layers and layers before anyone could get beneath the surface. I wondered if I would ever get to that point with him.
***
I waited impatiently for Meg to pick me up at my grandparents. It was the night of Dylan’s party and I was anxious. It was my first real party. I had told my grandparents where I was going and neither of them seemed to pleased about it. “Just be careful,” Nana said. She added, “Have you and your mother talked yet?” She wouldn’t let this go.
I sighed heavily. “I texted her that I was fine.”
“She must miss you,” Nana said.
“I’m sure she does. I’m not ready to talk to her yet. Can we let this be?” I asked, pleading for her to respect what I wanted.
She placed her arm around me. “I’m sorry, Finn. I don’t mean to boss you.”
“I know you mean well,” I said giving her a faint smile.
Meg beeped her car horn. “That’s her,” I said.
“Do you have money?” my grandfather asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“Be careful. Hannah dated that boy for a while. He’d come into the diner a lot and have this stupid smirk on his face all the time. There’s something about him I don’t like,” he said.
“Grandpa,” I said, trying not to roll my eyes. I walked outside and got into Meg’s car.
She tugged on my pony tail. “Finn, really,” she sounded exasperated.
“What?” I touched my hair feeling self conscious. I had made some effort to get dressed and thought I looked nice.
She shook her head, almost in disgust. “We’re stopping at my house before we go to Dylan’s party,” she said.
“It’s fine, really.” I said.
“No, it’s not. You cannot go looking like that.” She frowned pointing at my outfit.
I glanced down at my jeans and t-shirt. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“Finn,” she shook her head. “Just trust me. This is obviously not your area of expertise,” she said almost condescendingly.
“Fine,” I acquiesced. She was right. Fashion was not my forte. It was hers.
***
I became Meg’s doll once again. She curled my hair, put make up on me and dressed me in a pair of skinny jeans and a light blue sleeveless shirt. I felt like a sausage as I was squeezed into the jeans. They were tight, almost unbearably tight.
“Fashion is pain sometimes, Finn,” she said showing me the red marks on her feet from her strappy high heels. I grimaced at the sight of them. “You look beautiful. If I had your hair and your skin,” she said not finishing her sentence.
I looked at her in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? You’re a goddess!” I envied Meg’s tanned skin and golden hair. Instead I was stuck with pasty white skin and auburn hair that was much more red than brunette.
“Ha, goddess,” she scoffed. She smirked to herself. “I’ve never been called that before but I could get used to it.”
I smiled. She smiled back at me and then looked at me, studying. “Finn, you should