the empty spot on the table where the vase of flowers had been. Obviously, she was a little more observant than Becki had given her credit for.
“I’m fine; don’t you worry. I’m fighting a headache. That’s all,” Becki assured her, picking up her purse and sliding her sunglasses on.
“OKay…,” Clarissa answered, clearly not swallowing the lie.
“You girls have fun and take it easy on your dad tonight! I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“K. Bye, Becki. Thanks again,” they all called at once as Becki stepped out the back door.
Becki had heard Kurt’s truck pull into the driveway while she was talking to the girls. He was in the process of unloading regulators-- more regulators than he and Landon would need. Was he having a party that she had not been invited to?
“What ‘cha got there?” Becki asked.
“Oh, just some gear. Landon and I are taking a couple of buddies out exploring tomorrow,” Kurt answered nonchalantly.
“It’s supposed to be beautiful. Where are you diving?” Becki hinted. She loved going out with Kurt and Landon. They knew where all the good places were. Sometimes they would dive an area where the locals believed a ship had sunk in the early 1900’s. They would spend the day burning air and looking for treasure.
“Oh, we don’t have an exact destination in mind. Royce and Sean are going out with us, maybe a couple more. I’m not sure yet.”
Becki stiffened. “I didn’t realize you and Royce were so tight,” she said sarcastically.
Kurt glanced up frowning, “You ok with us going out? I thought you and Royce were kind of dating.”
“Royce and I are not dating…or anything else for that matter,” Becki said shortly.
“Did something happen?” Kurt asked, putting the inventory on hold. He was anxious to help Royce clear up the coin mess, but he had better be treating Becki right.
Becki saw it coming-- a million questions she just didn’t have the energy to answer right now. Uncle Kurt would be all pissed off on her behalf and probably drag Landon in to it, too. She didn’t want to ruin their trip tomorrow. She would keep her troubles to herself this time. She would end up blubbering all over him and making him uncomfortable anyway.
“No,” she forced a laugh, “just PMS.” It wasn’t true, but she knew it was guaranteed to back him off in a hurry.
Sure enough, he back-peddled as if it were contagious. “Ok,” he said, as he added a pair of fins to the rapidly growing pile of gear. “Are you working today?” he asked in a subtle effort to change the subject.
“Yes,” Becki answered with a smile, “and I need to get a move on.”
“Do you have any vacation time you could use next week?” Kurt asked out of the blue.
Becki frowned, “Vacation time? What’s that?” she teased. “No. Actually, I’ve picked up a couple of extra shifts next week. Why? Do you need me to run the girls somewhere?”
“Uh-- no, the girls are going to Indiana for a week or so. I just wondered if you wanted to go with them. I’ll pay for your plane ticket,” Kurt offered, hoping against hope that she would take him up on it.
“I appreciate the offer, and I would love to go. But, we have another server on vacation next week. There is no way I could get off work. I’m sure Mamaw and Papaw will be excited to see the girls though.”
“Yes. I haven’t told them they are going to Indiana yet. I thought I would surprise them at dinner,” he said as he continued to unload the gear and organize it.
“That’s great. I know they will be excited. Well, I need to hurry, so I have enough time to get ready for work. Have fun with the girls tonight-- all ten of them!” She laughed, knowing he had forgotten all about the slumber party.
He groaned and hung his head in mock defeat, “I forgot,” he admitted. He looked up at her hopefully, “Sure you can’t call in sick?”
Becki laughed, “No way, you are on your own. I did my part; I provided the sugar,” she said as she climbed into her car and then waved joyfully as she drove away.
Another text message from Royce flashed on her phone. She pressed delete without ever reading it.
#
“The bar is packed tonight,” Tabby, her friend and fellow waitress, warned as Becki clocked in.
“I noticed,” she shot back. “Is everything going ok?”
“Yes, it’s all under control with the exception of Ted-- he burnt his hand caramelizing