Talk about cutting to the bone. Claire could have unleashed hell. Venomous words loaded onto her tongue, but she suppressed them—at least she did at first.
“I’m so sorry. Sometimes we don’t get it right, and it sounds like this is the case today. Alicia is a really good person and good server. Maybe she’s having a rough day. Could I give you a gift certificate and convince you to give us another shot while you’re in town? I know we can do better.”
With an unforgiving attitude, the woman said, “I would expect that at the very least.” She turned to her friends and shook her head. Then back to Claire, “How sad the owner let it fall to pieces like this. I know it’s not your fault. Ugh. Probably some family business and the parents are letting the kids take over.”
Scrambling to suppress the volcano of anger erupting inside her, Claire stared the woman down. “Actually, I own this place. Leo’s South. Leo was my father, and he owned Leo’s Diner in Chicago for forty-five years. My husband died three years ago today. Today!” Claire paused for effect. “But I didn’t stop working. I didn’t want this place to slip. I didn’t want my husband’s death to be some excuse for letting Leo’s South fall apart. Instead, I did everything I could to not only keep up our standards but to make my restaurant better. Not just to make it better for you! To make it better for my husband! He built this place!” She started pointing. “He put in that stove. Built the bar. He ran the wiring. David gave me this place, my dream. Leo’s South is his, too, and it’s just about all I have left of him!” And she added less aggressively, “So I’m sorry it’s not special to you anymore.”
To say you could have heard a pin drop would not have done the moment justice. You could have heard a gecko sneeze from across the bay in Tampa.
Claire covered her mouth and took a giant breath, realizing what she’d said. She couldn’t imagine the story her eyes must have told as emotions rushed over her. David was suddenly speaking to her, telling her to calm down. She could hear his voice in her mind. “Simmer down, honey.” Closing her eyes, she nodded to him.
Finally, Claire looked at the ladies, ending with her eyes on the unhappiest of them. “I am so sorry. That was too much.”
The woman looked like someone had stuffed a hard-boiled egg into her mouth. The patrons at the other tables were attempting not to stare.
Claire let out a sigh. “Your meal is on me. I’m so sorry, really. As you can tell, it’s been a hard day.” Without much more to say, she ended with, “I’m going to excuse myself.”
Not a peep came from the table.
Claire attempted a smile and sneaked away with the past pecking away at her like turkey vultures on roadkill. The last person she saw before disappearing through the green door into her office was Didi, waiting in line for the restroom, showing a concerned facial expression.
Sitting down at her desk, she glanced at a picture she’d taken of her father. More than once over the years, he had gently cautioned her, “Don’t air your dirty laundry in public.” He’d also told her, “Never let them see you sweat.” Both rules had officially been broken today.
A knock on the green door. Didi entered and closed the door behind her, shutting out the craziness of the busy café. She sat across from Claire in the wicker chair.
Claire straightened her glasses. “I know you’re not going to ask me if everything’s okay.”
Didi took her time responding. “I’m not sure what I want to say.” Shaking her head, she continued, “As you know, I don’t have all the answers.”
Several moments passed, and Claire liked having Didi in the room, but she didn’t know how to break the silence. Finally, Claire told the truth. “I honestly don’t feel like I’ll ever get to where you are. There’s no way I’m going to wake up one day feeling all giddy and excited about life. Look at you. I’m never going to be so carefree, running around with some Spanish model.”
Didi sighed. “Claire, I still have my moments.”
“What could possibly pull me out of this awful feeling that is constantly dragging me down? And don’t tell me it’s another man. That might be your secret, but it’s not mine.”