“He only takes care of the Fairchilds orders,” she said.
“Oh, okay.” I plastered on a smile. “So, Bobby, you want a burger and fries, and what about you, Mom?”
“A grilled chicken salad would be great.”
I nodded and walked away. I heard Tracy ask, “Anything else? Miguel will be out shortly.” I turned and saw her addressing only the Fairchilds. I caught Mom’s eye, and she smiled at me so tenderly, I wanted to forget these past few months of turmoil and regret, and run over there and wrap my arms around her like when I was younger. Instead, I walked over to Maddie and asked her to get Mom and Bobby their drinks. She must have seen my frustration because she agreed with no argument. After I inputted their orders, I headed to the kitchen, trying to hold the tears at bay.
I couldn’t believe how rude Mr. Fairchild had been! Sure, he reeked of big money, but I had never felt so belittled. Would it hurt him or his wife to be nice? And not “fake” nice like, Oh, she looks like she stepped out of a magazine! I stormed past the cooking stations.
“How come you’re serving the Fairchilds but didn’t give my mother the time of day?” I asked Miguel.
He had set up this huge three-course dinner on two large, wheeled trays. He paused to look at me. “Your mother is with them? I didn’t know.”
“Yes,” I said in exasperation. “How was I supposed to know that she and Bobby wouldn’t get their drinks with the rest of them?”
“I’ll take care of it. This dinner can be for the whole table.”
“Well, that’s just fantastic! But I’ve already placed their order!”
Miguel started to push the wheeled trays out of the kitchen. “Take a break,” he told me. “I’ll handle it from here.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. I stormed out the back door of the kitchen and sat on one of the benches set up for employees.
“So much for steering clear of the Fairchilds,” I muttered to myself.
After only a few minutes, Tracy popped her head out. “Two of your tables are ready to cash out. Want me to handle it?”
Ugh. I forgot my three other tables! “No, I’ll get them in a minute.” I wasn’t about to be frightened away. Besides, at one of the tables, three good-looking older guys enjoyed teasing me, and I heard they left good tips. But I still needed to settle my nerves, so I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing.
Not two minutes later, the kitchen door swung open. In frustration, I snapped, “I said I’d get the tables.”
“I’m sure you will.”
The breath suspended in my lungs, as I opened my eyes to see Lucas standing there.
“Wh-Wh-What are you doing out here?” I mentally shook myself. “What I meant was this is an employee entrance and exit. Plus, it’s rude to sneak up on people.”
There. I recovered nicely.
Lucas gave me a sideways smirk and chuckled, “I did sneak through the kitchen area, but technically, I didn’t sneak up on you. It’s not my fault your eyes were closed.”
“You could have coughed or something to give a little warning.”
“I’ll keep that in mind next time.”
“Did you need anything? I’m on break.”
“I wanted to apologize. And see you again.” He pointed at the empty spot on the bench beside me. “May I?”
“Sit? Or apologize?” I said with a snort.
“Both.”
I shrugged and slid over, ordering myself to act as nonchalant as possible. I crossed my legs and inspected my fingernails, which were so atrocious, I stopped almost as soon as I started.
“My parents…” he began. He shook his head. “They’re something, aren’t they?”
“Yep, they sure are.”
He looked over at me and my heart seized. “I’m sorry. They seemed to have forgotten what it’s like to be a human being.”
“That’s not the first time I’ve heard that.” My heart still hadn’t started to beat normally again. His gaze was too much.
“How are you doing?” he asked. “I’ve been thinking about you since the other night. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Why did he have to act all nice? It was hard to keep being annoyed. “So, what’s up with you and Maddie?”
Lucas leaned back. “What?”
I could not believe I said that! “You two are cute together. She talks about you all the time.”
“Together? Where’d you hear that rumor?”
“Probably the same place I heard to steer clear of you.” I stood up, suddenly embarrassed. “Besides, you two were together at the party. She’s my friend, so I’m uncomfortable with whatever this is.”
“You’re uncomfortable with someone worrying about you? Wanting to make sure you’re all right?”
I swallowed and looked away, my face heating up with guilt. “It’s nice of you to check up on me. I’m fine. Thank you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got tables.”
“She’s my friend too,” he said, as I headed to the door. “That’s it.”
“I don’t think she sees it that way.”
Lucas moved to the door and held it open for me. “A bunch of us are having another bonfire tonight,” Lucas said. “You could stop by. I could pick you up?”
A part of me was still tempted to say yes, but suddenly Jayce’s face flashed through my mind. If I was going to go, I wanted to be with my best friend. “That’s not a good idea. Please. Just take my answer, okay?”
I couldn’t look at him because I might change my mind.
14
“There you are,” Tracy said, handing me three empty glasses. “Table seven needs refills and the dessert menu. And close out tables six and five before no one leaves you a tip.”
Despite Tracy’s warning, my back two tables tipped me well, which brightened my mood. I grabbed Mom’s and Bobby’s dinners—as soon as their entrees were ready—and headed toward the table, telling myself I would be a good waitress for her sake. I wasn’t about to let the Fairchilds scare me off.
“How’s everyone doing so far?” I asked cheerfully, setting the burger in front of Bobby and the chicken salad in front of Mom. Lucas had already settled back into his seat, completely composed and unruffled.
“That looks delicious,” Mom said while Bobby began to inhale his fries. That’s when I noticed they already had plates from Miguel’s selections.
“Nice show, guys,” I said. “You don’t have to eat two meals. Just take it home and eat it later. Sorry for the confusion. I didn’t know there were these…you know what? Never mind.” I was about to complain about the Fairchilds being high-maintenance with them sitting right there!
“I wanted a burger, anyway,” Bobby said and bit into it.
“We were just talking about the time we visited the Fairchilds when they moved back to Michigan,” Mom said. “Do you remember?”
“No.”
“You kids were young,” Diane Fairchild said. “Bobby was just a baby.”
“That’s right. Wasn’t Heather putting her doll clothes on him?” Mom said with a laugh.
Heather covered her face. “Please tell me that didn’t happen. I am so embarrassed.”
“It happened,” Mrs. Fairchild said. “But Bobby was a good sport, even if you were putting dresses on him.”
Bobby shrugged and said, “I don’t remember a thing.”
Everyone laughed.
“Too bad Lucas and Brooke didn’t get along as well,” Mom said, to which the Fairchilds agreed.
“You ripped her poor picture book,” Mrs. Fairchild said to Lucas.
“I know. I remember.”
Everyone at the table glanced up at me. “I don’t remember. So you’re off the hook.”
“Well, we were discussing how much you need a break,” Mom said, changing the subject. “Heather wants you to come to this bonfire they’re having at the beach. Certainly, someone can cover for you?”
I knew everyone waited for a response. “I’ll have to see,” I finally said.
“I’ve got new customers at my other tables, so I’ll leave the check here, and come back in a few minutes.”
Walking back to my other tables, I let out a breath. What was wrong with me? I might have had a reason to avoid Heather, but Lucas was only being nice. Why was I pushing him away? I kept sneaking glances at him. And every time I did, he would be looking straight at me. My heart fluttered. I even stumbled over words when I greeted my new tables.
As I took an order, Tracy came and tapped my shoulder. “Here.” She handed me two bill folders. “This is from the Fairchild table. Looks like you might have a fan.”
Finally. They were gone. I turned and saw the table was being cleared.
I finished taking an order, went and filled drinks, and when I had a moment, I opened up the bill folders. One was my mother’s. She left me ten dollars and a note that said: I am so proud of you! Happy Birthday (and see? I CAN keep your secret.) Love, Mom. I opened the second bill folder. Mr. Fairchild paid with a credit card and left me exactly fifteen percent.
Well, at least it’s something, I thought drily.
But behind that was a twenty-dollar bill.
Was it from Lucas? It had to be. I thought about the way I treated him while on break. Maybe I could be a little nicer. I vowed to at least try.
After the restaurant finally closed, I was assigned vacuum duty, so I got to work.
Finishing up, I paid the bar a portion of my tips, as well as Logan, the busboy assigned to my tables. When I went to hand Tracy half of the rest, she held up her hand. “It’s not like I don’t want money, but you worked hard for it tonight. I only helped you with one table.”
Tracy sat on a bar stool, counting her cash. She easily made a couple hundred. Not surprising. She was a favorite of the older men with her fiery red hair and curves in all the right places. But more than that, she had a pretty smile and was good at her job. “Well, thanks for helping me with…that family. I didn’t know how demanding they are.” I took out my wad of cash to see how I fared for the night.
“They know what they want and have the money to make sure it happens.”
“How’d you do?” Maddie slid next to me.
“Wow,” I said. “Almost two hundred dollars.”
Maddie nodded appreciatively. “I’d love to be a waitress; it’s much better pay.”
“Then why don’t you?” I asked.
“Because I suck at it,” she answered. Tracy and Pete agreed, and Maddie glared at them.
“Maybe if she didn’t daydream about Lucas Fairchild so much, she’d be more focused,” Tracy teased.
Maddie didn’t seem to find it funny. Her frown deepened. “I’m done daydreaming about him.” She stuck out her bottom lip.
“He’s already moved on?” Tracy asked. “Why am I not surprised? He’s a Fairchild after all.”
“I thought this time it’d be different. But it’s not. I know he’s seeing someone else. He gets distant.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, trying not to act too nosy. “How was it before?”
“Last summer when I first started working here, I would ride my bike to work. I live in town, not in the dorms. I was on my way to work when this little sports car zooms around the corner, doesn’t stop at the stop sign, and hits me!”
“It was Heather Fairchild,” Tracy added with a grim expression. “That girl would run over anyone who got in her way.”
“But she was the one who didn’t stop!” Maddie exclaimed. “Anyway, Lucas was in the passenger seat, and he comes rushing out to help me. He stayed with me until the ambulance came and even visited me at the hospital.”
“Were you seriously hurt?” I asked.
“A concussion. Technically, she didn’t hit me at full speed. I jerked my bike out of the way at the last second, tripped on the curb, and hit my head on a rock.”
“Maddie would have lost her job if it wasn’t for Lucas,” Tracy said.
“Yep,” Maddie agreed. “Heather made it sound that I was riding my bike recklessly and nearly caused her to get in an accident. Lucas called her B.S. in front of everyone.”
“So, what happened? Between the two of you?”
“Nothing. He visited me at the hospital. Then he was even dropping by the restaurant to say hi and escort me home. One day, he was just gone. Took off and flew to some part of the country for his parents’ business. Never came back for the rest of the summer.”
“I think it’s because Diane Fairchild found out he was walking you home every night. God forbid her son talk to one of the workers.” Tracy pointed at both me and Maddie. “Watch out for that woman. She’s something else.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Maddie said, as bubbly as ever. “I’ve already set my sights on someone else.”
“Jackson?” I asked. “I overheard someone say you went to the movies with him.” I left out the part that I’d heard it from Lucas.
“Jackson and I are just friends,” she said. “Besides, I only went out with him because Lucas told me Jackson needed cheering up. I think Lucas was trying to push us together.”
I was about to say something when a pair of hands covered my eyes. “Somebody take her money while she’s not looking,” Jayce whispered.
“Don’t even think about it,” I said and ducked about to face him.
He grinned and pulled my ponytail. “Happy birthday! I’ve been so busy working a double shift at the shack, I couldn’t get over here until now.”
“It’s your birthday?” Maddie squealed. Everyone began to sing an impromptu Happy Birthday to You.
“Thanks,” I said under my breath.
Jayce ignored me and sang along, acting just as excited as Maddie. “Brooke is officially 18 years old. Sign her up for the army and get her a voter’s card and a pack of cigarettes!”
“I’m good. Thanks,” I said with sarcasm.
“I’m going to go get some ice cream from the kitchen,” Maddie said. “We’re celebrating!”
While Tracy and Pete continued stocking sugar and sweeteners in the small containers, Jayce set a small present in front of me. “Forgive me for letting your secret slip out. I didn’t know you wanted to keep your birthday a secret. Here, I hope you like your present.”
I smiled at him and rolled my eyes, knowing I couldn’t be angry. “You’re forgiven.” Opening the box, a thin silver bracelet sparkled, with a smooth stone linking the silver chain together. The name Esmeralda was engraved on the front of the stone with from Jayce engraved on the back.
“I wanted to get you something to honor your dad and to maybe inspire you to keep writing.” He took the bracelet and snapped it into place around my wrist. “And Esmerelda kind of does both.”
I stared at the bracelet, running my thumb over the name and trying to keep the tears back. I thought about what Mom had told me earlier and started to feel the first tendrils of hope. That maybe I could write the fifth book. Mom believed in me. Dad had believed in me. Jayce believed in me. I didn’t know how long the do-over would last but maybe writing the book was my ticket out of whatever this was. “Thank you,” I said. “It’s perfect.”
“You like it? Because you’re kind of hard to shop for.”
“I love it. You know, you didn’t get me anything the last time around.”
“What are you talking about? Last year, I got us tickets to see Demi Levato.”
“No, I’m talking about the previous summer. I’m talking about the one you don’t remember.”
“Oh, right. Why wouldn’t I get you a present? I always do.”
“Don’t worry about it. I stayed hidden in the cabin the entire day. It pretty much sucked. No one’s fault but my own.” I looked down at the bracelet. “But this makes up for it.”
Maddie burst out of the back with a tray full of desserts from the evening’s menu. Miguel followed her, as did other cooks and even Pedro and his bussing buddies. Miguel led everyone in “Feliz Cupleanos,” and ordered all of us to eat until we got sick.
Everyone div
ed into the desserts.
I stayed a few minutes more and made small talk, but my feet throbbed, and I was exhausted. I said good night and left the restaurant with Jayce. “The bracelet is beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it. It seems too early to call it a night, especially on your birthday.”
“It’s nearly midnight,” I argued. “My birthday is almost over.”
“There’s still time to celebrate a birthday,” someone said from behind us.
Jayce and I turned simultaneously. It was Lucas, leaning against a light post.
“Hey man,” Jayce said with a grin. He extended his hand and Lucas shook it. “How’s it going? You’re not too mad about Lakely winning your money, are you?”
“You mean am I mad that he somehow cheated? Yes, I am,” Lucas said good-naturedly. “But I’ll get it back.”
“I don’t know. You’re not too good at a poker face.”
“I’ll work on it.” Lucas glanced over at me. “Didn’t mean to startle you. I was heading toward the bonfire and wanted to see if you changed your mind.”
“I’ve been trying to get her to live a little, especially since there are still seventeen minutes left of her eighteenth birthday.”
Both looked at me.
“I’m tired,” I said. “But Jayce, you should go.”
“I don’t want to go if you don’t.”
“Go and have a good time. You know Heather’s probably waiting for you. You can tell me all about it tomorrow.”
“Actually,” Jayce said, acting uncomfortable. “Heather’s sort of moved on.”
“Oh,” Lucas said as if recognizing Jayce for the first time. “I’m sorry. I didn’t connect the dots. Listen, Heather is flighty. Don’t take it personally.”
“Nothing was serious.”
“There you are!” Maddie ran up to me. “You took off so fast, I didn’t get to say good-bye.”
“Will you please convince her to go to the party?” Jayce asked Maddie.
“You’re going.” She placed her arm in mine. “It’s your birthday, and it’s time you live a little. Come on, boys.” n
“I’m still in uniform,” I argued. “At least let me change.”
“But the party’s on the opposite side of the club,” Maddie said. “We’re going into the rich part of this establishment.”
Falling Too Deep Page 12
