Page 65 of Shame

I startle at Kaison and drop the box of plastic forks. Thankfully none fall out that need to be thrown away.

“I’m okay,” I say. I lean down to get the box, but Kaison beats me to it. We lock eyes.

“Can we talk?” he asks.

I sigh, knowing the “I’m working” excuse won’t work this time, considering he owns the place and will bend rules for this—for me.

“Sure, but my shift starts in like five minutes.” He smirks, and I hold my hand up. “Don’t make a comment about letting it slide. I won’t do that to my co-workers.”

“I commend you for that,” he says, stepping closer to me. “I just want to make sure you’re really okay. You’ve been distant.”

“There’s been a lot going on…”

“Which is why I want to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m surviving.”

“You know there’s more to life than just surviving, right?”

I take a slow deep breath, then force a smile. “I like to think there is, but I haven’t seen it yet.”

He gives me a gorgeous smile. “Maybe you’re not looking in the right places.”

Maybe he’s right.

Or maybe he’s very, very wrong.

My feet hurt worse than usual when the shift is done, and I really need to make a trip to get new shoes. Now that there is more nursing for my father, it may actually happen. In fact, maybe I’ll go tomorrow since I have another lunch shift.

“You want a ride home?” Kaison asks.

“I have my car.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

I get up, grabbing my things.

“No offense, but I don’t want the bike to wake up Dad.”

He nods in understanding, so I wave and leave. The drive home is quick and quiet. When I walk in the door, Dad is sitting on the couch watching TV with Irene.

“Told you she’d be home any minute,” she says with a smile.

Dad’s face lights up and he gets to his feet.

“Cora, I missed you.”

I stop dead in my tracks, my chest tightening. Dad wraps me in a tight hug. My eyes instantly water. Snapping out of it, I hug Dad back, resting my cheek against his chest.

“I missed you too, Dad.”

“Come on. Come watch a movie with me,” he says.

Sniffling, I sit on the couch, putting my things down on the coffee table because I don’t want to waste even a second being away from him.

He puts his arm around my shoulder, giving me a little shake as he points to the TV and laughs. I don’t recognize the movie. It’s something older, obviously funny. I snuggle into his side and focus more on him than the TV. The sound of my father’s laughter and his warmth lulls me to sleep.

All I can think about is what would have happened if I accepted that ride from Kaison. Would we have come right here? Or would we have detoured, and I missed this?

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