Page 5 of Dancing Diva
Claire rests her hand over her stomach. “I could use something to eat.”
“Perfect.” I reach down and take her hand in mine. “The night’s not over. I think we can still add a few more memories to take with you.”
4
CLAIRE
The diner is hidden so well and without a sign on the outside that they must do this to avoid the constant flow of tourists flooding into the city. A few of the people greet Adam as we walk in and offer polite smiles to me as we take a seat in a booth near the back.
An older woman behind the counter calls out to him. “The usual, sweetheart?”
“Thanks, Patty. And a ginger ale.” He smiles and turns to me. “Hope that’s okay. I didn’t think coffee would be too easy on your stomach.”
“You’re right,” I agree. Even though we’ve just sat down, I scoot back out of the booth. “I’ll be right back. Order me some toast?”
“Yeah.” He nods, the concern returning to his face, but he doesn’t say anything.
I follow the remaining row of booths around the corner towards the ladies' room. I want to try and freshen up as best I can. Adam may have already seen me at my worst and didn't go running for the hills, but that doesn't mean I don't want to look and feel good myself.
A waitress that looks about my age is standing at the pay phone near the bathroom door. She’s gesturing so wildly that I can’t get past her without the risk of getting clocked in the face.
“I don’t give a shit if you didn’t sign up for this,” she says into the phone. “You decided the pull-out method would be just as effective as a condom, and yet somehow miraculously, we still got pregnant. And now we have a daughter. I want my money back, asshole! My father left that for her education, not for you to whore around with some washed-up showgirl." She's quiet for a moment, and I'm dying to know what the guy on the other line is going to say to that. "Well, you better figure out a way, or you may find that when you get back from Mexico, your trailer will be burned to the ground."
She slams the phone down on the cradle and turns around. Her eyes widen in shock when she notices me standing there, having witnessed her side of the phone call.
“I’m so sorry you had to hear all that,” she says.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m not, but I will be,” she finally says.
She tries to force a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. I know that feeling so well. If I didn’t think she’d think I was a crazy person, I’d reach out and pull her into a hug. I wish there were something I could do to help her.
“Order up!” a man calls out.
And just like that, she looks like she wasn't just screaming about money to the father of her child on the phone.
“That’s for me,” she says, stepping to the side to let me pass.
It amazes me that some people can so easily hide what they’re feeling. But I guess, just based on the small snippet of her life that I know about, she’s learned to protect herself.
Living the sheltered life I've lived it's probably protected me more than I realize, but that still begs the question how much more have I missed out because of it?
ADAM
Eva emerges from around the corner where Claire just left to use the restroom. It only takes one look for me to see that she’s upset. She may be able to hide behind the mask she’s perfected over the years, but I can see right through it.
“What happened?” I ask.
She sighs when she sees me, knowing that it’s not going to work to lie to me. I’ll get the information out of her one way or another.
“I finally talked to Steven.”
I’m on my feet before she can even finish saying the last syllable of his name.
“Where is he?” I ask.
She puts her hands on my chest to stop me from taking another step. “Calm down.”
