The place was packed. Two waitresses were running back and forth with orders and trays and of food. Perhaps she had come at a bad time. But her tummy growled and so she reluctantly sat on a stool at the end of the counter.
Loud music was heard above the din of the people talking. A few teenagers got up to dance in the middle of the diner. Genevieve swung on her stool and watched them for a moment until she felt she was being watched.
She swivelled around and came face to face with Terry.
Time stood still. Oh he hadn’t changed on bit. Those dimples, and his lovely auburn hair. Still as thick as she remembered it. He wore a stained apron but other than that it was the same man.
"Gen..." he stammered. "Genevieve" he said her name louder this time.
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She smiled at him. Suddenly she felt his arms around her. For he had come around the counter and picked up her frail body hugging it tightly.
"Oh Gen" he whispered. Then he gently sat her down again. Blushingly he asked what she would like to eat, like the hug and the past had never happened. But it had and....
Reluctantly she gave her order. Terry never took his eyes off her as she spoke.
She in turn felt like she was in slow motion or maybe she was dreaming. In that damn coma again. She blinked but he was gone. Genevieve shook her head. No it had happened hadn’t it?
"Well? I don’t have all day honey. What did you want to eat?"
Genevieve came out of her reverie. She had been day dreaming, that song on the juke box, it was theirs. Or had been. "Sorry, tea please and oh and a hamburger, with the works." she told the waitress who was now writing her request down on a note pad.
"Want fries with that?" came the crude question.
"Wha? Oh sure, with catsup." Genevieve told her.
"It’s on the counter honey!" the waitress told her and walked away yelling out her order.
Genevieve was stunned at this approach. She had been deep in her day dream and rudely awakened by this woman. Who was she? Genevieve hoped it was not Terry’s wife. Or maybe if it was, then Genevieve could.... No that would be wrong, Genevieve chastised herself. Terry was married and probably had children. She would not break up a marriage.
Her mind went back to the events of the day. That brilliant smile of Mr. Van Rose. ‘Hah’ she laughed to herself. He was really a shark in sheep’s clothing. ‘Did people still say those kinds of sayings?’she wondered. Well shark or no shark, an opportunity awaited her. Once she got her belly full, then she would go home and talk to her parents. Her parents, they must be worried about her. She hadn’t even seen them yet and she had been home, well in the Heights almost a month now. But there was so much to see.
The food arrived steaming hot and boy it smelled good too. Genevieve took a bite into her
hamburger, oh it was still hot. She waved her hand in front of her mouth and blew out the heat as it burned her tongue. The waitress must have seen her and approached with a glass of water.
Genevieve nodded to her and quickly gulped the cool water down to cool her mouth and throat.
"Fresh off the grill honey" the waitress laughingly told her.
Genevieve nodded her thanks, promising to eat more carefully this time. The woman really wasn’t so bad, just busy, Genevieve thought. Maybe that was why she seemed gruff. Genevieve took a good look at the woman through the backdrop mirror over the menu board on the wall facing her. No she couldn’t be Terry’s wife, she was much older looking. A little haggered even. As the woman came closer Genevieve could see a few wrinkles around the mouth and on the brow of the woman. Despite her gait the woman carried a few extra unnecessary pounds on her too. No this was not Terry’s wife.
As she chewed her food Genevieve gazed around the diner. Another much slimmer woman was serving. She too was a blonde but much softer in colour. Young too. ‘Yeah she could be Terry’s wife’ Genevieve thought. She sighed as she took another bite.
Her heart sank as she ate.
When she was finished the gruff waitress came and asked if she wanted dessert.
"Oh my I just don’t have any room" Genevieve smiled rubbing her now protruding stomach.
"What you don’t want any of Terry’s pie!" the waitress teased her."He will be upset."
"Well how about I take a piece to go. I really am full." Genevieve told the waitress.
The woman just shrugged and said "suit yourself. What flavour?"
Genevieve thought for a moment. "Apple" she finally said.
"Now you really have to stay and eat it!" the waitress pouted putting her hands on her hips. "You can’t eat apple pie without ice cream!"
Genevieve was becoming exasperated with this waitress. First she was rude, then nonchalant and now she was baiting her. 'How could Terry hire such a waitress?'
"What’s up?" the younger waitress arrived with a coffee pot in her hand."Would you like a refill?" she asked Genevieve.
"No thanks I was drinking tea." Genevieve told her.
"I can make you a fresh cup." the younger waitress told Genevieve. "Be right back."
‘This was much better service’, Genevieve thought.
‘Since you are having another cup of tea, you might as well have the pie with it." the gruff waitress told Genevieve.
Genevieve just shrugged and said "okay." This woman was getting on her nerves. If she saw Terry, Genevieve would surely complain about her, and forget about receiving a tip! But then Genevieve thought maybe this woman was Terry’s mother-in-law. Yes that could be. Her age was right, if the other waitress was Terry’s wife, then...that explained it all. Genevieve smiled to herself.
"Haven’t seen you here before" the younger waitress said as she brought the fresh steaming tea to Genevieve. "Are you visiting?"
"No I’ve come home after being away for a long time." Genevieve told her. No need to explain the whole story to a stranger. Well she had already, twice in one day actually. But...
"Welcome home then. How long have you been gone?"
"10 years." Genevieve told her matter of factly.
"Oh that is a long time. Why I have a 4 year old and a 3 year old and..."
Genevieve stopped listening, the woman obviously was Terry’s wife. So he waited at least 5 years before marrying someone else.
The woman had obviously asked Genevieve a question and was waiting for an answer.
"Oh I’m sorry, what did you say?"
"Did you know Terry Honeywell when you lived here before? He’s my husband."
Genevieve felt herself blush. "Yes we did go to school together, but...."
Before Genevieve could finish her answer, the young woman called out Terry’s name.
Genevieve watched as Terry came out from the kitchen. It was for real this time. She watched his face change expression.
"Genevieve" he called out. "My goodness it’s good to see you."
He really did come around the counter and when Genevieve stood up to great him, he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a big bear hug. Hmmm he smelled good. Well of food anyway. He had bit of a paunch but otherwise was the same old Terry she had remembered. Her body did anyway, if not her brain. But her heart would never forget Terry. For Genevieve was still in love with him. How could one forget their first love?
"Vanessa" he had let her go and turned to his wife the younger waitress. "This is Genevieve Griffith!" he said excitingly. We went to school together and well we knew each other in Toronto too, before I opened the Diner."
"Nice to meet you Genevieve" Vanessa said warmly.
Genevieve smiled back at Mrs. Honeywell.
"Sit down, tell me what you are up to. When did you get back?" Terry had a multitude of questions.
The gruff waitress had brought the pie with the now melting ice cream on top of it. Genevieve caught Terry’s frown but she picked up the fork and started to eat it anyway. Oh it was good. At least the waitress was right about the pie. It was out of this world.
"Terry did you make this yourself?" Genevieve asked between mouthfuls. She couldn’t look at him.
He just grinned that boyish grin of his. "Yup"
Genevieve closed her eyes savouring the food and then licked her lips. "Boy that was good. Did that man teach you cook this good? I’ve forgotten his name, the one who’s restaurant you worked at in Toronto?" A memory had returned.
Terry looked at Genevieve for a moment before replying. Had those memories returned to him too? Or had they faded forever? Replaced by a new love!
"You remember Raymond?" Terry asked her.
Genevieve nodded. She looked at Terry now. No one else mattered, his wife, the grumpy waitress, the other patrons, just Terry.
"That was so long ago, Genevieve" Terry said softly. "Raymond has long since passed." Again Terry asked her what she was up to, trying hard to change the subject.
Genevieve realized it must be hard for him to talk about the past, well he had to live through it all, while she slept the years away. ‘Did he miss her?’ She wondered. Obviously he had gone on with his life. So she must now too.
"Well" she said brightly, "I’ve been to the Heights."
Terry raised his eyebrows and said, "yeah quite the place eh."
Genevieve said nothing but continued "and also Lofton" she paused to see if Terry would comment. When he didn’t she added, "and I met Nolee."
Terry just smiled.
"Terry is an astute businessman" Vanessa added lovingly looking at her husband. Genevieve could tell the young woman admired Terry. ‘And rightly so,’ Genevieve thought. He is a man any woman could be proud of.
"So what are you going to do now?" Terry asked her.
Genevieve related to them about the day’s events. When she finished she waited to hear what Terry had to say.
He nodded his head thinking. Then said, Yes that Sherlan is a shrewd man. I guess that’s how he owns so many malls. You were right not to sign right away Gen."
Genevieve had caught the nick name he used to call her, but said nothing. No point in making anything of it now.
"If you need backing, I will help you." Terry told her. "I have lots of capital" he added looking at Vanessa who smiled back at him.
Genevieve was sure Terry did not seek his wife’s approval for any business dealings but then maybe he was wondering if she might have questions, later perhaps about them. No Genevieve was sure Terry had not told a soul about their relationship. It ended with the accident. A punishment perhaps for their sinful ways. She was sure Terry would have eventually asked her to be his wife. Thank goodness she had not gotten pregnant.
"That would be nice of you Terry. But I have insurance money from the...accident" she continued hesitantly. "Not sure how much is left but..."
"In case you don’t" he added taking her hand in his. "I would like to see you accomplish your dream as I have mine." He smiled at her. He patted her hand and then stood up. "Well I’ve chatted long enough, I’ll lose all my customers if I don’t get back to work! It was nice seeing you Gen. Come back again, soon." He smiled warmly at her.
"Phyllis" he called out to the older waitress.
She came running to Terry. Whatever he said to her, no one heard. But when Genevieve got up to pay her bill, she was told there was no charge for the meal. Genevieve thanked her and decided she better leave her a tip anyway. It wouldn’t be much as she hadn’t liked the woman but still the service was good.
"It was nice meeting you Vanessa." she said genuinely to Terry’s wife.
"Same here Genevieve. Come back again, soon." she smiled. Genevieve felt the woman really meant it.
Genevieve walked out into the cool crisp evening. She felt good. Although her heart still belonged to Terry she did not feel bad about him being married. Vanessa seemed to be a devoted wife and Terry obviously loved her. He had moved on and so could Genevieve. She remembered Terry’s words about accomplishing your dream. Terry had fulfilled his, now it was her turn.
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