Then without explanation, the pain eased a little. He felt a wave of warmth envelop him, almost as though someone had extended their arms and hugged him tightly. Keegan’s voice echoed in his mind. “It’s going to be okay.”
Kaiser jerked the steering wheel so hard he almost drove off the road as he looked around the cabin of the car. His gaze darted around outside the car as well, searching the darkness for any explanation of what had just occurred. Realizing there was no explanation, but that the pain had eased to a manageable level, he did the only thing he could. He sent the warm, supportive feeling back to wherever it had come from. If it was Keegan, he hoped she received it. If not, then maybe the fates were taking pity on him and they’d take it as a sign of thanks for the bit of relief they offered him.
Shaking his head to clear it of the startle he’d just gone through, he focused on the road again, the sunrise coming up in the distance, and settled in for a long ride.
~~~
The next morning Remi was busy preparing breakfast in the restaurant when the bell above the door let him know that someone had walked in. He glanced over his shoulder to see Cristie chatting with one of the girls who alternated with the other waitresses as hostess to seat customers when they came in. He pretended he didn’t see her, and continued filling orders.
“You see her?” Richie asked, from the other side of the kitchen.
“Yep.”
“Pretending you don’t?” Richie asked.
“Yep,” Remi said.
“You just looking to stir shit up,” Richie said on a laugh.
“Naw, just not playing games anymore.”
“Which is why you bring her coffee over here and prepare her favorite breakfast every morning now. You know she can just as easily go to the store next door and get the same thing.”
“That’s not playing. That’s being smart,” Remi said.
“How’s that?” Richie asked.
“I’m taking care of her, providing her with what she needs, giving her the opportunity to choose me, or the store and not me. But even when she does choose me…”
“Every day,” Richie said.
Remi grinned, “I never disappoint. Her coffee is made to perfection, her breakfast is waiting. But regardless of the comments she may hint at, I never take the bait when she drops it. I barely even look her way when she’s in here.”
“Mmhmm. And how’s that working for you?”
“I don’t know. This is the first day I’m trying it this week. A few days last week, though. But like you said, she’s here, instead of the store, so, that’s something at least.”
“That’s true,” Richie said.
“Good morning,” Cristie called out to a few different people as she made her way across the dining room toward the kitchen. “Y’all having a good day?” she asked here and there.
“She does know how to charm the people, doesn’t she?” Richie asked.
“Always has,” Remi answered.
“Morning,” Cristie said, as she walked into the kitchen.
“Morning,” Richie and Remi both answered.
“Thought I’d stop by and wish everybody a good day today,” she said, looking nervously around herself.
“Right back at you,” Remi said.
“And a good day to you, Cristie,” Richie said.
“Thank you. I’m looking forward to the day,” Cristie said.
Remi still didn’t look her way.
