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Then my thoughts shift to the bad things and how he wanted me gone. His parent’s choice and how they easily wanted to get rid of me. Kalum called me a total of twenty-six times, but I never answered. He left messages pleading for me to call him back, but I blocked his number and never called back. It's over.
What would be the point, to say he was sorry. The result would be the same and even if he offered me money the same way his parents did, I wouldn’t take it. Whatever we had and the time we shared, is over. He is obviously living his life and, in his world, there is no room for someone like me. The young housekeeper with no future.
Lane has been there for me and was my safety blanket and my solace. The quiet man that loved building his cars more than life itself. He won me over by simply being there as a friend, then as a lover. Until he walked out on me pregnant with his baby without a single word. Lane is a man of very few words and I thought patience was the way to handle his silence but this is different. This is about a life we made together growing inside of me by the minute. Then I ask myself, does Lane want me to leave? Is that why he left and never came back? Is that the message he is trying to send me without voicing it out loud because he feels guilty? Should I leave or should I stay?
After three hours, the light from the diner shuts off and I stand up, having made my decision.
Chapter twenty-seven
Aura
“Is that all I can get you?” I ask the customers seated in booth three. They nod and smile, letting me know they are good when I set their plates.
I ask the manager of the diner I sat at for three hours if they needed to hire someone for waitressing and they in fact needed one more person for the night shift which leaves me some time to create jewelry. They also helped me find a small one-bedroom one block over. It is not the best, but it prevents me from having to purchase a car.
“How are you feeling today, Aura?” Nick says when I pass him by.
Nick is a regular at the diner and works at the bank across the street. After two months working at the diner, I’m showing, and my apron helps accentuate the appearance of a small baby bump. Nick is nice, and he always leaves a generous tip which I can appreciate.
“I’m fine and thank you for asking. That’s really sweet.”
He gives me a smile. “If you need someone to walk you over, I have time tonight. I don’t have any plans.”
“That is nice of you, but I think I will be okay on my own.”
It is a nice offer and Nick has never given me a reason to think he was creepy. My creep meter hasn’t sounded off in my head. His offer seems sincere, but I have gotten used to be alone. It is the only person I can count on.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. I’ll follow you, and when I see you safely cross. I’ll go on my way. I worry about you, Aura. You’re all alone.”
Nick has been coming to the diner on some nights that are slow and conversations have come up about my family. My answers to everyone are all the same. My boyfriend and I broke up and I’m on my own. It is all I give them and then change the subject. I’m relieved that no one asks more questions.
I shrug my shoulders. “I’m kinda used to it.” I rub my stomach. “It won’t be very long now until I’m due...”
“If you ever need any help or anything. You know where to find me across the street. I would give you my number, but I don’t want to scare you and seem disrespectful.”
Like I said, Nick is so nice. I wonder why he doesn’t have a girlfriend. He seems like a stand-up guy, but so did Lane. Kalum was—Kalum. Lane never showed up when I left, a huge sign that spoke volumes that he didn’t care. He never called to see if I was okay or if I needed anything. He was gone.
The following week when my shift is over, I took up on Nick’s offer for a walk home but I limited it to the sidewalk across the street. I clock out and head to the exit of the diner.
“Ready? You got your coat? It’s a little cold out,” Nick says.
I nod, but when I pull out my not-so-thick coat, he frowns.
“You need to get something thicker than that,” he says pointing to the coat.
It’s either a thicker coat or pay the light bill and freeze to death inside the apartment.
You choose. He works in a bank but is not the brightest. He obviously doesn’t put two and two together and figures out that I’m broke and need to save for the birth of a baby that his father is refusing to acknowledge.
I’m walking with my hands crossed over my waist to keep myself warm with Nick walking beside me. There is a loud rumbling on an engine with a pop that makes me jolt. It comes closer, and the sound is loud from the exhaust of an expensive car I have only heard in Lane’s shop.
The car pulls up, and I turn and stop with my mouth hanging open. I recognize Lane pulling up in his supercar, and Nick stands back as the door bursts wide open and a murderous rage contorts Lane’s face.
He points at Nick and looks at me. “Who is this asshole?”
“Hey man, I don’t want any trouble,” Nick says with hands raised.
My teeth clench so hard I think I might saw them off. “What is your problem, Lane? Don’t you dare come at me when you left me or question anyone. You lost that right when you left without a word or a phone call. Now fuck off.”
