Page 52 of Remembering You
“No,” the raspy voice answered. I twisted my face, shaking my head at the messenger. “He left a couple minutes ago. But he was headed to the Maple Grove Diner for dinner. You might be able to catch him there.”
I groaned and thumped my forehead against the phone receiver. Of course he was going to the diner. That was just my stupid luck.
“Everything all right over there?” The guy at the job site asked. “You hear what I said.”
“Yes,” I muttered. “Everything is fine. Thanks a lot.”
I hung up and took the envelope from the messenger, doing my best to smile. “He’s eating just down the street. And I was heading there now anyway.”
The messenger nearly fell to his knees at my words. “Oh, thank you! God, I could kiss you right now!”
“Please don’t,” I laughed.
Tucking the envelope under my arm, I lead us both out of the office and locked up behind us. With a wave, he took off on his bike and I slowly hobbled my way toward the diner. With any luck, Jim wouldn’t be there yet. Then, I could grab my pity burger and leave the envelope with Elsa to give it to Jim.
As I walked up to the diner, I peered in the window, not seeing Jim anywhere inside. I gave a little victory dance. Not wasting any time, I rushed inside toward the counter, where Jack gave me a quick head nod.
I smiled at him. “Hey there, Mr. Softie.”
“Don’t call me that,” he grumbled and handed me a paper bag that smelled greasy and delicious. “That phrase has other, less masculine meanings, you know.”
I snickered as Elsa came out from the back. “Ignore him. He even threw a piece of pie in there.”
I lifted a brow. “Did he now? What kind of pie, Jack?”
The phone rang behind the counter. “It’s called a slice of guys suck,” he said as he picked up the phone. “Maple Grove Diner,” he answered.
My eyes went wider than ever. “Did he just crack a joke?”
“Put your ice skates on,” Elsa said. “We can go skating in hell because Jack just made a joke.”
Jack rolled his eyes and pointed to the phone he was holding, shushing us. “I’m on a call,” he whispered.
I laughed. “But… to be fair, Jim doesn’t suck. Despite everything, I know he’s a good guy and I wouldn’t want either of you seeing him as some sort of villain. I think in his own strange way, he’s trying to protect me by ending things.”
“Protect you from what?” Elsa asked.
“Starting a family before I’m ready. He’s really hung up on this idea that we’re in different life stages. And he said that if he wants to have children in the next few years, I would just be starting my nursing career and I might end up resenting him.”
Elsa was a quiet a moment before she chimed in. “Well, he might not be wrong. I know if I had just put in the time to get my degree, the last thing I would want is to start a family and derail my career.”
I sighed. “Who says that would have to derail my career? I can work while pregnant. I’ll take a three-month maternity leave and then be back at the hospital. If there is ever a profession that is understanding about maternity leave, it’s the medical professions.”
“Did you tell him that?”
“Well… no. To be honest, he wouldn’t even let me. He seemed so closed off to the conversation.”
“And do you want to have children?”
“Yes! I’ve always wanted to have a big family.”
“And you’d be willing to get married and have children sooner than you thought?”
I paused, really thinking that over for a moment. “I think so. For the right man, yeah.”
“Is Jim that man?” Elsa asked, her eyes wide.
I shrugged. “We’ve only known each other a couple weeks,” I answered honestly. “I think he could be that man, yes. But the truth is, that’s sort of the risk, isn’t it? It’s always a gamble giving your heart to someone. The difference is, I was willing to try with Jim. He’s not willing to try with me.”
Jack hung up the phone and his mouth was tilted into the smallest semblance of a smile. But it was a smile nonetheless. “Maybe he’ll have a change of heart,” Jack said.
Doubtfully. “Maybe.” I pulled the envelope from my messenger bag, and there inside my purse, I saw the ten-dollar bill with the heart scribbled on it peeking out of my wallet. A sad smile tilted my mouth as I tugged it free from my wallet. Sadly, I tucked the money into the envelope with the paperwork. It wasn’t a game anymore… it was just money Jim was owed from me. A sad ache carved into my chest and I inhaled deeply against that pain. It was the right thing to do, paying him back. I slid the envelope across the counter toward Jack. “Jim is probably coming in for dinner. Can you make sure he gets this?”
Jack nodded and slid it beneath the counter.
Elsa untied her apron and tossed it into a hamper beneath the counter. “Come on. My shift is over. I’ll give you a ride home.”
