Page 3 of Ever's Last
Some of the girls are nice, but then some would rather claw your eyes out just so they could get one step closer to the sash and crown.
I should say ‘no’. I’m over eighteen and Idon’thave to do this. I’m too old to be doing these dog and pony shows, no offense to those that continue them well into their thirties. Hell, some even do these pageants in their seventies. But I don’t say ‘no’. For some reason, I hope that one day she will be nice to me, and these pageants could be my way to make that happen. Even with as much as we fight, I don’t want it to always be so toxic. Plus, it makes Dad happy when I spend time with her.
I take a shower and throw on jeans and a sweater. I don’t have to dress up until later. I head down to see my dad in the kitchen.
“You’re up early.” I don’t know why I said that because he’s usually the first one up.
“I am. I’m meeting with a new client. If I land this bid, it will be huge.”
“What’s it for?”
“Some dating show they want to film here.”
“Here? As in Hickory Falls?”
“Yeah. A sports guy, a fighter, I believe. But get this, they want to findrealgirls and film them doing hard work or something. If I get this job, I’ll be the new caterer. This will pay off our bills.” He means my bills and the astronomical mortgage payment.
“I hope you get it.” We need this. This would help us out immensely.
“I was hoping you could come with me. We could sell it as a family business.”
“You want me to come to a meeting?” I work for my dad but have never been to a meeting with a potential client.
“Yeah. It will be great.” He sounds so sure, but I’m not as confident as he is.
“She can’t go. We have lots to do today.” Anne makes her presence known.
And for the first time, I see my dad’s jaw tick. He has a ferocious look on his face, one I’ve never seen before.
“She’s going with me. I’m tired of you calling the shots. If you want to keep living your dream, then she’s coming with me today instead of going to some stupid pageant, Anne.”
My dad rarely gets angry. Usually, when she starts to whine about something, he just gives in.
I think Anne gets his point. She snaps her mouth shut and I follow my dad out.
“Wait, my clothes.”
“You look fine. I want him to think we are some kind of country family.”
“Wow, okay. That kind of hurt. I’ve never seen you ever get mad at her. Where did that come from?”
“You look fine, always pretty. As for her, I’m tired. I thought that when I married her, we would be one big, happy family. I wanted you to have stability. But I think I was wrong.”
I’m not sure what to say. This is big. I want him to be happy, but at the same time I want her gone. I’m not under any delusion that my mother will come back because that ship has sailed, but we don’t need Anne.
We ride in silence all the way to town. There’s not much in Hickory Falls, but Atlanta is close. We don’t need much. I like simple. So do the others that call this area home.
The diner is the spot. I heard kids talk at school about hanging at the diner after the movies or the school dances. I never went to the movies or dances so I wouldn’t know about what kids did afterward. My dad brought me here a few times, but it was after I graduated, and recently my two friends and I started a ritual of eating at the diner on Fridays. A few people are sitting inside but not many teens. Through the years, that patronage has tapered off with those heading into the big city looking for fun.
I’m surprised this is the meeting spot.
They must really want the full package.
While waiting for our company, we slide into a booth and order some chocolate shakes, because they are to die for, and two breakfast specials since we didn’t get to finish breakfast at the house.
We know the minute they arrive because the client is someone we already know. It’s my Uncle Sal, who married my dad’s sister. And his partner is Brick. I know him from school.
People cast glances at them since both are wearing suits and they seem out of place. Plus, people know them here.
