Plus One. How to Catch a Cloud - xvii
The cloud has been caught with the promise of no more rainy days. Ok, well maybe fewer...
She had to tell her brother and Georgia that things have upped one level between Charlie and herself.
But how?
Just as she contemplated it, while taking orders, Kyle shouted from the kitchen door that there was a phone call for her.
Just her luck, it was her brother.
"Hey Nix, what's up?"
"Do you have plans this weekend? Can you come down and keep Georgia company? She's been feeling really sick lately and I'm worried. I don't want to leave her alone."
"Where are you going?"
"A convention and I have to go with Ranger."
"OK, when do you want me there and for how long?"
"Can you spare a week starting from Friday?"
"I'm sure I can manage it. I'll let you know as soon as I re-arrange the schedule here."
"Get Charlie to drive you down, OK?"
"OK," a smile spread across her lips. Now was not the time to mention her relationship, but just hearing her brother call him 'Charlie' made her hope for something positive. Maybe it was just a slip of his tongue, but she hoped to never hear him called Chuck' again.
After getting off the phone with her brother, she called in a short staff meeting and told them of her need to leave for a week. Her staff was quite prepared for a long period without her which was great. She felt comfortable leaving Freddie in charge considering she kept her under her wing and taught her the strings and finer things about working to keep the diner afloat. Not that the diner was in disrepair or in need of business, because lack in customers it did not.
Ara made a call to Charlie to let him know about her plans. Originally she didn't want to ask him to drive her all the way there, but once he asked her how she planned to get there, she figured it wouldn't hurt to try.
"Oh, Ara... I can't. I have a few deadlines that I need to take care of. But can I make it up to you? I'll pick you up, how about that?"
"Oh no, don't worry about me," she tried to hide her disappointment.
She knew that it was too last-minute, but the tiny speck of hope made her sad.
It would make anyone sad, no?
But she had to insist, "I just wanted to try, in case you were available. Really, you don't have too OK, Grumps?"
"Just let me know when you need a pick up, and I'll pick you up."
"I'll let you know," she replied, but already made up her mind she wasn't going to call him for a pick up.
She wasn't some kind of disillusioned princess. That was a 10 hour drive to and from Marsdale. I am definitely not a princess.
"Love you."
"Love you too. Now get back to work," she replied.
And they disconnected the call.
"So," Freddie began as she breezed into Ara's office.
"Have you told your brother yet?"
Her brows deepened thoughtfully, "No, not yet."
"It's been a few weeks now."
"I know."
"You think he'll be thrilled about it?"
"I really have no idea. I haven't even told him about Charlie either."
"What?! You and Charlie are a couple now?"
Ara looked up at Freddie, "Was it not obvious?"
Freddie chuckled, "It was a matter of time. But you didn't confirm or have it plastered on the walls, so it was all speculation."
"So how do you think Charlie will take the news when you tell him?"
"I don't know," she replied. "I'm hoping he'll be happy. I don't know if I'm ready for the responsibility, though. This is a lot of work, Ara. To tell you the truth, I'm scared!"
"Don't worry too much. Try not to get too stressed out on your weeklong vacation with your sister. I hope she's OK. I don't want to downplay it, but it just sounds like a bad case of morning sickness. It's a good sign that the baby is healthy, though."
"That's what I'm thinking too, but it helps that I have a good week to think things through about how to break the news about two life changing moments and how I'm going to tell my brother."
"Hope he doesn't have a heart attack," Freddie chuckled.
"Me too!"
"Oh, and then there's telling Charlie," Freddie reminded.
"That too. Oh dear, I hope he's OK with this."
"He will be."
"Well, let's get back to work. The diner's filling up and I don't want the newest girl to be flustered overmuch."
"Let's go."
The diner was packed as expected for the afternoon lunch rush.
The three waitresses and the three cooks worked their shifts happily shouting orders, and singing to the oldies radio station playing in the background.
Just your regular day at Jan's Diner, Ara smiled thoughtfully and went over to deliver a customer's meal of fish 'n chips.
But how?
Just as she contemplated it, while taking orders, Kyle shouted from the kitchen door that there was a phone call for her.
Just her luck, it was her brother.
"Hey Nix, what's up?"
"Do you have plans this weekend? Can you come down and keep Georgia company? She's been feeling really sick lately and I'm worried. I don't want to leave her alone."
"Where are you going?"
"A convention and I have to go with Ranger."
"OK, when do you want me there and for how long?"
"Can you spare a week starting from Friday?"
"I'm sure I can manage it. I'll let you know as soon as I re-arrange the schedule here."
"Get Charlie to drive you down, OK?"
"OK," a smile spread across her lips. Now was not the time to mention her relationship, but just hearing her brother call him 'Charlie' made her hope for something positive. Maybe it was just a slip of his tongue, but she hoped to never hear him called Chuck' again.
After getting off the phone with her brother, she called in a short staff meeting and told them of her need to leave for a week. Her staff was quite prepared for a long period without her which was great. She felt comfortable leaving Freddie in charge considering she kept her under her wing and taught her the strings and finer things about working to keep the diner afloat. Not that the diner was in disrepair or in need of business, because lack in customers it did not.
Ara made a call to Charlie to let him know about her plans. Originally she didn't want to ask him to drive her all the way there, but once he asked her how she planned to get there, she figured it wouldn't hurt to try.
"Oh, Ara... I can't. I have a few deadlines that I need to take care of. But can I make it up to you? I'll pick you up, how about that?"
"Oh no, don't worry about me," she tried to hide her disappointment.
She knew that it was too last-minute, but the tiny speck of hope made her sad.
It would make anyone sad, no?
But she had to insist, "I just wanted to try, in case you were available. Really, you don't have too OK, Grumps?"
"Just let me know when you need a pick up, and I'll pick you up."
"I'll let you know," she replied, but already made up her mind she wasn't going to call him for a pick up.
She wasn't some kind of disillusioned princess. That was a 10 hour drive to and from Marsdale. I am definitely not a princess.
"Love you."
"Love you too. Now get back to work," she replied.
And they disconnected the call.
"So," Freddie began as she breezed into Ara's office.
"Have you told your brother yet?"
Her brows deepened thoughtfully, "No, not yet."
"It's been a few weeks now."
"I know."
"You think he'll be thrilled about it?"
"I really have no idea. I haven't even told him about Charlie either."
"What?! You and Charlie are a couple now?"
Ara looked up at Freddie, "Was it not obvious?"
Freddie chuckled, "It was a matter of time. But you didn't confirm or have it plastered on the walls, so it was all speculation."
"So how do you think Charlie will take the news when you tell him?"
"I don't know," she replied. "I'm hoping he'll be happy. I don't know if I'm ready for the responsibility, though. This is a lot of work, Ara. To tell you the truth, I'm scared!"
"Don't worry too much. Try not to get too stressed out on your weeklong vacation with your sister. I hope she's OK. I don't want to downplay it, but it just sounds like a bad case of morning sickness. It's a good sign that the baby is healthy, though."
"That's what I'm thinking too, but it helps that I have a good week to think things through about how to break the news about two life changing moments and how I'm going to tell my brother."
"Hope he doesn't have a heart attack," Freddie chuckled.
"Me too!"
"Oh, and then there's telling Charlie," Freddie reminded.
"That too. Oh dear, I hope he's OK with this."
"He will be."
"Well, let's get back to work. The diner's filling up and I don't want the newest girl to be flustered overmuch."
"Let's go."
The diner was packed as expected for the afternoon lunch rush.
The three waitresses and the three cooks worked their shifts happily shouting orders, and singing to the oldies radio station playing in the background.
Just your regular day at Jan's Diner, Ara smiled thoughtfully and went over to deliver a customer's meal of fish 'n chips.
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