In Too Deep

ChapterTwelve

It had been a couple of days since Chloe had seen or heard from Ronan. Since he’d called to yell at her Monday morning. Although she didn’t think he was still mad at her for asking some simple questions, she’d thought she would’ve heard from him by now. They’d made plans to see each other again.

Sure, they were vague, tentative plans, but plans nonetheless.

She had no new information to share with him. Danny hadn’t spent much time at the Rose this week. Part of her wondered if he had gotten suspicious of her listening in, but she hadn’t done anything to make him suspicious.

Thoughts of Ronan had bombarded her for hours when she’d tried to sleep in. She’d been horny but saved herself for meeting with him. Now, she was regretting that choice because her period showed up like clockwork. She was irritable and both her staff and the customers were rubbing her last nerve today. All she wanted was to curl up on her couch with a pint of ice cream, a bag of potato chips, and some feel-good TV.

That desire doubled when one of her new servers called in sick at the last minute. So she plastered on her best customer service smile and tried to remember that midweek wasn’t usually busy. She could fake it through the dinner rush and then beg Johnny to close tonight. Two hours in and she was cursing Kristi for calling off. Chloe’s cramps started and bloating made her feel like she was a waddling whale. How could her body turn on her so fast?

A family of six came in and Chloe tried to pass them off to Julia, but her section was full. She walked the family to the only table on her side where they would fit. “Can I start you all off with some drinks?”

“Water all around,” the woman said. “Milk for the kids. A glass of whatever white wine you have available for me.”

Chloe nodded and looked toward the two men who were in deep conversation.

The woman, who was struggling to wrangle a toddler into a high chair, added, “Get them each a Guinness.”

“I’ll be right back with menus.” She grabbed menus and silverware from the host station and delivered them.

As she waited for the drinks at the bar, she watched the harried woman play with her toddler while talking to the two other kids. The men continued to ignore the commotion and did nothing to help her. Chloe felt sorry for the woman.

She delivered the drinks and took their dinner order. The woman had ordered for the entire family. She knew exactly what everyone wanted and wasted no time waiting for input from any of them. She could’ve been a drill instructor as rapid-fire as the ordering went.

The toddler started banging a spoon and shredding a napkin while the other two kids bickered. The mother sucked down her wine as if she were parched in a desert. Chloe delivered another glass with a smile.

“On the house,” she whispered. “Looks like you could use it.”

“Thank you.”

Just then, one of the two boys pulled his straw from his cup of milk and sprayed milk all over Chloe.

She sucked in a breath of surprise.

“Oh my God. I am so sorry,” the mother said. “Peter. Apologize to the nice lady.”

Peter looked up at Chloe with a shit-eating grin. “Sorry.”

Then his brother said, “How’d you do it?”

Before Chloe could step back, he’d figured it out and sprayed her from the other side.

“Michael,” the woman said sharply.

Through clenched teeth, Chloe simply said, “It’s fine.” She brushed at her arm and her shirt with a napkin. “Your food will be ready soon.”

In the kitchen, she washed her hands and arms up to her elbows to get rid of the milk and she blotted at her shirt. She was feeling really bitchy right now and she needed to let it go. She checked on her other tables and then circled back to the kitchen for the family’s food.

As soon as she set the dishes down, both Peter and Michael began to complain about what their mom ordered. The men were laughing at their end of the table, still offering no help or input. How did this woman not go off on her husband? They had to be married or at least a couple. Why else would they all be together like this?

“Let me know if you need anything else.”

The woman began cutting up food for the kids. One man waved at Chloe and pointed to his pint glass. She delivered two more beers to the table. The woman still hadn’t had a bite of her food. This poor woman. The toddler played with his food while his brothers shoveled theirs in their mouths. Chloe couldn’t imagine living that life. Was that the extent of her mother’s life? Or Erin’s? There to serve and order and direct? Chloe wondered why she’d thought such a life was a good idea for her. She glanced at the men and realized either of them could’ve been Tim.

This could have been her life. The thought made her stomach turn. Or maybe it was another round of cramps.

An hour later, the kids were done with being in a restaurant and the mom was trying to keep them occupied, but the men had just ordered another round. Chloe made her way to the other end of the table to see if the woman needed anything else—like the check, maybe—as the toddler began wailing. He pushed food away and slapped at his mother’s hands.

Chloe had babysat her nieces and nephews. She was pretty good with kids. She lowered herself to the toddler and asked, “What’s wrong?”

He hiccupped and then projectile vomited on her.

The mother jumped up and shoved a handful of napkins at Chloe. “I can’t believe this.” Turning to her husband, she said, “Dave. We have to go. The baby just threw up on our waitress.”

“Oh, damn. Is he okay?”

“I don’t know. Just pay the bill, please.”

Chloe straightened and wiped at her shirt. She pulled the bill from her apron and handed it to Dave.

He peeled bills from the cash in his pocket and handed them to her. With a wrinkled nose, as if it wasn’t his kid that just puked on her, he said, “Keep the change. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

“Thank you. Have a good night. I hope your son is better.”

They shuffled out and Chloe looked at the cash. A ten-dollar tip. She reeked of milk and puke and he’d given her ten bucks. She bussed the table, muttering to herself. At least the dinner rush was over. When she walked past Johnny with the tray of dishes, he looked at her and cringed.

“I think me and Julia can handle this. Maybe you should go home.”