Fall From Grace (14 page)

There are a few patrons scattered throughout but not one person looks up at us as we enter. It's as if this is the type of place that you go to be alone, drink your coffee and figure out how to get your life together. It seems really odd for Ash to have come here before?
 

We slide into a booth across from one another and grab the grease stained menus on the table. I really can't see a thing; my mind is running a marathon of conversation starters; the weather, school, news, movies, funny animal youtube videos. I'm saved by the waitress as she approaches with a giant grin on her face directed right at Ash who is giving her the same reception.
 

"Well, well, well, looky what we have here. Hey there handsome, what brings you 'round our way again? How long has it been sweetness, a couple a decades at
least
?" she leans over and ruffles his hair like he's 10 years old.

"C'mon Beth, you always knew how to exaggerate, but it has been awhile. I, uh, didn't expect to see you still here. Gerry keeping you locked up in the basement dare you escape to greener pastures."

"Oh you know I'm a sucker for old Gerry, can't seem to tear myself away; he just keeps on tickin'. I don't think we could get rid of him if we tried, but I think you know that story all too well, now don't you Asher." She's literally beaming at Ash as they exchange some banter over their past - I can't help but feel a little less then a third wheel here, it's as if I just left the room or evaporated into thin air.
 

I give this 'friend' who is definitely older then us, the once over. She's maybe in her early 40's, but a knock out to say the least - my inadequacies are quickly stacking up. Long legs, great bod, long blond hair to her waist
 
with a uniform that seems to have had a few too many inches knocked off the bottom which I can't say I blame her. If I had those legs I'd never wear pants.

As Ash literally tears his gaze from her, he suddenly remembers that he's on a date and acting like a total dick.
 

"Well it's really good to see you again B, but where are my manners. Beth this is Stella. Stella, Beth," he gestures from me to her.
 

It's the first time she has even glanced in my direction. Yes hello there, I do exist over here. I plaster on a smile for showmanship as she turns towards me.

Beth takes a quick look at me and does a bit of a double take. Her crystal blue eyes seem to wash over me in speculation and also a strange mix of confusion. I instinctively move my hands over my hair to make sure it isn't standing on end. Her expression goes a little blank and her eyes seem to be piercing my soul, like she's dissecting me apart on the inside. I feel sick to my stomach and completely unnerved. She makes no attempt at pleasantries aside from this intense stare. Reaching her hand up towards me, I lean back in response as Ash abruptly stands and commands her attention back to him. He shoots me an apologetic look and grabs her by the elbow.

"Is Gerry here tonight, I'd love to say hello, in the back room maybe? Stella I'll be back in a sec, k?"
 

He turns her around fast and they disappear into the back office. Well that was a little odd.

I quickly grab the steel napkin dispenser to double check that my lipstick isn't smeared across my cheeks, or that I haven't grown a third eye. All good, but it takes a few minutes for my stomach to settle. I don't think anyone has ever made me feel that uncomfortable before. I'm a fairly confident person, but her eyes seemed to grasp me like tentacles and read every insecurity I've ever had. I shake it off as they emerge from the back room. A small smile plays on her lips as they approach, but this time she averts her eyes and avoids any direct staring. Pulling a pencil from her apron, she grabs her note pad, ready to take the order. Ash sits back down across from me, with an awkward smile.

"What can I get you two then?" Beth grins at her notepad like there's a really funny joke I'm missing.

"I'll have the usual greasy steak sandwich," Ash replies.

"I'll uh, just have what he's having, thanks. Oh and a coke too."

"Ok,
kids
, I'll be back in a jif," she says with a bit of a mocking tone on 'kids' and a sarcastic smile on her face as she scurries into the kitchen.

"What was that all about?" I question him.

"What was what about?" he absently mutters, avoiding eye contact and playing with his spoon.

"Weeellllll, you walk in, seem to get along famously, reminisce about the good old days, she looks at me like I'm some sort of phirrana and all of a sudden she's all business and treating us like some young punks?"

"Well let's just say that Beth has had perhaps too much fun in her life and has a little less decorum then she used to. She's a bit of a handful but she has good intentions. Most of the time." He lets out a little laugh.

"How do you know each other?"

"She's an old friend of my Father's. They dated and it ended kinda badly." He's picked the menu back up, flicking through the pages, though he obviously isn't reading it.

"The way she was looking at me, it was really weird."

"Like I said, she's not 100% 'with it' Stella, cut her a little slack miss congeniality; You did just sit there all slack jawed and jealous," he says with a grin.

"Har Har. So not jealous, I was actually sizing up her boob job. That mid-life crisis probably cost her a mini fortune. Or should I say, a slightly too big for her frame and a little lop-sided fortune."

"Oh. I see," he says with a laugh.

"Yup, definitely fakes."

"Uh-huh. Whatever you say."

I decide a topic change is in order.

"So you've lived in Burlington? You never mentioned that before?"

"I didn't? Huh."

"Ok then, well, when did you live here."
 

"Um, it was a few years ago, and it was only for a few months. We came here a lot to eat, Dad isn't much of a cook. He started dating Beth and then we moved away again. She didn't take it very well but she always had a soft spot for me. So where's your Dad tonight?" Subject avoidance. Interesting.
 

"He's in Boston, attending some conference," I answer, crossing my arms in front, leaning back into my seat. He's not getting off that easy, does he know me at all?

"So what does your Father do?" I question.

"Investor."

"In what?"

"Money"

"Good one. For whom?"

"Rich people."

"Are you rich?"

"Maybe."

"Like really rich?"

"I guess."

"Why move here?"

"He likes the solitude."

"Why leave before."

"He missed the noise."

"Do you like the solitude?"

"I suppose, look, what is this Stella? Twenty questions?"
 

"Just curious... and a little suspicious." I give him a hard stare. Or at least an attempt at one, I'm about as bad as my Dad.

"You do know that I can deal it just as well as you can, perhaps better. You might want to lay off before I make you tell me all YOUR dark little secrets."

"I don't have any."

"We all do Stella." His eyes capture mine in an intense stare, like he's trying to tell me something but can't seem to find the words. I'm definitely starting to sweat. Thankfully Bimbo Beth kills the tension and arrives with our food.
 

Ash didn't lie, it really was spectacular. Oozy cheese, amazing tender meat with a bun that wasn't so big that you only taste the bread. OH and the fries, God they were awesome. You know what I'm talkin' about, those homemade little gems that have just the right about of seasoning, and deep fried to perfection. Yes, I'm a bit of a junk food whore.
 

After dinner, Ash plops down a bunch of bills and we book it from old Gerry's. He gives a quick wave to Beth where she remained hovering in the kitchen for the remainder of our visit clearly avoiding us because it isn't as if the joint was hoppin'. I have a feeling that Mr. Grey senior might be a bit of a ladies man, or perhaps a jack-off.
 

As I open the door to leave, a cool brisk wind whips by us down the street, pulling out a few strands of my hair. I don't mind one bit though; it feels deeply refreshing especially after consuming that much meat. I breathe in a few deep gulps and adjust my purse, before Ash grabs my hand and we slowly meander towards the car. He smiles at me for reassurance but I'm sure he can tell that it was the right move to make. His initial touch caught me off guard, the energy flowing between us seems to be intensifying. It's a little unsettling but in a good way. For some reason when I'm with him I feel more myself, as if a certain part of me is waking up for the first time.

"So whatcha wanna do now? It had better be spectacular if you're going to top old Gerry's deep fried magic," I say as we stop in front of his car. He's staring at me with an fierceness that makes my stomach drop to my knees. He brushes some stray hair out of my eyes and holds my gaze as if he's going to kiss me. His hand works his way down my chin and neck as my breath halts in my throat. I give a mental halleluiah to the tic tac gods for reminding me that you 'just never know', and braced myself for the moment.

"I have something to show you actually," he says rather breathily.

"Ok, I'm game, what is it?" I stammer, fully expecting a full on make out session.
 

He pulls away and holds my door open as a very disappointed me begrudgingly gets in the car. Sometimes gentlemen suck.

Ash drives towards the University campus. I haven't been here in ages. I used to come with Dad when he was giving a lecture and just wander the paths and old buildings. Sometimes I would even sneak into an empty auditorium and pretend to teach a class. I know, mega nerd.
 

I start to wonder what he might have up his sleeve. Maybe he's contemplating attending here in the fall? As we head up Colchester I see the Fleming Museum in the distance, another favourite spot of mine. The car starts to slow as we approach and he pulls into the visitor's lot.
 

"Well I love a good art exhibit Ash, but aren't we a wee bit late? Visiting hours ended at 8," I look over at him as he cuts the engine.

He smiles at me, "Ahh, Of corse you've been here before, I forgot about your Father."
 

"I haven't been back in ages though - c'mon the suspense is killing me, what are we doing here when it's closed?"

He opens his door and looks over at me with a devils grin before hopping out, "You'll see." He jumps out and makes his way over to my side. I open the door myself and slide out before he makes it over. Enough with the chivalry, my curiosity is peaked.

"I have a friend who works here, he set up a little
private
viewing for us. Shhh... don't tell anyone," he grins holding his finger to his lips.

"Ash you've been here for like a cumulative total of what? Two months? Maybe less? How do you have a friend that works here too?"

He seems caught off guard by this statement, but I won't play games with this guy, this is just getting weird.

"He's actually a friend of my Fathers. They recently reconnected since we moved back. Is that a good enough answer? Did I pass?" he adds with barely concealed bitchiness.

"Look, I don't mean to give you the gears, but dude think of what I'm seeing here. I'm a curious person Ash so cut me some slack," I snap back crossing my arms in front.

"Sorry Stells. Look, OK ask away. Want to know my social security? Favourite colour? Political standing? I'll be an open book for you. Promise."

He seems mostly sincere I guess, and I do feel a nervous excitement over committing a B & E on my first date. "Alright, you win. But I do want to know who you voted for last election. I have my standards you know," I say with a scrutinizing eye stare, then jerk to the right around him and towards the dark building.

After giving the glass door a few taps, some big burly guy appears from the gloomy depths and aims a flash light right at our faces; I jump out of my skin and let out a little shriek. So much for playing it cool. A flush reaches up to my cheeks.

"Relax Stella, it's just Ed."
 

Just Ed? Ed it HUGE. He's sporting the typical security guard garb but I could definitely picture him in wrestling tights easily. He unlocks the door and we slip in un-noticed. Ahhh now I get the lack of lighting.

"Ok Ash, I'm not joking, touch anything, and I mean ANYTHING, and I'll kick your ass from here to Agartha," Ed threatens, obviously convinced we're going to trash the joint. He's sweating buckets as the moisture drips down his cheeks and neck, forming a dark pool of wetness around his shirt collar. I mean, he IS sticking his neck out for us, he would certainly lose his job if we got caught. Which is why I found it weird that instead of placating big Ed, Ash shoots him a savage look, forcing him to cower away from us. Wha?

He senses my confusion at once and 'The
 
Look' quickly evaporates into charming poor Dino Ed, "Relax guy, we're just here to have a quiet look around. No harm, no foul."