Michelle carefully manoeuvred the pram around the tables and chairs in
the coffee shop before reaching the table she always sat at in the
corner at the back. She took off her coat, hung it on the back of the
chair and then sat down unaware of somebody watching her. The waitress
came over took take Michelle's order.
"I'll have an orange juice, a strong black coffee with two sugars and two
croissants please." She said swiftly. She repeated that order every
Tuesday morning.
The waitress jotted down the order, then walked around to the pram and
leaned in. "Wow he is gorgeous, how old is he?"
"Thank you, he is four months." And she found herself gazing
affectionately at her son.
"He's going to be a heartbreaker when he grows up," the waitress said
with a smile. And she strolled away heading back towards the counter.
Michelle laughed silently at the waitress' comment. She leaned over and
stroked her son's cheek. He was awake and grizzled at Michelle's touch.
So she reached in and picked him up, and held him against her chest
rubbing his back and made soothing sounds.
She did not see or hear the person approach.
"Michelle Dessler. What poor sap got you knocked up?" came the loud bitter
voice. Michelle looked up startled. Staring back at her was Carrie.
Carrie the woman that broke her brother's heart. The woman who drove
him to the point where he saw no other way out. Michelle could feel the
anger burning up inside her. As she opened her mouth to speak, someone
else got in there first.
"Uh that would be me Carrie." Tony said as he walked past her. "Sorry
I'm late sweetheart," he said to his wife. He leaned over and kissed
her on the lips.
"And its Michelle Almeida, not Dessler," he said cryptically to Carrie
who was stood open mouthed as she caught sight of their silver wedding rings.
Tony picked up Finnley from Michelle, kissed him on the cheek and sat down with him. He whispered softly in his son's ear and cuddled him. "So how are you Carrie? Still single and bitter?" he turned to look at her
and stared hard into her eyes.
Carrie swallowed hard. "You two. Together. Unbelievable and desperate,"
She spat at them.
"Aw come on now Carrie, don't be jealous. We all know that you wish you
were Michelle. Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't you try and
blackmail me into giving you her job?"
This was news to Michelle. She looked at Tony and then at Carrie whose
eyes flashed guiltily. Oh my god, she thought to her self. What a bitch!
Carrie tried to hold her ground but couldn't think of anything else to
say. Baby Finnley broke the silence by grizzling louder.
Tony turned to his wife. "He must be hungry. Much like his daddy." And he
handed Michelle back their son. She took him in her arms and cradled
him. As she did so, the waitress arrived carrying their order. She
placed the food and drinks on the table and looked at Carrie. "Is she
sitting with you?" she asked Tony.
"Definitely not." He smiled at her. "She was just leaving." He looked
back up at Carrie. "Thanks for stopping by Carrie, I would say it
was nice to see you but it really wasn't." He then picked up his
croissant and took a bite. Carrie stared at him for a few moments and
then looked back at Michelle. Michelle with her heart beating fast held
eye contact for a few seconds and then looked away fighting desperately
the urge to say something. And realising she lost this battle, Carrie
sniffed, and walked away feeling several pairs of eyes on her as she
did so.