Forgiveness
It was seven o'clock, and as instructed by Joanne Maureen arrived at a high class restaurant wearing the unusual high class outfit. It was a special night, and all the bohemians were getting together so celebrate none other then the diva's twenty-seventh birthday.
Maureen was excited as she walked into the restaurant, she never really dined first class before, and wanted to try it out for her birthday, so Joanne agreed to organize a get together for part of her birthday present, splurging the big bucks to pay for the rest of the five as well.
Maureen walked up to the front were a gentleman in a suit greeted her.
"Reservations?" The guy asked kindly with a warm smile.
Maureen let out a small giggle as the guy spoke, enjoying the kind treatment. "Um, it should be under Jefferson."
The guy checked his list over, a smile appearing on his lips as he found the name. He then stepped out from behind his small booth and held out his arm. "Right this way."
"Ooo." Maureen smirked as she looped his arm. "I'm liking this place already!"
Maureen let herself be led to a table set for seven, the guy now pulling out a chair for the diva so she could sit down.
"Thank you." Maureen winked. "If I didn't have a girlfriend I'd take you home right now."
The guy couldn't help but grin at the words, as he replied. "And if I didn't have to work I'd take you up on that offer."
"Cute and witty. I like it." Maureen smirked.
"Could I get you anything to drink?" He asked.
Maureen thought for a moment until she finally came to a decision. "A glass of wine would be nice thanks."
"Right away." He said and then proceeded to walk away to answer Maureen's request.
Maureen looked around the table, surprised none of her friends were there yet, especially surprised Joanne hadn't shown up, she was the punctual one of the group, and everyone was supposed to arrive at seven. Maureen's eyes shifted to the clock.
"It's only three after seven, they'll be here." Maureen stated to herself.
A couple of minutes later a waitress walked over to Maureen's table with a glass of wine on a tray. "Here is your wine."
Maureen smiled as she took the glass, taking a small sip. "Thank you."
"Can I start you off with anything while you wait? An appetizer maybe?" The waitress nicely asked.
"No thanks." Maureen replied. "I'll wait for the rest of my friends."
"Okay." The waitress smiled while adding. "My name is Jill if you need anything."
"Thank you." Maureen added before the waitress walked away.
Fifteen minutes later Maureen's glanced at the clock again. "So they're fifteen minutes late…they'll be here, they wouldn't miss my birthday…" she mumbled in slight irritation.
Her eyes then caught her waitress walk by. "Excuse me Jill?"
The waitress stopped, giving Maureen a friendly smile. "Yes?"
"Would you happen to know if anyone called saying they were going to be late? The reservation was under the name Jefferson." Maureen asked.
"I'll go check for you." Jill replied as she headed to the entrance of the restaurant, and began talking to the guy that escorted Maureen to her table. A few minutes later she came back. "I'm sorry, no one called. If you want I could start you off with an appetizer…I'm sure by the time the food comes, your friend will be here."
Maureen stood up. "No thanks, but I could use another glass of wine. I'm just going to go use the phone to try and get a hold of someone."
The waitress smiled. "I'll bring you one right away."
Maureen went to the pay phone dialing her apartment first, and leaving a message when no one answered, and then dialed the loft, leaving a message again. "Maybe they're on their way now…"
Thirty minutes and five glasses of wine later Joanne and the other boho's hadn't shown up, Maureen was now a little buzzed, and a little pissed off that her friends forgot about her.
Jill her waitress walked back over. "Still no one?"
"Looks like it." Maureen replied as she guzzled her sixth glass of wine. "Fuck them, I'm going to start with out them! That's what they get for being late for my birthday!"
"It's your birthday?" Jill said with excitement. "Happy birthday, now what can I get for you?"
Maureen pondered the questioned, this was all going to be charged to Joanne's credit, and since she was buzzed, and pissed at her girlfriend at the moment, she replied with. "The most expensive thing on the menu."
"You got it!" Jill said with a smile as she took Maureen's menu.
Maureen sat at the table of seven eating alone, not really caring if anyone started at her. It was her birthday, and she was going to enjoy herself. She also figured that maybe someone would show up, giving her a good reason of why everyone was late.
But by the time Maureen finished her meal it was pushing eight thirty, and no one had shown
Maureen frowned as her empty plate was taken away. She pouted and looked up towards Jill. "No one called?"
"Sorry." Jill replied with a sad expression.
"Would you like a anything else?" Jill asked. "Dessert?"
Maureen huffed. "No…"
"So do I charge this to a Ms. Jefferson?" Jill asked wanting to make sure.
"Yeah." Maureen answered. "Also give yourself a fifty dollar tip."
"Thanks!" Jill said with excitement.
"Oh and give greeter boy over there a fifty dollar tip as well." Maureen added.
"Will do!" Jill said and then skipped away.
After everything was paid for Maureen left the restaurant, it was only nine thirty, and Maureen wasn't done celebrating her birthday yet, so she decided to have a little fun on her own.
Back at the loft the rest of the bohemians all piled in the dungy place, the five of them coming back from a Life Café dinner.
"I almost feel like I had to do something tonight…" Roger stated as he sat on the couch.
"Me too." Mimi agreed while taking a spot next to Roger.
"Something important?" Collins asked.
"Yeah." Mark chimed in.
"Maybe it was because all seven of us weren't together." Angel replied. "It just felt like something was missing."
"Well we called Maureen and Joanne…no one answered." Mimi stated.
At that time Mark noticed the answering machine was flashing with two messages, so he hit the play button.
"Hi guys its Joanne, I take it you're all still out celebrating Maureen's birthday. I just wanted tell Maureen that I'm really sorry for missing dinner, but I got caught up at the office. Anyways I'm sure I'll catch up with you guys later. Happy birthday honeybear, love you! And I'll make the dinner part up to you later tonight I promise."
Everyone's face fell at the message, none of them able to respond as message number two played out.
"Where the hell are you guys?" Maureen's voice demanded over the phone. "I'm sitting at this damn restaurant all by myself, I hope you didn't answer the phone because you're all on your way…well I hope to you see all later…bye."
Everyone glanced around at one another, each and every one of them hit with guilt.
"Oh shit…" Collins said. "I can't believe we forgot Mo's birthday."
Before anyone else could say anything there was a knock on the door.
"Maybe that's Maureen." Mark said with hope as he rushed to answer it.
"I found you guys!" Joanne said with triumph, and then proceeded to head into the loft. "I didn't think Maureen would want to be held up in the loft all night long on her birthday…where is she? Is she already passed out from drinking to much?"
Joanne was all smiles as she looked around the loft for any signs of Maureen. "Honeybear, I'm here now, again I'm sorry I missed dinner…but I'll make it up to you…"
Her face began to fall, as there were no sign of the drama queen anywhere. "Where is she?"
"Ummm Jo…um how do I put this." Collins began.
"Oh my god is she alright?" Joanne asked with worry.
"Lets just say you weren't the only one who missed dinner." Roger finished for Collins.
Joanne froze. "Wait a minute…you're telling me that no one showed up for dinner with Maureen?"
Mimi nodded. "That would be correct."
Joanne gasped. "What kind of friends are you!"
"What kind of a girlfriend are you?" Roger shot back.
"Just relax." Angel said in a calm voice. "We'll find Mo and celebrate until she forgets everything…"
"Angel's right, knowing Maureen she is probably already half way there." Collins said.
Across town Maureen sat in a little bakery that was surprisingly still open this late. In front of her sat a little cupcake with a single candle sticking out of it.
Quietly she sang to herself. "Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to me." and with one small blow she blew the candle out.