Chapter 10

"We're here a little early to get a nice table." Sam told me as he parked the car near the entrance to the restaurant.

"Okay." I said not waiting for him to get out and open my door. I stood by the car and waited for him to join me. After letting him take my elbow, he guided me toward the front door and I let him without pulling away. I tried not to act so stiff and uncomfortable around him wondering why it doesn't feel right. After we stepped into the foyer of the restaurant, I surveyed the room for potential danger and caught myself wondering why I was doing that. Why would I think any of these people could be dangerous? We waited for the hostess to come and Sam told her where he wanted to sit. She led us to a table by a window and we sat down.

"Your waitress will be with you shortly."

"We're expecting another couple in about ten minutes." Sam told her as he accepted the menu offered to him.

"I'll keep an eye out for them." she said smiling sweetly.

"So what's good here?" I asked opening up the menu.

"Lark, this is your favorite restaurant. We come here all the time." Sam told me disappointment in his voice. "We had our first date here and a lot of others. You called this our special place."

"Right, guess it slipped my mind." I mumbled trying to hide my confusion. Luckily the waitress came over and I didn't have to say anything else.

"Hello, my name is Valerie I'll be your waitress tonight. What can I get you to drink?" she asked us.

"I'll have water with no lemon." I told her.

Sam said frowning with my choice. "There'll be two more joining us shortly."

"Alright, I'll be right back with those drinks." she said bouncing off.

"Lark have you had an accident of some kind, hit your head or taken something you shouldn't?" Sam asked quietly where others couldn't hear. "You don't have to be afraid to tell me, it's okay. Should I call your doctor? I'm sure he could work you in..."

"I don't have a doctor and no to both your questions. Why does everyone keep asking me if I something is wrong?" I hissed starting to get upset. "Why should there be anything wrong? I just need...I just need to figure some things out." I told him rubbing my temple as a headache starting making itself known.

"I'm just concerned for you Lark. After what you went through last time. I don't want you going through that again. I thought you might..." he started but I cut him off when I saw my parents.

"I see them." I told Sam standing up so they could see me. I waited until the hostess brought them over so I could hug both tightly. "Hey Mom, Dad, happy anniversary." I said smiling happily to see them here and hiding the fact my head was pounding.

"Lark, Sam, good to see you." Mom said sitting down in the chair Sam had pulled out for her.

"Sam, good to see you again." Dad said after kissing my cheek and sitting down.

"You too Dad." Sam answered a look passing between them that didn't get by me.

I tried to keep my facial expression neutral while listening to them converse. I attempted to accept this as normal but it wasn't, it was so not normal and I needed to find out why. But for tonight I was trying to set that aside to deal with tomorrow. That would be soon enough for me to start prying and digging into my life. Right now I wanted to enjoy this time with my parents.

"Here you go water and unsweetened tea." Valerie said sitting down the drinks. "And what can I get you two to drink?" she asked.

"We'll both have sweet tea." Dad said.

"I'll get that right out and some hot rolls for everyone."

"Thank you." Sam said. "How have you two been?"

"We've been good." Dad said. "Trying to cut back on the job. I'm looking at trying to retire early if I can."

"That sounds good; I know you two want to travel some."

Their conversation surprised me as I listened to it. It seemed my Mom and Dad had accepted Sam as part of the family. So where was Dean in all this? It seemed from Sam's reaction when I asked about him that there might have been something between us at one time, but I could not remember any of it.

"Here you go two teas and some hot rolls." Valerie announced putting the items on the table. "Are you ready to order or do you need some more time?"

"Mom, Dad you ready?" Sam asked and looked to me. "You want to start Babe?"

"I'll have a New York strip, medium, baked potato with butter and a house salad, ranch dressing." I said closing the menu and handing it to me.

"And you sir?" she asked Sam who was staring at me in shock, but quickly recovered.

"I'll have the Cobb salad, ranch dressing with crackers please." he managed to get out before sipping his drink.

I felt uncomfortable with the stares from everyone as Mom and Dad ordered and I wondered what I had done wrong. The only thing I had done was order so it must be something about that. Everyone got a roll and Sam offered the basket to me. I took one and a small amount of butter to go inside it. I felt my stomach growl slightly with the first bite and didn't realized how hungry I was and took a larger bite.

"Mom, Dad this is from Lark and me." Sam said pushing an envelope toward them.

"Thank you Sam, Larklin." Mom said picking up the envelope and opening it. "Oh my! My dears this is so thoughtful." she said showing it to my Dad.

"My yes it is. Thank you both." he said squeezing my hand.

I had no idea what we had given them and just smiled at him and Mom. I didn't know what to say so I didn't say anything.

"Also, there's something else." Sam said reaching into his pocket. "I started not to do this, but I've had this planned for a while now." he said sitting a small box in front of me. "I thought this would be the perfect time to ask you something. I know you're not feeling yourself right now, but I still want to ask this. Lark, will you marry me?" he asked opening the box to show a diamond ring. "If you need some time that's fine, just know this will be waiting for you and so will I."

"Oh honey this is wonderful." Mom exclaimed happily looking at me waiting for an answer.

I stared at the ring but didn't make any attempt to pick it up or touch it. Any appetite I had vanished as I stared at the ring not able to breath. I know everyone was waiting for me to say something but I couldn't. It was all wrong, something deep down inside of me was telling me this wasn't right; I just needed to find the clue that would help me know who I really was.

"Excuse me." I said softly, quickly getting up to go to the restroom. I moved blindly through the tables and people toward the restrooms not paying attention to anyone around me. I stepped into the hall where the restrooms were and looked up as someone came out of the men's room. He looked up and saw me and a look of surprise and sadness crossed his face before it turned in to one of hatred.

"Dean?" I gasped in utter shock to finally see him.

"I'm surprised you remember my name. Wait, oh yeah you're slutting around with that brother of mine still aren't you?" he sneered at me in disgust and anger.

I don't know what came over me, but before I could stop myself I slugged him hard. Not a slap by any means, but a full force, balled fisted punch. Dean's head snapped to the side and a thin trickle of blood started down his chin from a split lip. I was breathing hard and the pain radiated up my hand, but I didn't back down one inch. We stood there staring at each other for a few seconds when he jerked me to him and kissed me hard. I could taste the warm, coppery flavor of his blood as he ground his lips into mine before he pulled away and pushed me into the wall.

"Give you something to think about. You sure you picked the right brother?" he growled into my ear before stomping away without a backward glance.

I couldn't breathe as I watched him stalk away still feeling his lips crushed into mine and my emotions went haywire. What had happened between us to cause so much anger in him I wondered. I moved to the restroom door on rubbery legs and stepped inside. I went to the sink and leaned heavily against it before raising my eyes to look at myself in the mirror. There were still traces of blood on my lips and tears slipped from my eyes. I turned on the water to rinse my face and patted it dry. Knowing this night wasn't working; I dried my hands and headed back to the table.

"I'm sorry, I can't do this." I said grabbing my jacket to leave and stopped when I saw the girl again standing in the restaurant looking at me. She was disheveled, dirty and pale looking and I couldn't understand why no one else was reacting to her. When I glanced toward Sam and looked back she was gone. "Did you see her?" I asked looking around the room for the girl.

Sam grabbed my arm to stop me before he spoke. He looked to where I was looking and back at me with confusion on his face.

"Lark, what happened? Who are you talking about?" he asked looking into my face trying to see an answer. I could tell by his expression he knew I had been crying.

"Please Sam; it's all too much for me. I've got to...I just can't do this..." I begged slipping my arm from his grasp so I could leave. I heard my parents talking but didn't look back for fear of what I might do. I stayed steady and continued for the door with no idea where I was going. I walked out into the parking lot wondering where to go and how to figure this weird situation out. I began walking as a loud rumble caught my attention and I turned to see a black '67 Chevy pull up beside me. I smiled because I knew this car and rubbed a hand over the top of it.

"Hey Baby, at least you're still the same." I mumbled before stepping back when the window was rolled down and Dean looked at me.

"What's the matter? Not wanting to finish your meal?" he asked sarcastically.

"Leave me alone." I said not wanting to deal with this right now. I continued to walk through the parking lot ignoring him.

"Get in." he said letting the car roll slowly beside me.

"No." I said back and turned to go another direction as I pulled the pocket knife from my slacks.

"Hey!" he said getting out of the car and grabbing my arm to stop me.

Without thinking about it, I had him pinned to the car with the blade of the knife to his throat.

"Leave. Me. Alone." I spat at him pressing the blade harder into his throat drawing a thin line of blood. After a few cuss words under my breath, I let him go and stomped away from him, my point made I thought.

"Who the hell are you?" Dean called to me. "You're not Lark. She wouldn't have the balls to do that. She's too much of a weakling."

I didn't bother to answer him as I disappeared into the darkness letting it swallow me. I continued to walk aimlessly through the night trying to sort all this out. My feet were hurting from the shoes and I wondered why I even had them. These were not what I normally wore, I was sure of it now. I needed to get some comfortable clothes and a decent weapon, but I had no money on me and was miles from where I lived. I had no cell and really didn't want to call anyone to come and get me. I wasn't ready to face my parents or Sam right now, not until I got whatever this was figured out.