When Amanda had gotten everyone's order, she turned to go, but David brushed his fingertips against her arm and she stopped.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly, trying not to call attention to the two of them.
"Olivia has a cold, and what I don't have is a babysitter, so she's in the break room on the couch."
"Right now?"
Amanda nodded, rubbing her temples again. "Yeah."
He lowered his voice even more and said, searching her eyes, "You could have called me."
"I knew you were going to the race."
"I would've changed my plans in a heartbeat."
She smiled a little. "I know that too."
"Can I go back there and see her?"
"I'll bring her out here." She saw the panic that flashed through David's eyes. "If you want me to."
"Sure." David took a deep breath. "That'll be fine."
She turned away and gave their orders to the cook before disappearing into the back. A few minutes later, she came back out with Olivia in her arms. The little girl had her head buried in her mommy's shoulder as they crossed the room. David watched them, coming towards him. Amanda reached up and brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear, away from Olivia's face. Then they were there beside him.
The entire table went still and silent as David reached up and tickled Olivia in the ribs gently, trying to get her to look at him. Olivia brushed his hand away, as he said, "Hey, Princess."
Olivia, obviously having been woken up from a nap, with messy hair and tired eyes, turned in Amanda's arms and reached for him. "Daddy!"
David had heard her say that for over a month, but it still took his breath away each and every time she did. He reached up and took her in his arms, gathering her close.
"Table 5!" the cook shouted above the din going on around them.
Amanda looked to him to make sure he would be okay. He nodded and she hurriedly did her job at her other tables. No one said a word about either female as Olivia burrowed into David, ignoring the others with him, and fell back asleep.
Now, as she placed each plate in front of the respective person, they each checked her nameplate. And smiled a dopey smile at him. Great. Amanda sent him a small smile and disappeared.
"I'm getting a headache." He mumbled.
"You know," Javi spoke up. "A lot of couples say that they're like that. When one hurts, so does the other."
David almost asked how much pain he could inflict on Carmen by that theory, but he didn't. The warm deadweight of his daughter on his chest kept him silent.
"I've gotta say," Dylan was next, a dry smile on his lips as he addressed Jade. "If that's his definition of friendly, I get why he might be worried."
Jade nodded, smiling.
"That's not what I'm worried about."
"Oh? No?" Dylan asked.
"No. That's not what I'm worried about."
Amanda went back to the table that David and his friends were sitting at, but this time she was without her nametag and had her purse instead. She unceremoniously dragged a chair over and David scooted over so she could fit in beside him. Her ears were starting to ring from the constant bustle going on around her. She figured that it would take more than the week that she had been working here to get used to the din. Until then she would apparently have to deal with the headaches.
"You clocked out?" David asked.
"Yep. What are you worried about? If you need something I can still go get it."
"No, it's nothing like that. You're fine. One thing I'm worried about is you, your headache. Here."
He brought out a Tylenol and handed it to her. She thanked him and snatched his tea, taking the pill.
"So, what is the other thing you're worried about?"
He sighed, and pointed out the two teenagers at the table. "Dylan Mitchell and Jade Hayes." He looked away for a second. "I put cuffs on her boyfriend a couple of weeks ago, and she's become a social pariah since then. Dylan's her best friend. She's been getting some snide remarks at school over it and Dylan's been trying to help her out. Protect her more like, I think."
Amanda was starting to get the picture. She nodded.
"Do you want me to see what I can do?"
He smiled sadly. "That's up to you."
Amanda nodded, looking around as the others began to get ready to go.
"Hey, David," the man Amanda assumed was Nathan Hayes got David's attention. "We're going to the Mitchell's for ice cream. Are you coming or not?"
Victoria Mitchell looked to Amanda. "There's plenty for the three of you."
Amanda nodded. "Sure, I'll come if David does."
"Sounds good." David answered, easing out of his seat, trying not to jostle their sleeping daughter.
That got him to smile. He slid his hand into hers until they came to the door. He let go to hold the door open for her. She smiled. He always did that, it was one of the things that she loved about him.
In the parking lot, children were scrambling to get to ride with friends, and parents were trying to just get them all in the vehicles without leaving anybody.
David smiled and asked, "Is it okay if I put Olivia in with me?"
"Yeah, sure. I'll leave in a minute, I want to see if I can pick up a passenger myself."
David saw her glance at Jade and smiled encouragingly, giving her hand one more squeeze. "I'll be praying."
Okay, so this is a reposted version of my original story with the same title, just in case you read that. Please review this! I really need the motivation right now! Thank you in advance!:)