Reaching for Love

Chapter 3: The Thorn

JACOB

Bella was sitting close by, talking to a gentleman whose back was toward me. My eyes narrowed when he touched her. She was mine and so was the child she carried, if she was pregnant. Something I wanted to be true.

Someone approaching from behind had me turning. The young dishwasher joined me, pulling a joint out of his shirt pocket. Another no-no for anyone working at the restaurant, not that I was going to say anything.

"So you finally ended things with the bitch, huh?" he asked.

I shrugged surprised he know. "She was becoming too clingy and demanding a ring," I lied. "I think she making up being pregnant to get it. Not happening. I'm a lone wolf."

The kid had the audacity to laugh. "Me, too, Jacob. Rather kick a bitch to the curb than marry her and then find out she lied."

"What's your name?" I asked, smiling wickedly at the kid. Perhaps He could be of use or recruited to the cause.

"Seth Clearwater. Want a hit." He held out the joint to me.

I accepted the stick and took a deep pull. The affects weren't immediate. I needed something strong, like cocaine to get a real high. However, it relaxed me. I handed the joint back still watching Bella.

The gentleman was helping her into his car.

His funeral, I thought.

Let's get back to work.

~~~ Reaching for Love ~~~

Once back in the kitchen, I went in search of Uncle Royce. We needed to make plans in case Bella didn't try to convince me to take her back, to support her and the baby.

Uncle was in the walk-in freezer with a clipboard.

"We might have a problem," I said as I leaned in the doorway. "I don't believe the bitch it going to come crawling to me."

"What makes you think that?"

I told he what I saw.

Uncle huffed in indignation. "It would just be like the bitch to turn to another for help. She's too smart for her own good. I found out she went to a co-work and stayed the night after her father kicked her out instead of you."

I would never know how Uncle found out things. I had no doubt it was true.

"Bitch," I said under my breath. "What do we do? She could be lying about it all."

Uncle leaned back against a stack of crates, setting the clipboard aside and rubbing his chin. He was silent.

As I waited for him to tell me what the plan was, I started unpacking a crate of steaks. The seafood we served was brought in fresh daily by the chef, as were the vegetables and fruit.

"I don't know why you are coming to me with this, Jacob," he said at length. "You terminated the relationship too damn early."

He took a step toward me.

"No proof. Just her telling you."

He took another step and grabbed me by the collar.

"You expect me to help you when you don't know how to listen, boy. You knew the plan, you agreed to the plan. How are we to grow our army if you can't follow orders from your commander?"

I swallowed, knowing better than to say anything. I fucked up, again.

"You are on your own. Come back when you have to bitch under your thumb again."

He shoved me out of the freezer, picked up the clipboard and went back to work.