Chapter Twelve-Lunchtime Confessions
The days flew by and it was now Saturday. It was around eleven o'clock and the ladies were at Fifth Avenue Diner, their go-to spot for casual dining and incessent chatter. This was also the first time the group had met since Mary's attack and everyone was eager to make things as normal as possible. It was surreal to Mary, to have life appear so normal and also know it would never be the same again. She looked around the table, taking comfort in the presence of her loved ones, which waas nothing new.
What was new, however, was the addition of Bobby Goren, who was sitting to her right. Like Mary, he was also silently observing the women at their table. Allyson was at Mary's left and Terra was sitting to Bobby's right. Beth was sitting next to Terra and Stacee was beside Terra, completing their line up. They were currently looking at their menus and sipping water, remaining silent, but comfortable in each other's presence.
The diner had a fun, casual vibe with red boothes, tables, and a wide, expanding counter. It looked very much like any other diner in America, albeit cleaner perhaps given its local. Bobby set his menu down and looked aroun the table, ready for the silence to end.
"So...how long have you been coming here?" he asked the women.
"Forever, ever since we were kids," Beth said. "Uncle Steve and Uncle Mark's company is around here, so we would come here all the time after school or on weekends."
"Of course, life became much more fun when we were allowed to come here sans parents," Terra said, a conspiratory smile spreading across her face.
"I think it goes without saying that our freedom was the result of our mothers' urging and not necessarily the desire of our fathers," Allyson added.
The ladies laughed and Bobby cracked a smile as Beth added. "Yeah, especially your dad. Don't get me wrong, I love Uncle Steve, but he can be a bit of a...handful."
"That's putting it mildly!" Allyson said laughing. "if it was up to him I think my sisters and I would be tethered to him 24/7. Dad said he wanted us fitted with micro chips, but Mom said she would leave him if that happened."
Everyone laughed again and Bobby spoke once the laughter subsided. "It sounds as if Carolyn wears the pants in your family."
"Mom likes to say that Dad is head of the household, but she is the neck," Allyson said.
"And she was saying that long before 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' was made," Beth said.
Their waitress approached the table and started at the end with Stacee. Bobby leaned over towards Mary, who had remained silent the entire time, her face buried in her menu.
"What are your recommendations, Mary? I've never been here before, so I would like some suggestions from a seasoned veteran," he said, giving her an adorable smile.
"Mary orders the same thing all the time," Terra replied. "it's to the point that if one of the old timers waits on us they don't even have to ask her. If she comes alone they usually just bring a plate out to her."
"I know what I like," Mary said with a shrug before turning her attention back to Bobby. "I like their chicken caesar salad..."
"Which was like pulling teeth to get her to try, because someone doesn't like cheese. When she orders it she asks for the cheese to be omitted, which is funny considering she will eat creamy caesar salad dressing," Terra said.
"Only in small amounts!" Mary defended, knowing how silly she sounded. "I have always loved their pasta with provencal sauce and beef bourguignon, or do you have commentary for those choices as well?"
Terra held her hands up in surrender and when the waitress approached her, she ordered a French baguette sandwich with black forrest ham, turkey, pickles, mustard, mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato, as well as a cup of tomato soup. Stacee had ordered classic veal wiener schnitzel and Beth, the lover of living animals as opposed to those baked and placed on her plate, ordered Thai style calamari. When the waitress approached Robert, he asked her to finish taking the ladies' orders first, so she went to Mary.
"Allie, go ahead and order. I...I don't think I want anything. I'm not very hungry."
"Mary, you have to eat," Beth chided gently. "besides, you scarcely ate anything at dinner last night. As a matter of fact you haven't eaten much of anything in the past couple of days. You'll make yourself sick if you don't eat."
"You don't want us to call The General do you?" Terra asked, trying to keep her tone jovial, but the threat was there all the same.
Mary shrugged and Allyson ordered a limestone bibb lettuce salad, which consisted of cherry tomatoes, hard boiled egg, and sweet parsley vinaigrette, as well as chicken noodle soup.
"Go ahead and order, Bobby. I'm not having anything," Mary replied.
"We'll both have the beef bourguignon please," Bobby said to the waitress, handing his and Mary's menus to her.
Their meals arrived a few minutes later and everyone enjoyed a fun, leisurely meal. Mary smiled and nodded in all the right places, but everyone could see something was off with her. After lunch everyone went their separate ways, each with difference agenda. Beth and Stacee needed to go to work and Allyson was going to the Mayfield's cabin with Brenden. Terra was meeting friends at an art gallery and after making certain Mary didn't want to accompany her, went on her way. Mary and Bobby started walking, side by side and in silence for a while.
"Bobby...do you mind if we stop somewhere first? Terra and Diana's birthdays are coming up and I haven't had a chance to buy them a present yet."
"Yeah Mary, that's fine," Bobby agreed, knowing that wasn't all that was on her mind. He was carrying a bag with her to-go box inside, since she had barely touched her meal. He continued watching her, his gaze imploring her to share what was on her mind. He didn't have to wait long for Mary to confide what was wrong.
"A...as you know, Carver came over to talk me about the impending trial against Mike. He said...he said prosecuting him would be a challenge."
"You mean because of your history with him," Bobby replied.
Mary nodded. "He said that his lawyer is claiming that I attacked him first. Mike is alleging that he came to the apartment to reconcile with Stacee and when he arrived, I tried to seduce him, and when he turned down my advances I went crazy and attacked him. Carver said that with our volitale history, it's going to be difficult proving Mike wasn't provoked or acting in self defense. He seems to believe the jury will think it was a mutual altercation and since we were both badly injured they will consider it a draw."
At this point Mary and Bobby had ceased walking and Mary was looking down. She could feel the tears welling in her eyes and she was trying to steady her breath so they would go away. Bobby reached out and gently tilted her head upward so she was looking him in the eyes. The naked pain and fear in her expression was heartbreaking and he wished there was a way he could alieviate those feelings for her.
"Maybe...maybe Mike and Carver are right. Maybe this last fight was a draw. Maybe I did somehow provoke Mike's reaction and hold some responsibility for his actions. Maybe if I hadn't been so confrontational, so judgemental, things would have turns out differently. Maybe..."
"Mary, you did did nothing, absolutely nothing to deserve what Mike did to you," Bobby said firmly. "he is the one who chose to break into your apartment and confront you when you were alone and most vulnerable. Don't think for one minute the fact that the absence of your roommates was a coincidence when this assault occured-Mike is a coward and knew his only chance at overpowering you lied in you having no means of defending yourself.
But Mary, you did overpower him, you did defend yourself. He snuck into your home believing he had the upper hand and all he got was a wine bottle to the face. You showed him that day just how strong and brave and smart you are. It would have been so easy to let fear overpower you that day, but you put those feelings aside and reiterated to him just how much stronger, how much better than him you are.
Mary, I have observed you for a while and although you are shy and uncertain in unfamiliar situations with unfamiliar people, you are not the ice princess Mike said you are. I have seen you with your loved ones and I can see how warm and loving and accepting you are. The affection with which you hold them is palpable and it is only a nod to your good judgement that you didn't offer those feelings to Mike. I don't know what he did when you first met him, but your intuition was spot on and I commend you for remaining true to your feelings and not feigning friendship to keep the peace.
It isn't easy to be honest about your feelings, but I think your family and friends are that much better because you are. They wouldn't change your straightforwardness and you shouldn't want to either. It might have taken some time, but I think your honesty and non apologetic way of expressing yourself is partly the reason why Stacee finally had the sense to leave him. He is out of her life forever and I firmly believe she has you to thank for that."
As much as Mary wanted to speak, at that moment she couldn't due to the emotional knot lodged in her throat. She simply nodded and Bobby gingerly wrapped his arms around her, holding her close until she was ready to continue their walk.