The secret ingredient

Chapter 5

I waited too long. Jimmy is still gone.

Enough. I stand up and suddenly the backdoor opens. Jimmy looks up and is stunned to see me standing right in front of him. Gosh, he looks.. tired.

"Daisy?" He says. I wave at him with a relieved soft smile.

He takes a step toward me "Hey, kid I was very busy, I'm sorry if I didn't answer any calls or texts today." He hugs me. "How are you?"

My lips are formed to a thin line and I pull away. "I'm fine, you know the usual." I sigh, "I'm just struggling with my book and stuff. No worries, I'll finish it, there's just something missing, that's it."

Jimmy smiles "I know you can do it. We both do." He squeezes my shoulder which makes me smile.

Suddenly that new waiter, Elijah, walks up to us. 

"Hey Jim!" What did he just call his boss? "Karl and Rima are sick so I'm staying a little longer today." He then looks at me "Oh, you know her too, Jim?"

Too? I don't know you. Well, I kind of do now.

Jimmy looks at me with raised eyebrows which are forming wrinkles on his forehead "Wait," he says "You know her, Elijah?  I know her, she is.. family. You two friends?" Jimmy not only looks very happy, you can clearly hear his excitement.

Elijah or whatever his name is clears his throat "Well quite, yeah"

Can he just shut up? Why is he even here? 

He continues "We went to college together" What? Bullshit- I have to stop this, before Jimmy gets a heart attack from happiness.

I frown, "Uh I think you're mistaken me for someone else," I finally speak up before Jimmy gets even more excited for me. "because I don't think we went to college together."

Jimmy's smile fades. Yes, please fire him for lying to you Jim! Let that miracle happen! Show him who's the boss!

I can't believe my eyes as Jimmy and Elijah start laughing, "Hah! You got me there, son" They suddenly do a hand shake and laugh like they've been friends for a life time. And I'm just standing between them having no clue of what's happening.

Son..?

They know each other? They're still laughing. Jim, I need answers. And I need to stop this.

I gulp and clear my throat, "Hey, Jim can I talk to you for a sec?" I try to ignore Elijah who's eyes are fixated on me. Why is he still standing there like I want to talk to Jimmy including him? He really likes to disturb peoples privacy. "Alone." I add so that he finally leaves.

He nods, smiles at Jimmy, "See ya, Jim. And we have to talk about why you never told me about her." He winks at Jimmy and elbows his arm. Then he tilts his head to me and bows, saying, "M'lady" and walks off.

I dare him to call me that again. And can he stop calling Jimmy 'Jim'?! I only do that.

Jimmy smiles at him before giving me his attention. "So kid, what's up?"

'What's up'?! Is he really pretending like those 30 seconds didn't happen? 

Well, I'm not. "Uhm, Jim.. Who was that? And why did you call him 'Son'?" I ask as I point to Elijah.

Jim coughs, "Oh that! That was Elijah. Just like you.." He elbows me as he contines, "I've known him since he was a baby, he moved here a few weeks ago and he needed a job, you know. A little reunion."

Did he just compare me to him? Guess I'm not very special afterall. "Mhm." I nod slowly, "Good to know. Anyway what was going on in the back a while ago. You were there for quite a long time. And you sounded frustrated."

He shakes his head "Oh no- it was just that one of our coffee machine's broke down and I got a call and just the common stress, y'know, don't you worry."

He looks very tired but clearly tries to hide it from me. Poor Jimmy.

Soon after that, a waiter calls out for Jim from the back. Again.

He looks at me and smiles, "Well, see you around, Daisy. Stay safe, I love you." I smile faintly and as we hug I am imagining Jimmy saying this exact same sentence to Elijah.

Can I stop thinking of him?! Ugh I'm already ready to go home.

I walk to my table and see my -still full- coffee cup and my open laptop with -to no ones surprise- an unfinished ending. Great. I still need to sit here and give my best. 

I take a deep breath and exhale. I can do this. A memory comes to my mind after saying that.

"I can do this." I whisper to myself as I put my left feet on the peddle. My right foot on the ground. And my hands are tight on the handles and I am focusing on the empty neighborhood street. I feel my heartbeat on every inch of my body. 

I've only practiced riding my bike two or three times in my life and I've never been able to really ride it. I would either fall or wouldn't have any balance. But now, I know I can do it. 

My right foot is giving me some momentum to slowly ride my bike. My left foot is still on the peddle and my right foot is now on it too. I'm doing it?! I'm successfully riding my bike! 

"Mommy! Look! I'm riding my bike!" I yell and focus on the balance of my feet. Suddenly my mom yells at me to look out. I look up and see a truck coming from the street that I'm driving on.

 I scream and direct my handles to the left and fall off the bike. I fall on the soft grass and hear my mom running toward me,"Baby! Daisy, Im coming, baby!" 

She grabs me and I just look up at her. "Are you okay, Daisy? Tell me, does anything hurt!?" She strokes my forehead. 

I suddenly jump up. "I did it! I rode my bike! Mommy, I did it! YAY!" I squeal happily and laugh as I go in for a hug. 

Mommy looks very confused and has no emotion in her face. "Mommy is everything okay?" She then starts laughing and hugs me back tightly, burrying my head in her neck, "You did it and I knew you would. I'm so proud of you. I always have faith in you, Luna."