At What Cost

part 3

“Knock knock. Hey kiddo, how are you holding up?” I look up from my writing and shrug as Jake leans against the door frame looking lost and uncertain as to what the right thing to do is. “Stop that, I know you haven’t seen me in forever but we're still family. we're not strangers" He looks at his feet and laughs “ sorry it’s just I never had to take care of anyone else but myself. I’m new to the whole parent thing" he sighs and looks around the room the would've been mine but we didn’t even get the chance to unpack into the new house.
“I just came to tell you its time to go and if you were hungry we can stop for a quick bite.” He fiddles with the chain around his neck. He reminds me of a nervous teenager who’s about to get his first kiss. I laugh at the thought “ I can go for some pizza" I close the book and place it in the open box on my bed.

He grins and nods in agreement “pizza it is" he grabs the box and heads out leaving me with my thoughts and the idea of what could’ve been. My parents always said Jake could’ve been a model he had the looks and body but he had a drinking problem and didn’t want anything to do with rich folks so he moved to life a more simpler life closer to nature. Jake honked the horn twice, I made my way out looking out the floor to ceiling windows that looked out into the woods . it’s crazy how people deteoyed something so serene and beautiful just to build houses so people can live closer to nature. I share my head as I close the door behind me and climb into Jake’s car. I watch Jake fiddle with the pendant hanging from his chain,

I guess he felt me watching because he stopped and cleared his throat “ 25. 25 years sober.” He smirks “ you have to be sober if you’re a lumber jack of not your can easily be a crazy man with an axe out in the woods he shares his head “ my friend Paul said that, he’s a crazy old man.” He pulls up to the local pizza shop called ‘Timmys Pizza- the best pizza in town’ but the faded sign now reads “ the best Pizz in town'. That made me laugh so much Jake started laughing too removing any awkwardness that was growing between us.

“You want to eat here or at home?” he says as he scan the shop clearly looking for someone “sure we can eat here . I’ll grab us some seat” I get out the car and head inside grabbing us a booth. The waitress comes over and smiles sweetly as she places two cups of water down. Her blue eyes reminds me of my mother’s eyes and her silky long blond curly hair, the same hair every girl dreamed of having “ how are you holding up sweetie? Would you like some pie, on the house she gets up and leave before I can put in a response. Jake plops himself across from me and smiles as the waitress returns with the pie
“hey Dolores, nice weather we're having. How you been.? “ he flirts with her.

She smiles back placing the pie down “ I’ve been good. How about you?” he shrugs “oh you know I’m good. Hey Dolores I've been wondering-"
“Hold that thought dearie.” She hurries to the window where a big grizzly looking guy is repeatedly ringing the bell for her to pick someone’s orders. She returns a few minutes later “I’m sorry what were you going to say.?”
“oh right.. um I was going to say… can we get two slices to go please?”

“oh. Ok would that be all?” she asks fiddling with her light blue apron.

“No that would be all thank you.” Disappointed so nods her head and walk away.

“Jake  how come you didn’t asked her out?” I ask intrigued it was clear as day they liked each other . “ Its not that simple Elizabeth.” He grabs a fork and takes some of my pie ending the conversation before it could even start.

Dolores returns with our pizza in a box. “ I added another slice of pie for the lady and a little something extra for you Jake” she winks and walks away to serve someone else. On the box was a sticky note with her number saying call me “ well at least you know she likes you “ he smirks and rubs m head messing up my light brown hair from the bun I had it in “hush lizzy this is grown up stuff” we headed home after that and I called it a night after dinner and stayed in my room unpacking.