My All

Part 7

Around three 'o clock, there was only one person at the diner. Deborah drank a glass of water as she watched Shawn wipe down some tables. Engaged. Why wouldn't he be? He was too handsome to be single. It was probably to some country girl. No, probably a rich girl. By the looks of his mother, she wouldn't settle for less.

Earlier she had read on the paper about Michael Wilson, and how sick he was. The Wilson's were one of the oldest families in town. And all she heard were praises about them.

"Hey, penny for your thoughts?" He asked so close to her that she almost jumped out of the chair.

"Oh, nothing." She smiled.

"Here comes the witch." He said in a creepy voice as an old woman, dressed completely in black and a veil entered the diner. "Take this to her. But don't talk to her. She won't speak to you or even look at you." He said, handing her a cup of coffee.

Deborah walked to the table and placed the cup of coffee. She stood there waiting for a reaction from the woman. But she only grabbed the cup and sipped from it without a word. "Poor woman, she looks so sad." Deborah said after she returned to Shawn's side.

"After she leaves, I'll close for a little bit. What are you going to do?"

"Probably wait in my car until you return. Remember, your mother wants to have dinner with me."

"No way you're waiting in your car. You're coming with me."

"And where are you going?"

"Usually for a walk in the park. Care to join me?"

"Sure. Maybe then you can tell me all about that woman." She said pointing to the table the woman in black was noticing it was empty. "Where did she go?"

"She always does that. Shall we?" He said walking to the front door and locking it. They walked through the kitchen. "Carl, be back in a few." He said to the cook and they left the diner.

As they walked through the park, Deborah's curiosity couldn't take it anymore. "So, why do you call that woman a witch?" She finally asked.

"They said that seventeen years ago, her daughter died and she started using that clothing. She isolated herself from everyone. Apparently she used to be very social. Do you see that house across the lake?" He said pointing to a beautiful two story house. It was in need of repairs, but you could tell that once it was the most beautiful house in the town.

"Yes, it could use some work. But it has a lot of potential." Deborah said as she looked at the house in awe.

"That's where the witch lives."

"How does she get there?"

"No one knows and no one dares to cross the lake. She might curse you." They walked to a bench and sat down. "They say her daughter died during childbirth. And that she cursed the baby and the father. No one knows what happened to the baby, but rumor has it that the father lives in a coma. But he asked for it."

"Who would ask for something like that?"

"He raped the witch's daughter. People first thought that the daughter's husband tried to kill him, but he didn't want anything to do with him. That's when people learned about the witch's powers." He said in the creepy voice again.

"Please, I don't believe in those things. That poor woman is suffering because she lost her daughter. And here are the people, probably people she used to call friends calling her a witch. She feels rejected from society. No wonder she doesn't speak to anyone."

"You're sweet, you know. For someone from your background, you're very kind."

"You think I only care about money, society, balls."

"Not you. But other girls I've met that come from the same background are very spoiled and arrogant and selfish. They don't care about anyone else but themselves."

"I always thought I was born in the wrong family."

"Tell me more about them."

"No, you tell me first about you. You come from money too."

"I come from old money. That's my parent's money. Everything I got I've gotten by myself. I might've been born into the wrong family too." He said laughing. As she smiled he grabbed her hand, at first she let him hold it but then pulled it back. "Why did you run away?"

"I got tired of living a lie. Acting like the perfect family, when we weren't." She said looking at the house across the lake.

"I don't believe you."

"Why not?"

"Come on, trust me."

"Sorry, I don't trust men." She said getting up. He pulled her back.

"So, that's it. Some fool broke your heart and you swore off men?"

"Something like that." It wasn't a complete lie. She liked Serge and he broke her heart countless times, specially that night she didn't want to remember.

"Why don't you tell me? I'm here as a friend. I'm not going to break your heart."

"It's a very long and boring story. You wouldn't want to hear it."

"Okay, we'll have to make a date then."

"A date?" She asked curiously.

"After dinner with my mother, we'll come back here and continue our conversation." He said as he helped her up.

"Who'll take care of the diner?"

"It's a slow night, Carl can handle it."

"I shouldn't, you're engaged!"

He started laughing. "Who told you I was engaged?"

"Your mother made it pretty clear to stay away from you because you were engaged."

"I'm not engaged. I'll tell you all about it tonight, I promise. Do we have a deal?"

"Okay." She said as they returned to the diner. What had she agreed to? She didn't know this guy? Look what happened with Serge that she knew for so long. Something about him was different. She thought, stealing a glance at him as they walked back.