The Restaurant

Chapter 24

I woke up the next morning with several messages from an unknown number asking if I made it home and if I worked in the morning. I ignored the messages, then my phone vibrated again. I checked and there was a photo of Brittney in a skimpy bikini asking if I liked it. That was a sour way to wake up. I stomped to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. Kat already had some of her own and was sipping at the table. I tossed my phone to her, she caught it, and opened the message.

"Why is some random number sending you pictures like this?"

"That's Brittney, and I don't know," I replied.

"She's got a nice body," Kat said as Christy came out from the room.

"Who's got a nice body?" Christy asked.

Kat showed her the picture and Christy whistled. Kat elbowed her.

"You said she had a nice body," Christy said, defending herself.

"I didn't whistle," Kat retorted, pulling Christy in with one arm, "and her body isn't as nice as yours."

Christy gave Kat a peck, "Ok you're forgiven. Sorry for whistling." Christy turned to me and the cup of coffee I just brought her. "I know you aren't planning on going over there."

"Christy, I have to. If I found out she was my daughter and I wasn't a part of her life, I would never forgive myself."

"He's right," Kat added. "If he does have a daughter, he has to at least try to be in her life." Christy began to object but thought better of it.

I hopped in the shower and threw on jeans and a band shirt with some chucks. Before I left, the girls stopped me.

"You aren't going alone," Christy said. She had thrown on a bikini top and shorts.

"We got your back," Kat was coming out of the room in a tank top and shorts.

***

When I got to Brittney's parent's house, I felt my stomach turn in knots. We got out of the car and began walking toward the door. Just then, Brittney came out in the same bikini as the photo and hugged me. She smelled just like those two times in the restaurant. Repulsive. I felt nauseous so I held her by the arms and stepped back. "Is she here?" I asked.

"She's in the back by the pool. Why don't you come in and say hi to everyone?" She saw Kat and Christy, "I'm sorry, this is an invite only party," she snidely smiled at them.

"I don't want to meet everyone. I want to meet my daughter. And they are coming with me or I'm not going in." I stepped by her and walked through the house, Kat and Christy both pushed past her. There were people in every room, I kept my head down as she tried to introduce me to everyone. I didn't care I just wanted to meet the little girl who could be my daughter. They kept getting in my way as I struggled to get to the back yard. When I finally made it outside, I shut the door behind us. There, sitting in a lawn chair too big for her, was a tiny little girl in a one-piece suit with little ruffles around the waist. We walked up and sat on the chair next to her. "Hi, I'm Jimmy and this is Kat and Christy."

"Hello, I'm Clarissa." She had the best manners. "How come you aren't inside with everyone else?"

"We don't like big crowds."

"Me neither. Mommy tries to make me meet all her friends, but I don't like them."

"Is that why you're out here?" Christy asked.

"I tell her I want to swim so I don't have to be inside."

"Smart kid. But do you know how to swim?" Kat asked.