Of Course

Chapter One

The door jingled, and he looked up, and down again. Of course she had come here. He continued wiping the counter.

"Hey."

He scrubbed at the stains which Halland Bersen had made over a year ago. No one had been able to get them out.

"Hello! Can't you come out of your rude cocoon for a minute?"

He looked up and glared. "Well how 'bout you go on down to someone who doesn't want to slam a door in your face?" And he went back to wiping.

"For goodness sake, Grayson! Why won't you talk to me?"

His lips pressed together. "Like I said before. I want to slam a door in your face." He looked over to his right. "Hey Clarence! Come over here and get this person's order, I've got to check on the stew." Flipping the towel over his shoulder, he turned and disappeared through the kitchen doorway.

"Sorry, miss, I'll be right with you," came a cheerful voice from the other end of the counter. A short-haired girl made her way over. "What can I get for you today?"

"You're... Clarence?" came the puzzled question.

"Some call me Claire."

"Oh."

"Did you want to order something, or were you just stopping by?"

"Oh... I'll have a ... blackberry tea."

"Blackberry tea it is, miss," and Claire rang up the sale. She left to get the cup of tea. Soon, she returned and handed the cup to her. "Here you go. One dollar exact, please."

"Here," and Claire was handed the exact change. "Can you give Grayson a message for me?"

"Sure thing, miss," came the sweet reply.

"Tell him that I want to explain, and that I'd like to meet in Ruza's Cafe. I'll be there on Sunday, at two o'clock."

"And who do I say it's from?"

"Oh. Marina. I'm Marina."

"Nice to meet you, Marina, I'll pass the message along."

"Thank you," and she turned and left.

---

"Marina wants to meet with you in Ruza's Cafe. Sunday at two." Clarence placed the dirty dishes on the counter next to the sink.

"Who cares what Marina wants?" came the annoyed reply.

"Well why don't you?"

"I don't want to."

"Why not?"

"Cause I don't need to hear what she has to say."

"Well I think you should."

"It'll just be more of her saying it wasn't her fault."

"What wasn't her fault?"

The faucet continued running.

"Well, if you go, I'll do the dishes for you."

He turned to stare at her. "You'd do that."

"Anything to help you get your life in order, Grayson."