Midnight Rose (completed)

Chapter 4

After the movie, my dad took me to our favorite place to eat, Sandpoint Bistro, where they had the best stone-baked pizzas. We used to come here every Saturday night with my mom, but then the accident happened.

"I miss this," my dad said as he took a large bite of barbecue chicken pizza.

I looked at him in disgust. "Seriously, Dad, how can you eat that?"

"What?" His puzzled look was followed by a mischievous grin because we'd had this conversation at least a dozen times.

"Barbecue sauce does not belong on pizza. It belongs on a barbecue. That's why it's called barbecue sauce." I took a bite of my completely normal and plain cheese pizza with pizza sauce.

"Well, then somebody forgot to tell the owner." He winked.

"Tell me what, James?" Mr. Hunter stood tall next to our table.

I nearly choked on my pizza as I looked up at yet another reminder of the past.

"William, when did you get back?" My dad wiped his hands on a napkin and stood to shake Mr. Hunter's hand, also known as Wes' dad.

It was dumb to feel somewhat shocked by his presence since he owned the bistro, but I wasn't ready to see the Hunters back to business as usual like their absence went unnoticed. Wes looked a lot like his dad. Maybe he looked like his mom, too, but I would never know because she died when Wes was born. I had never even seen a picture of her, as if the memory of her was erased.

"I got your application, Abigail." Mr. Hunter offered a positive smile.

I squirmed in my seat. I hadn't told my parents that I was looking for a job, and in light of recent events, I had completely forgotten. Plus, had I known the Hunters were running the business again, I would have avoided applying at the bistro like the plague.

"Oh, Abby, you didn't tell me you were looking for a job. You know if you need money you can just ask." My dad's jaw clenched.

My parents wanted me to focus on school and not worry about money, but I didn't think he'd have such a revulsion to me working. His glare was making me uneasy.

"You've been gone," I said uncomfortably.

Mr. Hunter broke the tension. "Well, I think it's a great idea. Work builds character."

There was that adult phrase again. Builds character. I smiled apprehensively, avoiding eye contact with my dad.

Mr. Hunter continued, "Why don't you come in Monday after school for an interview?" He looked at my dad and then back to me.

"Sure. Monday," I confirmed and took a large gulp of soda, fearing any more words would cause this situation to erupt. 

"It was good catching up, James." Mr. Hunter went for a handshake, my dad hesitating for just a second before he reciprocated this time. "Welcome back, William," he finally replied politely and sat back down.

My pizza became the most fascinating thing in the universe as I tried to avoid the glare that was surely burning a hole in my forehead.

"Something you want to tell me?" my dad said as he laid his arms on the table.

"Dad, look, I know you and Mom said you would pay for everything that I needed, but I really want to save up my own money." I searched his eyes to see if anything I was saying was softening the hard edge in the creases of his forehead.

"Okay, then tell me what you're saving for." He sat up even straighter, business-like.

"Well...umm." I was starting to hyperventilate. I knew how this was going to go. The same way it always did. "A car." I closed my eyes quickly and scrunched down in my seat. Surprisingly, my dad kept quiet, which was a vast improvement to the fight that exploded the last time I brought it up.