The Journey Home

1 - Stolen Smiles

5 Years Later

Eileen

"Jesus Christ" I muttered, balancing the pastries and the coffees in my hands.

Don't drop this shit again.

In reality it wasn't too much but I was way too clumsy to trust myself. I managed to get to the customers table and after forcing a smile and wishing them a good time I went back behind the counter to find a smiling Marty, the cafe owner, looking at me thoroughly amused.

"What?" I asked, giving him only a hint of a smile.

The old man chuckled as he patted me on the back.

"Darling, if I didn't like you, you know you'd be fired."

"I know."

Marty walked away and I busied myself with other things. He had given me a job when I needed one, even a place to stay for a month. Now that I could handle being on my own getting by everyday was easier.

Forgetting the past never was.

I shook the memories that threatened to flood my brain once again off, when I glanced at the door and saw a familiar face.

Anytime he entered the damn air in this place changed. The cafe was a small place regardless, but the way he commanded authority just by walking in was palpable. Dressed in the black slacks and white dress shirt he typically wore, Alexander Moretti made his way to the table he usually sat in and pulled out the computer he did all his business in.

He looked like a serious man, a threatening one but every time Marty and him made conversation there was nothing but a smile on both their faces, like old friends.

Sure enough, Marty began walking towards him before glancing at me.

"Bring us two coffees dear."

I swallowed. Loudly.

I'm pretty sure the whole damn cafe could hear the loud gulp. Truth be told I felt threatened around people, there was only a select few that I wasn't nervous around. Actually, just one person. But everyday was difficult for me, and although I had managed to mask that fear it never got easier.

Anxiety is a bitch.

After serving their coffees I walked to their table where Mr. Moretti and Marty chatted eagerly. Moretti was in charge of the security system of the cafe as well as all the computer stuff in here. Something like that.

I placed the coffee cups on their table without a word before turning away when a voice stopped me. And it wasn't Marty's.

"Marty has always prided himself in having great customer service." He tsked me before continuing and I felt his gaze locked on me, even though I had my back towards him. "Here you bring us coffee and can't even ask if we need anything else."

I finally found movement in my body and turned. Though his voice sounded serious, Moretti's hazel eyes showed nothing but amusement. I had never been so close to him, I had never had to serve him. Terror began creeping up on me as I tried to keep my breathing steady.

"I'm sorry, did you need anything?" I asked.

Marty apparently took notice on how much I was trying to keep myself from throwing up and he shook his head gently.

"No dear, he is just playing. Are you-"

"Old man, you didn't let me answer" Moretti said, leaning back in his chair. "Yes, actually-" he narrowed his eyes on my name tag before continuing. "Eileen, is it?"

I nodded.

Something about the way my name rolled off his lips made me shiver, and I wasn't sure if I liked it.

"See, Eileen. Generally speaking, I am good tipper. A very, very good one. But I find that when someone lacks basic manners it's hard to find it in my good soul to leave a good tip. So what I want to ask from you I think may be hard for you to even consider, but I will ask anyways."

I raised an eyebrow, now the fear that I felt turning into anger.

"Smile."

"Excuse me?" I said, not bothering to hide my annoyance.

"Oh Jesus" Marty muttered under his breath.

"I said, Eileen, and I'm sure you're not deaf, smile."

"I have no particular reason to smile, and definitely not at you so why don't you just sip on that goddamn coffee before I grab it and pour it on that arrogant head of yours." The words were out of my mouth in an instant and the man had the nerve to laugh.

"There's is absolutely nothing funny about this." I sneered.

"Is she always this irritable?" He asked turning to Marty who seemed to also try to hold back his laughter.

Marty shrugged before standing up and walking away leaving alone with Moretti.

"Would you really drop the coffee on my head?" Moretti's voice asked.

"Yes." I said, without hesitation.

Moretti nodded as if confirming something before closing his laptop once again. He stood up in front of me, his impressive height forcing me to take a step back and there came the fear again. My breathing hitched slightly and my hands got clammy.

He seemed to sense this though, as he eyed me warily. Finally, he cleared his throat and spoke again, softly this time.

"I've been here almost daily for the past three months and I see you're here almost every day. I've seen you smile once, at a little girl. It was fucking breathtaking." He gave me a smile of his own before continuing. "You're anger seems to be untouched, but the part of you that should be happy is broken."

I opened my mouth to say something but he shut me up by raising his hand slightly. He pulled something out of his pocket before taking my hand in his and closing it over it.

Moretti leaned down, his lips next to my ear as he spoke once again.

"Your smile is way too beautiful not to show it to the world. Don't hide it anymore."

Without letting me say a word he walked away and I could only stand there. I opened my hand to see the largest tip I had ever seen or received in the time that I had been working with Marty. A soft gasp left my lips when I also saw a bracelet between the money and looked up.

Soft hazel eyes met mine from the door full of promises and surprises.