The Good Wife (COMPLETE)

Two

I looked up as the bell above the door rang and placed my rag down. It was the same guy from the other day, the same bright smile on his face. He was becoming a regular here.

"Large black coffee with French vanilla and three sugars?" I guessed, already grabbing a cup from the stack.

"If that isn't a sign that I need to cut back on my caffeine intake, I don't know what is. But, yes, please." He added with a grin and a chuckle.

I poured the coffee, added the cream and sugar and gave it a quick stir. I snapped a lid on and handed it to him.

"How's the book coming?" He asked as he handed off some cash to me.

"Pretty good. I'm almost done," I said, as I counted his change. Always the same. $16.19.

"What will you read next?" He tucked the money into his pocket.

"Hmmm, probably the second one in the series and then start something else 'til the next one comes out in a month or so."

"Ah, yes, my sister has been counting down the days. I think it's twenty-seven, not counting today." He took a small sip of his coffee. "She's a little obsessed," he added with a laugh and a loving grin. "Speaking of which," he glanced at the watch on his wrist, "I have to pick her up from volleyball camp soon. I'll see you tomorrow." He turned to go.

"Hey, wait. What's your name?" I knew the name of almost every regular who came in here.

He stopped and looked at me over his shoulder. "Brendan."

"I'm Abby," I said, smiling at him.

"Well, Miss Abby, you have a good day," he said, his dazzling smile back in place.

"You, too, Brendan." I gave a small wave as he headed out the front door. Placing a hand on my chest, I tried to stop the sudden fluttering within and continued wiping down the counters.

The rest of the day flew by in a blur. Seven o'clock rolled around and I closed up, counting the money and wiping the tables. I grabbed my bag and jacket from underneath the counter and locked the front door up.

"Night, Jerry," I said, dropping off the moneybag off in his office. He was pouring over accounting books and reviewing records from the shop.

"Night, darlin'. See you Thursday, right?" He said, his eyes not leaving the print in front of him.

"Yup. Thursday it is.  See you then!" I waved over my shoulder as I headed out the back door. I unlocked my car and started it up, tuning the radio to something enjoyable for the ride home.

Unlocking the front door, I kicked my shoes off and threw my bag down by the dining room table. Heading into the kitchen, I grabbed a soda and some leftovers from the night before. I zapped the food in the microwave for a minute or so and stirred it quickly after it beeped. Plopping down on the couch, I flipped the TV on and clicked through a few channels. 

Looking over the back of the couch, the light in Mark's office shone under the door. I could hear him moving around and the occasional mumble here and there. I turned back around and tried to ignore the twinge in my heart as I surfed the channels. I rested on some crime show and watched as the cops caught the bad guys.

A few episodes later and my eyes were drooping closed. I yawned. The couch was so comfy, but I should just go up to bed, I'd sleep better there. The clock below the TV showed 11:43. I sat up and turned the TV off.

The door to Mark's office was still closed, but the light was on so I knew he was still in there. The sound of his voice could be heard along with a few chuckles.  I sighed and put my dirty dish in the sink and headed up to bed alone.

The empty hole in my heart grew a little bigger.

Here's chapter 2!  More to come soon!