Fight Left In Me ✔

Chapter 24 - Tears

Jake speaks up with an amused tone in his voice: "People eat here you know. Behave yourselves." Dart and Jo laugh and Jo gets up from Dart's lap, turning around to face Jake. Jake smiles and says: "Come on, we have something to show you guys." 

They walk over to the bar together, where Ivette is sitting on a stool and Jake points at the big screen above it. It shows Jo in her mint green dress, with the text: Welcome to The Sidewalk Cafe. Jake hands her a menu and she sees her silhouette in the logo on a new mint green colored menu. She reads the menu and discovers some new menu items.

Not Sharing Combo: cheesecake and coffee
Wings of Love: chicken wings a la Jo
Dutch Delights: Grolsch beer, Dutch cheese and bitterballen
Cheesy Jo: pizza witch cheese on cheese
Sharing the Love Combo: banana and strawberry crepes
Long and Hard: baguette with ham and butter

Jo laughs as she reads the last one and looks up at Jake. "Yeah, the last one is all Maria. She predicted your reaction perfectly though. I thought it was a bit too much." 

Dart hugs Jo from behind and chuckles. "Hey if I can laugh about it, so should you Jake. It all looks really good though, so when can we taste it?" 

Jake smiles and says: "Today! We're introducing the new menu today. Besides the wings of love. They will only be available when Jo is here to fry them. Makes them a bit more exclusive." Jake opens the kitchen door to let Maria and Ronnell in, who are carrying trays of food. 

Jo's stomach grumbles as she smells it all, grabbing a slice of pizza first. She moans softly after the first bite, making Ronnell smile even wider. Jo opens her eyes and meets his. "Ronnell, you do know I will never be able to enjoy a cheese pizza from somewhere else ever again, right? Expect phone calls at the weirdest hours of the day to make me one." 

Ronnell laughs happily and comes over to her to give her a hug. "You are the only one that can call me in the middle of the night and get away with it. I will happily make you cheese pizza's for the rest of your life."

Jo kisses his cheek and says: "If I wasn't already engaged...."

Two strong hands grab her by the waist and turn her around. "Hell no. Mine and mine forever. I like Ronnell and I love his food, but that's it!" Dart kisses Jo possessively, glaring at Ronnell, making all the others around them laugh. 

Jo tries a bit of everything, saving the bitterballen for last. She hasn't eaten these since she left The Netherlands. These fried balls, filled with ragout in a crispy skin, fly her back home as soon as she takes a bite. She smiles with her eyes closed and Dart studies her face. She opens her eyes and he sees a lot of different emotions in them. He strokes her cheek and asks her: "Are you okay?" 

She blinks and chases the memories away. "I'm fine. These are really good." She turns to Ronnell and says: "Best ones I ever had Ronnell. And I bet you never made these before." 

Ronnell smiles at her and says: "Never before. But these things are fun to make!"

Dart takes her chin in his hand and turns her head to him, so he can look into her eyes. She tries to avoid his gaze for a second, but knows it won't work. He tries to find out what's wrong by staring deep into her eyes. She sighs and says: "I think I should try to call my mom. I haven't spoken to her since I ran away and she has no way to contact me. She was really fond of Mark... I would like to go back to The Netherlands at some point though, even if it's just for a visit. But it all feels so uncomfortable." 

She rubs her arms and closes her eyes. Dart kisses her softly and pulls her in for a warm hug. "Just remember I will be here, every step of the way, whatever you decide to do." She takes in his scent and starts to relax in his arms. He always manages to make her feel better, she kisses him and whispers a thank you.