The Tales of a Professional Hockey Player

Chapter 40: Brunch

~Eleanor~

"I don't want to go," I tell Olive on the phone. Poor Olive wanted to be the first one to wish me a happy birthday, so she called me at nine this morning which meant that she woke up at six am only for me to tell her that most of the people I know in New York had already called or texted me.

"Then don't, El. It's your birthday, you can see whoever you want to see."

"I already called a cab."

"Dumb excuse. You have a better one." I know what she's talking about. My daughter just got out of the hospital. Can anyone have a better excuse than that? Yes, me. My daughter just got diagnosed with a severe egg allergy and that means I can't feed her almost everything at a brunch restaurant. I sigh loudly which makes Olive laugh.

"But she sounded so excited on the phone this morning. And I don't want to use that excuse because it won't keep her from coming over which is exactly what she'll do the second I tell her that Oph was in the hospital."

"Then suck it up and go, El."

That's what I did. I sucked it up and got out of Ben's house when I heard the cab driver honk. Hannah had reserved a table at one of the most renown breakfast restaurant in Manhattan. This is what she called me for this morning. And to wish me a happy birthday. To sing me happy birthday would be more exact. She started the song as soon as I picked up the phone. I have to admit that it made me laugh and that it made me reconnect with the girl I met when I first moved here. Hannah is such an adorable person, but she changed since Ben came back in my life. She swears it's only because she's afraid he might hurt me again, but it still makes it awkward when I want to confide things in her about my relationship with him. When I mentioned it, the last time I saw her, she told me she was going to make an effort to be more receptive and I believed her. She said she was going to make an effort, so I will do the same. It's not that I didn't want to go out for brunch with her, it's just that I didn't want to go out at all. I meant it when I told Ben last night that I would totally be ok with take-out for tonight's dinner. After what we went through the last two days, I just want to wear my pajama and sit in front of the TV or read a book. Weird birthday wish, right? But I got dressed in a semi-long navy-blue dress, styled my hair, and did my make-up anyway, because I told my friend I was going to see her this morning.

The smile on her face when she sees me walking into the already over-crowded space tells me that I made the right choice by not cancelling. She really did pick a nice restaurant. The décor is really modern and a little industrial. There are booths on one side and tables on the other. They even have a terrace that is now closed due to the colder temperatures. As I pass the hostess, I hear an old lady complain because there are no booth available. The poor girl tells her she can wait for one, but the lady just keeps arguing. I never understood people's fascination for booths. Yes, maybe it's a little more private and comfortable, but I always hated having to sit closer to the table to eat, meaning that you don't even take advantage of the padded backrest. I shake my head as I walk towards the table where Hannah is sitting. I greet her with a hug that she extends for a little longer than usual. I pull away to sit down in front of her, holding Ophelia on my lap as I wait to ask someone for a highchair.

"I though Ben would watch Ophelia."

"That was the plan, but things got a little more complicated." I am about to start explaining the situation when a waitress stops at our table. Hannah and I both order a coffee, and I ask the waitress for a highchair. Even after the waitress is gone, I wait to explain to Hannah what happened because I know the waitress will come back very soon. She comes back about two minutes later with two cups of coffee, a younger girl behind her who is holding the highchair.