Big Tree Village

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

“Slurpee?” Artie wondered once Demona and Chance had left. I smiled at Artie as he held out his half drunken coca-cola slurpee. I knocked it back as he went in to the kitchen. It was great to just be back. For him not to ask how I got back, but I did. Those few hours we spent apart didn’t exist. We just picked up where we left off. “You know,” he sighed, “for dinner I was planning on leftovers but since I have company, let’s go out.”

We went to a small family-owned restaurant called DOG HOUSE. They have images of wiener dogs everywhere. Artie seemed very interested in one of a pretty girl with brunette hair holding a wiener dog. The girl’s hair was a buzz cut on her left side and on her right was long hair. It was strange. Artie sat across from me at a booth. The booth had red cushioning and rustic wooden table. I could smell the chili and cheese coming from the kitchen. “This place,” Artie said pointing at the table and pulling his eyes from the photo, “has the best chili and cheese hot dogs ever!” He exaggerated. I rolled my eyes. According to him, everything was the best.

“Who is that?” I pointed at the photo. Artie smiled.

“Hayley! Isn’t she beautiful?” He wondered tapping her face. “That is her dog, Heinz.” He dragged his finger across the dog.

“Artie!” Someone shrieked from behind me. I turned around to see a man in his 40s rushing over. He was waving his arms around like a maniac. He was wearing a black apron over a white T-shirt and jeans. He had a pen behind his ear which fell out, but he didn’t notice.

“Donald!” Artie yelled jumping from the booth. They collided in to a hug right in front of the booth, both of their faces flushed and teeth glowing. Artie stepped back.

“How have you been?” The man asked his eyes darting to me. Artie laughed.

“I’m great, just great. This is my friend Zoey. Zoey this is Donald, Hayley’s father.” My breath caught and my face burned bright red as Donald looked me over.

“Hayley sounds like an amazing person,” I said standing up, “it’s very good to meet you, Donald.” I held out my hand and he shook it.

“Likewise. And yes, Hayley was exceptional.” Donald glanced at Artie whose face flushed again. Artie sat down and sighed.

“Two foot-long chili cheese dogs please.” He says smiling. My eyes widened as Donald turned to the kitchen yelling.

“TWO FOOTERS! EXTRA CHILI AND CHEESE! PLEASE!” Artie was holding his gut laughing as I gasped.

“Foot long? You’re kidding me.” I whispered looking back at Hayley and Heinz. She was wearing worn jeans and a gray tank top. There was a chili cheese hot dog on the picnic table next to her and a glistening ring on her finger. I gasped again. Artie stopped laughing and followed my eyes to the picture. “You were engaged?” I whispered. His face flushed again.

“Yes, we were engaged for a year before the accident.” He muttered, as a silence rushed over the restaurant and people began to stare. “She wanted to get married on our 6 year anniversary. It was a month until the big day when she passed. A month.” He repeated covering his face with his hands. I felt like the more I brought up Hayley the more emotional he got about it. I nodded. “Even though nine months have passed I still miss her. And I’m not over it; I don’t think I will ever get over it.”

Artie and I sat in that booth for over two hours talking about Hayley. She was everything to him, everything. They were meant to be. On her birthday last month she would have been 25, he bought her 25 gifts and set them on her grave. On Valentine’s Day he bought her flowers and set them on her grave. On that big day, a month from her passing, their supposed-to-be- wedding day. He wore a tuxedo and stood by her tombstone. He had a priest come and say their vows. He said I Do and kissed her ring. He loves her, with all his heart.