In Need of You

Chapter One

Whoever said that working as a waitress was a stressless job should be shot in the pinky toe. Having to serve impatient guests who had no earthly clue what they wanted for lunch or dinner was stressful enough, Sabrina Ellis thought. Hell, the catcalls she often heard from people who had a little too much to drink was even worse. They were the ones that got handsy; especially when she had to wear her black dress for the Friday night specials. She sighed, seeing the guests walk into Soul Bistro in hordes. It paid the bills at least.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead and tied her black apron around her waist. She patted down the garment, ensuring no one took her good writing pen. Her co-workers were some of the sweetest people, but damn if they weren't cleptomaniacs. Every time she bought something new, their fingers came searching for her goodies. 

Glancing through the small window of the swinging kitchen door, she saw her daughter sitting with Jennifer at a booth, eating cake. Sabrina sighed. Sleep wasn't going to come easy tonight. 

Panning the dim-lit room, the sun's rays peeped through the cherry oak wood blinds of the restaurant's dining area. It beamed over the tables, highlighting their red oak finish. Antique style chairs grace by red and white designed cushions perked up from the rays. Even the hanging candle lights shimmered more so than they usually had. No matter how much she hated how crowded Soul Bistro got, the picture before her never grew tiresome.  

"There's no time like the present, Sabrina," a male's voice said from behind her.

She sighed once more. Howard was getting cranky again because she idled too long. "Sorry, Howard."

"Don't sorry me Sabrina. There are too many people waiting to be seated and many of them are waiting on you to serve'em," he said. He looked up from his notepad and glared into her almond-shaped brown eyes. "I didn't hire you to idle, honey."

Sabrina bit her bottom lip. "Sir. . .," she hesitated. This was her only job at the moment. Returning the favor was going to be costly. "It won't happen again."

"Great! Now move like the dickens and button-up that shirt, will you please. No one needs to see your tits until Friday night."   

She bit her bottom lip harder. "Don't say a thing, not a damn thing," she grumbled to herself. She watched Howard from the corner of her eye. That smile of his curled the corners of his lips. Sabrina swore she could see horns growing from his crop top of pristine curls.

"Did you say something, Sabrina?" Howard asked. He folded his arms with notepad in hand and tapped his foot.

"You can--" Sabrina paused. That's what that bastard was waiting for. "Expect great things from me today."  

Howard turned his nose to her and walked through the swinging kitchen door. She inhaled deeply, then exhaled. Satan must have birthed that man himself, she pondered. Walking through the doors, she made her way toward Madeline and Jennifer who were now coloring together. 

"Hi, Mommy!" Madeline said, waving one hand while holding a crayon in the other. 

"Hey, babycakes," Sabrina said. She planted a firm kiss on her forehand and glared at the picture she drew. "Is this us?"

"Yep!" Madeline said. "That's you." She pointed her crayon to the figure with black spirals for hair. "And, that's me."

"And who is that tall figure standing next to you?" Sabrina asked, examining the picture. 

"That's Daddy."

Sabrina kissed her daughter's forehead again. For a five-year-old, Madeline understood family dynamics quite well. It worried her because she knew someday Madeline would want to meet her father. But, that was just it. He never wanted to meet her. Ever.