Boarded Windows

title of your story

Ryan told her all about his job and personal life such as what he did in his free time. He even told her about Clay forcing him onto the precincts football team. She listened intently watching the way his mouth moved as he talked and when he paused to take a drink. He had a funny sense of humor that Annalee was starting to catch onto and she was beginning to love the feeling of her lips tug up at the corners. He even made her laugh; at first the noise startled her. She had never heard herself laugh before. Of course she had heard others laugh such as her father when he was maliciously drunk or the pre-recorded laughter on the T.V. Her own laugh was tinkling and light and the feeling that accompanied it created a little ball of happiness in her stomach.

When Kathy came back she was carrying a tray and stand that she set down before asking if either of them wanted cheese on their entrée. Annalee decided she liked Kathy. She was so nice to them even though it was probably her job she went out of the way to make Annalee comfortable and for that she was tremendously grateful.

“Well y’all enjoy. It’s a good choice; one of my favorites,” She left with a wink at them both.

“Kathy sure is nice,” Annalee stated voicing her thoughts.

“Sure is. She will be getting a good tip when we’re done. I honestly think she is the best waitress I’ve ever had,” Ryan replied cutting a piece of chicken and taking a bite. His eyes widened then half closed. Annalee loved that expression. He looked so content. Quickly he cut another piece and held it across the table, “Try this Annalee it is amazing.”

She blushed and looked down at her untouched plate, “We have the same thing,” She said picking up her fork and knife.

Ryan chuckled and nodded, “True, more for me!” He was right the chicken was delicious and she sighed in delight as it played across her taste buds. “Okay,” Ryan said swallowing his second bite and taking a swig of water, “So you know a bit about me now, what about you? Your parents? Is that their house or do you rent?” He realized a bit too late that the string of questions was a bit of his investigator stepping forward. Annalee had noticeably tensed up across from him obviously whatever happened to her had stemmed from her parents her reactions stated more than she was saying.

“It is my parent’s house. Well my fathers but both my parents are dead now,” She said in barely a whisper.

“I’m sorry,” Ryan said soothingly, “How long have you been alone?”

“My mom died when I was two, of…of a car accident,” Ryan couldn’t help but notice the hesitation on how her mother had died but didn’t interject, “My father died more recently.”

“More recently?”

“Yes.”

Ryan sighed it was going to be hard to get information out of this girl he could see it already but he wasn’t ready to throw in the towel yet. “What happened to your father? How did he die?” Ryan hated questioning but it was important, especially for this girl she was quickly becoming an important part of his life he could feel it.

“My father just fell asleep and never woke up.” Annalee didn’t want to mention his alcoholism and ruin their meal with her burdens. Eventually she would tell him her story. Not all of it but just enough for him to understand. Her father was once a nice man a law abiding god fearing man. She knew this because she remembered it from her dreams of the past of her own past before her mother passed away. It may not have been in a car accident but she would never reveal the truth to anyone of why her mother had died only her father her mother and herself knew the true story of that day. She may have only been two years old but Annalee had a pictorial mind and she could still see images from the day she was born.

“I’m sorry,” Ryan said again not sure what else would comfort the loss of a family member, “Do you have any family that has been watching out for you?” For an instant Ryan allowed himself to think the loss of both parents-the grief had made her terrified of the outside world traumatizing her. However he remembered her hesitation on the death of her mother and the missing parts he could tell were there when she talked about her father made him realize otherwise.

“I don’t know if I have any family. I haven’t met anyone that I know of,” Annalee said slightly confused, “should there be relatives to know of?”

“I can always find out for you if you’d like,” Ryan said between bites of his dinner. Annalee shook her head though, “There might have been a reason I never met family. Maybe they didn’t want to know me or are dead I don’t know.”

“I will find out for you, I promise,” He smiled encouragingly.