Jake's Return by Liana Laverentz

Author:Liana Laverentz [Laverentz, Liana]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-02-13T07:06:09+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The college age hostess, whom Jake had never seen before, recognized him. Her startled gasp of recognition echoed through Pizza Sam's as she hurriedly led their party of three to a dimly lit corner booth. When she proceeded to mangle the evening's specials, Jake began to wonder if he'd made yet another mistake in bringing Rebecca and Katie here. It didn't help that within minutes of their arrival, two of the four closest tables cleared out. Whether it was coincidence or not, Jake tried not to notice. Then, as a teenage waitress more flustered than their hostess served their meal, Jake overheard a big, bosomy woman complain to her companion as they passed that it wasn't right that decent folks couldn't go out for a meal anymore without worrying about who they'd run into. Jake looked at Rebecca, who simply smiled and thanked their fumbling waitress, then took over serving the pizza. Even so, she couldn't quite hide the soft flush that colored her cheeks. Anger rose in him, swift and sure, as Jake realized Rebecca had just been snubbed—because of him. Suddenly he realized that Katie, who had talked non-stop in the car, hadn't said a word since they'd entered the restaurant. He looked over at her, noticed her subdued expression, and recalled thinking one of the younger girls who had left almost immediately after they had arrived had looked familiar.

Jenna. Katie's little friend from the pool. 170

Jake's Return

by Liana Laverentz

Swearing silently, and wishing himself anywhere but in Warner, Jake forced himself to eat the two slices of pizza Rebecca had served him. Keeping his anger in check with an effort, he willed himself to choke down every last bite, even though it tasted like sawdust. It didn't take long. They left the restaurant half an hour after they'd arrived, without ordering dessert or even finishing their large family pizza. No one spoke during the five-minute drive to Warner's outdoor mall. Jake had heard at Feeney's that the tornado had spared all but the drug store at the west end of the mall, veering off to trash a trailer park instead. In grim silence, they passed the entrance to what looked like a rubble-filled dump before pulling up to the mall.

Still, Jake had to smile. Warner's Main Street Mall couldn't compare to the one in Erie, seventy-some miles away, but it did offer the essentials. The three blocks of retail storefronts that faced each other had banded together to coordinate signage and seasonal promotions, and had come a long way since Jacob Donovan had last darkened any of its doors. The late August evening was cool, the crisp scent of fall in the air. It reminded Jake of school nights, and brought to mind memories of chilly football games, concealed whiskey and hot cheerleaders.

After their experience in the restaurant, Jake was surprised by the number of people who stopped to talk to Rebecca, most to cluck over her loss of the library and apartment. Even though Jake knew it would be futile to do so, Rebecca made no effort to hide where she was staying.

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