The Waitress by Melissa Nathan

Author:Melissa Nathan [Nathan, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance
ISBN: 9781407099781
Google: ncgsZ_vdg5MC
Amazon: B0031RS6GE
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2009-03-08T00:00:00+00:00

17

That day, between the two of them, Dan and Katie prepared and cooked everything available on Crichton Brown’s restricted menu. When they finished making the food, they helped out front and when they finished helping out front, they cleared everything up and cleaned the entire restaurant until it gleamed. It was impressive, but not as impressive as the fact that they did all of this without saying a word to each other. This may have been usual for Dan, but for Katie it was a new experience. She paid scant heed to her customers or Sukie that day, for she was indulging in a competition with Dan and she was going to be victorious.

When Nik called, she answered before the phone had rung twice. He told her that he was definitely coming in tomorrow, if he got any sleep that night. They chatted for a while until he thought he was going to be sick again. She was willing to wait, but he hung up. She was doubly grateful for the call, first because she’d had someone to talk to and second, because she didn’t think she could survive another day without saying whatever occurred to her out loud. It was giving her a headache.

‘Girls aren’t meant to do things in silence,’ she told Jon that night. ‘We’re not made that way. That’s why men beat us at sulking.’

‘Mm,’ grunted Jon.

At the end of the day, Katie sat waiting for Sukie to finish putting on her make-up for the walk home, her feet numb with pain. Dan came and sat down next to her.

‘Well done,’ he said finally, looking round the restaurant that they’d both just finished cleaning, silently. ‘You should be very proud of yourself.’

Katie gave him a long look. So, he was making peace. She had won. She let out a satisfied sigh. It would be nice to talk again.

‘I don’t need you to tell me how to feel about myself, thanks,’ she muttered.

She heard him say, ‘I’m –’, then they both started at the sound of Geraldine’s voice.

‘Hello!’ she said and came and sat down next to Dan. Katie got up and went to find Sukie.

‘Ooh,’ said Geraldine. ‘Was it something I said?’

‘No,’ said Dan. ‘She’s had a hard day, that’s all.’

‘You weren’t too much of a taskmaster were you?’ she asked eagerly.

Dan managed a laugh.

‘So, how’s it going?’

Dan could barely focus his eyes. ‘Fine.’

‘Good! I’ve had a wonderful day.’

‘Good.’

‘I went window shopping in my lunch-hour for rings, and I think I’ve found just the thing. We’ll go at the weekend.’

‘Hmm?’

‘I said we’ll go at the weekend.’

‘Fine.’

Geraldine looked at her watch. ‘Right,’ she said. ‘I’m off home to make you dinner and run you a hot bath. I’ll expect you in an hour.’

Dan closed his eyes. ‘Perfect.’

After she’d gone, he sat gazing into space for a while, until Patsy, Katie and Sukie trooped past him with their coats and bags on.

‘Bye,’ they chorused.

‘Bye,’ he replied, and watched them go, feeling envious without knowing why.

That night, Matt made

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