Chapter Thirty-One

Very early the next morning, the darkness still covered the skies and Dave was up and alone at the cafeteria, deep in thoughts. The only thing that kept him company was that cup of coffee by him on the table and the warm light above him in that corner. A bad dream got his tired eyes splitting open and that was how he ended up there. 

The past two days got him walking on pins the whole time, having to be constantly reminded of his past mistakes. He had attempted  suicide a few weeks ago which would have actually happened if his new friend hadn’t been there. Now he wasn’t thinking about it but he desperately wanted to go past the past. Nothing felt more painful than being alive and having your worst mistakes glare at your face especially when you got away with serving the full punishment for them.

The truth was, he hardly had a good night’s sleep without thinking about that night. Having a room to himself, he’d usually sit on his bed and watch the horizon from his window every morning before sunup just engaging his thoughts but having two guests lodging in with him, he couldn’t disturb them with his gloomy routine. He was too ashamed to speak of the heaviness which rocked him to bed and the nightmares which came with it, jolting him awake every time. It was a shameful secret he couldn’t tell his mother then nor tell anyone now.

“Are you alright? You look like you’ve been up on a heavy task,” Todd walked through the quiet warm lit hallway to where he sat. He noticed he was sweating profusely when it was only the cool hours of the morning. Dave couldn’t hide the chagrin which flushed his face. He swallowed hard trying to mask it. Unfortunately, he had no mask to protect his face this time.

“I… It’s just the fever,” he stuttered. 

“I know a fever when I see one. Something’s eating you up and I know it’s not fever. I saw how you got out of bed, buddie. It looked like it was a nightmare,” Todd turned a chair and took a seat.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” Dave had his head bowed above the table.

“No, you didn’t. But unless you want to deal with this alone, that’s fine but I wish you’d share the weight you’re carrying,” he added.

“I’m really fine. I think it’s just my body responding to the tiredness differently, that’s all,” he still denied. 

“It’s fine if you don’t want to talk but don’t lie,” Todd clamped his shoulder and got up to leave. His brief talk with Keisha the night before had taught him to not pry so much into people’s lives unless they’re willing to share. Otherwise, it’d only put you in an awkward position to answer questions you might not be able to. Especially if they haven’t already made up their mind to get help- every word uttered might be misconstrued as being more critical than helpful. 

“May I have your contact, just in case? Maybe to check up on you later?” Dave asked awkwardly, to which Todd smiled. 

“You certainly can,” he said, knowing very well that this gentleman did not mean the check up as he knew it. 

****

A few hours later, he was already started at the kitchen, throwing in some chicken nuggets here and bacon there. He was fired up to whip up a good breakfast for his cousin as a parting gift.

“Something smells good in here,” Laureen commented.

“What’s the occasion? Or are you making that for me?” She covered her blushing cheeks. 

“Erm… no but you could have some. A little though,” he flipped the bacons.

“Hmmm…. Curious. Who are you making this for?” She looked at him suspiciously.

“Just my- a new friend,” he stammered.

“A new friend. Who?” She leaned closer.

“Could your new friend be my friend?” Still squinting at him in incredulity. He saw how determined she was to know and dragging it further would only feed her assumptions- something he wasn’t ready to deal with. 

“Fine. I made it for Keisha, your friend.” He uttered.

“Aaaaah…. I see,” she singsonged. 

“So you’re crushing on my friend, huh?” She replied, a little disappointed at that.

“No, I am not. I’m just trying to cheer her up seeing how yesterday was like for her. You weren’t in the Grey room to see how bad it was,” he said, hoping she’d believe it and not overthink things. 

“That’s… thoughtful. It totally slipped my mind how hard it must have been for her,” she added. 

“Alright. I will help fix breakfast for the rest of us then. Since you’re handling  Keisha’s, I better pray for her cos you’ve hardly done a thing in your life. I’m still figuring out the planet you fell from,” Laureen teased as she got started on the other meals. 

“You don’t have to worry about her. She’s in good hands,” he uttered as he diced some onions on the side. After all, before things messed up, he used to help his mom and aunt every once in a while over breakfast when he wanted to be in their good books. 

Laureen couldn’t hide the pride she felt inside- seeing him proving the skills she had done a good job on teaching. 

“Looks like she really is,” she rejoined, taking a closer look at the already diced vegetables. 

The table was set and by this time, the three friends had gathered round their usual table ready for a good meal. Todd could tell his two friends were at it again and he wasn’t going to interfere anymore. Somehow, he had his own puzzle to solve, after learning what he did from their lady friend. 

Laureen and Dave, again with his face mask back on, emerged from the kitchen doors with all kinds of dishes ready to be set up. Dave placed a full tray of an American breakfast in front of Keisha and she gave a languid smile to express her appreciation.

“You don’t like it?” Laureen asked.

“I do. It’s just… never mind,” she chuckled. She was just so determined to never speak of anything about her childhood- good or bad. The good memories never came alone and the bad ones never came without taunting her, so she thought it’d be best to forget them all but can she? 

“Thanks Dave…” she muttered, to which he smiled back.

“Are you still going to keep that mask on when we are going to eat?” Laureen berated him. 

“Oh… umm,” he cleared his throat. Immediately, he spotted someone making his way to the counter and excused himself to attend to that customer.

“And since when did you start attending to customers directly? You still don’t know how to knead a dough, for mercy’s sake,” she also stood up from the table in a rather awkward manner and excused herself to meet the customer’s need before Dave drove him away.

“I’m beginning to think we are the flu,” Todd sipped his coffee in one hand and bit into a sandwich with the other. Mitch was strangely quiet. He would have been the one to usually indulge his conversation since their lady friend was dumb as always.

“You’ve been quiet.” Todd commented.

“Are you two doing okay?” He added. He had finally given up on trying to not get involved. 

“I’m good,” Mitch replied flatly. 

“I see. We should be leaving in the next two or three hours so we can relax while we’re at it,” he added. 

“Sure. I’d go on a little sightseeing outside until then,” Mitch told him, excusing himself to their room.

“I didn’t know we had much of a scenery in our room,” Todd teased.

“Funny. Going to get my camera. Perhaps I’ll get a smiling sun today,” Mitch quipped, leaving the two behind. 

“So?” 

“So what?” She asked with a long face.

“What have you decided?” She gave him that look as if she had forgotten that line of conversation from the night before but he knew she hadn’t. 

“I haven’t thought of a decision yet but, I’m going to consider it,” she said, totally avoiding looking him in the face. 

“Glad to hear it.” He smiled. They continued their breakfast in silence until another guest entered and walked straight to the reception table. 

****

Inside the kitchen doors, Laureen worked on the order they had just received from the desk and Dave moved around rather aimlessly, as if he was stalling on something. 

“You know, you’ve been acting very strange since they got here, have you realized?” Laureen finally spoke. 

“I don’t think so,” he said behind his mask. 

“But I do. A normal flu should be gone by now-“

“It’s not a normal flu,” he quickly cut her. 

“Hmmm… I see. Anyways, you can fix the mint tea for our new guest while you’re there,” she diverted. 

He dispensed some hot water from the water heater and started on the tea. In a few minutes someone hit the counter bell.

“I’ll get it,” Dave said and stepped out. 

“How may we help you?” He replied, only to lift his eyes and see the face of someone who was once like a brother to him but he wouldn’t dare mention his name. 

“Hi… is there a reservation here for a Keisha Keller?” He asked. 

“No please,” he harrumphed, trying to prevent him from matching his voice with any face at all. 

“Oh… but she clearly told me she was in this motel?” He thought to himself. 

“Anything else I could help you with?” Dave asked.

“Sure. Can you send for a cup of coffee to where I sit?” Jamal asked.

“No please. We’re out of coffee beans,” hoping he’d just take a hint and leave but this gentleman was too determined to read through the lines. 

“So what do you have?”

“Water. Even that is left with a bottle.”

“You can’t be serious,” Jamal couldn’t hide his displeasure. Laureen came through the kitchen doors with the previous order they took and Jamal saw it was a full meal and looked back at Dave questionably.

“Do you have a problem with me, mister….?”

“Dave,” he replied flatly devoid of any sort of emotion. 

“Dave. I don’t recall knowing a Dave. But have we perchance met before?” He groped further.

“Anything the matter, sir?” Laureen finally joined in after serving her order. 

“I was just finding out. I asked your colleague if there was coffee available and he told me there’s none. I asked what was and he said water. I thought he wasn’t serious but apparently, he is,” Jamal briefed her on his issue. 

“Sorry about that, sir. Kindly take a seat and I’ll get you a hot cup of coffee with some waffles, totally on the house. Now, if you’ll excuse us…” she grabbed Dave by the arm and dragged him back to the kitchen.

“What’s wrong with you? Why would you tell him that? Do you want Jefferson breaking my neck?” She jabbed him with questions he had no answers for and in seconds, moved to the other side of the counter to put things together for their new order. 

Dave on the other hand couldn’t stand the presence of that person the  more he thought about what he did to his cousin. He wondered what he wanted with her after all these years after choosing Marissa over her. But he knew he had no right to point fingers at him- not after the part he played in the whole situation. The thought of him being in the same place as Keisha got him totally needled. 

****

Mitch returned from their room with his braces and camera and the first person he saw right in front of him was Jamal before he turned to the left corner where Keisha and Todd sat. The look of surprise was drawn all over his face and he willed himself to not look miffed or concerned about anything.  Jamal recognized him right away and approached him. 

“Mitch right?”

“Mmhmm,” he still had his lips sealed. 

“I believe you travelled with Keisha. Any chance to know where she is?” He asked earnestly.

Mitch jerked his chin to where she sat and excused himself immediately after that. He wasn’t going to stand and watch that ugly love scene, as he usually called it. 

“Keisha?” Jamal rushed to her side and she was stunned to see him there, she stood to be sure it was him. But he spared no time and just pulled her into his arms for a warm embrace, forgetting they were in public.

“Jamal… what are you doing here,” she whispered in his arms. 

Todd and Laureen stared round-eyed. Dave remained irritated and returned to the kitchen. 

“I came to take you home,” he kissed her forehead and grabbed her shoulders. She felt very uncomfortable in that moment especially when she was hoping for a silent trip back the same way she came. However it was too late. Those who would whisper were already on it and those who were angry, well, one had just walked out the door. She figured it’d be in her best interests to follow Jamal instead. If anything, she didn’t have to ride back with people who would judge her for her decisions.

“Sure,” she curled her lips slightly. She bade her farewell with Todd and Laureen but Dave was nowhere in sight, neither was Mitch. It’s not like she would have told him anyway. Jamal opened the door for her and she walked through. Todd could only smile at them and it had everything to do with what he felt- disappointment.