“I don’t think she’s handling it well. After she cried at the hospital I haven’t seen her shed another tear. She doesn’t eat very much, and I’ve only seen her pick at her food. It’s scary to watch her become this shell of her former self.”
“When I got to the hospital, they’d told me she’d gone. She wouldn’t answer my calls, and it actually took me calling her parents to find out what was wrong with her.”
Linda handed him a drink of soda. “I miss the old Jen. She laughed at everything. I see her smile, but it’s nothing like it used to be.”
“I fucked up, Linda.”
“I was never jealous of her, Patrick. I was jealous of you,” she said.
He frowned. “Why?”
“All my life Jen has been there. I love her like a sister, and then all of a sudden you were there. I felt you were taking her away from me, and I didn’t like it. I hated you for taking her even though I was the one who told her to give you a chance.”
Patrick sipped his soda and looked at her friend. “I’m sorry. I’m not leaving her side this time, Linda. I’m taking her with me and not letting go.”
“Do you love her?” Linda asked.
“With all my heart.”
She nodded her head, stood, and handed him a card. “This is where she works.”
He took the card and looked over it. “I know the place.”
“Please, don’t hurt her, Patrick.”
“I don’t intend to hurt her.”
Patrick finished his soda and began the walk towards the coffee shop. He gazed out at the ocean. The beach was full with surfers and sunbathers. He stared at the water longing to cool off. His heart raced inside his chest as he approached the shop.
Taking a seat in the back he scanned the shop and spotted her patting a child’s head. There was real warmth in her eyes. Her hair was in two ponytails on either side of her head. The clothes she wore outlined her weight loss, and he hated it. Her breasts were not as full and round as they used to be, nor were her hips. She looked pale, gaunt, and unlike the woman he remembered sinking his cock inside. He lifted the paper as she approached his table.
“Welcome to Harvey’s. What can I get you today?” she asked.
Patrick lowered the paper. She gasped and stared at him. “Hello, Jennifer,” he said.
Her pen was poised over the pad. “What can I get you?”
He stared at her taking in every bit of her face. Her cheeks were flushed, and he saw the spark of hurt in her eyes.
“Will you sit with me?” he asked.
“No, I’m working.”
“When’s your break?”
“Stop, okay? Please, just stop. Why are you here?” She glared at him.
“To see you, Jennifer. I’m not going away.”
“I’m not the same woman you can push around,” she said.
Patrick burst out laughing. “When were you ever that woman? You were gone before I got to the hospital. Why did you run away? I’m not going anywhere. Please, have lunch with me.”
She glanced behind her at the clock. “I don’t get lunch until two. Can you wait that long?” she asked.
“Baby, for you I can wait an eternity.”
Jennifer scowled at him and then served another customer. She brought him a cup of coffee. Patrick pretended to be interested in the newspaper, but all the time he was watching her, the way her hips swung from side to side and her smile as she served the customers. To anyone who didn’t know her, she looked happy and serene. He knew her and knew everything she did was false. There was a lot of pain inside her threatening to get out.
Two o’clock came, and he watched as she checked to see if he was still there.
I’m not going anywhere, babe. You better come here because I’m not leaving.
She pulled out the chair and sat down with a cup of coffee.
He frowned. “Where’s your lunch?” he asked.
“I’m not hungry. I’ll be fine with this.”
“When did you start work?”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.”
“Look, you’re not my boyfriend. Please, drop the act,” she said.
Closing his eyes, he counted to ten and then opened them. She sipped the coffee and glanced around.
He threw down some cash and pulled her out of her seat. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Taking you to eat,” he said.
She pulled on his arm. He remembered how much she hated causing a scene. Patrick turned to her and got right up in her face. “Fight me and I’ll fling you over my shoulder and carry you out while I spank your ass.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Don’t tempt me, baby. I’m ready to cause some damage.” He ran his hand down her ass and cupped her small flesh. Even her ass had lost its rounded shape.
“Fine,” she said.
He pulled her out of the coffee shop and down the street to the burger place he’d seen. She’d loved a decent burger when they’d lived together.
He ordered two burgers with chilli cheese fries. They took a seat overlooking the sea front. Her arms were folded in front of her. She looked sexy and defiant.
The waitress brought their food over. He paid the money and picked up a single chip.
“Eat,” he said.
“I don’t eat this food.”
Patrick put the food down and glared at her. “I miss the baby, too.”
She closed her eyes. He reached over and took her hand. She pulled away from him, but he wouldn’t let her go.
Chapter Eleven
The pain inside her chest threatened to kill her on the spot. Jennifer had thought she’d gotten over him. Seeing Patrick in the flesh brought all the pain and heartache back to her. Opening her eyes she stared at the man who’d given her hope and taken it away.
“Our baby was going to be a boy,” he said. “I asked the doctor. We were going to have a son, Jennifer.”
“Stop it.” His grip on her hand tightened as she stared at him. The food in front of them smelt so good. All she wanted to do was dive in and eat. The memory of what she could have had stopped her from eating.
“I think about what he could have looked like. He could have had your brown eyes and my large nose. Whatever he’d have looked like, I knew he’d be perfect. Perfect like his mother.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she wiped them.
“Why are you doing this to me? You wanted your freedom, and I gave it to you. I’m here trying to make a fresh start away from you and away from all the crap,” she said. She didn’t look at the newspapers or watch the news for fear of seeing him with another woman. The thought of seeing him with another woman filled her with too much pain and anguish.