The Restaurant

I never fell in love, may be because it is not that great how novels and people describe it. I can have my own take on it, seeing a daily fight between mom and dad, ever increasing since I came into existence till I left them.

Yes! I ran away from home, I couldn't tolerate those words, bitch, whore, slut… Many other intended for both of us, mom couldn't believe how a sweet and one of kind person turned into a monster just over few years of marriage, still she wanted to give it a try if things settle eventually.

It didn't!

I miss Toronto, especially those winter days when I used to curl in my super velvety, smooth, strawberry printed white blanket rolling over the ever sinking bed, resting my head upon heavenly pillow caressing my long and shiny hair, though they scare me in morning but I love 'em. My school days with Emma, Larry and Ron. My first kiss at hidden garden, frequent landings at Cinesphere with all of them, the museum, Go trains. Everything, just everything!

Don Mills, that's where I went, it being a diversified school where English wasn't the first language spoken, I was among the few who could. I'm grateful to God that he sent Em, La. and Ron otherwise I would have died talking French.

Only thing I regret is leaving 'em midst of their lives and moving without a clue, sunken, alone as if threw on the street like a piece of meat. More than my parents I cared about friends simply because they understood me better!

I didn't make any good friends at York University while acquiring my degree in Creative Writing, since childhood I had my desires, gargantuan to write poems and stories, which I chose to be my career. Em was too much caring like I always wished my mother to be, La being a famous person for his flirting attitude, mostly crowded by girls, sometimes guys too! Hahaha...

Ron..

"Hey Cathie! How you doing today? What's cooking in your mind for next series?" A giant man wearing chef cap comes to me shouting, "... I'm talking to you. Hey! Are you paralyzed?"

I hear a loud question to me.

"Oh Bob! I'm so sorry. I was..." I refrain from saying anything more

"Oh c'mon, not again. Here is your favorite thing to start you day with. I'm getting strawberry milkshake sweetened to the extent you like." He heads to kitchen, winking at me after he pat my shoulder.

Bob is such a great man, he owns 'The Restaurant' a unique one, where I sit down mostly to brood over past, things I liked, overlooked, expected immensely. There are many people who serve breakfast on table but to me it is served by Bob only, whatever I order is made by him alone specially the Strawberry Shake. I owe him too much for the place he helped me choose as well for helping me settle down in Del Rey, morally, financially and actually. I discovered this restaurant and Bob soon after I came here, it was new then with few customers, mostly empty, may be that why I dared to enter. And since then you can find me here almost every day, unless my office calls me for unknown reason. Bob lives at Venice with his wife, unfortunately they do not have any children in spite of their great efforts and treatments. They always wanted a daughter, I guess that’s the reason I gets pampered at “The Restaurant”. Aah! This place is the best where I get to put my thoughts on paper other than work place, magazine office, 'Creative You!'

I chose Del Rey only because it has relatively less crime rates as I’m scared of violence though familiar with since childhood. I had gone through the internet before I flew here, Los Angeles, California. But I never had a chance to think if it’s going to happen soon after I step out of York on last day. Secondly it gave me a good beach to look at, walk on, and build my castle of dream to stay alone, work more in an open environment always invited me than being stuck in a room to roll ink over papers. Cherry beach being one of my lovely at Toronto, times spent there was of much value to me, may be at that time Ron…

“Here is your Strawberry Milkshake.” His statement un-linking me with my thoughts

“Thanks Bob! You’re just great.” I bend my head and give him a sweet smile.

I had just finished my Butter croissant with Organic Jam. I’m a house of sweet, yet slim and beautiful. Taking a sip from my shake I ask Bob a bit louder as I’m slightly away from the counter, “ What about tomorrow? Is this place closed, you were saying you gonna make a trip to your friend for a day.”

“Yeah! But it’s postponed for a day, place will be closed day after tomorrow.” Bob replies from the counter.

I see something different in his tone, something unusual on his face, something distinct in his eyes when they 

meet mine. I put my glass of shake on table and try to get up.

“Wait, be there. I’m coming.” Bob says with his voice heavy.

“I want you to meet someone” Bob says by taking my hand and holds it firmly between both of his palms.

“No. No. I don’t want to meet anyone, I’m not at all into this, dating and marriage and all.” I deny rudely

“Surely don’t! But that is not the reason I’m telling you, I just want you to meet him. He may inspire you to have a start in your love life.” Bob tries to convince and he excels in this because his eyes speak more than his tongue, he continues, “He’s the one restaurant for whom restaurant is open tomorrow.”

“Is he your friend or son of a friend or friend of a friend or someone like friend or just friend or…” I taunt him as he has used all these terms to make me meet someone every now and then to make me settle in life, but I don’t wish to. I’m happy alone and will be happy alone too!

“No, nothing like that but he’s special” He gets up by saying and walk to his counter and rests.

I don’t ask him anything for now. I’m not into this meeting stuff but for sake of Bob I need to because since these many years we've become family, a different from my previous one, which I left.

Being a Magazine Editor has many tasks obviously to edit, not everything is perfect, Me, My work, My articles, My figure nor My life but Ron was! He was with me since schooling till York, we shared a good time, having fun with Em and La, sometimes alone, hidden garden! Though he wasn't the one I kissed there but he went mad when he became aware of the scene I created. It was just a week’s thing that went off record after the kiss, and then I realized love isn't my take. That was the first time when Ron shouted at me, maybe I deserved it. Since beginning Ron told me not to be with that idiot who just wanted to get laid with me, I took Ron’s initial concern as being over possessive however he was right and I didn't have anything to say to him after the incidence when I denied that sick to get laid after kiss at his apartment, only to get slapped and dumped. After all that mess up only Ron stood beside me throughout years of York till I left Toronto. He didn't know I would go so far from him otherwise he wouldn't have let me. I chose to be free, from everybody!

I get up waving hand to Bob and find my way to office. Soon I’m in there, working through pages, making corrections, planning strategies. Time flies like a butterfly, sometimes here, weirdly there, halting, moving again, it keeps going. Time’s up, even before I complete my day work at office. I head to home tired and dull, thinking about tomorrow. I enter my home.

Nowhere could I get safe home in affordable price on my own, I Love Del Rey!

The morning seems energetic today, I quickly get up, take shower, wear my favorite Little Black Dress, stalking and I’m up to move for The Restaurant. I walk through the streets today, look at sun inviting me to have another type of bath, which I refuse, FOR NOW! ;-)

I enter in The Restaurant.

“Hello Bob! How’s the morning?” I ask giving an over saturated smile

“Don’t be so formal. I know you are irritated.” Bob responds while checking counter machine without looking at me. He continues, “Table No.3 There he is. And one thing, he doesn't know that you’re supposed to meet him, I didn't tell him about you.”

“What? Are you kidding? You want me to just go to him and get started like that? No ways…” I react loudly, a bit loudly that the person on Table No.3 gets it and turn back to ask, “Bob! Is everything alright?”

“Yes!” Bob replies, “Just that she wanted to have a piece of croissant with Jam but I told her we’re closed see the sign that have been turned around to CLOSED.”

“It’s OK to welcome few people sometimes man, you never know if they change your entire life. Let her have it!” Table No.3 says and turns back at his cup of American coffee.

I keep looking at Bob with my jaw dropped down while he shrugs and smile. I can see two Devil horns on his head which soon turns into Halo. He waving his hand in direction to the table telling me to go and talk. I show him my tongue and move to Table No.3

“Hey! Thanks for convincing him.” I say politely, initiating a conversation, unaware if he will continue with or slap me and dump.

“What’s there to thank in this? Any ways he would have allowed you, you’re his regular customer.” He says

I don’t have anything to comment on so I keep quiet.

“You can join me if you wish”

I wished to know how he knew I’m regular here, so I share the table.

“Erich” he says and puts his hand forward.

“Cathie” and we shake our hand for the first time, hope the last too. “…so how do you know I’m regular here?” I couldn't hold my curiosity and ask.

“I visit here every month since the place has started running. There was not a single time, I didn't see you.” says Erich

“Are you like… having an eye on me?” I ask doubting his intentions

He laughs, takes a sip of his coffee and shows me his engagement ring. That’s a cute one :)

“OK. So what do you do?” I ask him while feeling relieved that it’s not gonna be Slap N’ Dump game.

“I’m a Software Engineer, living at Valley. What about you?” He seems too frank but good person.

“I’m Magazine Editor at Creative You! What about your fiance? ”

“Here is your Butter Croissant with Jam and Strawberry shake” Bob says while placing my favorites on table and I get too high to see them.

“You’re definitely a sugar girl” Erich says and smile, his smile reminded me of Ron, dunno how but it surely did. Ron used to call me sugar girl.

"Yes! Surely am." I say proudly, "Don't you wanna have something for this morning?"

"No, thank you. I'm good with coffee." Erich responds quickly

"Rosalie loved strawberries, anyways you seem more of a writer than editor" He says

I almost drop the croissant from my mouth, only to stare at Erich and thinking to say, "You seem more of a stalker than engineer" but I refrain from my thoughts putting into action.

"Doesn't she love now? Aarrr... by the way who Rosalie?" I question him in confusion.

"Definitely she does, my fiance" He replies

"Tell me something about her, what does she do? When you both tying a knot?" I purposely ask him about Rosalie, making him realize of an existing girl in his life.

"She's not so social, teaching specially abled at nonprofit organization and enjoying life with family that's Rosalie, she's lovely, so much caring for people in need. When I met her for the first time here, had to share a table and she took me as a stalker like you are thinking."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Means you did, it's fine. My frequent attempts to talk to Rosalie resulted in more negative impact on her. I then suddenly stopped talking, it went seven to ten days without any approach from either. One day while awaiting my breakfast, without any hesitation she came to my table and sat down to ask, "Why aren't you talking since a week, maybe more than that?"

"Look who's talking today and to my surprise about what? I'm Erich" I said

"It is only that because of few months I'm used to your efforts to talk. I'm Rosalie, tutor at Specially Abled." She said with some shyness

"Nice name, so what else do you do Rosalie?"

"I live Erich" and she smiles, making me talk more and know everything about her, she continues, "...with my family at Venice"

"I love being at Valley, I work here as software engineering."

"I didn't know restaurants need a software engineer nowadays, I'm sorry I'm just kidding." She puts her fair, thin and delicate hand on her strawberry like lips, glowing to spread rays of happiness out. I personally never believed in love at first site but seeing Rosalie made me believe that it happens.

We went for a movie the same weekend, roamed around after my job and her teaching was done. I lived alone so I didn't have to ask for anyone's permission to propose Rosalie. I met her family which included her mother and father, Rosalie being their only daughter they were too much concerned about her. With the will of God I succeeded in impressing them, I hugged her father and move out to 'Precious Platinum' I customize her name onto a ring, Rosalie Erich Stone!

I planned a meet up the same day I bought the ring.

I see her through the window of restaurant when I reached, waiting for me! Unaware of the surprise, prepared for her by me.

Taking last sip of coffee Erich stops. I being more curious to know the story so that I can put it in my magazine ask him, "Then...?"

Erich's phone rings, I just hear a statement, "Yes! I'm coming." He gets up from the table and head towards cash counter, I follow him and ask if everything's alright?

He's positive, "It's our anniversary today!" He says with much enthusiasm showing his ring, "express you love towards people you love, maybe your friends, you may not get second chance."

And he disappears in crowd outside.

"Then... An explosion because of the leaking gas cylinder which turned the resto-bar into huge ball of fire, before fire workers came and everything was settled down, it took lives of four and left several injured. One of those who couldn't survive was Rosalie! She received a surprise before Erich could give. Three others were not from Los Angeles, LAPD started investigation and this place was shut till I owned it and Erich was the first one to enter when I opened this thing, “The Restaurant". Same date on every month he comes, today being the exact date as well month and in spite of anything I keep restaurant open for him. "Bob completes Erich’s statement and suggests, “ Life is too short Cathie, Live it, Love it, fall in love, or love someone who loves you.”

I succumb to invisible injuries within and only name strikes my head, Ron!

I rush through the doors of Restaurant running like a mad girl on street, this was the longest run I ever ran to get my life, my love back to me. I open my entrance and rush to my laptop to search for Ron as well Rosalie, I didn't find Ron on any social networking site, I rush to Google and search for Resto-bar mishap.

My heart sinks, blood rushes to my head, body becomes numb, unable to hold myself anymore I cry out loud pulling my hair, at the verge of going insane, my hands tremble while turning screen of my laptop down.

“Four dead in Resto-bar mishap”

A young lady tutor from “Specially Abled” Institute, three friends from Toronto assumed to have come for their friend to meet, their personal stuffs revealed, two of the friends succumbed to death on the spot a lady and a guy, while taking other guy on its way to casualty closes his eyes with cessation of breath.

Names of the deceased are Rosalie, Emma and Larry respectively.

It was difficult to fetch identity of fourth deceased. The only thing he left behind in his pocket a partially burnt box containing a diamond ring with a message card: Marry me Cathie!