Family Secrets 12

Greetings friend! I’m happy you’re joining me on the journey of this novel.

If you’d like to begin with chapter one, you can find it here:

While Claire felt lonely at home, she loved the bus ride to work and the new friends she made at The Café. Some of her coworkers were church-type people but for the most part, the job opened Claire to a whole new world.

The dishwashers, who spoke mostly Spanish; the cooks who whistled long and low whenever Claire came through the kitchen, causing her flee for the hostess stand blushing like a Georgia peach in the summer; the bus drivers on her route who came to know her smiling face and always had a pleasant word for her.

One older bus driver made funny comments about Claire’s different hats, asking her what she was up to, with those crazy hats. Another bus driver came into The Café for coffee after his early morning shift ended and always stopped by the hostess stand to say hi to Claire.

The servers at The Café were Claire’s favorite part of her newly expanded world.

A few older women in their thirties and forties had waited tables all their lives. They’d heard every tale of woe and were hardened to sob stories, but they loved Claire.

Her innocence, naiveté and kindness made them smile. They chuckled when she came in wearing outlandish hats. One older lady, who had been waiting tables for decades, gave Claire a beautiful hat from the 1920s. Claire loved these harsh, life-hardened, soft-hearted ladies. She adopted them as her aunties.

Most of the other servers were college-aged, either home for the summer or not going to school at all. Claire eavesdropped on their stories, hearing about college life, dorm life, party life. Hungry to try it all, she eagerly saved every dime, preparing for someday when she’d move on.

Sometimes, instead take of taking the bus, Claire rode her bike to work. While it wasn’t a short ride, she loved the freedom of cruising through town and out to The Café.

When Claire rode her bike, she felt almost like she was flying. With the restaurant on the far side of town from the Newells’ home, Claire could be alone with her thoughts, without anyone interrupting.

Rather than a bike helmet, Claire usually donned an old stained Colorado Rockies baseball cap. It kept her hair out of her face and manageable. She gathered up her long skirts, riding with air blowing her hair behind her, sun glinting in her eyes. During these rides, Claire finally felt like herself. She felt like the wind, blowing through town and into work.

One night, finishing her shift, she realized it was raining. She looked out the windows at the gloom, dreading the bike ride home. Thunder crashed, lightning flashed and Claire shuddered in the cold, damp air. Although it had been a beautiful day, heavy clouds rolled in during the late afternoon, and rain persisted throughout the evening.

By the time she reached her bike, she was soaked from head to toe. Claire changed her mind and trotted back inside.

The Café didn’t close until midnight on Fridays so she sat at the counter and asked for a cup of hot chocolate to warm her up for the ride ahead. The afternoon had been sunny and warm, but the rain had chilled the air.

Claire felt apprehensive about riding slick, wet streets in the dark. Her long dress would only make the ride worse.

As she sat at the counter, facing back toward the kitchen, she didn’t see Craig approaching through the front doors.

He stormed into the restaurant, furious.

“What the hell are you doing sitting here drinking hot chocolate?” he demanded.

Claire turned around, surprised at the harsh tone, and stunned to see Craig standing in The Café. He had never visited her at work before.

She stuttered nervously, “I was cold, and I didn’t want to ride my bike home in the rain.”

“So what? You thought you’d sit here all night drinking coffee with a bunch of derelicts? Get your ass out to the car. I’m not sitting in the parking lot all night waiting for you. Move it!”

Claire left her drink and a dollar on the counter. She headed back outside, into the cold, wet night. On the back of Craig’s car, a bicycle rack held her dripping bike. He must have pulled up as she went back into The Café, she thought.

The other hostesses and servers watched wide-eyed, as Claire left with the apparent lunatic. They’d heard stories about her strict upbringing, but hadn’t realized Claire’s dad was crazy.

As the door closed behind Claire and her father, the waitresses whispered amongst themselves.

“Poor kid. She’s got a tough row.”

“I had no idea she was telling the truth.”

“Jerk. Somebody should teach him a thing or two.”

Headlights flooded in and the chitchat stopped as Craig pulled past the large windows and out of the parking lot.

As the car turned toward town Claire apologized, feeling guilty for making her dad wait.

“I’m sorry Daddy. I didn’t realize you were waiting out here. I thought I had to ride my bike home.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. What kind of father would I be if I made you ride home in the dark and the rain? I don’t like sitting around waiting for smart ass kids. Don’t let it happen again.”

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t know you were coming. I would have been outside if you’d told me.”

“Claire, I’m sick of your sass. If you continue arguing with me, I’ll call that fancy job of yours and tell them you quit.”

Claire sat in silence the rest of the way home. She seethed with rage. He was so mean, and unpredictable. Claire couldn’t wait to get back to work. Life at home with Craig was unbearable.

She wanted to get away. She enjoyed her time at The Café, where they didn’t mind her long dresses and goofy hats. At work, she could be most fully herself.

Until she was older, there was nothing she could do about her clothing. She still lived at home and her parents still bought her clothes. The long dress requirement was inconvenient and ridiculous, especially when Claire rode her bike, but she wasn’t bold enough to defy her parents outright.

The hats rebelled enough. She wanted to wait until the time was right to change things completely. In the meantime, her hats made a bold statement of independence to Craig and Melissa, without Claire appearing too defiant.

While she saved most of her money, she still picked out a new hat occasionally, and she loved wearing them to work. Her choice of hat always got comments from her work friends.

Customers also loved her hats and some of the regular guests joked with her about her many different hats. Claire laughed at the inside joke and appreciated being included in something that was only hers. Something Craig could not take away from her.

After years of isolation, homeschooling and seclusion, she finally felt free to make friends. While the co-workers closest to her age viewed her as a goody two-shoes and would rarely have anything to do with her, Claire found friendship in some of the older waitresses who took pity on her because of her strange life.

One Saturday afternoon, an older gentleman approached the hostess stand. Claire greeted him with her customary bright smile. She grabbed a menu, checked the seating chart and led him to his table.

As he sat down, he looked at her directly. “Aren’t you the worship pastor’s daughter?” he asked.

Her two worlds suddenly collided, catching her off guard. “Yes. I am. Do you attend The Seeker Church?”

He smiled warmly and struck out his hand to shake hers. “I’m Ed. My wife and I have been going to the church on and off for a couple of years now. I thought I’d seen you around.”

Claire smiled politely, wondering if her father had sent a spy. That seemed like something he’d do, she thought angrily.

She shook his hand firmly, smiling her restaurant smile. “I’m Claire. It’s nice to meet you Ed. Can I bring you something to drink while you wait for your server?”

As she walked away to get his water, she felt the spy watching her every move.

Claire had been working at The Café for nearly a year, when she decided it was time to move on or up. Now that she was older, she’d begun considering applying to college. The biggest impediment was money and she felt it was time for a change.

She approached her boss, a large, manly-looking woman who was rough but fair. Kelly had hired Claire on the spot back when she came into The Café. She was always respectful of Claire in spite of her peculiar attire and abounding innocence.

“I’d like to find out about becoming a server.”

Claire had practiced the lines all morning, but nearly choked on the words when it came time to face her boss.

“Well, Claire,” Kelly answered, “you are a hard worker. I would love to give you a try at serving, just as soon as you finish high school. Until then, I plan to keep you in the hostess stand. You are the most reliable hostess we have, and I’m not ready to lose you quite yet.”

“Well actually, I did graduate. I took my GED and passed nearly a year ago. That’s really the only option for a lot of home schooled kids. I would like to start taking classes at Front Range Community College, but I don’t have enough money yet. If you could let me serve, then I’d save my money and go to college.”

Despite her gruff exterior, Kelly had a kind heart. She wanted to give the strange little religious kid a chance.

“How about if I work you into serving a few days a week, and keep you in the hostess stand while we’re busy on weekends? That way, you can get your training done, and I don’t lose my favorite hostess.”

Claire smiled and almost hugged her, but Kelly’s immediate rigid withdrawal reminded Claire that some people don’t like hugs.

She was excited for the opportunity to prove herself, not only to her boss, but to everyone else as well.

For Claire, it felt like the beginning of a new phase in her life. She was finally growing up, and away from Craig and Melissa.

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