The Riverside Bistro: Part The First

Props to D for THE SISTER, another provocative entry and cedar falls sister story! Heeeheehee, I said 'entry'. I am really digging D's stuff and can't wait to see where she goes next. I won't talk it to death right now, but I love love love her attention to descriptive detail-- what she chooses to point out and make us aware of in the world of her characters is done like a filmmaker might approach it; what she chooses to let us see, make us see, and what she chooses to let pass without further comment? Its really intriguing and as a result her stuff is pretty cinematic for me.

Maybe Skinematic? LOLZ. JK. I'm wicked Jazzed about it.

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I am wicked grumpy today. You're welcome, because I know you were just like: "thanks for sharing".

Well it's true. This blog isn't for bitching and moaning so I refuse to go into it, but let it suffice to say I'm a total cunt-bag this morning and the timing couldn't be worse because I have a long-ass few days ahead of me; and those days would go by alot more smoothly if I were feeling upbeat and cheerful.

But nay.

Grump city.

W.E.

You know its funny that even though i knew this would happen it still hurts and catches me by surprise? Maybe not surprise, precisely, but it still gets under my armor and sucks really, really bad? *SIGH*

Listen, I don't exactly intend on going in order with these stories, as you well know, but these next few days will happen to be a continuing story line because I'm kinda in love with it and have written alot for it-- and since I won't really have time do do new writing (grummmmmpy)I'll just be posting shit that's already i the hopper as it were. Fuck. That just reminded me of something. Ok. There is alot to get done around here.

Hope you are enjoying. But stay tuned and I promise I'll pick up some of the other story threads before too long!! The incest story will continue, you'll learn more about Nolan, you'll even see more of what happened that fateful day on the Sundeck (oh yes indeed!), and new characters are being pulled in all the time, so just bear with me through this-- this isn't the whole story, but I'm grooving on it and just want to share. I hope you like the Grey\Maggie stuff at least enough to tolerate :)

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Jonah had not wanted to take time from work for an impromptu brunch. His wife had had to beg, plead, and cajole him. Despite his increased presence at the office, his longer hours there, his performance had been suffering. The lack of sleep was wearing him down and he’d been caught lost in his thoughts more than once now during critical budget meetings or in strategy sessions with all the big players. He was being carefully watched and taking a long lunch would be frowned upon.

But he did it anyway. As guilty as he had been of late he’d likely knock-over a convenience store if Velvet asked nicely enough.

Standing just inside the door of The Riverside Bistro Jonah dangled his dripping briefcase at arm’s length and rattled as many raindrops off it as he could before slipping carefully out of his sopping trench coat. He was apologetic to the coat-check woman, a frail old biddy with a bluish permanent and petal-pink lipstick. She took the wet things from him with a resigned air and a half smile that made Jonah wonder if she’d suffered a stroke in her recent past.

Slipping the numbered resin chip she’d handed over into his inside breast pocket and, retrieving his glasses, he took a moment to slip them on, smooth his hair into place and check his breath. He’d had four large cups of coffee and needed a mint.

“Here.” A gravelly voice cracked to his right. The coat-check matron held a crystal bowl of mints out. He smiled gratefully and took several.

“Much obliged.” He made a mental not to tip her well when he returned to claim his things.

Popping two of the too-sweet mints he crossed from the entryway into the warmly lit main body of the restaurant. It was all earth tones and soft piano music, amber lights and real plants. The wide panoramic windows in the back were the bistro’s claim to fame—a breathtaking view of the falls and river. Tables by the window were difficult to get even at slow times—you usually had to know somebody or be known. Velvet had a table by the windows.

Smiling to the hostess and gesturing wordlessly to the back he passed through the restaurant toward her where she sat stirring a spoon in a cup of tea and browsing the menu. He surprised her with a kiss on the top of her head and she looked up at him with a grin. “Hello beautiful.” He said easily and moved to take a seat. It was only then that he noticed how many place settings were arranged on the table, and how many chairs. He gave her an inquisitive head tilt.

“Hello sweetheart!” she gushed. She was radiant.

“What’s going on?” He pointed at two or three chairs, unsure where he should settle. She pointed to the one across from her seat as she responded.

“It’s a bit of a surprise.” She bit her lip. Velvet was no good with surprises. He hadn’t opened a single Christmas present in 23 years without already having been told what was inside.

He hoped his pleasant smile hadn’t wavered. He really wasn’t in the right mental space for surprises. He’d had too many of them in the last couple of weeks.

“What kind of surprise?” He asked, reaching for a glass of ice water.

“No—“ Velvet stopped him and redirected his hand to the next glass. “You always steal the wrong water!” She giggled. He shook his head and smiled—she was giddy and in his state of over-tiredness he was finding her buoyancy difficult to resist.

“What sort of surprise?” He persisted, chuckling a little. “Who’s joining us?”

Just then Velvet was looking past him and she rose from her seat with a little wave to someone behind him. Sipping from the correct water glass Jonah swiveled in his seat to see where Velvet was looking.

He choked on the water. Sputtering he moved quickly to put the glass back, ice jingling and sloshing in his haste. Velvet moved quickly to pat him on the back. He only had to clear his throat a few times before he managed to tell her he was fine and stood up to greet his son.

So it was happening. Jonah focused on regaining his wind and stood facing Grey, ready. Jonah had no doubt that this little brunch had been Grey’s idea, his plan for trapping him into giving the little bastard all the money in the world. And at that moment, with Velvet’s small hand still on his back and her large, concerned eyes looking up at him, Jonah knew he would move heaven and earth to keep her from knowing whatever Grey knew.

His son was giving him a mocking little smile. “You alright Dad?” He asked. “Guess I got you back for the other day, huh?” His smile spread into a wide, menacing grin and he laughed.

Jonah clenched his teeth. Should he take him outside right now? How would he do this without being obvious, without alerting Velvet that anything was amiss?

“What happened? When?” Velvet was amused but puzzled.

When Jonah didn’t speak Grey answered for him. “Oh that weekend you were upstate Dad scared the sh—“ Velvet raised her eyebrows “--almost gave me a heart attack sneaking up on me and I nearly choked to death.”

“Oh you men!” She gushed sweetly.

“Water goes down a little easier than scotch.” Jonah said wryly, not taking his eyes off Grey. The young man continued to smile. He was too calm for Jonah’s liking. “Velvet, if you’ll excuse us, I actually need to talk to Grey—“

But Velvet bowled right over Jonah “But where is Maggie?” she was leaning to peer around the men toward the front of the restaurant, eyes scanning, her expression mildly distressed.

Jonah hesitated.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“She’s up front waiting for her father.” Grey answered his mother and moved to hold her chair for her.

She smiled an indulgent smile and allowed him to push her chair in. Jonah stood, unsure of what to do.

Grey also took a seat and only Jonah was left hovering beside the table. The piano music was mellow and understated. Jonah stared at the falls.

“Who are we—?“ But Velvet and Grey were standing up again. Jonah spun around more quickly than he’d meant to and felt clumsy, jumpy.

To his enormous relief, approaching them was no one he knew. No one he’d committed terrible crimes with or against. He felt some of the tension in his chest loosen enough to allow him breath and he grabbed the back of his chair for some extra support. For a moment he’d really believed it would all be over, that his secrets would be dragged into the soft amber light of the Riverside Bistro.

He looked at Grey. Maybe the boy didn’t know anything. Grey’s eyes were fixed on the two people approaching their table.

Jonah followed his gaze and watched a petite but attractively curvy young woman walking with a confidence that belied something more anxious beneath, and a short-ish, round-ish, bald-ish, mustachioed middle-aged man who might normally appear pleasant but was wearing a stern, suspicious look that Jonah recognized as a father’s unease. He imagined he’d looked like that when Avalon had introduced her fiancée to the family.

Jonah suddenly looked back at Grey. The young man was not smiling anymore, he looked sober. Jonah’s eyes flicked downward and he caught the small metallic flash on Grey's left hand just before Grey turned his body and his other hand extended in a handshake toward the intimidating bull-dog of a man with the pretty young daughter.

Son-of-a-bitch. Jonah’s face broke into a wide, genuine smile. He wasn’t about to be blackmailed. His secret was safe. This was a pleasant surprise afterall.