Free Dead Spots by Rhiannon Frater

sandwich.
    â€œBut it’s just so weird,” Mackenzie answered, her eyes flicking back toward the woman.
    The white blouse the gorging woman wore was now smeared with condiments and taco sauce. With greasy hands, she crammed two tacos into her mouth. Mackenzie stared in horror while the woman chased down the spicy food with great gulps of a milk shake. The blonde’s buttons popped off her blouse and flew across the café. No one else seemed to notice.
    â€œLook away, Mackenzie. You’re making it worse.”
    Forcing her gaze to her food, Mackenzie continued her meal, but the temptation to watch the gluttonous woman was too great. She stole another look.
    The perfect blonde was definitely not perfect anymore. Her blouse was hanging open and her hair was a mess. Not even bothering with her utensils, she was eating huge handfuls of roast beef and potatoes. Her once slightly plump cheeks were now flabby and thick jowls were forming.
    Mackenzie’s appetite left her and she shoved the plate away with one hand.
    â€œYou should eat more,” Grant urged.
    â€œI can’t. I’m full.”
    â€œYou should still eat.”
    â€œI’m full, Grant. Back off!” The words left her mouth a little more sharply than she would have liked even if he was a bit bossy. In the past she was the calm one in the face of her mother’s histrionics, but now she was the one on edge. Grant appeared to be sincerely trying to help her, but her usual Texan geniality was frayed by the events unfolding around her.
    The now imperfect blonde motioned for the waitress again. Her face, hair, and hands glistened with grease. Her body was bulging underneath her clothes.
    Wiping his mouth, Grant said, “You should eat now before it gets any worse.”
    â€œI haven’t had much of an appetite in a while. Not since—”
    A pang of sorrow pierced her. The visit to Joshua’s grave came to mind and the enormity of what she’d lost bore down on her. Tanner, Joshua, her home … all was lost. Now she was lost, too. Disconnected from reality and trapped.
    â€œDon’t!”
    â€œDon’t what?”
    â€œGive it a purpose,” he replied sharply.
    A bell over the front door jangled as another customer entered. Grant narrowed his eyes, gazing past her toward the newcomer. “What were you just thinking about?”
    Mackenzie twisted the napkin in her hands. “It doesn’t matter.”
    â€œThis way please,” one of the waitresses said behind her.
    Mackenzie knotted the napkin, struggling with the surge of sadness billowing through her. Was she in her car, slowly dying right now? Would she be joining her little one under the unforgiving darkness of the ground? What would Tanner say? Would he even care? Or would he just continue on with his new girlfriend as they waited for their baby?
    â€œThis is perfect! Thanks!”
    Tanner’s voice.
    Unsteady, Mackenzie looked up to see her ex-husband slide into a booth. A pregnant woman took the seat across from him, her face shielded by her thick brown hair. Tanner yanked two menus out from behind the wire basket on their table and slid one to the woman. Tapping his fingers, he studied the menu.
    â€œWho is that?” Grant asked worriedly.
    â€œNow I know I’m dead,” Mackenzie muttered. “This is hell.”
    â€œWho is that?” Grant’s voice was insistent.
    â€œTanner,” Mackenzie answered miserably. “My ex-husband who left me after our baby died.”
    â€œDamn.” Grant craned his neck, looking around the café anxiously. “We better get going. Nice time is over.”
    Mackenzie watched Tanner take the pregnant woman’s hand and rub her fingers lovingly. The sweet look he once gave Mackenzie graced his face while he spoke to his girlfriend. He couldn’t have hurt Mackenzie more if he had stabbed her.
    â€œMackenzie, let’s go,” Grant said,