Free Life After by P.A Warren Page B

It’s like the story of my life. Never knowing what is going on or what’s going to happen.
    My eyes are so overwhelmed by the décor that I forget Jenny is  holding the door open for me. I do a double take as I enter the restaurant, as a life sized squirrel holding a circular tray greets us. Who puts a huge squirrel statue in the middle of a restaurant? How very random. I like it. As the hostess seats us I’m assaulted by the rich smells coming from the kitchen.
    “Nice squirrel.” I tell the waitress pointing to the statue.
    “Thanks!” She bounces her hair back and forth. “That’s the owner’s prize possession. People keep trying to steal it though,” she says her voice flippant.
    Hmmm, people trying to steal a life size squirrel. That’s totally not something you hear every day. Shaking my head at the weirdness of it I look over at Jenny who just shrugs. “Have you ever been here before?”
    “No, never.” Turning she smiles. “That squirrel was something wasn’t it?”
    “Yeah something truly weird.”
    We got there before the lunch rush so it’s not very busy. . A Lance Bass look alike takes our drink orders, and once he opens his mouth it’s obvious he bats for the other team. He even had the audacity to comment on my aunt’s knock off Prada bag., I got a perverse pleasure seeing her  blush when he said, “Nice knock off.”  I’m not even that brave.
    What? Don’t look at me like that. He was cute but definitely gay. No straight man would know the difference between Prada and a knock off. He did however cut his tip in half with my aunt. She’s sitting there staring at her purse with a frown of disappointment. Pinching her lips together she puts her purse down neither of us talking. I’m too busy looking around the restaurant, at all the families laughing and smiling and she’s just lost in her thoughts. Aren’t we a bunch of happy go lucky people? Thankfully our food comes before we have to actually make conversation. Never fear though, she decides to wait until we get the food to ruin my appetite. La di freaking da.
    “Hadley,” she starts, dipping one of her fries into her ketchup, “You worry me. I know losing your parents and sister is one of the worst things possible. Trust me. I get it. I lost not only my sister but your dad who was like a brother to me and my niece. It doesn’t matter that we lost touch we are family. I don’t want you to stop living because this happened. They wouldn’t want that for you.”
    She pauses to take a sip before fixing me with a look. I flinch when making eye contact with her. Why does she have to do this now? Why can’t she stop trying to fix me?
    “You’re going to be continuing on with life I will not allow you to drown in whatever it is that’s going on inside of that head of yours. I’m not sure what you have planned. College or go straight to work. I personally don’t care but I do want you to make the best of it.”
    Pissed off I glare at her, “I’m sorry but I’m not sure how you expect me to be thinking about all these things when I am still reeling from the accident.”
    She looks at me aggravated and says she has to use the restroom
.
I know it’s just to get away from me but at least I don’t have to sit there with her scrutinizing, judgmental eyes on me. I scoff at her but she has me thinking, swallowing past the lump in my throat I twirl a fry in my mayo/ketchup mixture. How can I act like nothing happened? How can I be okay to just go on with my life when they are gone?
    It’s not right.
    I hear laughter to my left and look longingly over at the group that looks about my age. I miss being carefree. Frowning at them I turn my attention back to my plate with my head down as Jenny appears back from the bathroom her eyes look red as if she has just spent the last few minutes crying. Now I feel even worse. I’m a horrible person I make everyone miserable.
    “Jenny, I’ll do my best but I can’t make any promises.”