3 – Leftovers
1849 Words
HOLDING the stuffed teddy in one hand while the other has the crispy, juicy apple, little Jane watched the feet walking before her.
The toddler is in her favorite place again. Hiding under the dining table.
The table cloth hid her from plain sight while she watched her mother do her daily chores of cleaning the kitchen and the living room.
She spent the day with her mother in the house. Her father will leave in the morning and he will come home when the sun is down.
Oftentimes, she and her mother would play a game of pick-a-boo. Then the child’s boisterous laughter would echo in the confinement of the small hut when her mother found her in her hiding place.
Little Jane bit on a slice of apple. She chewed slowly like what her mama always says. She picked another from the saucer that was placed on the floor.
Little Jane straightened. A frown marred her small face when she saw an unfamiliar set of feet from under the table.
Her father left already. He saw him kiss her mama on the lips when he thought she was not watching.
The boots were like her papa but his footfalls were a lot heavier.
“M-my mate is not h-here.”
“I know.”
Little Jane stopped chewing.
The voice of the man is familiar to her. He heard it from somewhere. However, she was sure that it was not her father.
“P-please don’t.”
The little child blinked. She grabbed another piece of apple from the saucer.
When she heard no more, she continue to feed herself with the apple while she played with her teddy.
It was a gift from her mother on her last birthday. Since then, she cannot sleep without a teddy in her arms. She put the teddy under the blanket, too.
Little Jane huffed when she noticed that all the slices of apple were gone already.
She crawled out of her hiding place. She was holding the saucer and her favorite toy in her hands.
“Mama?” She called out.
She heard her mother sniff before facing her. The older woman wiped something from her face.
“Something in your eyes, mama?” Her lips pouted. Her mother’s eyes were red. “Why is your dress torn?”
Her mother gave her a smile. It was not the same smile that she gave her father when he come home. It was sad.
“Do you need anything, Janey?”
The older woman held her dress on her shoulder part. It was where the torn was.
“Don’t worry, mama. Papa will not be mad if you told him why your dress split. Papa loves you.”
To the child’s surprise, tears rolled up on her mother’s face.
“I’ll be right back, baby.”
Confused, the little girl watched her mother enter her parent’s bedroom.
Jane gasped as she inhaled a lungful of air.
Her eyes went to the window in the bedroom apartment that she has been renting for a couple of years.
The sky is still dark.
It was four in the morning according to the nightstand clock. The digital numbers were in red. She could see it clearly despite the lack of light in the darkened room.
As of late, she has been dreaming of the life that she had when she was still with her parents. Often, the dream centered on her life as a child on ages between three to five years old.
Well, a few months after that she was scouring the street in search of food and something to cover her body for the night in order to survive. She was in the human population living as an orphan.
She flipped the blanket off her body. She knew that sleep already eluded her.
In half an hour, Jane is already walking in the direction of the subway. It was a few minutes walks from her apartment. Just three stations away from the diner.
“Good morning.” She greeted the two staff when she opened the entrance door.
The CLOSE sign is still posted but the staff is already there tidying the place. Another one is organizing the display on the counter.
At exactly 5 AM, the TUDD’S PLATTER will officially open for the day’s business.
“We need those cookies ASAP, little lady.”
“On it.”
“The garlic bread, too.”
“Incoming.”
“Great. The chef is already preparing the pasta. Just so you know.”
“And I can smell the coffee brewing.” She said with a smile before entering the kitchen.
The chef and his assistant were already busy. She received a salute from both of them.
Jane went to the other side of the kitchen where the baking equipment are.
Her parents made sure that the kitchen is spacious enough that the person baking the pastry and the cook can move around simultaneously.
She smiled widely as she put on the brown apron. A steaming, black coffee is on the stainless work area.
“Thanks for the coffee.” She hollered.
“Anything for the lady.” Chef Gustav answered. “I just need the garlic bread for my pasta.”
She chuckled. “On it, chef.”
The first and second batches of garlic bread went out of the kitchen the moment the trays were placed on the table for cooling.
The cookies were in the oven when Basil came in. He has a plate of breakfast meal in his hands.
“You need this, little lady. You have a long day. What was left of yesterday’s bread were all gone.”
“Thank you, Basil. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Eat while you still can. From what I can see, you have a long day ahead of you.”
They glanced at the working table. Several trays were on it. The cinnamon rolls were next after the cookies.
“Is that what I think it is?” There was a sparkle in the older man’s eyes.
“Yes. I made a few rolls. It’s Sunday special, Basil.”
“Indeed. I’ll be off your hair, little lady. I want some of those cordon blues.”
It was in the afternoon when her parents came in. The first thing that they asked for was a cookie and a cup of coffee.
“And there’s my little girl who chose to move out of the house and live alone.” That was Wyeth Tudd who has one of his brows raised.
With a smile, Jane placed the tray on the table and slid beside the older man.
“I miss you, too, daddy.”
She felt a kiss pressed on the top of her head.
Wyeth Tudd was in his sixties. He was almost the same age as his wife, Ora. They were in their thirties when Billy came into their lives.
Ora had three miscarriages before their only son came. It was the reason why they doted on Billy and gave him everything he wanted.
Billy was ten years old when Jane came into the lives of the Tudds. It was Ora who found her in the parking lot when she was eight years old.
Her life has changed since then.
“Did you make me butter cookies?” He whispered.
“I did. I placed it in a special jar with a ribbon on top.” She answered with a wide smile.
“And of course, I will not share it with anyone.”
Ora laughed at her husband’s antics. “Your father used to love everything I put on the table.”
“Well, your daughter knew how to bake better than you, my love.”
“And I got that from mommy.” Jane butted in. “I have a few rolls. I also put aside for you.”
“And she also made the Sunday special,” Basil muttered when he passed by.
“The main reason why we’re here, Basil.” Her dad stated.
On Sundays, her parents do not usually come to the diner.
Jane made a deal with them. She would take care of the business on Sundays so that they will have the time for themselves.
The couple has dedicated their lives to the business for most of their lives. Jane saw how hard-working they were.
One of the reasons why she works hard as well was to give back to the couple. She has been very grateful for their intervention in her life. If not for the couple, Jane must have been a pimp by now or her life is way worst.
“A family reunion, indeed.”
They turned to the person who said that.
It was Billy.
He looked a tad worst than he was last week.
He has bags under his reddened eyes. His cheeks sunk a little. He appeared thinner, too.
“What happened to you, son?” Worry was laced on Wyeth when he said that.
The biological son of the couple said beside his mother. He seated opposite Jane.
“Why am I not invited to this a small talk?” The young male Tudd asked before he grabbed a cookie.
He broke the cookie in two before chewing on it.
“This is your recipe, mum. You’re still the best in the baking department. I remember gran baking this when I was a little.”
“Jane baked that.”
“Really now?” Billy said with sarcasm. “You gave her a roof over her head. And now, she has her hand on the family recipe.”
“Because no ever help us, son. Your mom and I were not getting any younger.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You never show interest in the family business, Billy.”
“Because you never wanted me to.”
“I gave you far too many chances, Billy!”
“Really? How about now, dad?”
“Show your ass here tomorrow. In the morning. Clean up and be here at seven sharp.”
The older Tudd’s voice was affirmative. He was also squinting at his son who was looking back at him with fury.
“You got that, old man.”
He stood up after he finished the cookie. He also drank his mother’s coffee.
“I need money.”
“Jane gave you money last time that you were here.”
“I need more. If you want me here in the morning, I need cash for the gas.”
Wyeth placed a few twenties on the table.
Without a word, Billy seized the money before he stood up. He left right after he grabbed another cookie.
“He needs to clean up, Wyeth,” Ora said with sadness.
“I know. He needs help.”
Jane grasped her mother’s hand. She sent her a smile as she leaned her head on her father’s shoulder.
“Everything will be fine. He will be here tomorrow.” She muttered with enthusiasm.
- Writer
