What would life be like with no parents Part 3

They reached Chubby’s after 5 minutes of awkward silence. They walked in and a familiar face greeted them. Charice Green had worked at Chubby’s Diner a while, starting when she was just a pimpled high school student. She now worked here while she got her Bachelor’s degree at the local Community College. She dreamed of becoming a business woman and had dreams of ruling the stock market. She recognized both Rachel and her Dad and could see they were both upset today.
“I wonder what could have happened.” She thought. “I’ll treat them extra special tonight; some good greasy food will cheer them up.”
“What can I do for you today folks?” She said cheerily as she got them seated into a worn red leather booth.
“Hi Charice” Said Rachel as she plastered a smile on her face, though at the moment she felt like doing anything but smiling.
“Hi Rach, Mr. Owens, what’ll it be?”
Mr. Owens barely glanced up from his menu. But when he did, he cast a smile Charice’s way.
“I’ll have a hamburger and chocolate milkshake.” Rachel said deciding.
“I’ll have fish and chips and a vanilla milkshake. Thank you.” Said George, he could be very charming when he wanted to be.
“Coming right up, I’ll be back shortly.” She said and then turned to put in the order.
“Dad, what am I supposed to do now? What is life going to be like from now on?” Rachel asked, tears pricking her eyes. She wouldn’t cry though, not in public anyway.
“Well, I guess the judge will decide who you’ll stay with.”
The way he said that sounded so cold to Rachel. It was as if he could care less and was willing to let someone else decide his life.
“Am I that much of a bother?” She said and then noticed a wet tear sliding down the side of her face. Quickly she brushed it away.
“Of course not sweetheart, it’s your mother. She is being… difficult.” He said and took his daughter’s hand to hold. “I’m sorry Hun; this is just the way life is right now.”
“Well, why couldn’t it happen to someone else?” Rachel hated the way she said it, like a pathetic whine. What was she becoming? One little thing and she was crumbling.
“Sometimes life just isn’t fair. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Rachel turned her face away from her father.
“I have to go to the bathroom.” She said, looking for someway to escape the awkwardness.
She got up and made her way to the woman’s room. It was pink and girly with tiled floor and painted stalls. She went into the nearest one. She collapsed on the floor and started sobbing. She sobbed so hard she felt sick to her stomach. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t just her parents pending divorce that broke her up so hard. To Rachel, it seemed like everything was going wrong lately. Her boyfriend, Chet Williams had broken up with her, moving on instead to her “best friend” Michelle Jennings. To everyone in school she was a loser; all her so-called “friends” on the cheerleading squad had abandoned her. She wasn’t doing well with her grades either.
“Why are you doing this to me God?” A voice screamed in her head. “This is too much and too hard! Take it away from me! I just want to go back to normal, where I had two married parents, a loving boyfriend, and lots of friends!”
After a minute or so of heavy tears; Rachel pulled herself up.
“Dad will be wondering where I am. I better calm down.” She thought.
She opened the stall and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess and big red splotches were forming on her face where tears had streamed down. She took some paper towel and wet it to wash her face. The feeling of cool water on her hot face was soothing. She patted her hair into submission and, when she looked somewhat better, she braced herself to go outside again.
“I just need to suppress my feelings; then I’ll be able to deal.” She thought.
She opened the heavy door and glanced around the dining room, making sure no one she knew was here. When she was comfortable that no one was, she walked back to the booth where her father was waiting.
“Sorry Dad” She said when she reached the booth and sat down on the soft worn cushion.
“That’s alright sweetheart. Your food came while you were out.”
George looked at her and she seemed to be more herself; the Rachel he knew and loved. She was smiling now; which meant she had finally gotten used to the idea of her parents’ divorce, he thought.
“Everything okay Rach?”
“Of course Dad.” Came her response. “This food looks great!” She said and dug in full force.
It was good food like always. Rachel kept a steady conversation going and George did his part. It was pleasant small talk; “How’s school” and all that. There was a pink elephant in the room though, the Owens’ pending divorce. Neither would talk about it; instead wasting breath on nonsense talk.
When they had finished their meal; George figured they should go home. He paid the tip and thanked Charice.
“Come on Rach, let’s go home.” He said.
“Where is home, Dad?” Rachel said, suddenly serious.
“I don’t know Rach, I don’t know.”
The ride home was silent and tense. The air tingled with the words not spoken.
“Where are Mom and Matt? Did they have this same conversation about the divorce? Where would they live from now on?” She had so many questions but no answers.
Her mother and brother Matt had not been home all day. She hadn’t seen them since the morning. Matt was 14 years old and in 8th grade.
“Maybe Mom picked him up from school to talk to him. He always was a Mama’s boy. He’ll definitely want to live with her. I don’t know who I want to live with.” She thought.
“Rachel, we’re home.” Her father said; breaking her thoughts.
Her father opened the front door and they walked inside. On the table was a note. It read:
“George,
I’m leaving. I’m taking Matt with me. Rachel may decide where she lives. Please don’t call or try to contact us.
I’ll see you at court,
Fran”
“What did you do Dad? Why is she so angry?” Rachel asked her father.
“Your mother has issues.” Was all he said
Rachel was exhausted from today’s events. Thankfully it was Friday so she didn’t have to go anywhere tomorrow. She climbed the stairs as fast as she dared and opened the door to her bedroom. It was just as she had left it, bed made and blinds up, save for the envelope on her bed. It said “Rachel” on the front.
“Must be from Mom” she thought. This one read:
“Rachel,
I’m sorry things have to be like this, but know I love you very much. Your father and I have had many problems in our marriage but we did do one thing right: having Matt and you. Nothing will ever change how we feel about you. Please don’t blame yourself sweetheart. Your father cheated on me, repeatedly. I gave him chances after chances but he would not stop. I hope you will want to stay with me but I will try to understand either way. Living with me won’t be easy. Your father could give you many more material things. It’s your choice.
Love,
Mom”
Rachel was shocked. Was this the truth or was she just overreacting? Everything in her life was getting more and more confusing.
Tired and numb; she climbed into her bed and enclosed herself in her Egyptian cotton sheets and down comforter. She would think about it in the morning; what she really needed was a good night’s sleep.