At the restaurant, I sat quietly in my seat, watching as Jamie and Tim helped Charles with his pill bottle. We'd chosen a small cafe instead of IHOP, our plates brimming of eggs, sausage, and pancakes. The waitress came by often, refilling our cups with fresh, steaming coffee.
“Hold still now, Gramps,” Jamie said, pressing in the stubborn cap off his medicine bottle. “You don't need the childproof, you know.”
“Yes. Yes, I do. You never know when the damn thing is going to fall off a table. What if the dogs ate some?” Charles huffed. Stubborn old man.
“You're worried over nothing,” Jamie said as the cap popped off. “Here.” She tipped a pill out of the bottle and handed it to Charles. “Take it.”
Charles reached for his half full glass. He furrowed his brow. “Can I get some more water?”
Tim sighed and turned in his chair towards the counter. “Waitress? Can we get some fresh water?”
The waitress looked up from taking another customer's order and held out her forefinger. “Gimme a sec. I'll be right there.”
I waited for the phone to buzz in my pocket. I really wanted it to. Just a short conversation with Ben again would help me not feel like a part of this crazy gathering. But he was probably on the road to campus by now.
What struck me is that I'd barely known anything about him. I could only imagine. What kind of food he liked or what kind of music he listened to. If everything was perfect in the world—and I knew it wasn't—he’d love the same things I did.
He'd like to play basketball in the evening and the sweet smell of flowers in the spring. He'd have to like children. And dogs. But, of course, those were all the things I loved. Knowing my luck, he didn't enjoy any of those.
“Hey, Chase. You've barely eaten anything,” Jamie said. I turned my attention to my still full plate of food.
“Sorry. I'm just thinking.” The phone buzzed in my pocket, tickling my thigh, and I perked up. Could it be Ben? I pulled it out and flipped open the lid. The number looked familiar. But I'd forgotten to program Ben's number into the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey. Chase?” Ben's voice had me brimming with excitement.
“Yeah?”
“There's been a change in plans. My dad's truck broke down, so I'm gonna stay another day.” That was the best news I'd heard all day. “Do you wanna get together... hang out?”
“Yeah!”
He laughed. “Okay. I assume that's a yes, but is there anything you want to do?”
“Anything.” Jesus, just say something else than a one word sentence. “Whatever you wanna do. It'll get me away from these crazies.”
“Great...” he paused a moment before adding. “Do you like to swim?”
“Sure. Yeah I do.”
“Bring some shorts and we'll go swimming.”
“Okay. Um,” I eyed everyone at the table, at Jamie's curious look, and at Charles and Tim. “Give me about an hour though. We're having breakfast.”
“That's cool. Here, let me give you the address.” There was a shuffling in the background. “Do you have a pen?”
I wildly scanned the table for something to write with. Then, I nudged Jamie. “Give me a pen.”
“I don't have one,” she said. But she dug in her small purse, and pulled out her cell phone. “Here. Use my phone, then you can get it after your call.”
I snatched the phone from her hand, entered it into note mode, and anchored myself, ready to take the address. “Okay. I'm ready.”
“It's 2112 East Highway 81.” Ben started and I pressed in the address on the phone's keys. “Once you get into Wilber, get on East Highway 81. It's about two miles out of town. There are lots of trees close to the road, so it's easy to get lost out here. But the driveway is on your right.”
“Got it.”
“I'll see you in about an hour then?”
“Yeah... definitely.”
After hanging up, I hurried to type in the address on my phone. Jamie continued to stare curiously. She'd always loved to play match maker ever since I'd known her. I had to bet that she was completely interested in my get together with Ben today.
“Have a date?” she cooed.
I handed her phone back. “Not a date. A get together. We're just going to hang out. Go swimming.”
“Oo, skinny dipping?”
Our conversation froze the entire table. Charles and Tim quietly stared in our direction.
“Jamie!” I protested.
“Sorry. I'm just interested. That's all.”
“I know you are. Too interested.” I nodded. “Just so you know, I always tell you everything. This isn't no exception.” It was true. I'd always told her everything that happened. Not just to make her happy, but I'd always loved that friendship between us.
“I know you do.” Jamie leaned in, bumping my shoulder with hers. “I suppose we better hurry, then, huh?”