3D: The Storm

Thunderstorms pummeled Willow Creek and Newcrest all summer, and Aubrey’s heart longed for the predictable weather of Oasis Springs; it would always be home despite her address. She jumped at startling claps of thunder and blinding lightning flashes which muddled her mood. The restaurant’s customers must have shared the same sentiment for she arrived at lunchtime to an empty dining room.

“It has been like this all day,” Keegan said in a sharp tone as he approached.

His big puppy dog eyes were as narrow as a sheet of paper and kept darting toward the door. The absence of work made him anxious. At least one employee appreciated being busy. Malakai probably wished the storm would last all week. Keegan’s sweet baby face reminded her of Julio. No matter the expression, he always looked so pleasant.

Two separate parties entered as Aubrey considered closing for the day. Sarah Pruett and her girlfriends came in behind an elderly couple.

“Well,” Aubrey shouted. “Would you look at that? Looks like someone is watching over us!”

Keegan hurried to take their orders before Malakai, not that he ever hurried to work.

What a dreadful day to sit on the patio. Too bad the inside tables only seated two to four people. But, why did Aleah seat the elderly couple out there? The dining room was empty. But, when dealing with her, Aubrey learned to pick her battles wisely and let it go.

Aubrey waited impatiently for Keegan to take orders before she greeted everyone. She too did not enjoy being idle. “Welcome to J. Pruett’s Grill,” she said to the elder couple. “So glad you joined us on this nasty afternoon!”

“A little rain never hurt anyone,” the man said.

The woman’s head jerked back so fast, Aubrey thought she’d fall over. “A little rain? Horace, we’ll need an ark!”

The old man chuckled. “Don’t mind my wife. She’ll exaggerate her own eulogy!”

They were the cutest old couple she’d seen. Jonathan and Skyla would probably be just like them. “I’m not sure if I should laugh at that, Horace.”

“Go on and laugh, young lady. She knows it’s true.”

Aubrey smiled. “Let me know if there’s anything I can get for you, ok?”

At the next table, she addressed the girlfriends. “Are you ladies having a girls’ day?”

The woman in black scowled at her cousin-in-law. “It was a perfectly good day until Sarah suggested we go to lunch.”

Aubrey nodded. “Can’t say I would come out in this weather either, but I’m glad you all did. Please let us know how we can make your visit more pleasant.”

As she retreated inside, the loudest clap of thunder rattled the building. Her heart almost jumped out her chest. When would the terrifying gale stop? Hopefully, the power wouldn’t go out.

In the corner of her eye, Derek and OJenn waited for a table. “Derek! Why is this your first visit at my restaurant? Someone might think you didn’t like me or something.”

“Ha ha,” he said flatly. “Very funny, Little Cuz. I felt like a burger, and my wife acts like she’s on a cooking strike today.”

Aubrey’s face wrinkled. “So you dragged her into this storm?”

“Hey! No storm is gonna hold me back. Gotta show my lil cuz some love!” 

OJenn’s droopy face disagreed. Aubrey was on her side.

“Next time he wants you to leave the safety of your own house in a storm, just tell him no.”

She snorted. “Aubrey, you know good and well there is no stopping these Pruett men.”

“True. But, you might feel better.”

OJenn chuckled, and Aubrey grinned at her success and scanned the dining room for new faces. She spotted Amos Flanagan sitting with a woman. They were in high school the last time she saw him. Sometimes it was hard to believe she, Amos, and Garrison were loosely related. “Hey, Amos! How in the world are you?”

“Hey, Aubrey. Mom told me you had this place, so I thought I’d check it out.”

“I appreciate that! She told me you got married. Congrats!”

“Thanks. This is Lorna, my wife.”

Aubrey hoped she contained the shock well for the new bride was not what she expected. Lorna was as old as her parents. Maybe older. But, she resisted the urge to speculate about the new Flanagan couple. She and Julio were much closer in age but were also in a relationship worthy of gossip columns. Love was blind and did not respect people, status, race, or age. The faster everyone understood that, the better.

“Nice to meet you, Lorna. I’m Aubrey.” She shook her hand. “How is your mother, Amos? I haven’t seen her in a while.”

The smile he donned faded. “Oh. She’s, uhh …” He cleared his throat. “She passed a little while back.”

Aubrey gasped. “Oh! Amos, I’m so sorry! Are you ok? And, your brothers?”

“Yeah, we’re good. We’re all good. My little brother runs the businesses. We’re all good.” He flashed a weak smile.

That was her cue to leave the subject alone. “That’s good to hear. Well, if there’s anything I can do, just ask, ok? Enjoy your meals.”

Aubrey needed something else to foul mood like she needed a hole in her head. Katelin became one of her favorite customers. She didn’t come every day but visited enough for Aubrey to learn her story. Katelin had always been into fashion but failed at dressing herself well. She dated a guy named Max Villareal who did not support her dream to become a fashion icon. When she got pregnant with the twins, his expectations increased. He told her to stay at home with the children and squashed all conversations about opening a store. Katelin enjoyed being a mother and would never wish away her children, but she still yearned for more. One day, after having enough of Max’s antics, she had a revelation. They were not married still, and he lived in her house. Max had zero authority in her life, and Katelin mustered all the courage she required to kick him out and open the first store. It didn’t do well, but quitting would prove Max right. Now, the Flannagan family owned two successful stores in different cities. Hopefully, her youngest son, Derick, will do it justice.

While speaking with Amos, another familiar silhouette caught her attention. Every hair on her arms rose, and that tension in her neck returned. Was it was really him? She groaned as she went back into the storm to get a closer look.

She never met Akira, but Maya used to describe him so well, Aubrey could spot him anywhere.

As he turned to her, he froze and squinted his eyes. Once he recovered, he turned on the magic with a smug, slight smile. His eyes, dark as Grim’s fog, peered though her. Tingly sensations warmed her face. Aubrey wasn’t one to go around kissing people, but his lips looked as pleasant as Maya said. She was right about everything. Under different circumstances, he could charm her.

“Are you Maya’s little sister?”

“Mmm hmm. I’m also Carlee’s cousin. You know … The daughter you’ve never met?”

He let out a sharp breath through his teeth. “Look, man, I didn’t come here to cause no trouble. I didn’t even know y’all had another restaurant.”

Aubrey cocked her head to the side. “Yeah. There’s a lot you don’t know about our family. Enjoy your meal.”