Bill watched Lorraine somewhat daintily reach onto the plate and take up a piece of rib. She popped it in her mouth and chewed it. As she did so she closed her eyes to savor the sensations she was feeling.
What Bill saw was her hands, in particular her fingers which were still somewhat slim and gently tapered. She had done her nails in deep purple, dark, and at least for waitresses not so unusual since the color was sensual. The more sensual a waitress appeared, the better her tips. The nails themselves were longish, which meant they were kind of long but not long enough to get in the way of handling things.
“You like?” she asked seeing him observing her. “My toes are done too. I went to the salon. Bought the matching lipstick too.” She smiled at Bill as she took another square of rib from the plate and put it in her mouth. “I was hoping we might get some private time but doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen.”
“Why not?”
“My kids.” She took a napkin from inside her apron and wiped her lips. “I can see you need a beer. Want me to get you one?”
“When you’re ready. Victoria said to save her some, but just eat all you want. I’ll cut more.”
As Bill said this, Victoria came back into the kitchen. She carried a beer with her and put it down on Bill’s cutting board atop his reach-in meat cooler. Lorraine quickly reached for it. As she was sipping from the bottle, Victoria told her they’d just gotten three new tables. Victoria took up a square of rib and popped it in her mouth. She and Lorraine immediately left the kitchen.
“They just got three new tables,” Bill said to Marie.
“Want me to pray to Jesus?” she asked.
“Not really,” said Bill.
“Well, they could all kiss my ass. I just want to get on home.”
So your husband can smack you again? Bill thought. He wanted to ask her. He wanted to say something. But it wasn’t his business, not really. Instead, he asked her where she got the bruise on her face. Marie didn’t say anything at first, but then she came over, just before the orders for the three tables came in and took a sip of Bill’s beer.
“Where you think I got it?” she asked leaning against his counter.
“I know where you got it,” Bill said. “And I know it’s none of my business.”
“Just makes me hotter for you,” Marie said. Then, “One day you gonna read about me in the papers. Either I be a murder victim, a murderer, or just another divorce statistic. Maybe I be none of that.”
“Why you cheat if he hits you?”
“He hit me anyway. And he cheat all the time. Don’t even hide it usually. It’s all messed up.”
“Yeah. It is.”
Marie laughed, a bit of a wild laugh. Then she looked Bill right in his eyes. “Ain’t as messed up as you. You ain’t even married yet and you fooling around. What kind of husband you gonna be?”
“When we tie that knot, I’m done with strange.”
“My ass,” Marie said. “Which, by the way, you can have.” She took another sip of Bill’s beer and started back to her station just as the automatic doors opened and both Lorraine and Victoria came in with their orders. They each handed Bill their dupes then took a piece of rib and a sip of beer. Then they went over toward Marie’s station for their salads.
Bill read the dupes. He heard the dishwashers coming up the stairs from having had their dinner downstairs. “I’m gonna get me a beer,” he heard Jim say in his deep voice.
