The Cafe

I hadn't seen Clarice since the fire. She refused to meet me until today. She didn't say much, only informed me of the cafe and time to meet her. If she hadn't picked such a public place, I would have been concerned about the outcome. I glanced through the clean shop windows and saw her sitting at a table facing away from me. Her hair was much shorter than it had been when we were together. The brown bob made her chiseled face look much more youthful than I remembered. I opened the cafe door and a little bell went off. Clarice glanced up and our eyes met. I strode toward her with confidence; she was going to regret leaving me. I reached the table and my confidence fluttered away.

"You're pregnant." I lost my breath and adrenaline filled my brain.

"I am." She looked down as if she was ashamed. "I should have told you sooner, but it hurt everytime I thought about you," she paused, "and Teddy." I didn't blame Clarice for pushing me away after Teddy's death. I wasn't the one who set the fire that killed him, but I was a constant reminder of what happened. We sat in silence for what seemed to be hours, but was only minutes. The waiter broke our silence.

"Hello, what can I get you today?" Clarice already had a tea fastened in her hands. I ordered a water and the waiter hurried away.

"How far along are you?" I asked, concerned for the answer.

"Around six months," Clarice responded. It didn't seem like it had been six months since I had seen her.

"So, it is mine then?" I asked, but I knew the answer.

"Yes, but if you don't want to do this again, you don't have to. The baby is healthy, he can grow up never knowing you." The thought of Clarice trying to extinguish me from my unborn son's life enraged me.

"I want him to know me and I want him to know about Teddy. Just because you needed to forget me and what happened to Teddy, doesn't mean I shouldn't be in this child's life." I felt bad for the way I responded, but she wasn't going to do this to me.

"I wasn't forgetting you, Justin. I was forgiving."

"Why do you need to forgive me, I didn't start the fire-" Rage grew inside me.

"I did it! I was forgiving me. Teddy was taking a nap and I turned the microwave on to heat his bottle. I went into the basement to find his pacifier and when I came back up the fire was already in the ceiling. I lied to you because I couldn't handle the truth of what happened. I killed our baby." She began to weep. For a moment I felt anger towards her, but it slipped away.

"I wish you would have told me. We could have gone through it together-"

"Justin, is that you?" I was startled by the figure standing next to me.

"Allyson, it's been so long. How are you?" I tried to make small talk even though my mind was still on Clarice.

"You're looking well, how have you been?" Allison seemed to care, but she didn't notice me trying to hint towards her leaving. She ignored all basic social queues of me not caring about the conversation. It felt uncomfortable as she ignored Clarice sitting there. I know she had a previous crush on me, but I didn't think she would still hold a grudge.

"I have been good. Working. Keeping busy. You remember Clarice don't you?" I tried to bring Clarice into the conversation, hoping Allison would take the hint.

"I- I do remember her. I know it must be hard on you. What has it been, six months since her death?"