GRACE WAS counting down the seconds until she could get home. She dreaded the mornings when she had to wake up before dawn to go down to Fergs, which meant that she had to leave Sunny behind more often since moving down to Tampa. Roberta has taken it upon herself to watch Sunny while Grace was out working, and she was grateful to say the least.
The sun was beating against her skin as she was unfortunately given the outside shift. The heat was making her skin glow a shade of crimson and made some loose strands of her hair to curl at the ends. Thankfully their dress code had a big range so she was fortunate enough to pick a fitting tank top and jean shorts for the day. A slight breeze blew against her skin making a happy sigh leave her lips. The restaurant being right next to the lake made the heat more bearable because of the harsh winds at some points.
Sometimes, not so much though. Grace seemed to have jinxed her thoughts when a stray of newspaper cloth on a table blew off and onto the ground, tumbling quickly away. Grace took of towards the newspaper, attempting to catch it before it flew off the pier. Grace finally caught the tablecloth with her feet, about to lean down but the sound of someone speaking made her stop. More specifically the familiarity of the voice.
Her eyes drifted towards the person speaking, and much to her surprise she found Frank Adler sitting at one of the tables with a older woman. The two seemed to be arguing— telling by the way Franks jaw was clenched and voice was hard and had a certain edge to it. A completely different tone to the one she was familiar with. As much as she tried to block out what they were saying, her curiosity got the best of her and she couldn't help but listen into the conversation.
"Your sister had a laundry list of problems," Grace realized that the lady was British making her interest peak even more, "She could have solved Navier-Stokes and go down in history as one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. But she didn't, because she couldn't finish. She was weak. Weak like her father. And weak like...."
Grace watched as Frank let out a deep breathe while looking down at his hands that were on the table, clasped together. Though surprisingly as harsh as those words were, Frank managed to keep his composure as he responded.
"Now, if it's who I think it is— kinda puts a black cloud over our luncheon."
Grace decided that she had enough of eavesdropping and hid her face from him as she grabbed the sheet quickly and walked away to return the newspaper tablecloth to its rightful place. As she was done fixing the tablecloth, she made her way back towards their crew station to find Samantha, another waiter that had the outside shift with her.
"Hey Samantha, have you waited that table over there yet?" Grace asked the brunette as she pointed back towards where Frank and the woman were still conversing...well arguing.
"No, I was actually just about to head over there now for their drinks." Samantha said as she was already gathering the menus but Grace stopped her by saying.
"If you want I can do it. My shift is about to end soon and I don't have anyone else to wait so I'm kinda just boring myself out." Grace told Samantha, a horrible excuse but it seemed to work nonetheless because Samantha shrugged and handed the two menus to Grace.
"I guess if you want to." Samantha said and Grace mustered a small thank you before strutting towards the table. She could clearly see they were still arguing, and as she approached them she could hear their conversation once more.
"Hi, what would you-"
Clearly she wasn't speaking loud enough, or they just were simply ignoring her because the woman carried onto the conversation without even giving Grace even a hint of acknowledgement— Frank as well.
"For any reasonable person, a clear picture will emerge. If it doesn't, I suggest to call your attorney." The women finished and Grace watched as she turned to look at Grace, her piercing blue eyes that seemed to look all too much like Franks glared into hers before saying, "He'll have a bucket of beer."
With that she stood up, posh outfit and all, and walked away as her heels clicked almost annoyingly against the wooden deck. Grace eyed the woman with a sudden taste of disgust for her. Looking back at Frank, his shoulders were slouched and head bent down— contradicting his usual confidence that he pursues.
"Well that was harsh." Grace said making Frank look up at her quickly, his blue eyes going wide in the slightest. Frank suddenly straightened his posture, and a smirk made its way onto his lips.
"Don't put anything past my mother." Frank joked while shrugging as he leaned back against the chair. She just then noticed that he was wearing a thin tight hoodie which outlined his muscles in the most intimating way, although more arousing than intimidating.
"That was your mother? Aren't moms supposed to be loving and not— well I don't know-"
"A bitch?" Frank says and Grace laughed quietly, nodding her head gently in agreement.
"If you don't mind me asking, what was that all about anyways? You two seemed to be going at it for a while." Grace said and watched a sly grin adore his features at her words.
"Were you "observing" again?" Frank asked emphasizing the word observing with quotations.
"If that's what you want to call it then yes." Grace said teasingly, but a smile still made its way onto her lips.
"Well, I guess I do owe an explanation considering that I didn't expand as much as I should have the other night to you." Frank then said making Grace raise an eyebrow, and she found herself almost anxious for him to explain. She quickly looked behind her to see if anyone was watching her before taking a seat across from him, setting the menus on the table in front of her. She raised her eyebrows as a signal to proceed, which he did.
"What I failed to mention to you is that Mary is my niece, not my daughter."
"Not surprised in the least." Grace told him matter of factly, and his mouth clamped shut as his thick eyebrows raised at her. "You two bitter like friends or something— it kinda put a dent in the whole father-daughter thing for me in the first place."
"That's good to know." Frank chuckled and Grace shrugged gently. She then let both elbows rest against the table, her hands cupping her head as a hint for him to continue and that she was in her prime of listening. "Mary's mother Diane was a mathematician and dedicated most of her life to the Navier-Stokes problem— which is one of the unsolved Millennium Prize Problems. She was so close to solving it but then Mary came along unexpectedly. Priorities were changed and people got angry with Diane. People like my mother Evelyn. Everyone was so caught up in her just finishing the problem that they didn't realize how much of a toll it was taking on her. She committed suicide when Mary was six months old.
"I used to be a college professor for English, believe it or not, at Boston University until I decided to take custody of Mary. Which in turn brought us here. I've been raising Mary the way a normal seven year old girl should be raised, but of course Evelyn doesn't want that. Diane wanted a normal life for herself, but she didn't get that so I'm just trying to give Mary the childhood Diane never got."
Grace was speechless for a few seconds. Frank had just practically given Grace a recap of his life, and she almost felt a sense of pride at the fact he trusted her enough to share it with her. Also there was a newfound respect as well. Despite them only knowing each for a week or less, she felt something with Frank she's never felt with anyone before. Grace then scolded herself mentally, the thought of her attachment issue getting mixed up in this would make everything worse.
Grace watched as Frank averted his eyes away from her, deciding that the lake was more interesting than her at the moment. Grace could see the small evidence of a blush coating his cheeks, and she bit her lip to stop the smile that wanted to appear at his sudden shyness. Instead, she reached out across the table in order to grab both of his hands between her own small ones. He was startled at first, and feeling her extremely warm hands ghost over his own made a jolt go straight to his heart. After a second he complied, and his large hands wrapped around her small delicate hands. Her gaze wavered the slightest, and he watched as she looked towards the restaurant before returning her gaze back to him.
"Stay here, I'll be back."
Grace didn't even wait for a response as she was gave his hands a gently squeeze before walking back into the restaurant and into the kitchen. Samantha eyed her suspiciously, having seen how Grace decided to converse than actually wait but didn't comment on anything. Without a second thought, Grace was clocking out and putting her apron on the hangar.
"Does someone want to cook me up two cheeseburgers and fries?"
Frank was still sitting in the same seat waiting for Grace for what seemed like hours, but in reality it was only a few minutes. He couldn't help but scold himself at how he just spilled his whole life story to her without even a second thought— or any thought at all. It was as if there was a certain pull he felt towards her that made him trust her for some reason, and it made him feel ashamed almost. Ashamed that he was willing to trust this woman after only knowing her for about a week.
His thoughts were cut short when he was greeted with her presence, a distinct smell of strawberries suddenly filling his nostrils as she stood next to him, extremely close as a matter of fact. He just then realized that she was holding two plates in both hands, and before he knew it she was setting down one plate in front of him. A delicious looking cheeseburger and fries lay in front of him, and he shook his head slightly. Grace sat back down across from him, a plate similar to his own in front of her.
"On the house." Grace said suddenly, already knowing he was going to ask her how much it was. "The least I could do."
"You didn't have to pay for me." Frank said shaking his head, feeling a sudden wave of guilt hit him. "I can pay for myself."
"I know." Grace said as she took a rather large bite from the burger, and he watched as her eyes closed in a somewhat bliss at the taste. He gulped at the sight of her expression, and let out a heavy breath. She finally swallowed before saying, "Just means that next time your paying."
It took a second for it to sink in, and when it did Franks eyes went wide as a amused glint rested in the irises of his blue eyes. He smiled— a genuine smile, and laughed to himself as a smug look took over her features.
"So your considering this a date?" Frank asked and he saw the smallest hint of a blush adore her face making his smile grow only larger.
"Maybe..." Grace teased while winking at him, her eyelashes hitting her cheek in the most beautiful way. She then smoothly popped a french fry into her mouth and nonchalantly said, "Now shut up and eat your food."
Yep, he was definitely screwed.