Anita’s Family Luncheon

"I'm going on break," called out Leigha as she headed for the back. She attempted to step in the kitchen only for Shasta to chuck an orange at her head, which she caught.

"You forget, Shasta, that I'm related to Miles, so I too have quick reflexes," she teased.

"Then how come you can't catch Ramona?"

"I haven't had the chance to try, plus that's more Miles' thing anyway. I may be his big sister, but I can't take all the good things."

Leigha shrugged at the dilemma, wandering off to the break room. Anita looked over at the clock – a couple more hours until she could leave - and no Norman today. He did mention he would be at another Tormino's, so other than not seeing him, Anita wasn't bothered too much.

"You alright?" asked Shasta, handing Anita a plate of food.

"I'm fine, a little tired. I went to the outdoor mall last night searching for soulmates until pretty late."

Shasta sighed, "You should take better care of yourself."

"Don't worry; I'll catch up on sleep when I finish work today. I still need to upload the photos to my laptop so that might take a while."

Shasta smiled then went back to cleaning the kitchen and Anita went to take the food to the customer.

"Here you go."

She set the meal down on the table before walking over to the bar to grab a cleaning rag. Most lunch customers had already left, so now seemed the perfect time to clean up her area.

"Anita!"

Anita turned at the familiar voice to see her father enter the restaurant. A woman who Anita never met before followed him. The woman wore expensive clothes and jewelry; she looked a couple of years older than Anita. Before Anita could process the scene, her father ran up and hugged her.

"My baby girl! It's been too long." He pulled out of the hug to hold her at arm's length.

"You look so pretty, and taller! Have you grown?"

"N-no, father," was all she could say when she found her voice.

"Really? You seem taller. Oh." He let go of one of Anita's hands as he brought the woman over to her, who was all smiles.

"This is my girlfriend, Vivian."

"So nice to finally meet you, Anita, your father told me so much about you."

Anita managed to smile and ask, "Would you two like a seat?"

"We happened to be in the area when I suggested we stop by," answered her father. He scratched his neck with his free hand, "but next time, baby girl."

"I have to use the restroom. I'll use the one here so you two can catch up for a bit." Vivian hurried towards the restroom, leaving the father and daughter alone.

"What do you think?"

"About what?"

"Vivian?"

"Oh," Anita looked towards the restroom to answer, "she seems fine, I guess."

"You guess?"

"I met her...today."

Her father sighed, "I know, I should have brought her right away. But one thing after another and then you know you've been dating for a year already. But with things getting serious, I figured you would have met sooner or later. I'm thinking about proposing sometime in the next week or so."

Anita could feel herself freeze on the inside. Her father hadn't seen her for Christmas or New Year's because he had been busy. He had even skipped her birthday. It had been over a year since she had seen him. And he didn't even bother to call to say he had a new girlfriend.

"How's the whole, soulmate thing? Find him yet?"

"Not yet."

"I see."

"Is she your soulmate?"

Her father shrugged, "Guess we'll find out. But I have a good feeling about her."

Vivian returned from the bathroom, as cheery as ever as she wrapped herself on Anita's father's arm.

"It was so nice to meet you, Anita," offered Vivian, clinging to Anita's father.

"Good seeing you, baby girl. We'll keep in touch."

The happy couple waltzed out of the restaurant; Anita froze in place until they left from view.

"Hey," Leigha startled Anita out of her daze with a soft shake. Anita suddenly felt nauseous as she ran to the bathroom, Leigha following behind.

Shasta cursed under his breath, turning off the stove he had been cleaning and running to Cyrus' office.

"Cyrus!" He pounded on the door as he yelled.

"Yes, yes, I know. Let them know Chouteau can take the day, and Sonata 2 can go with her. I'll call in Sonata 1 and Mori."

Shasta nodded, running back over to the bathrooms. Oliver printed out their receipt at the register for the couple seated in Anita's area.

No one was outside the bathroom, so Shasta knocked. He could hear either dry heaving or Anita throwing up behind the door.

"Bathroom's busy," called out Leigha.

"I know it's me. I wanted to let you both know Cyrus says you can take the day off. He's calling in Miles and Ramona.

"You-You sure," came Anita's weak voice, sounding like she was gasping her breath.

"We're sure. You catch up on sleep. I'm sure if you tell Leigha how she can upload the pictures on your laptop when you get home."

"Thanks, Shasta," called out Leigha. Shasta returned to the kitchen, starting work again in a furry like never before. Oliver put up a “Closed for Maintenance” sign over the girl's bathroom door.

Anita eventually stopped throwing up, relaxing against Leigha as she cried. She was not quite ready to leave the bathroom yet.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Anita shrugged. Leigha continued to stroke her shoulders.

"That was your dad I take it?"

Anita nodded.

"I hardly see my dad, either. Granted, it's because of work, not other reasons."

"I don't think she's dad's soulmate either," Anita whispered. Leigha leaned in to listen.

"Mom wasn't his soulmate, and the woman he cheated on her with wasn't. I don't know how many else, but he hasn't found his soulmate."

"And that's why you want to find yours?"

"It hurts a lot of people when you don't."

"I suppose so."

They sat there for a bit, Anita calming down.

"Ready to head home? We can watch terrible movies and eat ice cream and other junk food."

"And upload the pictures?"

"And upload the pictures."

Anita smiled, sitting up as she wiped away the tears that had crusted on her cheeks.

"At least Norman isn't here to see me like this." She tried to giggle as she stood, looking at herself in the mirror.

"I think he would be fine and want to be there for you as much as everyone else." Leigha hugged her shoulders, then pulled back to straighten her hair a little.

The girls left the bathroom moments later, Anita looking pale and frazzled with her hair barely in place.

The restaurant was empty as Leigha led Anita to the break room.

Leigha sat Anita down in a chair.

"Wait here. I'm going to change and grab our stuff."

Anita nodded as Leigha dashed off to the changing room.

"Anita?"

Anita looked up, seeing Shasta with a pitying look in his eyes. She then remembered how she had looked in the mirror and tried to fix her appearance. She did not want Shasta to see her looking like this either.

He stopped her hand as she combed through her hair.

"It's fine," he assured, setting a bag in front of her.

"Here's some miso soup for when you want dinner. Don't eat only junk food; otherwise, you'll feel worse."

"How did you know about junk food?"

He shrugged, "Saw Leigha reading a breakup manga during her break once. Figured she would get ideas from that."

Anita giggled.

"That sounds like her." She stopped giggling when Shasta touched one of the loose strands of hair, pulling it behind her ear.

"We're all here for you," he assured her.

Realizing he might have lingered too long, he turned pink as he ran out of the break room.

Anita heard a door click. Leigha looked at the place where Shasta had stood, smiling like a cat who had gotten the cream.

"Come on, let's get you home and into something comfy," insisted Leigha. She pulled Anita out of the chair. Anita grabbed the packaged soup before leaving the diner for the day.