One Year

It had been one year since Miles had started working at Tormino's. One long, eventful year. But everything seemed to slow down to a more leisurely pace, though not quite the same as when he had started. Anita and Shasta were getting along now, although Norman and Shasta were not. Linda stopped by more often, while Cyrus was trying to talk to her. Leigha and Sierra wanted to interfere with the proposal planning. Leigha was as huggy as ever.

"Miles! You both made it," cheered Leigha as she tackled her brother in a hug.

"Yes, we made it," he grunted as he accepted the hug, patting his sister's back in reluctant affirmation. Ramona and Anita giggled at the siblings.

"Ooh, what's that?" Leigha's attention was diverted to the tall basket in Ramona's hand.

"It's to collect gifts for the kids at the hospital for Christmas. Linda helps run the event, and I've been helping with the donations."

"Cute. Hey, let's pick out something to donate when we get our paycheck." Leigha nudged Anita, as the two teenagers moved to the front to set the basket down and the girls walked into the women’s changing room.

"Maybe, although I was going to start saving my paychecks to get Shasta and Norman gifts."

"Oh, look at you, maybe they'll fight over who gets to take you out on Christmas."

Ramona set the basket down near the front door. She stepped back to make sure the sign above the basket was straight and bumped into Miles right behind her.

"In case you fell," he murmured, steadying her.

Ramona turned bright red at that, whispering a "thank you."

"N-no worries," he responded, turning pink.

The doors blew open from a cold gust of air, sending a shiver down Miles' spine. He knew who it was; he didn't need to look, and he hoped Leigha had left already.

“Good afternoon, Miles,” greeted his mother, sparing a glance at her son before scanning the diner. Miles gripped Ramona's elbow for support.

“Good afternoon, Mother. Are you staying for dinner?”

Satisfied, she looked at her son. “No, just ordering something to go. I only have a small amount of time before I need to get back to work. A curry udon, please."

“Sure.”

With Ramona’s support, they walked to the kitchen window, Miles scribbling down his mother’s order before passing it back to Sierra. She looked between the order and then over Miles’ shoulder before nodding and starting the order.

Miles looked back to see his mother seated at the bar, watching the windows from her seat. With a nudge from Ramona, they walked back to the break room, Leigha and Anita emerging from the girls’ changing room. Miles immediately moved to cover Leigha’s mouth.

“Mom’s here,” he whispered, his sister’s eyes going wide. “I think she suspects you might be here, so stay back here for a while.”

Leigha nodded, Miles removing his hand.

Miles looked between Ramona and Anita, both girls nodding in understanding before Ramona and Miles left to change.

Miles never changed faster in his life, rushing out to the bar area to check the table schedule and who needed what. Unfortunately, the restaurant was mostly empty, Ramona already dressed and cleaning up after customers who had just left.

“Is Leigha still here?”

Miles turned to his mother, not the intimidating woman he knew, but a fearful woman scrunching up her napkin.

“Um,” he floundered for words, not sure how she knew.

“One curry udon,” announced Sierra. Miles took the order and bagged it, thankful for Sierra’s timeliness. He took the food over to the register and rang up the order.

“I guess not, her shift was earlier I suppose…,” Dr. Sonata stood, walking over to the register, “but if you see her, can you ask her to come by my office?”

Miles nodded, handing his mother the meal.

“We can talk now,” announced Leigha, standing in the hallway. She marched towards her mother, a defiant look in her eyes. But the closer she drew, the colder the room became. In place of the meek woman Miles had seen moments ago stood the mother Miles feared.

“What are you doing working here, young lady?” demanded their mother.

“Figuring out my own life, for myself. Without you telling me what to do.”

“What to do, Leigha? We had a plan. You had a great career, and you threw it all away for what? An empty job?”

“Empty? Being a doctor made me empty. I was miserable and I didn’t even know it.”

“Because you were in school. Once you’re in the field, you’ll understand the greater purpose we have.”

“Right, like being a parent to your kids. Miles has been living alone for years, and you know what? We did that to him. What purpose is there in being a doctor if you can’t even be there for your family?”

Dr. Sonata's expression hardened, her voice dripping with disapproval. “Leigha, being a doctor is about sacrifice. We save lives, we make a difference.”

Leigha’s eyes blazed with frustration. “At the cost of our own lives? At the cost of our family? I don’t want to sacrifice everything that makes me happy for a career that leaves me empty and alone.”

“You don’t understand the value of hard work and dedication. You’re throwing away your future for what? To work in a diner?”

“This diner,” Leigha gestured around, her voice shaking with emotion, “has given me more fulfillment than medical school ever did. Here, I’m part of a community. I’m living my life on my own terms.”

Dr. Sonata’s eyes narrowed. “You’re being selfish, Leigha. You’re turning your back on everything I’ve worked hard to give you.”

Leigha’s jaw tightened, her voice rising. “Selfish? I’m trying to live a life that isn’t dictated by fear! You can’t control me anymore, Mom.”

Dr. Sonata’s frustration bubbled over. “Control? Is that what you think this is about? I sacrificed my time, my career, my happiness, for you and Miles. All I wanted was to give you both a stable future, and this is how you repay me?”

Miles, feeling the tension reach a boiling point, tried to step in. “Mom, it’s not about repaying you. We know you did everything for us, but we need to find our own way.”

“You need to find your own way?” Dr. Sonata’s voice trembled with a mix of anger and hurt. “You at least are trying to become a vet, but Leigha, you’re throwing your life away! Working in a diner is not a career!”

“Maybe, maybe not. Some people make working at restaurants a career. Maybe I will become a manager, or open my own restaurant. Who knows, but at least I chose it. And if you can’t accept that, then maybe you should just leave.”

As Leigha’s last words echoed in the diner, the tension in the air felt almost tangible. Dr. Sonata’s face was a mixture of anger and hurt, her eyes darting between Leigha and Miles. She opened her mouth to respond, but her voice was cut off by the sound of Ramona’s approach.

Ramona had been nervously attempting to clean up the tableware from a nearby table, her hands shaking slightly as she carried the dish basin. She had been trying to avoid drawing attention, but the tension in the room made her increasingly uneasy.

In her nervousness to walk past the Sonatas, Ramona stumbled. She reached out instinctively, trying to find Miles, only to see the horror in his eyes. She landed hard on the floor, her head hitting the edge of a nearby table. The sound of crashing plates filled the room, and the shards scattered across the floor.

“Ramona!” Miles shouted, rushing to her side. He knelt beside her, his heart racing as he checked for any signs of injury. Her eyes were closed, and she was barely conscious, a pained moan escaping her lips. 

Dr. Sonata immediately joined Miles, her medical training taking over. She assessed Ramona’s condition quickly and began to address the situation.

“Miles, please try to keep her head still,” Dr. Sonata instructed calmly, “Leigha, call 911 and request an ambulance to our location.”

Leigha nodded and quickly moved to the phone by the register, dialing 911.

“Tell them we have a possible head injury,” Dr. Sonata called out. “She is showing signs of altered consciousness.”

As Leigha spoke with the operator, Dr. Sonata continued to monitor Ramona’s vitals. Sierra rushed over with a medical kit, Cyrus yelling something as he ran out the door, and Anita talking to the remaining patrons.

The world seemed to spin around Miles as he stayed by Ramona’s side, trying to offer comfort. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he repeated, his voice breaking with guilt and fear.