Chapter 30: Back Again

Two days had felt like a week to June. It was the longest two days of her life, and she had thought of what Ellie had suggested in different ways. Ever since Ellie had come up with that idea, she had thought of different ways to butter up to Chris.

She tried acting cute.

She tried acting innocent.

And she tried acting like herself in his presence.

But all had been for nothing, because Chris had refused to come to the clinic. It felt like he had finished every business deal he had with the clinic or maybe he was just tired of seeing her face, June thought.

Every time the clinic door opened opened, she would looked out to see if it was him. And it was hard to hide the look of disappointment on her face when she sees it wasn’t him but another client bringing in their pet.

"I told you, he doesn’t like me a bit." She told Ellie that night, after spending half the day expecting him to come over.

Ellie sighed. She had been convinced that the only reason Chris kept visiting June was not because of the dog. She thought he might have a crush on June.

But she seemed to have gotten it all wrong. "I’m sorry I miscalculated. So, what do we do now?"

"What do we do?" June repeated as if she was irritated by everything happening. "What else than to continue saving until we are able to get to enough money and go visiting that part of the town?"

But Ellie frowned. "I don’t think we will be able to go in even if we continue saving. It’s a mafia house for fuck sake. They are going to be security and all those things there. How much do you reckon who could slot to a gang member to allow us in?"

June glare turned into a full frown. "So, what do we do then?"

"We find another way to get in touch with Chris."

June frowned. "What other way?"

"The first time I heard about him, it was in the bar." Ellie said as if she was thinking out loud."I’ll keep an ear open at the bar. If I get any information about him, I’ll let you know as soon as I can."

But those words didn’t seem to ease June’s mind as she thought. It was like a one percent opportunity.

Ever since Ellie had been talking about Chris coming over to her bar, she hadn’t once saw him come.

"After thinking I already have a clue to seeing my mother soon, just to have everything being dashed out again."

Her eyes were mist and she could see tears already gathered in it.

Ellie moved closer to her. She knew it wasn’t June’s fault, it was her situation and everything surrounding it that made her emotional easily.

She pulled her closer to her. "Come on. You’re not alone you have me." Her hand patter the back of her head softly as if she were petting a baby she wanted to put to sleep.

June nodded, letting herself be lured to sleep by Ellie.

Yes. She had Ellie and Evelyn. She wasn’t supposed to be greedy about her mother. Yet, the tears found their ways out of her eyes. They soaked Ellie’s dress, but she didn’t mind a bit.

"I think I want some grilled chicken dipped in sauce and smoked potatoes with hot spices." June said between tears, while wiping the tears away.

Ellie pulled away briefly from her. "Are you serious, June?"

June nodded. "I don’t mind some orange juice beside it."

"Where did you want me to get all that this night? I don’t have some kind of magic wand that would produce food once you request it."

June blinked at her again. The realization that her cravings might not be fulfilled became apparent and she burst into a fresh round of tears.

Ellie stared at her as if she was some unknown beast she was seeing for the first time

But June continued crying.

Ellie sighed, "I know you’re only taking advantage of the fact that you’re pregnant. But I guess I have no choice. I’ll get you want you want."

Immediately, June’s tears cease. She wiped her eyes dry. "Really?"

Once would have doubted she was the one bawling her eyes out just now.

Ellie nodded in resignation. "Really. Let me see what I can order online."

But June started crying again. "I don’t want some fancy restaurants food. I want home made."

Ellie nodded. "Fine. Fine. I’ll make it homemade." As she leave the dining room towards the kitchen she murmured. "Once you give birth, I’m surely going to get you back for everything you have been putting me through. Torturing me, just to lie that it was what the baby wanted." Ellie continued. She didn’t stopped murmuring until she was out of June’s shot.

It took Ellie two hours before she returned to the dining room with the things June had requested. Though she wasn’t able to get it all, but she had brought chicken and potato. It might not have been exactly the way she wanted it, but Ellie had done her best.

But on arriving to the dining room, June was already fast asleep on the table.

Streak of tears stained her beautiful eyes which Ellie wiped off slowly.

Why couldn’t life just be easy for June?

Ever since she had known June, it had been one trouble or another.

Why couldn’t she have just a win on her side?

As if she could hear Ellie, June murmured some incoherent words in her dream, making Ellie smile.

She didn’t mind that all the effort she had put into preparing the food was already wasted.

She helped June back to the room they were both sharing, before returning to the living room to eat everything she had prepared for June.

The growling in her stomach was what woke June up the next morning. She touched her stomach and frowned. It felt like the content in her stomach were emptied before she woke up.

But when she saw the clock, she jumped up. She was already late for work.

Ellie was fast asleep on her side of the bed. It seemed she didn’t have a class today or maybe she was on break or something.

June forced herself to her feet as she moved to the kitchen, but there was nothing to eat urgently.

Pots, plates, and most of the utensils were dirty and dump into the dish washer.

June frowned at it.

The best was to order something online. She couldn’t wait to prepare food or she would be too late to work. And the clinic key was with her.

When she returned to the room, Ellie was still asleep, letting out small snore.

June got dressed for work and went out.

Evelyn was seated in her usual spot listening to the radio as if she had no other care in the world.

"Good morning, Evelyn."

"Good morning, June. How’s it going?" Evelyn responded, tuning the station in her radio.

"Fine. And bye." June replied, closing the door as she left the room.

The distance from her house to the clinic was trekable. She decided to walk fast, so she could order something to eat while at the clinic.

Her steps were inspired by the growling of their stomach and nothing but the food she was planning to order was on her mind.

So, she didn’t pay attention to where she was going after pulling her phone out to check for the menu of the food she was about to order when she hit a wall.

She looked up.

It wasn’t a wall.

The broad chest and the expensive perfume was what she first saw, before her eyes trailed up to give a better look at the wall.

Her eyes lit with fresh tears as she stared up at the man in front of her. It was a face she had insisted she didn’t want to see anymore.

She couldn’t help but for be thankful for his coming again.

But right now, it was hard to believe he was back again.

He wasn’t carrying the dog with him, as if he had decided that there was no point in pretending about the dog.

For a moment, all June wanted to ask him was if she could come over to his place when he was less busy.

But that would come off as too forward. So, she settled with, "How’s Milo doing?"

Before he could answer, her stomach grumbled louder, making them both stare at it.

"Hungry much?"

At the temporary happiness, she had forgotten to place her order. She had to start it again soon.

"Not really." She said not wanting Chris to think she was some sort of hungry little girl.

But all he did was chuckled. "If you don’t mind, I can take you out to eat or we can order in." Then he whispered to her. "I’m also hungry."

That did it.

June smiled at him. "I think we should just order in."