Goodbye Normal Read Online Free

creased his face.
    He pursed his lips then said “How’s Carol, She doesn’t come around here any more.” His accent was spicy with suppressed sadness.
    “Mom is fine.” she nodded assuringly.
    She wanted the conversation to end there, but the look of his face told her he was not done listening. One of his brows arched high and he glared at her very attentively.
    “We decided I postpone this year, so I’ll be going to college next year.” She said.
    Witnessing the helplessness on his face, she added quickly “But the mortgage is covered so, we are both saving for college now.”
    “You can always come back here.” he offered.
    “I definitely will, just taking a short break then I’ll be back.” she assured.
    “Okay.” he agreed, extending his arm to give her the cheque “there you go.”
    After reading the cheque, her eyes grew wide with realization. She was certain the sum was somewhat added from the original amount that was meant for her. Across the room Joe had a warm smile that widened after her reaction. She advanced towards him for an appreciative hug
    “Joe, you--” she began.                             
    He interrupted her. “No kiddo, you just had a lot of tips.”
    “Thank you so much.” she said over his ear her eyes closing with emotion.
    “Sure thing kiddo, arms away.” He beamed at her, breaking away from the hug.
    “Yeah, arms away… and Joe I turned eighteen months ago. I think kiddo should be put to rest now.”
    “I know that. I baked your cake. But kiddo sounds way better than…” he stopped and made a face like he was finding the perfect word. “Way better than anything else I could think of calling you.”
    “Okay, I’ll let this one go, but at least don’t call me that in front of everybody.” she begged coyly.
    “I will think about it.” he said, pretending to be very serious.
    Joe had grown fond of telling her “I’m arms away when you need me kiddo.” and in the long run it became their thing.
    They walked out of the office and invited the kitchens heat back to their chilled skins.
    “Goodnight guys.” She said.
    A chorus of replies erupted from different corners of the kitchen until she was out of their sights.
    When she opened the door to the diner, she found Liz’s eyes locked in a good looking waiter behind the counter. Zoe was certain that he was a new guy, because she couldn’t remember seeing him there before. It looked like he was explaining to her about some recipe. But Zoë was almost sure that, there was nothing about the recipe Liz was interested in.
    “So you wait for about twenty minutes and voila, desert ready to serve.” the guy explained ebulliently.
    “Oh twenty minutes right?” Liz wondered faking the interest. Instinctively she turned to the door and saw Zoe shaking her head and smiling at her knowingly.
    She smiled coyly at the cute waiter and said “thank you so much George, I will soon be back for more recipes.”
    “No problem Lizbeth.” George replied, smiling back at her.
    Joe came out of the kitchen door with a khaki bag on his hand.
    “Kiddo, get this for your mother, and tell her I said um…” he stopped for a second, his face winced then continued “I said hi.”
    Zoe rolled her eyes at him and walk towards him for the package. With a scorn on her face for calling her kiddo, she said “Are you kidding me Joe!”
    “Goodnight Zoe.” he replied joyfully.
    It was no news that Joe had fancied her mother for the longest time. But he came to accept that she was too heartbroken for any kind of relationship. Only that he had never called it quits. And Zoe thought it was sweet even for an old age romance.
    “You amaze me! You don’t waste time at all, do you?” Zoe commented while Liz opened the diner’s door for them.
    “Did you take a good look at him?” Liz asked, her face puckered with anticipation “And besides, heal a broken heart by finding a sweetheart, and I think I just scored