Chapter 5: the diner

Uncle John lives in one of the suburban areas outside the city. For some reason, he hates civilization.

I've been driving for hours now, my limbs are exhausted and I just want to cry. But I can't do that with my siblings at the back, I need to be strong for them.

The rumbling of someone's stomach is heard followed by Ranger's voice. "I'm hungry."

Of course. I have kids with me, they should be starving by now. Thankfully, I'm able to spot a diner along the road.

Parking the Jeep, I open the glove compartment and take out a credit card.

We enter the diner and take in our surroundings. It looks like a normal family diner, there are more of booths than chairs. The people here look pretty normal, so I guess it's safe. But it's always necessary to be on high alert.

We chose a booth farthest from the others. No one says anything as we wait for our waiter. I start to recall the events from earlier and tears began to sting my eyes.

Stop crying! God I'm so pathetic.

"Where mom and dad?" Ranger asks and I find myself unable to answer. Ronan suddenly stands up and walks out of the diner.

"Good evening, kids. What will be having?" A waiter around my age asks. I didn't pay much attention to him before rising to my feet.

"Guys, order whatever you want. I'll be right back." I inform them, hurriedly going in the same direction as Ronan.

I spot him sitting on car bumper with his knees to his chest. He's crying again.

My heart can't help but break a thousand times over again. Mom and dad were the only people he was really close to. Now they're gone...

Tears blur my vision but as usual, I don't let them fall. I wrap my arms around him as he cried into my chest.

"Ronan," his eyes meet mine at the mention of his name. They're so red from crying so much, the sight brought so much pain. "I'm here."

He seems to calm down a bit, we stay there for a while. Staring at the empty road as the wind blows our hair.

"Come on, let's go in and eat." He nods and we enter the diner together. My eyes fall on Rolland and Ranger eating like animals. Ruby has a look of sadness as she tries her best to feed Raelynn some fries.

I facepalm myself. She's barely a week old, she can't eat that. I approach the waiter from earlier. "Excuse me, do you have warm milk?"

He starts blushing all of a sudden before clearing his throat. "Yeah, would you like it in a baby bottle?"

"Yes, I would. Thank you."

"Anytime, gorgeous." He winks at me and I make a disgusted face. His face pales at the sight of mine, "I'm sorry." He says quickly.

"Yeah...." I turn on my heel and head back to the booth. "Give her to me," I say before Ruby hands me my adorable little sister. She's hiccuping from her cries and it honestly saddens me. I cradle her in my arms, humming softly. Few minutes later, the waiter comes back with the milk. "Thank you so much."

I am filled with joy when Raelynn accepts the bottle and drinks the milk. In a matter of minutes the bottle is emptied. "whoa." The waiter says in astonishment. "She must've been really hungry, should I get another one?"

"Yeah, that'd be great." I say before he retreats to the kitchen. He appears a few minutes later with another bottle and I give it to Raelynn. I am expecting the waiter to leave but he doesn't.

What does he want?

"Where's her mom? She seems a little too young to be away from her and you don't look like the type of person that can take care of a baby." He laughs, probably thinking it's funny.

It isn't.

I know his words shouldn't effect me, but I've honestly never felt so sad and angry like I am right now. "Is it your job to ask stupid questions and judge your customers? Or is it to take order, serve the food and mop the floors?!" I snap, shocking both myself and my siblings. I hardly get angry but I've had enough nonsense for one day.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I ju--" I cut him off by raising my hand as the other holds Raelynn.

Rising to my feet, I look him straight in the eyes and say: "you can take your apology and shove it where the sun doesn't shine. We're taking our money elsewhere, come on guys." I am about to leave when the waiter blocks my path.

"Seriously, I think you're overreacting. I was only asking--" I cut him off once again.

"You think I'm overreacting? How dare you say that to me! Do you have any idea who I am?!"

"What's going on here? Louis, what did you do?" A bald man In a white apron approaches us with a glare directed at the waiter.

"Boss, I didn't--"

"Don't even try to lie here, Louis. Sir, I think you should train your employees to mind their own business." My path is blocked once again but this time by the bald man.

"Forgive him, madam. Please, the food will be free, don't be angry with us. I beg you." The bald man pleads.

"I lost my appetite." I deadpan before storming out of the diner with my siblings following awkwardly behind me.

"Um.... Roxy?" I turn around and raise a brow at Ruby. She points at my jeans. My eyes follow her finger and at that moment, I wished more than anything that ground would open up and swallow me.

I'm on my period.