Post by Jen on Apr 26, 2009 21:33:31 GMT -5
October 1996
Harley stared up at the sign above the door of their building early on their first day of business. It was just a little after five in the morning and they were opening at seven. Shannon walked out and joined Harley on the sidewalk, staring up at the sign with her.
“How in the world did you convince me to name our place this?” Harley asked dumbly, still staring.
“Why? It’s cute. Shanley’s Bakery & Café. It’s Shannon and Harley combined! And if I remember correctly, which I do, when we were thinking up names, you had no ideas. Plus, I think you were on wine bottle number two when we decided,” Shannon smiled.
“If I remember correctly, I needed so much wine because you had just set me up on a horrible blind date. The first bottle of wine was the only reason I managed to make it through dinner with him!” Harley teased.
“Come to think of it, you haven’t let me set you up at all since then.”
“I learned my lesson,” Harley nodded.
“But Kevin has this friend, who is really cute and really funny and I think you guys would get along great…” Shannon began.
“Shannon, you cannot set me up every time you get a new boyfriend with one of his friends. I’m fine, you don’t have to set me up. When I’m ready to date, I’ll find my own dates.”
“But…”
“The love of my life just died, Shannon.”
“A year ago, Harley. You’re only twenty-six, are you going to be single the rest of your life? And I know you loved Mallet, but how do you know he was the love of your life? Maybe you haven’t even met the love of your life yet. Maybe Mallet was just the first love of your life and number two is out there somewhere waiting for you to find him!”
“I’m not ready, Shannon. I’m sorry, but I’m not. And he is the love of my life,” Harley insisted.
“Was,” Shannon corrected quietly and took Harley’s silence as the end of the conversation.
They were both silent for a few minutes before Harley said in a whisper, “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”
“Believe it, baby. This is going to be great,” Shannon whispered excitedly back as she squeezed Harley’s hand before rushing back inside.
“Yeah, it is going to be great,” Harley agreed to herself before she went in and helped get things ready for the opening.
“Harley, there are some customers asking for you,” one of the waitresses said as she stuck her head into the office that Harley and Shannon shared.
Harley’s head snapped up in a panic, “Problems already?” she cringed.
“No, I don’t think so,” she replied and Harley followed her out through the kitchen.
“Oh my god! What are you guys doing here?” Harley asked in shock when she saw Frank and Buzz at one of the tables.
“What do you think we’re doing here? We came to see this place, and you on your big day!” Frank replied as he hugged her tightly.
“We didn’t get an invitation, but we figured we were welcome anyway,” Buzz added.
“Always,” Harley answered as she hugged him. “Thank you so much for coming. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Wouldn’t have been much of a surprise then, would it?” Frank asked.
“I guess not,” Harley smiled. “So, what do you think?”
“It’s great, kid,” Buzz answered.
“It really is, sis. It looks even better than the pictures. You did good,” Frank added proudly and hugged her again.
He went to pull away, but Harley held him tighter and he heard her sniffle. “Hey, hey, what’s this?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” she answered into his chest, “I guess I’m just overwhelmed right now. I missed you so much and you’re here. I’m just so happy.”
“Good, be happy. We’re happy for you,” Buzz said as he rubbed her back.
Harley took a few deep breaths and pulled back from Frank, “I’m good now. I promise, no more tears.”
“Good. So you gonna feed us or what?” Frank teased and she playfully pushed him back into a seat and caught eyes with a waitress who motioned that she would be right over.
“So, how are Eleni and Marina?” Harley asked after they got their food. “How does Marina like preschool?”
“She loves it, she really does. You got the pictures we sent, right?” Frank asked.
“I got them, they’re all on my wall in my apartment. Are you staying the night? I don’t have an extra room, but the couch is comfy.”
“No, we have to get back this afternoon,” Buzz said regrettably. “We have some time, but we know you’re busy. We’ll see your place next time.”
“No, no, I can sneak away for a little bit. Let me just go talk to Shannon. I’ll be right back,” Harley said before she went back into the kitchen to look for Shannon.
She came back out a few minutes later and motioned for them to follow her. “I only live a few blocks away and Shannon lives in the same building. We were going to get a place together, but she has too many uh…friends staying over. It’s a nice building. Lots of families,” she rambled as they tried to keep up with her down the street.
“As long as you’re safe,” Frank said.
“Oh definitely, completely safe. Plus you know Frank, I haven’t lost all my cop skills. I can still take down a perp with the best of them,” she teased.
“I guess you haven’t thought about going back on the force since you opened this place up, huh?” Buzz asked and Harley stopped walking momentarily.
“Uh, no. I’m not going back,” she said and started walking again, even faster than before. “Here we are,” she finally said as she led them up a couple of steps to the front door of her building and used her key to get into the lobby.
“So, this is it. Nothing fancy, but it works for me,” she shrugged as she let them into her apartment.
“It’s nice, kiddo,” Buzz said as they looked around. He spotted the pictures of her and Mallet on her mantel in front of the American flag she was presented at his funeral and looked at her in concern. “So, how’s it going, besides the restaurant I mean?”
“Fine,” she answered as she moved into the kitchen, “you guys want something to drink?”
“We’re good, Harley, come in here,” Frank said and she joined him on the couch.
“You dating at all?” Buzz asked.
“Dad!” Frank admonished.
“What? I’m just asking,” Buzz shrugged.
“Mallet just died Dad, jeez,” Frank replied as he put his arm around Harley’s shoulders and pulled her close to him.
“A year ago, Frank, she has to move on sometime. Are you dating anyone?” Buzz asked again.
“No,” Harley answered. “I’ve been out a few times. Shannon’s made matchmaking her new favorite hobby. One she’s not very good at.”
“She shouldn’t be rushing you,” Frank said.
“She’s not,” Harley replied. “She’s just looking out for me.”
“That’s what we’re all trying to do, Harley,” Buzz added.
“I know,” she smiled weakly.
“You didn’t answer my calls that day,” Frank started, “uh, the anniversary.”
“I know,” she nodded. “I couldn’t,” she shrugged.
“Were you okay? Are you okay?” he persisted.
“Yes, I’m fine Frank, really. I’m just trying to live my life. I’m just trying to…survive. It’s not easy, but I’m doing it, okay?”
“Okay,” he nodded. “You know if you ever need anything, you can call us? Or come visit or we’ll come visit you.”
“I know.”
“Maybe you could come home for Thanksgiving? Eleni and Marina miss you. You should be home for the holidays,” he insisted.
“I can’t Frank. I’m sorry, but I can’t. Not yet,” she answered.
“Okay. You know where to find us when you’re ready, though,” he said.
“Yeah, I do,” she smiled and kissed his cheek.
Harley found Shannon in their office when she got back to the bakery. She leaned up against the doorway and sighed.
“Rough day?” Shannon asked.
“I love my dad and my brother, but seriously, they are exhausting.”
“They miss you.”
“I know, I miss them too, but Dad is like you, wants me to move on with my life, wants me to date. And Frank…he is so overprotective. I think he just wants me back in Springfield where he can watch over me 24/7,” Harley sighed.
“We all just care about you,” Shannon started.
“I know, I know,” Harley replied, her head in her hands. “I just…I need someone in my life who is a happy medium between the three of you. Someone who just lets me live my life without pushing me to move forward to stay in the past.”
“Harley…”
“I’m sorry, it’s not you. I know you’re just trying to help, I’m just overwhelmed right now.”
“It’s just crazy right now with the opening and the anniversary of Mallet’s death just a few weeks ago. Things will calm down. And no more fix ups, okay? I promise,” Shannon said and crossed her heart with her fingers, making Harley smile.
“Thanks,” Harley replied. “So, how we doing today?”
“We’ve been busy all day. I’d say we’re a success!”
“Great,” Harley smiled. “Champagne after we close with everyone?”
“Sounds perfect,” Shannon nodded as she stood up and squeezed Harley’s hand before she went back into the kitchen.
Harley sat down in the desk chair Shannon had just vacated and look longingly at a picture of her, Shannon and Mallet that they had set on the desk. She ran her finger over Mallet’s face and wiped a tear off of her cheek. “I wish you were here, so much,” she whispered and let herself cry a few more minutes before she composed herself and went out to finish up their first day in business.
Harley stared up at the sign above the door of their building early on their first day of business. It was just a little after five in the morning and they were opening at seven. Shannon walked out and joined Harley on the sidewalk, staring up at the sign with her.
“How in the world did you convince me to name our place this?” Harley asked dumbly, still staring.
“Why? It’s cute. Shanley’s Bakery & Café. It’s Shannon and Harley combined! And if I remember correctly, which I do, when we were thinking up names, you had no ideas. Plus, I think you were on wine bottle number two when we decided,” Shannon smiled.
“If I remember correctly, I needed so much wine because you had just set me up on a horrible blind date. The first bottle of wine was the only reason I managed to make it through dinner with him!” Harley teased.
“Come to think of it, you haven’t let me set you up at all since then.”
“I learned my lesson,” Harley nodded.
“But Kevin has this friend, who is really cute and really funny and I think you guys would get along great…” Shannon began.
“Shannon, you cannot set me up every time you get a new boyfriend with one of his friends. I’m fine, you don’t have to set me up. When I’m ready to date, I’ll find my own dates.”
“But…”
“The love of my life just died, Shannon.”
“A year ago, Harley. You’re only twenty-six, are you going to be single the rest of your life? And I know you loved Mallet, but how do you know he was the love of your life? Maybe you haven’t even met the love of your life yet. Maybe Mallet was just the first love of your life and number two is out there somewhere waiting for you to find him!”
“I’m not ready, Shannon. I’m sorry, but I’m not. And he is the love of my life,” Harley insisted.
“Was,” Shannon corrected quietly and took Harley’s silence as the end of the conversation.
They were both silent for a few minutes before Harley said in a whisper, “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”
“Believe it, baby. This is going to be great,” Shannon whispered excitedly back as she squeezed Harley’s hand before rushing back inside.
“Yeah, it is going to be great,” Harley agreed to herself before she went in and helped get things ready for the opening.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Harley, there are some customers asking for you,” one of the waitresses said as she stuck her head into the office that Harley and Shannon shared.
Harley’s head snapped up in a panic, “Problems already?” she cringed.
“No, I don’t think so,” she replied and Harley followed her out through the kitchen.
“Oh my god! What are you guys doing here?” Harley asked in shock when she saw Frank and Buzz at one of the tables.
“What do you think we’re doing here? We came to see this place, and you on your big day!” Frank replied as he hugged her tightly.
“We didn’t get an invitation, but we figured we were welcome anyway,” Buzz added.
“Always,” Harley answered as she hugged him. “Thank you so much for coming. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Wouldn’t have been much of a surprise then, would it?” Frank asked.
“I guess not,” Harley smiled. “So, what do you think?”
“It’s great, kid,” Buzz answered.
“It really is, sis. It looks even better than the pictures. You did good,” Frank added proudly and hugged her again.
He went to pull away, but Harley held him tighter and he heard her sniffle. “Hey, hey, what’s this?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” she answered into his chest, “I guess I’m just overwhelmed right now. I missed you so much and you’re here. I’m just so happy.”
“Good, be happy. We’re happy for you,” Buzz said as he rubbed her back.
Harley took a few deep breaths and pulled back from Frank, “I’m good now. I promise, no more tears.”
“Good. So you gonna feed us or what?” Frank teased and she playfully pushed him back into a seat and caught eyes with a waitress who motioned that she would be right over.
“So, how are Eleni and Marina?” Harley asked after they got their food. “How does Marina like preschool?”
“She loves it, she really does. You got the pictures we sent, right?” Frank asked.
“I got them, they’re all on my wall in my apartment. Are you staying the night? I don’t have an extra room, but the couch is comfy.”
“No, we have to get back this afternoon,” Buzz said regrettably. “We have some time, but we know you’re busy. We’ll see your place next time.”
“No, no, I can sneak away for a little bit. Let me just go talk to Shannon. I’ll be right back,” Harley said before she went back into the kitchen to look for Shannon.
She came back out a few minutes later and motioned for them to follow her. “I only live a few blocks away and Shannon lives in the same building. We were going to get a place together, but she has too many uh…friends staying over. It’s a nice building. Lots of families,” she rambled as they tried to keep up with her down the street.
“As long as you’re safe,” Frank said.
“Oh definitely, completely safe. Plus you know Frank, I haven’t lost all my cop skills. I can still take down a perp with the best of them,” she teased.
“I guess you haven’t thought about going back on the force since you opened this place up, huh?” Buzz asked and Harley stopped walking momentarily.
“Uh, no. I’m not going back,” she said and started walking again, even faster than before. “Here we are,” she finally said as she led them up a couple of steps to the front door of her building and used her key to get into the lobby.
“So, this is it. Nothing fancy, but it works for me,” she shrugged as she let them into her apartment.
“It’s nice, kiddo,” Buzz said as they looked around. He spotted the pictures of her and Mallet on her mantel in front of the American flag she was presented at his funeral and looked at her in concern. “So, how’s it going, besides the restaurant I mean?”
“Fine,” she answered as she moved into the kitchen, “you guys want something to drink?”
“We’re good, Harley, come in here,” Frank said and she joined him on the couch.
“You dating at all?” Buzz asked.
“Dad!” Frank admonished.
“What? I’m just asking,” Buzz shrugged.
“Mallet just died Dad, jeez,” Frank replied as he put his arm around Harley’s shoulders and pulled her close to him.
“A year ago, Frank, she has to move on sometime. Are you dating anyone?” Buzz asked again.
“No,” Harley answered. “I’ve been out a few times. Shannon’s made matchmaking her new favorite hobby. One she’s not very good at.”
“She shouldn’t be rushing you,” Frank said.
“She’s not,” Harley replied. “She’s just looking out for me.”
“That’s what we’re all trying to do, Harley,” Buzz added.
“I know,” she smiled weakly.
“You didn’t answer my calls that day,” Frank started, “uh, the anniversary.”
“I know,” she nodded. “I couldn’t,” she shrugged.
“Were you okay? Are you okay?” he persisted.
“Yes, I’m fine Frank, really. I’m just trying to live my life. I’m just trying to…survive. It’s not easy, but I’m doing it, okay?”
“Okay,” he nodded. “You know if you ever need anything, you can call us? Or come visit or we’ll come visit you.”
“I know.”
“Maybe you could come home for Thanksgiving? Eleni and Marina miss you. You should be home for the holidays,” he insisted.
“I can’t Frank. I’m sorry, but I can’t. Not yet,” she answered.
“Okay. You know where to find us when you’re ready, though,” he said.
“Yeah, I do,” she smiled and kissed his cheek.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Harley found Shannon in their office when she got back to the bakery. She leaned up against the doorway and sighed.
“Rough day?” Shannon asked.
“I love my dad and my brother, but seriously, they are exhausting.”
“They miss you.”
“I know, I miss them too, but Dad is like you, wants me to move on with my life, wants me to date. And Frank…he is so overprotective. I think he just wants me back in Springfield where he can watch over me 24/7,” Harley sighed.
“We all just care about you,” Shannon started.
“I know, I know,” Harley replied, her head in her hands. “I just…I need someone in my life who is a happy medium between the three of you. Someone who just lets me live my life without pushing me to move forward to stay in the past.”
“Harley…”
“I’m sorry, it’s not you. I know you’re just trying to help, I’m just overwhelmed right now.”
“It’s just crazy right now with the opening and the anniversary of Mallet’s death just a few weeks ago. Things will calm down. And no more fix ups, okay? I promise,” Shannon said and crossed her heart with her fingers, making Harley smile.
“Thanks,” Harley replied. “So, how we doing today?”
“We’ve been busy all day. I’d say we’re a success!”
“Great,” Harley smiled. “Champagne after we close with everyone?”
“Sounds perfect,” Shannon nodded as she stood up and squeezed Harley’s hand before she went back into the kitchen.
Harley sat down in the desk chair Shannon had just vacated and look longingly at a picture of her, Shannon and Mallet that they had set on the desk. She ran her finger over Mallet’s face and wiped a tear off of her cheek. “I wish you were here, so much,” she whispered and let herself cry a few more minutes before she composed herself and went out to finish up their first day in business.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~