The Apple Tree (18 page)

They found a table against the chalkboard painted wall, scribbled with messages from previous dinners like
Jennifer was here
and stick figure families. In the center, someone had drawn an incredibly accurate rendition of Garfield the Cat.

“
Nice.” She nodded toward the wall as they sat down.

“
You like that?” He removed his jacket, grabbed a piece of chalk and began drawing.

She laughed and lifted the menu, scanning it for something he would like. He seemed like the average meat and potatoes kind of guy. It probably wouldn’t have to be very exotic to be something new for him.

“
Have you ever had pumpkin ravioli?” she asked.

“
Doesn’t cheese belong in ravioli?”

A smile crossed her face. “Okay, that’s what I’m ordering you. It’s not that weird, I promise.” She set the menu down. “So, what’s with your complete lack of culinary experience anyway?”

“
I just make really simple meals for myself at home.” He dropped the chalk back in the jar. “Okay, finished.”

The wall now showed a surprisingly accurate cartoon sketch of her holding a pizza.

She chuckled. “That’s pretty cute.”

He grinned and ran his hand through his hair.

The waitress appeared wearing a tie-dyed t-shirt and a smile that was much too large to be real. She must be hoping for a big tip.

Bianca ordered two raviolis and Levi asked for a beer.

“
I’ll have a beer also,” Bianca said. Was it weird to order the same meal? Too matchy matchy, like one of those annoying couples who wore identical t-shirts?

The waitress nodded. “I’ll need to see both your ID’s.”

They produced their driver’s licenses and the waitress studied Levi’s for a minute longer than seemed necessary. Finally, she handed the cards back and left.

“
So where are you from? Did you grow up here?” Bianca asked.

He fiddled with the chalk jar, spinning it around. “I was born in Illinois and came to Oregon in my late teens.”

“
Is that before your parents… died?”

“
My father died about that same time.”

“
So, they moved for a new job or something?”

“
I guess you could say that. They came for new opportunities.” He chucked like she’d missed some inside joke.

“
You’re different than other guys.” She studied his face. “I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

He shrugged and set the chalk jar back along the wall.

The waitress appeared, setting two micro-brews on the table between them.

Levi nodded a quick thanks, then took a swig. “Did you grow up here?”

“
Yeah, I was born in Corvallis.” Bianca rolled her eyes. “Boring I know, but I like it here. I don’t think I want to go anywhere else.”

He set the beer down. “I’ve seen a lot of places, but I always find my way back here. I like it too.”

When the food came, Levi took a deep breath, scanning his plate. “Okay, I trust you.” He speared a ravioli with his fork.

She smiled. “Don’t be so dramatic, it’s just pasta.” The scent of sage and hazelnuts drifted up from her plate and her mouth watered.

He took a bite, his face remaining stoic as he chewed. “It’s okay.” He took a gulp of beer. “I think I’d prefer a steak though.”

She laughed and scooped pasta into her mouth.

The sun slid below the horizon as Levi pulled the truck along the curb, in front of her apartment.

“
I’ll walk you to the door,” he said, as they came to a stop.

She nodded. The end of the date. Was he expecting a kiss? Was she? She glanced at his lips and heat spread over her cheeks.

They walked silently up the stone pathway as the cold wind blew through her hair and she shivered. Levi shoved his hands in his jean pockets.

Her heart pounded erratically as they stepped onto the patio. This was it.

The curtain on the living room window had been pulled back a few inches, spreading warm light over the patio from inside.

“
So you didn’t totally suck at disc—”

“
Wait.” He placed a hand on her arm, his voice hushed and urgent. “There’s a man inside. Do you know him?” His gaze pointed at the window.

She leaned toward him to see inside the curtain crack. A man she’d never seen before rummaged through items stacked along the TV stand. He clutched her laptop under his arm.

Holy shit. Were they being robbed? And where were Owen and her mother? “No,” she answered.

“
Wait here then.” He crept to the door, turning the knob. It opened easily and he stepped inside.

“
W
ho are you?” Levi’s forceful voice carried from inside the apartment.

Bianca stepped through the door. Her muscles tensed and a bead of moisture slid down her back.

The stranger turned toward Levi. Greasy blond hair fell over his forehead and he wore a tie-dyed t-shirt. Who was this slime-ball?

“
Hey, man. I’m a friend of Lisa’s.” He backed away from Levi, almost tripping over a toy fire truck.

“
Why are you rifling through their stuff?” Levi’s eyes narrowed. “And where is Lisa?”

“
She’s passed out in the bedroom. I was just leaving.”

“
Put my laptop down.” Bianca’s voice came out much stronger than she felt.

Levi flashed her a look that clearly meant,
I told you to wait outside.

Slime-ball set her computer on the coffee table. “I was just looking at it.” He started toward the door.

Levi held his hand up. “Stop. Sit down on the couch, now.”

Slime-ball’s eyes darted between Levi and the door. Finally, he clenched his jaw and slumped down on the futon.

“
I’ll go look for my mom and Owen.” Bianca ran upstairs.

Her mother lay on the bed in a flimsy, violet tank top and panties, passed out cold. A toppled wineglass lay beside her, its contents forming a deep red stain on the sheets.

Bianca shook her shoulder. “Mom, wake up.” She didn’t move and reeked of alcohol, but she had no obvious bruises or scrapes.

“
Owen?” Bianca called, looking around the room. There was no answer. Where could he be? Adrenaline rushed through her body as the terror struck her. He was only two, what if something horrible had happened? No one was watching him for Christ sake! After checking under the bed and in the closet, she went across the hall to her own room.

Owen huddled in the corner between her bed and the dresser. His hands covered his face and tiny whimpers escaped his mouth.

“
Owen, oh, God. Owen!” She scooped him in her arms and his little fists clung to the fabric of her shirt. Tears sprang from her eyes as relief filled her body, and then enraged fury at the man who had frightened him. Pulling Owen away from her shoulder, she examined his little face. An angry purple mark was beginning to form on his left cheek.

He cried for her to pull him close again and when she did, he buried his face in her hair.

She stormed downstairs, still clutching Owen. Slime-ball was going to die.

“
What did you do to him?!” she screamed, her heart jumping out of her chest.

Levi rushed to her side. “What’s wrong? Is he okay?”

She set Owen down on the stairs, and lunged at the couch.

Levi jumped between them. “Whoa, whoa. Tell me what happened.” He wrapped his arms around her.

She glared at Slime-ball, her eyes as sharp as knives. “Owen has a bruise on his cheek.”

The stranger sat on the futon, his eyes darting toward the door. “I-I d-didn’t do anything to the kid.”

Levi let go of her and got in Slime-ball’s face. “Tell me what happened. Now!” he spit through his teeth. His muscles tensed as he leaned over the couch, his nose almost touching the other man’s. Levi slammed the back of the futon with his fist, right behind Slime-ball’s head, making the man flinch.

Good, he deserved to be frightened.

Owen cried from the stairs and she hurried back over to pick him up.

“
It’s nothing! He was in my way, so I gave him a little push. But then he ran and hid. Nothing else happened!”

Bianca clenched her jaw. It’s a good thing she was holding Owen or she’d charge the couch again.

“
Oh, just a little push? He's two! Then, you decided to top it off by robbing them!” Levi’s fists shook and his face was rigid. It looked like he was going to lose it any second and beat the daylights out of the man. He stepped back, taking a deep breath. “Bianca, where’s your phone? Call the police.”

Her mother woke sometime during the police interviews. When she heard what happened, she started bawling. “He seemed like such a nice man. Owen. Oh, God! I’m a horrible mother.”

Bianca tried to comfort her as best she could, but her arms shook as she gave her a hug. She always had strange men in and out of the apartment. They were damn lucky nothing had happened before this. Not to mention, she was drunk when she was supposed to be watching Owen. He deserved better. Her head filled with curse words, most of them directed at her mother.

The police lectured her mother, told her someone would come check-up on Owen soon and then carted Slime-ball off to the station.

As soon as the cruiser pulled away, Bianca turned to her mother. “I can’t believe you let that happen.”

Her mother flinched. “Well, I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“
You never do anything on purpose, Mom! How about adding a little purpose to your life? And let’s call that purpose, I don’t know, motherhood?!!”

Hands flew in the air as her mother scoffed. “How would you know anything about being a mother? You have no idea what it’s like!”

“
Considering I do almost everything for Owen, I think I have a pretty good idea. And I know damn well it doesn’t involve drinking until you pass out!” Anger flooded Bianca and her nostrils flared.