3

On the car ride it was complete and other silence, until joe woke up from her nap.

"Ma" she wines.

I turn to face her. "Yes, baby?" I smile cooing at her. I caress her face. She leans into my touch.

"Hungry"

I turn to the man. He looks at me then back at the road.

I nudge him.

He sighs then takes a detour to a food joint.

We park in the lot and get out of the car. I pick up joe placing her on my hip and grabbing my bag slinging it onto my shoulder. I walk towards the entrance with the man trailing right behind.

As we walk in a waitress comes by seating us in a nice booth by the window. She places menus in front of us with a glass of ice water.

"Take your time I'll be back in a moment," she says.

I nod back. Sitting in silence I take a sip of the glass in front of me as I look down at my menu. I contemplate on what I want to order. I feel eye's staring back at me as I scan the menu. I can't help but feel uncomfortable so I look up only to see the man's intense gaze staring directly at me.

I cough breaking this intense and awkward silence.

"So um what are you going to order?"

"Not hungry," he says harshly.

"Oh...okay" I said averting my eyes. I look at Joe.

"Ma I want nuggets"

I chuckle a little. "Sure thing hun," I say in relief she seems to be doing better.

"You," he says abruptly.

"Huh...Y-yes?" I question feeling a little nervous.

"Where's the father?" I look up glaring at him.

"Sorry," he says quietly avoiding my gaze.

We sit in silence for awhile after that.

I break it, not being able to bear with it.

"What's your name?"

"Andrew," he says very dryly.

"Charlie and this here is my daughter Joe." I say.

"Oh"

"Yeah..."

Soon after that the waiter comes back qt just the right moment. "Okay are you guys ready to order now?"

"Yes we are, so we'll have nuggets for the baby and a bacon cheeseburger with french fries for me" I say.

"Is that all?"

"Ye-..."

"NO!" Andrew interrupts me. I glance over at him and he glares at me.

"Okay?.." The waiter askes confused.

"Hot wings with a side of mac and cheese"

"Okay...so drinks?"

"Strawberry banana smoothie and an apple juice please"

"Tall glass of root beer" he adds quickly.

"Alright, I'll be back shortly." She says with a smile them walks away.

I look up at him as he stares at the window.

"What?" He asks with annoyance.

"I thought you weren't hungry" I say with a smile forming on my lips.

"Well I'm hungry now" he grunts out.

I shake my head and look at Joe.

"What's gonna happen to us" I whisper caressing her cheek.

"Boss will decide that so just sit tight and wait." He says nonchalantly.

I look up at him shocked. I didn't know he had heard me. I sip on my glass of water in silence as I wait for the food to come.

....Ten minutes have gone by in silence

The waiter comes back with our orders. I thank her as she leaves.

I help Joe sit upright in the high chair. she digs into her nuggets once I place the plate in front of her.

I then begin to eat my food as we sit in silence once again.

Once we were done the waiter comes back with the bill. I take out my stash of cash but Andrew stops me giving the waiter a huge bill. "Keep the change," he says getting up.

I follow right behind as we walk to the car. I place Joe in her seat buckling her up. I then slide over to the passenger side laying my head up against the window. We drive away from the diner in a silence that wasn't as awkward as it was before, maybe even a little comfortable.