CHAPTER 53

The Table

G sat on the stoop, observing every Christmas light that was hung around the neighborhood, she hoped that Bob would not make an appearance, what would she do if he did come back?

"No, he couldn't" she whispered to herself, "the coward would never show his face around here, not here, where everyone knows who he is" G sighed but then again, she was here, and just as unrecognizable as Bob could be

"Hi honey, why so thoughtful?"

G looked up at the source of the soft voice, Stella stood not too far from the stoop with a grocery bag.

G didn't answer, she wasn't in the mood to talk, "just leave please" was all kept repeating in her head.

Stella sat next to the girl, and put the grocery bag on the stoop next to her.

"You couldn't just leave, could you?" Thought G inwardly.

"What's wrong?" Asked Stella as she lifted her hand up to remove some stray hairs from G's face.

G moved her shoulder away as she moved her head opposite of Stella, a leave me alone indication without needing to say it.

Stella understood and put her hand back down, "Errm would you like to join me on a picnic?"

"Picnic?" Asked G a little humored by the randomness.

"Umm Humm" hummed Stella as she lifted her grocery bag in the air "I've been stood up by Miles, Ohhh that Miles" said the woman in frustration.

G laughed, "Isn't that for people who are still dating, you've been married for how long? Sixty years?"

"Eighteen years" said Stella, "it feels like Sixty, but it's eighteen she repeated sternly, so are you coming or what?"

G shrugged "I guess" both women stood up at the same time, G caught a mumble from Stella, something along the lines to "I swear, I hate all men right now"

Both females were walking off the stoop on their way to the park, when Arnold whom just arrived from his last Delivery from Vitellos spotted them "Hi Mom" waived Arnold.

Stella just turned to the direction of his voice and semi-scream "NO!" making Arnold stumble back a little as she grabbed G's arm and stormed off.

Arnold shook his head disapprovingly "what did Dad do now!"

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Stella sat at a park table towards the back near a tree which provided much shade to the cold environment, she slammed the Grocery bag on the table and crossed her arms in anger.

"Are you five?" Asked G as she stood near the table, never sitting down

"What?" Asked Stella completely ticked

"Are you three?" Asked G again

"Will you sit down already, you're supposed to make me feel better, not worse"

G choked a little when she saw her face, did she just feel bad for her? she didn't like this,not at all "um" G cleared her throat "I need to go"

"No you don't" her voice cracked but she continued to ruffle though the grocery bag "all I want is to enjoy this sandwich here, and for you to join me"

G waived an arm in the air, "Don't tell me what I don't need to do, quit being such a drama queen, there are worse things in this world than your pathetic picnic!" she then stomped away.

Stella started to get teary, she laid her head down on the table "she's right" thought the woman as she breathed a shaky breath.

She then squinted her eyes to stop the tears from escaping, pushing the bag aside and taking another breath.

G wasn't too far, she didn't want to look back but did anyway, she could see Stella's hair all over the table, she groaned

As G started to walk back towards Stella, she noticed a random guy trying to steal the grocery bag beside the woman.

"Hey!"

The guy noticed he was being watched and swiped the bag quickly, making a run for it.

Hearing G's voice made Stella lift her head quickly in confusion.

But all she saw was G running past her at top speed.

Stella looked at the direction G ran to but she was gone.

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5 MINUTES LATER

Stella was asleep on the table when she felt a bump on her shoulder.

"You said you wanted to have a picnic right?"

"Huh?" Questioned a groggy Stella

"Picnic? Remember?" Asked G as she handed her a sandwich.

Stella didn't answer, she just eyed G, she didn't know how to feel, all she knew was that she was ashamed of herself, G may be right, but the girl put her down at a time she was already down.

G pushed the sandwich towards it "are you going to take it or what?"

Stella took it, and quietly began to unwrap it.

"I uh..." Started G but then paused

Stella looked up at her, not expecting her to finish an apology, she knew G wasn't good with them "thank you honey" said Stella as she patted her back

As much as G hated all that back patting, she let it go.

The dark-haired girl began to unwrap her sandwich "So, um, I think there's a reason as to why you really want this picnic so badly, am I right?"

Stella sighed, "it's stupid really, especially dragging you here, it's just a paranoia I have"

G didn't say anything, letting her go on.

"I was once cheated on"

G was about to take a bite but stopped "oh, was it Miles?"

"Oh no" waived Stella, "a fiancé I once had, way before Miles"

"So why mention it? If it happened so long ago? the guy could be married to a cockroach for all we know"

"Well" sighed Stella a little amused, "Miles and I have been working so hard lately, so two months ago we decided to do this picnic every Friday, you know, to relive old Hillwood memories, and create some new ones"

"And let me guess, he's been ditching you all this time?"

"Exactly! We did this the first two weeks but after that, it's excuse after excuse, he keeps telling me that he needs to go over a friends house and do some experiments with her, what am I supposed to think?"

G was quiet, talking all the information in.

"I found this table when he ditched me the first time, I know it's too shady for the winter, but the cold and quiet makes me feel like I belong here at the moment, although, I don't know why I dragged you here"

Many thoughts ran through G's head "I know what that sounds like but, if Miles has never cheated on you, then why do you feel so insecure about him? You two have been married for so long, I don't imagine either of you looking for something else, why does he pay for something someone else did?"

"Because it's just something that just doesn't go away, when you've been cheated on, that insecurity never leaves, even if you're married with a saint"

"Just remember though, Miles is not your ex fiancé, he's someone else"

"I know" replied Stella "I trust him, but then I get all these ideas"

"Nah, Miles wouldn't though" stated G as she took a bite of her sandwich, making a disgusted face, she ran towards the nearest dumpster and spit out the bite she just took in disgust "I think that Sandwich is expired"

"What?" Stella grabbed G's sandwich and smelled it, then took a bite from it.

"Right?" Questioned G

"Uh, no, it's delicious"

"Bleh" shuddered G as she grabbed a drink from the Grocery bag, she gulped it down, spitting it out instantly "what the fuck"

"What?" Asked Stella with concern, she then stood up to grab the bottle from her.

"This drink tastes exactly like this expired sandwich"

Stella smiled "I take it you're not much of a bitter melon fan"

"The what what what?" Asked G as she wiped her tongue against her shirt

"Bitter Melon, it's an Asian vegetable, I love it"

"Stella, if you buy this every time you go for a picnic, I would never come, can't believe I chased a guy for this, I should have let that thief keep it, that would teach him" cringed G due to the taste not leaving her mouth.

Stella rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment, "um, maybe Miles hates bitter melon too?"

"You think?" Was all G could say

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Arnold didn't know what was going on between G and Stella but he's glad that they are getting along again, he knew that G wouldn't leave his mother like that, she might have tricked him for a second, but he knew it.

He couldn't help but smile all goofy.

"Hey, you, do you need help up there?"

Arnold looked over to a tall man walking his way "uh, yes please"

"Oh, okay" the tall man began to untangle the branch that Arnold was stuck in.

"What happened?" Asked the tall man

"I, I guess I was too distracted"

The tall man laughed, "okay"

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