He asked first very clearly before he changed course. But 2 miles down the road, Clare said she needed to use the restroom. And Marcus said he knew a 24-hour diner up at exit 47. And Clare said, "Fine." They went inside.
She ordered coffee. He ordered coffee. The waitress, a woman in her 60s with reading glasses, pushed up into silver hair, refilled their cups without being asked, and left them alone. That's when Clare's hands started shaking. Not dramatically.
Just a fine tremor, barely visible, the kind you only notice because you're paying attention. Marcus noticed. When did you last eat? He asked. I'm not hungry.
That's not what I asked. A beat. Lunch. What time is it now? Almost midnight.
So 11 12 hours ago. I said, "I'm not hungry." "Okay," Marcus said and he waved the waitress back over and ordered Clare the turkey club and a bowl of soup without asking her again. Clare looked at him across the table. "I said I heard you," he said.
"You don't have to eat it." She ate it. every bite actually, including the soup while staring at the table like she was daring herself to feel embarrassed about it and losing. Marcus ate his coffee and watched the highway through the window and didn't say a word. When she was done, she set down her spoon and looked at him with an expression he couldn't quite name somewhere between gratitude and suspicion and something older than both. Why are you being like this?
She asked. Like what? Like this. Nice. She stopped, started again.
Most people who do something for you want something from you. What do you want? I want to finish my coffee, Marcus said. And then I want to drive you somewhere safe. That's it.
That's it. That's it. She studied him. You're a logistics supervisor at a midsize medical supply company outside Atlanta. You drive a 2019 Silverado that has a car seat in the back.
You've worked at Meridian for 6 years. You're always the last one to leave on late shift. You never eat lunch with anyone. You eat at your desk. And one time in March, you stayed 2 hours after your shift ended to help the overnight crew restack the warehouse because two guys called out sick and nobody asked you to.
Marcus was quiet for a moment. You noticed all that? He said, "I noticed things." She said, "It wasn't a boast. It was just a fact.