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On Saturdays Crystal works mid-shift, 2-8pm. I stopped in around 5:30 to see how she was and to give her a copy of the picture of us. It was not very busy and we talked until she was done working. She hardly slept at all her first night alone (which was to be expected), and she was so tired. At one point she laid her head on her arm on the bar in front of me, and I ran my fingers through her hair to comfort her... something I'd longed to do for months but dared not because she was married. I knew she was going through a very hard time and empathized with her greatly. Her children are away for the weekend, and I offered to take her out to supper, just to talk, be as good a friend as I could be. She said instead she would have supper at home and go out with her sister after she came home from work (around 10:30). I begged her to take her time and to be very picky in choosing the next man she'd be with. (Jones Law Number Four: Never lower your standards.) I told her, "Criterion Number One: Find someone who cares for you as much as I do." After a while, I again let her know she could give me a call if she wanted to talk with someone... she assured me she had my number. I stayed at home tonight in the case she would need me. At 12:30 I was out of cigarettes and knew I wasn't ready to try quitting. I went down to Scoreboard for a pack of smokes. It was a dead night for a Saturday, and Cheri had plenty of time to talk while I had three beers and a bunch of songs on the jukebox. We talked of things going on in our lives... it was the first time she'd heard the story of my failed relationship with Kari and subsequent unknown son. Toward closing time our conversation drifted to the subject of Crystal. It wasn't meant as gossip by either of us, I'm certain... both Cheri and I are worried about her. Cheri mentioned that Crystal had called the bar twice that night, looking for Tom. Tom's separated from his wife and going through divorce as well, and he flirts with Crystal every time he comes in. |