LIGHTNOVELONLINE V2CH3 Interlude Part 2: Kenny Was Right
The next morning saw me flipping and catching a coin while waiting for a seafood delivery to arrive. The coin had a goat’s head on one side and a horseshoe on the other. Apparently, this was my good luck charm.
Eventually the delivery truck arrived, and the driver got out.
While the driver was opening up the back, “How’s it going Tom?”
“Not to be rude, but I just want to get on with this.” I said in a snippy tone.
“Just one of those days, I get it. Well, I don’t know if this will change anything, but we got a bunch of that special tuna you so love.”
With a slightly lightened mood and small smirk, “I guess it’s my luck day then.”
I grabbed the landing coin, slipped it into my pocket, and then went inside the truck to help Barry unload my catch of the day.
***
Later that week I arrived at a produce farm to review if it could be a good source for the restaurant. That was where I met Dahlia, the owner.
She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Her honey blonde hair. Her rich earthy brown eyes. Those cute thick glasses of hers. The freckles that dusted her cheeks and nose.
In her oh so beautiful voice, “Hey, you Tomas? The restaurant guy?”
That broke me from my trance, “Yeah. Yeah.” I proceeded to stick out my hand, “Tomas Richards at your service.”
“Oh my. A strapping young man at my service, it’s my lucky day then.” She said, taking my hand.
Looking into those beautiful eyes I leaned down to kiss her hand, “I think it’s mine.”
We then stood there in silence, both enjoying this moment of ours.
***
The next week while working I got a call from a stranger. I held it between my left ear and shoulder.
“Is this Tomas Richards?” the voice on the phone asked.
“This is he. How can I help you?”
“Your great uncle has unfortunately passed away. While he did not have many assets, he left you his rent-controlled apartment. You will need to come in and sign some papers.”
Apparently, I have a great uncle, it’s news to me.
“I can come in tomorrow at 10am if that works for you.”
“I’ll see you then.”
The next day I saw my new apartment and apparently my uncle had some luck himself as it was one of the nicest I’ve seen outside a magazine.
***
One night I woke up in the emergency room clutching my golden coin in my hand.
“Son you’re lucky to be alive with that accident, let alone without a scratch except a small bump on the head. It’s nothing short of a miracle.” The doctor standing over me said.
“Not a miracle, but certainly a lucky break.” I said flipping my coin and catching it.
***
A year later I was standing on a church alter looking into the chocolate brown eyes that still captivated me to this day.
“Do you Tomas, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in matrimony, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold from this day forward, so long as you both shall live.” the priest announced.
With a smile, “I do.”
“Do you Dahlia, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in matrimony, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold from this day forward, so long as you both shall live.”
With a smile of her own, “I do.”
***
A couple weeks after getting back from my honeymoon, I had a conversation that changed the course of my life.
I was doing a live cooking performance in front of the entire restaurant for a special event.
A slim woman with a black bob cut and wireframe glasses turned to her server and asked, “Could you pass my card to the cook, I would love to talk to him about something.”
It was a weird request, but in fine dining you had to acquiesce to weird demands sometimes to keep the customers happy.
When I got the card of the woman named Lillian, I went over to see what she wanted.
“Nice to meet you Chef Tomas. We’re both busy people, so I’ll cut to the chase. I am a higher up in The International Food Channel and I think you can become something great on the channel. Would you be interested in something like that?” She pitched.
“I would have to the Mrs.” I hedged.
“Well don’t wait too long, this could be your lucky break.”
***
A year after that meeting, I prepared a surprise celebration dinner.
“So, what’s the occasion?” My lovely wife asked.
“Tomas’ Kitchen has become the number one show in its time slot.”
Raising her wine glass that she for some reason avoided taking a sip from, “Congrats babe, I know how much work you put into your show.”
Clicking her glass, “Thanks honey.”
“I have some news myself. I’m pregnant.”
“WHAT!?!? THAT’S FANTASTIC!!!” After shouting that out, I leaped from my seat and rushed to give my wife a hug.
***
I spent the next nine months taking care of my wife, loving every minute of it. It was an experience like no other. One night she sent me out to have a break as the baby was coming soon and she thought I deserved it.
I decided to just go get a drink at a bar for a couple of hours.
After drinking for a while.
“Hey, you’re Tomas from Tomas’ Kitchen, right?” a busty blonde came up to me and asked.
“Yeah.”
“I’ve always wanted to bl*w a celebrity.”
“That’s nice.” I said before getting up and walking away I called over my shoulder.
“Come on, it could be fun and who doesn’t want to get lucky?”
“Well, I’ve always been a fan of luck.”
Now if only I had been lucky enough to see that camera snapping a shot of the two of us leaving the bar.
***
To say Dahlia was unhappy would be an understatement. She kicked me out of the apartment, her life, and most painfully my daughter’s life.
I spiraled from there, falling deeper and deeper down a hole.
I wasn’t there for my daughter. Wasn’t there for my job. Wasn’t there for anything or anyone but myself.
When it was not alcohol, it was s*x. when it was not s*x, it was drugs.
This culminated in me losing the last of the gifts granted to me by the coin.
“Tom, I’m sorry, but we are gonna have to let you go. You show up late almost every day and if we are truly lucky some days you are sober. Also, your image is just no longer right for our channel.” Lillian said.
“No, I’m sorry Lillian. I let you down. Let everybody down.” And with that I left her office.
***
While wandering the streets after that meeting, I came across a dirty-encrusted kid scavenging in the trash.
He seemed like he could use some luck.
“Hey kid” He turned to face me, and I flipped him my coin which he promptly grabbed. “Use it better than I did and know when you’ve had enough of the coin.”
***
I sent my ex-wife and daughter letters explaining how much I love them and apologizing for what I did. what I was about to do.
I approached a cliff and shouted, “Demon I am done with my soul. You can have it now.” A shadow passed over me and then I fell off the edge dead.