Disclaimer: Well I started this story not owning Pushing Daisies…and I end this story not owning Pushing Daisies…and I don't own the song "Someone to Watch Over Me" either...sigh...
Author's Note: I hope you all enjoy the last installment of "Someone to Watch Over Me" !!!
Someone to Watch Over Me-
-Chapter Fifteen: A Love Had, A Love to Gain
Olive Snook stared at her reflection.
She twisted the end of her waitress dress between her fingers. The once snug garment now hung loosely on Olive's petite frame. She swallowed self-consciously, not realizing how much she had actually let herself go in the last two weeks. What she thought had been a substantial amount of food now seemed like mere scraps and Olive wondered how she was still able to function properly.
Olive sighed and shifted the dress trying to make it look snugger than it was. The clock in the all chimed eight, signaling the top of the hour.
It had been three days since Olive visited Aunts Lily and Vivian. And for three mornings Olive stood in the same spot. Rooted in front of her mirror, trying to decided if she really should go back to work or not. For three days it had been the same thing. She would stand, dressed and ready to go, and when the clock rung at the eight o'clock hour she would sigh, turn, change back into her pajamas, and crawl back into bed. Once situated she would pull the comforter over her head and hide.
Olive often supposed that she was being ridiculous. She and Jonah had only been seeing each other for a month. That was hardly a commitment And what had happened to her was hardly terrible in the way that it could have been. Jonah could have done so much more damage than he had initially did. He could have actually taken her money, he could….she shuddered at the idea of worse things Jonah could have done to her. The list was nearly endless.
But it hadn't been so much of what Jonah had done but what he had stood for.
Olive had fallen for the Pie Maker in a way she had never fallen for anyone before. It was so bad that she had become near obsessed. She had shunned all other men who had come her way, ignoring the longing glances and the kind words. But then, there was Jonah. Infuriating, annoying, and charming. He had pulled her out of her little bubble that revolved around Ned. And she would be lying if she said that, though she had been reluctant, she hadn't felt anything for the incorrigible Jonah.
He had given her hope; she had given him trust. He took them both away, leaving her with nothing.
Olive sighed and shifted, trying to fix her dress.
She felt ridiculous. Not only had Jonah humiliated her, but the revelation of such an act had occurred in front of the people she cared about most. Her friends, her family that she had built in The Pie Hole. They had seen her break down and had seen her lock herself away because of it; the coward that she was. They knew everything. She could not hide it from them like she longed to. How could she ever face them again?
Yes she was being ridiculous.
Olive groaned and shifted her dress again, nearly ripping it in half.
As much as she loved Aunts Lily and Vivian she refused to end up like them. She could no longer hide away and shut herself down. She had to face the world. She had too move on. Jonah's goal had been to tear her down but she refused to let him win any longer.
With a less-than-confident nod Olive fixed her dress once again and walked to the door; before the urge to run back to bed over took her. It was time to start anew…no matter how much she wished she didn't have to.
It was cold outside. A fresh blank of snow covered the ground but the sky was clear. The roads and the sidewalks were icy; creating a small light show whenever the sun hit the pavement just at the right angle. A chill breeze blew gently through the air.
Olive stood outside the front door of The Pie Hole. She shivered and pulled her coat tighter around her frame, crossing her arms at her chest. The Pie Maker and Chuck were at the bar counter, Ned behind it, Chuck sitting before him. The two were engrossed in a conversation that had the Pie Maker smiling slightly. An elderly couple sat in a corner booth sipping coffee.
Olive had made it this far, but she some how couldn't bring herself to go any farther. Something inside her made her stop and she was considering running back up to her apartment. She was scared, but of what she didn't know. She sighed, resigned, ready to return to her safety haven.
But as luck would have it Olive would not be returning to her apartment that day. For just as her foot turned slightly the Pie Maker looked up and his eyes met Olive's. The blonde froze as Ned's eyes grew in size; he quickly said something to Chuck and pointed to the door. The woman quickly turned her own eyes the size of saucers. Before Olive could move another muscle Chuck had jumped from her chair and opened the door.
"Hi Olive," Chuck said quietly but enthusiastically, holding the door open so she could step inside.
"Hi," Olive said tentatively, her voice no louder than a whisper. She made no move to go inside.
Chuck fixed her gaze on the other woman and Olive focused on a crack in the pavement. Another chill wind blew through the air, picking up pieces of snow; Olive shivered and held herself tighter. Chuck merely stood, waiting for Olive to either walk away or walk inside.
"Excuse me, my dear," the elderly woman in the corner booth said. "We hate to be stingy," she motioned to her husband, "But it is rather chilly with you holding the door open."
"You heard the lady," Chuck whispered, smiling.
Olive blushed and walked inside. "Sorry," she said, embarrassed.
The couple smiled. "Think nothing of it," the man said before he and his wife once again started talking.
"Um, hi Olive," Ned said, not having moved from his spot behind the counter.
Olive scratched her elbow. "Hiya."
"How are you?" Chuck asked, walking up behind Olive.
Olive shrugged. "I'm here," she said, walking into the kitchen as she took her coat off.
Olive quickly scribbled the order for a slice of Apple Pie on her pad of paper, hardly recognizing her own hand writing. It was just past one o'clock and Olive felt as if she were going to fall asleep. She kept pinching herself lightly to insure that she didn't dose off mid-stride as she walked around refilling coffee cups and taking orders. She didn't know why she was so tired, having spent the better part of the past two weeks doing nothing but sitting around. She should be fully rested and full of energy. But she wasn't. Or she couldn't bring herself to be. She couldn't decide which of the two it was.
Sighing, Olive walked into the kitchen and began cutting the five slices of pie that had been ordered between three different tables, and setting them on plates. As she continued to serve up the pies she felt the beginnings of anger building inside her at the tasteful pastries; a feeling she couldn't quiet identify the why or how of. For a reason unbeknownst to her she began to fume, cutting the pie slices more vigorously than needed and hastily setting them on the plate.
Olive couldn't detect what had brought on the feeling, but she could do little to suppress it; though she tried. She quietly cursed Ned, for not having a proper tray for her to carry plates on, as she gathered the five plates in her arms. Awkwardly, she stomped towards the dining area, almost running into to Chuck in the door way.
"Oh Olive!" Chuck said, steadying the smaller woman by the shoulders. "Here let me help."
"I've got it, Chuck," Olive seethed quietly, pulling her arms away from the other woman.
"But Olive you look like you're going to--,"
"I said I got it!" Olive snapped, leaving a shocked Chuck alone in the kitchen.
Emerson Codd walked in The Pie Hole as Olive hastily placed the five pieces of pie on their respective tables. He had barley taken off his coat and hat and sat down when Olive huffed over to his booth; pouring him a cup of coffee.
"What kind of pie do you want?" Olive asked, rushed.
"How was your vacation?" Emerson asked instead of supplying an answer, opening his paper and scanning the pages.
"What?" Olive asked, freezing.
"You're vacation, how was it?"
Olive's brow furrowed. "Emerson what are you--,"
"You were gone for two and half weeks on vacation. I'm simply inquiring as to how it was," he said, nonchalantly, never taking his eyes off the paper.
Olive stood dumbfounded for a moment before realization at what Emerson was doing dawned on her. She felt a tension she hadn't known she'd been carrying leave her body. "It was okay," she said quietly. "I've had better."
Emerson nodded and turned a page of the paper. "You should tell Ned to give you more vacation time. Does wonders."
Olive was slightly stunned, unable to comprehend that Emerson was showing any sort of sympathy to her, even in his own indirect way. He had never seemed to care before. "Thank you, Emerson," Olive said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't touch me," Emerson warned as if it were casual news, never taking his eyes off the newspaper.
Olive pulled her hand away and wiggled her fingers. "I'll go get you a slice of pie," she said turning and walking away.
"Rhubarb," Emerson called after her.
For the first time in what felt like a long time, Olive smiled; wholeheartedly.
Olive sat in the kitchen sipping a cup of tea. Her thoughts jumbled but running none-the-less.
She felt a mess. She felt like her emotions were out of control, running without her consent. She hadn't been able to understand why she had gotten so angry before, but after her brief chat with Emerson it became clear.
All day long people had been treading around her. Stepping lightly. Treating her like a child with a cold. Ned was more awkward than usual and Chuck was nearly breathing down her neck. Trying to lighten her load, make her work easier than it already was. A sympathetic smile and a 'sorry' she could handle. But being treated like a doll made of glass, she couldn't, even if that was how she felt.
Olive felt almost out of control. One moment she was fine. The next she felt like crying. The next she felt like throwing something. And more than once she felt like smashing a slice of pie in a customers face.
She felt awful. Awful because she knew Ned and Chuck were trying to help, and in some way she was deflecting it. She felt slightly undeserving of it, embarrassed from it, and didn't want it. She didn't want them to feel sorry for her. She just wanted to go back to her life. How it had been before.
Olive's thoughts were interrupted when Chuck came into the room. "Oh Olive I didn't realize you were," Chuck rambled and turned. "I'll just leave you alone."
"I'm sorry."
"Oh I was just saying that I'll leave you alo--,"
Olive laughed lightly. "No Chuck, I heard you."
Chuck took a tentative step forward. "Then what are you apologizing for?"
Olive sighed and set her tea cup down. "For snapping at you earlier and for what I said to you the other week." She ran her finger around the edge of the cup. "I shouldn't have done that and I'm sorry."
"It's okay Olive. I know I can be pushy."
Olive laughed lightly then fell silent.
"Olive, do you…want to talk about anything?" Chuck asked, sitting down across from Olive.
Olive sighed. "I don't….know…I feel like I don't have a hold of anything right now….? I mean…I…don't know what I feel and what I should do about it…" Olive groaned and let her head fall the cold counter top.
Had the situation been due to any other circumstance Chuck would have laughed. "I understand. Well I think I do," she said standing up. Olive snorted. "Olive if you ever need to talk though…I always…" Chuck's voice trailed off, the two friends not used to expressing comfort to the other.
Olive nodded her head against the counter. "I know Chuck," she said quietly.
Sighing, Charlotte Charles left her friend to her own musings.
Had Charlotte Charles been able to touch the Pie Maker she would have done so at this precise moment by grabbing him by the arm and pulling him to a booth in the far corner of The Pie Hole. But since she could not do any of the above mentioned, she simply fixed the man with a stern gaze and marched over to the booth and sat down. After a moment Ned joined her.
"What?" The Pie Maker asked, worried.
"You have to talk to her," Chuck replied, getting right to what she wanted.
Ned sighed and rubbed the back of his neck; a gesture, Chuck was quick to learn, that meant he was uncomfortable. "I don't think that's a good idea Chuck."
"Ned…"
"Why don't you? You two are good friends now."
"Because she doesn't want to talk to me. And…I think I know why…" Chuck's voice drifted off and she looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Why?"
Chuck sighed. "Even though we're friends. I don't think she really trusts me Ned."
"What?" Ned as taken aback.
"Think about it Ned. The entire time I've known I've been keeping a secret from her. And she knows it."
Ned's face was suddenly alarmed. "She knows you have a secret?" He sounded more than panicked.
Chuck shook her head. "No, she doesn't know what the secret is. But she knows that I have a secret. She thinks I faked my death."
Ned's eyes widened. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
Chuck huffed. "That's not the point," she bit out quickly. "I simply didn't see the point in it. She's completely wrong and as long as she stays on that track the better."
"Yeah but--,"
"Ned," Chuck warned. "That is not the problem right now, nor has it been a problem. You need to talk to her, because of everyone we know, she trusts you the most."
Ned was quiet for a moment and stared at the woman across from her. "But I'm keeping a secret from her too," he finally said after a moment's hesitation.
"But she doesn't know you are. She thinks I'm keeping my 'secret' from you too."
Ned sighed again. "Chuck, she's here, out of her apartment. Isn't that enough?"
"No," Chuck said firmly. "Ned, I've spent the majority of my life carrying for two reclusive women. She may be out of her apartment but that doesn't mean she's any better than she was when she was up there."
Ned sighed and twitched uncomfortably. "I don't know…"
"Ned," Chuck begged once more, "Please."
The Pie Maker turned the "Closed" sign in the window, letting out a relaxed sigh that the quite busy day had finally ended. Olive was sitting at the counter, slowly turning from side to side in one of the bar stools. Chuck stood in the kitchen door way, eyeing the blonde carefully.
"Olive," Chuck spoke, "Why don't you go home, Ned and I will clean up."
Olive smiled slightly. "Actually," she said, hopping off of the stool. "I was thinking I could clean up around here. I know I've been some what nuisance since I just disappeared without warning and have been sulking around here all day," she spoke quietly. Both Chuck and Ned opened their mouths to say something but Olive held up her hand. "Really, you two go and get some rest, I'll clean up."
"Olive," Chuck said, walking into to the dining room. "It's been no problem. Really. So why don't you go. We can clean up around here."
Olive shook her head adamantly, "No, I'll clean up. I want to." She paused then added a quiet, "Please."
Chuck looked to Ned who shrugged his shoulders. Chuck sighed the got an idea. "Okay," she said quickly grabbing her coat and Ned's. She swiftly walked to the door, throwing Ned's coat at him. "Goodnight Olive!" She called before turning to the Pie Maker. "Talk to her," she mouthed before opening the door and running from sight.
"What was that about?" Olive asked, brow raised.
Ned shrugged. "Not sure."
The Pie Maker and the Waitress stood in an uncomfortable silence.
Chuck's words ran through Ned's mind. The look in her eyes as she pleaded with him to talk to their friend. He sighed. "Olive?" He finally asked, breaking the silence.
"Hm?" The woman replied, looking Ned in the eye.
Ned froze and opened his mouth but the words he didn't even know how to say caught in his throat. "I---," he paused and Olive's brow quirked. "Are you sure you want to clean up by yourself?" He finally said with a sigh, knowing Chuck would kill him when she found out he didn't talk to Olive.
Olive smiled slightly. "I'll be fine, I promise. Now go," she said, waving her hands towards the door.
Ned smiled a small smile. "Goodnight Olive."
"Goodnight Ned," Olive replied, turning. As she listened to the sound of the dinging bell above the door Olive noticed something sticking out from underneath the counter, right by her foot. Intrigued she bent down and picked up it.
Upon discovering what the tiny object was Olive felt her throat constrict, her heart drop, and something inside her snap.
Just as the door was going to close behind the Pie Maker he heard a strangled sob emit from the restaurant. He turned slowly and grabbed the door before it closed, peeking his head inside. Olive was once again sitting at the counter, her body hunched over as she quietly cried.
Ned felt the constricted feeling he felt before, when he had watched Olive confront Jonah two weeks ago, run through his body. The panic that he suddenly felt told him to walk quietly away and go back home. But he knew, Chuck would kill him if he found out he hadn't talked to Olive and she would never speak to him again if she knew he had left their friend crying…alone. He didn't know which was worse.
And then there was the sobbing blonde before him. He hated to see people cry. It made him uncomfortable and slightly nauseous. He swallowed, trying to wet his dry throat and went to close the door. But something stopped him. Sighing, not knowing what he was going to do, Ned walked back in The Pie Hole.
Olive cried as she clutched the tiny playing card in her hand. The Ace of Hearts. How they had missed it that night she didn't know. It was ridiculous and stupid; she sobbed.
She hadn't cried since that night two and half weeks ago when she had learned the truth about Jonah. She had blocked the emotion out. Refusing to allow herself to do so. But now, as she sat crying harder than she ever had before, she finally realized how much she needed it.
She let out a cough as her breath hitched and became staggered.
"Olive."
Had she been in any other state of mind, Olive would have jumped at the sudden sound of Ned's voice behind her, but she didn't. She simply ignored it. Through her sobs she heard Ned fidget and sigh, then place his warm hand on her back.
She stiffened at the contact and recoiled, shrugging away. "Please don't," she said, getting up and sitting on a stool two seats away.
A palpable, uneasy silence filled the room. Quietly, Ned sat down on the stool next to Olive's but kept his body facing the door. Olive furiously wiped at her face, trying to dry her tears.
"What's wrong?" Ned finally asked. Olive scoffed and made a face.
Ned coughed. "Right." He shifted and rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean. Do you want to…I …but….maybe I can…help?"
Olive narrowed her gaze at him as silent tears continued to fall down her face. "Why do you care?" she asked before she could stop herself.
Ned's eyes widened. "I—well, we're friends, Olive," he stammered out.
"No offense Ned," she said, somewhat bitterly, still trying to dry her tear stained cheeks. "But you've never cared before."
Ned sighed and looked at the ground, twiddling his fingers nervously. They sat in another edgy silence until Olive's tears finally stopped flowing, reduced to nothing but mere sniffles.
"Olive," Ned spoke, once she had calmed. "I—I—I do care for you. We're friends. And I'm sorry if I don't show it as often as I do, but…"
Olive was more than taken aback at this small confession from Ned and she suddenly felt more at ease and more nervous than she had before. "Thank you," she spoke, hardly above a whisper. "I'm sorry for my outburst."
Ned smiled shyly. "It's understandable."
Olive gave him a small, unsure smile.
"So do you…uh," Ned coughed. "Want to talk about it?"
Olive's eyebrows rose as she eyed the Pie Maker. "I don't know if I'm necessarily comfortable talking about this with you Ned."
Ned exhaled loudly. "That's what I've been trying to tell Chuck," he said before he could catch himself.
"I should have known she was behind this," Olive relied as lightly as she could.
Ned chuckled. "And I'm not the best at dealing with sympathy."
"That," Olive said, her usual nature showing itself slightly. "I can attest too."
Ned smiled.
"Go on Ned, really," Olive said, pushing on his shoulder lightly so he was standing. "I'll be fine. I'm just tired."
The Pie Maker stood before Olive knowing that, while she may be physically exhausted, that was not the kind of tired she was referring too. "Olive?"
"Hm?"
"I—," Ned sighed, not believing that he actually going to say what he was about to say. He caught Olive's gaze and held it. "No one deserves what happened to you. Especially you. And…maybe Jonah wasn't the right guy and maybe I--," he paused and coughed. "What I mean is…that…you deserve so much more and better." Olive blushed. "And there is someone out there and someday he'll walk through the door and everything will be okay…it…just…takes time," he finished, once again using the words he had expressed to Olive before.
By the time the Pie Maker had finished talking Olive was a deep shade of red and fresh tears were brimming in her eyes. "Thank you, Ned," she said quietly, overwhelmed at what the shy man had just told her.
Ned smiled his small shy smile and hesitantly took Olive's hand in his own, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Goodnight Olive," he said, walking to the door.
"Goodnight," Olive quietly called after him. With one more smile Ned disappeared into the night.
As Olive watched the Pie Maker leave a weight—that she hadn't known was there—lifted from her shoulders. Slowly, she took in a deep breath, feeling like she was doing so for the first time.
It was funny, she mused, how different people could help you in their own ways and without you, or them, realizing it. Emerson had done so by being indifferent; Chuck had done so by being so pestering, Olive fighting her the whole way; and Ned had done so by opening up to her in a way he never had before.
Ned had been right. She didn't deserve what had happened; she didn't deserve the heart ache. There was someone out there who, in time, would love her with all his heart. He just hadn't walked through the door yet. And Olive knew that she couldn't fight it anymore. She would look for him and search. She would willingly accept it when it happened, instead of hanging on to the love of a man she could never have.
Olive looked at the playing card she still held in her hand. With renewed strength she crumpled it into a tiny ball and threw it into the trash bin behind the counter, hitting her target with precision.
Ned was right. Everything was going to be alright. All it took was a little time.
At that moment Olive realized that, while the Pie Maker may never love her in the way she had always dreamed, he loved her none-the-less. And love, in any form, was still love. And she would take what she could get.
Olive smiled slightly as she picked up the rag on the counter and began to wipe it down.
Olive Snook often imagined that there was an orchestra in her heart. Ready to play, willing to burst to life in song. And so she sang. The familiar song that was once a prayer, than an answered prayer, and was now a prayer once more spilled forth from her lips, warming her.
"There's a saying old says that love is blind, still we're often told seek and ye shall find…so I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had, in my mind." Olive gave a small turn and slid down the counter, wiping it clean along the way. "Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet. He's the big affair, I can not forget. Only man I ever think of with regret…"
Olive was so absorbed in her cleaning and singing that she did not notice the sound of the ringing bell above the door. It wasn't until she heard a soft voice speak behind her that she realized she was no longer alone.
"Hello, Olive," the quiet voice said. "I'm back."
Olive froze and her head snapped up, though she didn't turn. She stared at the wall across from her, looking at the 'Pie of the Day' sign. She didn't need to turn to know who was standing behind her.
A bright smile spread across her face. "Fredo."
Fin
Author's Note: Well there you have it! I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I loved writing it.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, it really means a whole lot!!
Well, I usually don't write sequels, but I may be writing one for this. When and if that happens I don't know cause I'm really busy with school now…but I really want to…so we'll see!
Thank you all again!!!
Until next time,
The Lonely Goatherd