Divorce

It’s been a year since Dean has gotten rid of Brooke in his life. Shortly after he returned home to an empty house he called up a lawyer and started the process of filing for divorce. It has gone smoothly without any fuss, Brooke didn’t dare try to take anything that wasn’t hers before they married, she left him with his house. Dean’s thankful that it didn’t have to be a messy divorce, Brooke had to understand where he was coming from and realize that she was the one in the wrong. Dean gets the feeling that she might have known all along that her daughter Taylor wasn’t Dean’s child.

It was a long process in general but it was finally over after a year. Dean was now single again once more and hasn’t forgotten about the waitress named Summer. He remembers her asking about his divorce being finalized when talking to him about a year ago. He took it as she was maybe interested in him but she had values and didn’t want to talk to a man who was technically still married, he could respect that. Now he was ready to find her again now that he was officially divorced, hopefully she is still working at that restaurant, Tap That, was the name.

Once Dean got the paperwork of his divorce being finalized he hopped in the car and headed a few towns over to the Tap That restaurant.

A year has passed since he was last there but things generally looked the same as they did on the outside. Dean walked into restaurant and up to the hostess, “Hey there! Welcome to Tap That! How can I assist you tonight?” She said. Dean looked around, he was nervous if Summer was working or if she even still worked at the restaurant. “Hey any chance Summer is working tonight?” He asks. She looks down at her stand, “Yes she is, would you like to sit in her section?” She asked. Dean was excited now, he shook his head yes, “Yes, please, thank you.”

The hostess brought him to his table and set a menu down, “Summer will be right with you,” she said before walking away.

Dean sat twiddling his thumbs and rubbing his hands nervous, does she even remember him? Dean saw Summer walking towards him, she was 20 now and still looked gorgeous, possibly even more than before, she was aging beautifully. She still was dressed very conservatively, not a lot of skin showing but you could tell she had a nice body. She still had an amazing smile as well.

“Howdy, sugar! Welcome to Tap That! What can I rustle up for ya tonight?” Summer says. Dean doesn’t think she recognizes him. “Hey um, I’ll have a whiskey neat…” he said chickening out on saying who is was right away.

Summer paused for a second, “Dean?” She said, Dean smiled. “Your name just dawned on me! I reckon I did notice you when you walked in, but it just clicked in my mind right now. So glad to see you Dean, it’s been awhile,” she said.

“It’s been about a year,” Dean said, he didn’t mean to be so exact with his answer but it kind of just came out.

“Well, sugar, it seems like you've been keepin' track of the days since we last crossed paths! You must've missed me somethin' fierce!” Summer winks at him.

Summer came back with his whiskey, “You here to celebrate something?” She asks him while looking down at his hands on the table. Dean’s hand was absent of his wedding ring and the tan line that used to be there was now gone. She knew why Dean was there.

“My divorce has been finalized, it’s a great day,” Dean says with a smile. Summer returns a smile, “Well, darlin', congratulations on your divorce! It takes strength and courage to navigate through such changes. Here's to new beginnings and a bright future ahead! Cheers, sugar!” Summer said while pushing his whiskey glass towards him.

Throughout the night it seemed that Summer lingered at Dean’s table a little longer than she normally would with other customers. They chatted every time she would come to his table, everything was going well until it was the end of Summer’s shift. Dean was somewhat dreading this moment, he knows in the past that she has rejected his offer to sit with him after her shift but tonight was different. He was divorced now and she has seemed interested all night, now he just had to work up the courage.

Summer walked up to Dean at his table with the check in hand. Before Dean could say anything, she says, "Mind if I pull up a chair and join ya once I'm done with my shift?" How's that sound, darlin'?”

Dean smiled, “That sounds perfect.”