something like dinner

When Derrick showed up, saying he was waiting for Zac to get home, Camille had to wonder if that was a likely story.

He said he'd been sick yet dinner was on the table. So she invited him to eat with her and Duncan. Derrick was friendly enough. He talked to Duncan a little, but soon enough everyone was quiet as they ate the pot roast and roasted carrots and potatoes.

There was something that looked troubled about him. He wasn't exactly his funny self. Yet, he seemed so much more mature than she recalled. Of course, he wasn't coming out of peculiar places and leaving a sick girl in bed, either.

"Have you heard from my Dad?" He acted as if he needed to stress to Duncan that Camille was seeing his Dad.

"No." Camille shook her head as she played around with her broccoli salad.

"Not even a Valentines, or anything?" Derrick looked as if he were going to get right on it, and she'd have a box of candy waiting for her in the mailbox tomorrow.

"He was driving to Canada." She remembered him saying the day he left.

"I never hear from him." Derrick looked pissed about it, but he devoured the slices of roast.

"He's a busy guy." Camille didn't know what else to say as she looked up at Duncan who went into a spill about how bad the economy was. After awhile, Duncan went back to eating as if he'd given his two cents worth to the conversation.

Afterwards, Duncan said he'd clean up. As if Camille and Derrick needed some alone time in the livingroom.

"Are you sure, you, are all right?" Camille looked him over. He looked so tired. She didn't think he was completely over what ever it was that he was sick with.

"Yeah. Sure." Derrick squinted as if he wasn't so sure, either. He was in his old faded jeans that looked too big for him, but she couldn't tell just how thin he was in his baggy gray tee shirt and even bigger flannel shirt.

"You're still at Kyle's, right?" Camille hoped he wasn't living out of his car, but it wouldn't surprise her.

He nodded. He finally set down as if he were toying with the idea of telling her something. But he thanked her for dinner. He told her she was the best cook. Still there was something nervous about him. As if something really haunted him.

She knew there was plenty to talk about his father. She could say a lot. But she wouldn't. She didn't want to dare talk about Derrick's Dad.  Yes, there was something on her mind too. And it wasn't something that was going to go away, but she wasn't sure how to fix it, either.