The Coffee Shop

by Lauren Hunter

  “We bring you the news for Wednesday, January — ”

  “January? January! That’s…that’s…five months before.” Rushing to the phone on the bedside table, he picked it up, his hand shaking so bad he had to grip the receiver with both hands not to drop it. “Angela?”

  “Derrick? Derrick what’s wrong?”

  “I need you to tell me something, if you could please, and this is going to sound like a really stupid question, but I don’t care anymore if I sound stupid, it doesn’t matter, none of it ever mattered, only Annie matters.”

  “Derrick?”

  “Is Annie working today?”

  “No, she has the day off. Everything is all right isn’t it, Derrick? You two did make up last night, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, Annie and I made up last night. Last night Annie and I went for a walk on the beach. Thank you, Angela.”

  “Okay, Derrick. Talk to you later.”

  “Bye.”

  The receiver slipped from his hand to the floor as he fell onto the edge of the bed. “What the hell just happened? How did I get back five months into the past?” And then the realization came to him as if a whisper in his ear. “Oh my God! I had a dream inside a dream. I dreamed Annie died in a plane crash and then woke up. Only I wasn’t awake, I was still inside the dream. And then I stopped her from getting on the plane, only to see her die in my arms a few weeks later.” He took a breath. “All of that was a dream. All of it. The plane, the cancer.” A tightness made its way into his stomach. “What does this mean?” He sighed, a tear slipping from his eye. “This means Annie is going to die.”

  She looked so normal, so healthy. But the cancer had already been growing for years, quietly killing her, even now it was already too late. Any treatment would only make the time she had left one of misery and suffering. There was only one answer, he had to make the time she had left as normal and happy as he possibly could.

  So, he invited her over, where they made seafood fettuccini together. And then a walk on the beach, followed by a night at Incontro, where they were served seafood fettuccini just as before. And asking her to come away with him for the weekend, he took her to Ely, where they walked, and skied, just as before, Annie hurting her ankles and Derrick carrying her at last to his room.

  It all happened just as in his dream, only he had already set into motion slight alterations that would lead to Annie becoming vice-president, just as he had seen. But she was happy, they were happy. And every moment that he could get with her was a moment he cherished. The months passing by as they lived each day, one after the other, together.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Derrick was already sitting on the couch waiting when Annie walked into the living room.

  “You’re dressed.” She stopped and stared down at him.

  “I am capable of dressing myself, I’ll have you know.”

  “Yes, but at eight in the morning?” She thought on it for a second before continuing. “That’s a first.”

  “Hey. I’ll have you know I have been ready like this at eight in the morning plenty of times.” He shrugged. “Just not…recently.”

  “Define recently.”

  “All right, it’s been years, but you make it sound as if I am completely incapable of such a thing.”

  “Ah, I never said any such thing. I just found it — ”

  “Careful.”

  “Unusual. There, have I soothed your sensitive ego?” She ruffled his perfect hair, and he grabbed her, pulling her down on top of him as she squealed. Pulling the pins from her bun, he ran his fingers through her golden waves and kissed her.

  She smiled up at him. “Now I’m going to have to take the time to put my hair up all over again.”

  “Why?”

  She pushed herself up off him. “Why am I going to have to take the time?”

  “No, why do you have to wear it like that? You used to always wear it loose down around your shoulders. I loved it like that.”

  “So did I. But it’s not very professional is it? Just how many people are going to take me seriously looking like that?”

  “Is it really that bad?”

  “’Fraid so. The way you dress, the way you talk, the way you look. It shouldn’t matter I know. But it does.” She sighed. “But you already know all this. We’ve had this conversation before, if I recall. Something about not letting anyone know you were from a small town.” She shook her head. “The day when results alone count…”

  “Will be the day you’ll stroll through the front door in jeans and a sweater, your hair loose.”

  His expression had taken on a far off look.

  Annie shook her head and grinned. “You’re visualizing it right now, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah. You in those tight jeans. You know, the ones with the holes in the…” He glanced up at her, and she crossed her arms

  “The way you are looking at me you’d think I was cheating on you, or something.”

  “Yeah, with me.”

  He laughed. “Good one. So, just to be sure I have this straight, if I were to have a dream about you — ”

  “Sharon, is my breakfast ready by any chance?”

  “Yes, Miss Maddock.”

  “Thank you. You’re a life saver. If I had to listen to one more second of that conversation?” She sat before her bacon and eggs, taking a healthy bite. “So, why are you dressed to kill at eight in the morning? Corporate merger? Multinational takedown?”

  He rose, coming over to the table he sat across from her, eyeing her bacon.

  “Hey, if you’re even thinking about touching my bacon.”

  Derrick laughed. “You’d do Winston proud.”

  “Winston?”

  “Mr. Schwartz’s bulldog.”

  “Excuse me, did you just compare me to an old dog?”

  “In a good way. In a good way.”

  “Explain to me how there is a good way to compare me to a dog?”

  “You’re willing to do what it takes to survive. Besides, I seem to recall you saying something about teaching an old dog new tricks, me being the old dog.”

  She was thoughtful. “I did?”

  “Yes, you did.”

  “Hmm.”

  “What?”

  “Well if I did, in your case it’s true.”

  “Oh it is, is it? So it’s okay for you to call me an old dog, but not for me to call you an old dog?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, really.”

  She grinned again as she picked up a strip of bacon with her fingers and took a generous bite, and looked down to her plate.

  “What? What is it?”

  “Oh.” She smiled to herself poking her eggs with her fork. “You just reminded me of a conversation we had a long time ago.” She saw him watching her. “I seem to recall the words, dog eat dog.”

  “Hey, that’s not a bad thing. Knowing what it takes to survive, what it takes to succeed.”

  “Yes, but at what cost?”

  “You’ll never be like those people that do whatever it takes. You would draw the line.” He reached over caressing her face. “Annie, that will never be you. You’re not capable of that.”

  “Well, it’s nice to hear you say it, even if it isn’t true anymore.”

  “Okay, name one thing you’ve done where someone has been harmed because of it?”

  She thought about what he said.

  “There, you can’t can you?”

  “Just give me a minute.”

  Derrick laughed. “Annie, you can’t and you know it. Now don’t take what I said seriously, please.” She smiled, and he grinned back at her kissing her on the forehead.

  “What was that for?”

  “Being you.”

  “Oh, I actually get rewarded for that do I?”

  “Yeah, as a matter of fact, you do.” She relaxed at his words, feeling the tension of a few minutes ago falling away.

  “So, you never said, just why are you dressed to kill at eight in the
morning?”

  “I’m not sure you’d believe me if I told you.”

  “Try me.”

  “To take you to work.”

  She stopped chewing in mid bite, swallowing what was in her mouth. “I’m sorry?”

  Derrick shrugged. “Told ya.”

  “Wait. You mean to tell me you got all dressed up, at eight in the morning, just to drive me to work?”

  “And why not? I’ve done far more for far less.” Closing his eyes, he shook his head. “Okay, that didn’t come out right.”

  Annie laughed, and patted him on the head. “There, there dear.”

  He grinned, and getting up, he poured himself a cup of coffee.

  “Ah, yes, the essential morning coffee, or I can’t function.”

  Taking a large drink, he smiled. “Ah, you know me so well.”

  Taking her plate to the sink, she then turned to look at him. “Do I?”

  “I’d say you do.”

  She looked at him. “Hmm.”

  He glanced at his watch. “You’d better go brush your teeth and put on your lipstick then, if you want to be on time.”

  “Yes, dear.”

  “Just the way you say that, you’d think we were an old married couple.”

  She laughed, patting him on the face, and then went to repair her makeup.

  “Ah, see, nothing a little spit and polish wouldn’t fix,” he said when she returned.

  “What?” She looked down at her dress studying it closely.

  “Just teasing.” Opening the door, he let her pass through before him, the elevator finally arriving on the ground floor, and as they stepped into the limousine, Mr. Schwartz waved good morning as Lawrence pulled away into the morning traffic.

  “Uh, Lawrence, this isn’t the way.” But he just kept on driving. “Lawrence?”

  He looked to the rear view mirror. “You’ll have to talk to Mr. Sloane about that, Miss Maddock.”

  Annie sat back. “Derrick?”

  “Just a little detour.”

  “But we don’t have time, I have to be there by — ”

  “Actually, we do.”

  “What? But how — ”

  “Now that you’ll just have to find out when we get there.”

  She looked at him, wondering what was happening. “Just what are you up to?”

  “What makes you think I am up to something?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, perhaps it has something to do with the little diversion from my scheduled plans.”

  “Oh, that. Yes, I guess I could see where you’d think that.”

  The limousine turned into the park, and driving along the road that wound through it to its center, Lawrence pulled up by a clearing on the right. Annie looked out, this was the same place where he’d brought her for hamburgers and cola, and as she climbed from the limousine she stood staring and shrugged.

  “Okay. What are we doing here?” She turned to him, only now he was kneeling before her, a gold wedding band held out before her as he smiled up at her.

  “Annie Maddock, will you marry me?”

  She swallowed, her mouth open, but no words came out.

  “Okay, I don’t know if your sudden inability to speak is a good thing or a bad thing.”

  “What…how…you…”

  “You can do it. Just move your mouth and form your words.”

  “Yes,” she finally said.

  “Yes, what?”

  “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  “Oh, thank God. For a second I thought — ”

  “For God’s sake, stop talking and put the ring on her finger already, before she changes her mind!”

  Annie heard Brian talking, but she was too focused on hugging Derrick to notice.

  “Brian’s here?” She turned to see Brian and Angela, stepping from the woods, a man dressed like a minister following closely behind them.

  “All right, you can set it up now.”

  No sooner than Derrick had finished speaking, people appeared from every direction, carrying what looked like parts of a building and a tent. And she stared as a small gazebo was erected within in minutes before her. Streams of white silk draped down and around it, bouquets of white lilies appearing as if on cue.

  “Um, actually, I’m going to need that,” Brian said looking at the ring.

  Taking it from Annie, Angela handed it to Brian, who disappeared with a grin. “You come with me.”

  Taking Annie by the arm, Angela gently pulled her along.

  “Huh?” Annie managed to mutter, her eyes glued to the organized chaos before her.

  Drawing her inside a tent, Angela pulled Annie’s suit jacket from her shoulders.

  Angela unzipped the back of Annie’s dress, and Annie turned grabbing Angela’s hands. “Whoa, what’s happening?”

  “Do I need to explain it to you?”

  Annie just shook her head in disbelief, and Angela took Annie by the shoulders, turning her so that she would see the dress. The dress that Annie had shown to Angela whenever they would wander past the store.

  “That’s…”

  “Yep. It is. Now if you’ll just let me help you to get into it.”

  “But?”

  “But what?”

  “But how did he know?”

  “Well, he asked for my help.”

  “Of course he did.” She scratched her head. “I guess that explains the lilies.”

  Angela shrugged, and helping Annie slip on the simple, white, silk dress, she undid Annie’s hair, letting it fall loose down around her shoulders. Taking Annie by the shoulders, she smiled. “Are you ready?”

  Annie nodded, and the flap to the tent was drawn back, a three-piece orchestra starting to play Canon in D as she stepped out onto the grass. Derrick was standing in the gazebo next to the minister, Brian at his side, as they all turned to look at her.

  “Just take a breath and follow me, and you’ll be just fine.”

  She heard Angela talking to her, but it was as if the words were coming from some far off place. And watching Angela step up onto the gazebo, Annie followed her, climbing the step until she was standing beside Derrick.

  If anyone were to ask her what had happened next, she would be hard pressed to remember. The vows and words were like some dream, and looking at the ring now upon her finger, she gazed up into Derrick’s eyes as he smiled down on her. And then he kissed her, as all clapped, smiles and congratulations being offered.

  “I hope you won’t kill me, but…”

  Brian slapped Derrick upon the back. “Oh, not the best words to start off a marriage, buddy.”

  Derrick flashed Brian a look, and Brian grinned backing away.

  Annie frowned.

  “I arranged for you to have the entire week off.”

  “You what?”

  “Trust in yourself, Annie, and know that you did an excellent job preparing and training those under you. They’ll be just fine without you for a few days.”

  “But the business trip?”

  “That’s not until this weekend. You already know it forward and backward. Hell, you could conduct that meeting in your sleep. We both know that.” Derrick lowered his eyes trying to look into her face. “Hey, you do trust me, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then trust me in this. I didn’t get to where I am not knowing a thing or two about people. And I know you, Annie Sloane.”

  “Sloane? Oh!” She laughed sheepishly. “That’s me, isn’t it?” She shook her head. “God, that sounds strange.” She gazed up into his eyes and smiled.

  “Strange?”

  “Oh, but in a nice way.” She reached up, caressing his face. “A very nice way.”

  “Glad to hear it. Considering you’re stuck with me.”

  She laughed. “I guess being stuck with you isn’t all bad.”

  “Well it better not be. Because I’m telling you, now that we’re married you are stuck with me for life. No gettin’ out of it now. It’s a done deal. Signed and seale
d. All over but the shoutin’.” She kept grinning up at him. “What?”

  “Oh, nothing.” She sighed. “You’re right. I need to trust myself. My people are fully capable of doing this without me.”

  “Glad to hear it.” He drew her too him, holding her as she looked up at her. “Our flight leaves in four hours.”

  “Our flight?”

  “Yes. That’s this thing you do on a plane. You know planes, these things with wings that go through the air. It’s really quite amazing how they — ”

  “All right!” She laughed, and kissed him.

  Brian stood watching them kiss. “Brian, you can leave any time now.”

  “Ah, and this was just getting good too!”

  Annie smiled. “Angela?”

  Grabbing Brian by the arm, Angela pulled him away, the strains of Canon in D floating in the morning air around them.

  Annie sighed. “So, Mr. Sloane, just where are you taking me?”

  “Well, that is going to be a surprise.”

  She stared up at him.

  “I take it from your expression you dislike surprises.”

  “They have their place. Maybe not when it comes to honeymoon trips.”

  “Trust me. This, you’ll like.”

  “Hmm. Famous last words.”

  “You were right.” Annie leaned back into Derrick’s arms as they sat on the beach watching the sun as it hung low in the sky. “What’s the name of this place again?”

  “This place has a name?”

  Annie laughed, and looking back up at him, she reached up, stroking his face with the palm of her hand. “I never knew life could be like this.” Looking back to the beach, she watched the waves as they pushed up on to the shore, only to withdraw once more into the sea. “I mean, you read stories, or watch movies, maybe even have a dream or two of your own. But you never believe it can actually be real. Not like this. Not like what we have here.”

  “You stole that from some movie, didn’t you?”

  Annie grinned, and hugging his arms to her, she rested her head back against his shoulder. “How did you know?”