The Coffee Shop

by Lauren Hunter

  “Circle?”

  “Hey, it’s up to you if you want the thousand bucks.”

  “Then I guess I’m going to be circling.”

  Before the driver had a chance to change his mind, Derrick had climbed out, tossing a one hundred dollar bill through the window onto the front seat. “Just a little incentive.” He grabbed hold of Annie’s hand helping her out. His heart was pounding in his chest as he stood before the doors of the coffee shop. He shook his head. “Just think if I hadn’t walked in there on that day.”

  “We may never have met.”

  He turned at her words. “So you’ve thought about it too?”

  “Maybe, once or twice.”

  “I’m curious. Do you ever wonder if fate had a hand in all of this?”

  “I try not to think about those things.”

  “No, but don’t you ever wonder, if perhaps, we were supposed to have met?”

  “If you’re suggesting that everything is predetermined…then no.”

  He stared deep into her brown eyes. “You’re right. It’s crazy. Those kinds of things never happen.”

  She leaned back, looking up into his eyes. “You’re in a strange mood.”

  “Am I? I thought you knew, I’m like this all the time.”

  “The old switch and bait routine, huh?”

  “What can I say?” He shrugged. “But it’s too late, you’re already married to me now.”

  “Oh, now what have I gotten myself into?”

  “Well, let’s see. You have a man that loves you more than life itself.”

  “Oh wow, I had no idea you were so…”

  Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close. “Careful. If I were you I wouldn’t finish that sentence.”

  She laughed. “Oh, wouldn’t you?”

  His expression became serious. “Not if you know what’s good for you.”

  “Well then, I had better watch myself then, hadn’t I?”

  He drew her through the coffee shop door, and walking her over to the table where they met, he pushed her down into her seat. “I’ll be back in a second.” He stepped away to the counter, ordering two coffees. He returned, setting them on the table as he sat down across from her.

  Annie stared at the coffee before her, it was exactly what she had ordered that day when they met. “How did you…?”

  “Know what coffee you ordered that day we met?”

  She just stared.

  He leaned forward, as he had on the first day. “I asked the clerk after you left.”

  She laughed. “And here I thought you were just that observant.” She leaned back in her seat, looking at the cup before her. “But that you remembered, after all this time.” She shook her head. “That’s saying a lot.”

  “What, for a guy? Or for me?”

  “Now that’s not what I said.”

  “No, but you were thinking it.”

  “Oh, you are professing to be a mind reader now?”

  “Not exactly.”

  She smiled up at him and leaned back in her seat. “I was going to save this for the airport, but I may as well give it to you now. I can’t think of a more perfect setting. Considering.” She looked around her, and reaching into her purse, she pulled out a box, holding it out to him.

  He stared down at it. It was wrapped in the same paper that her book had been in that day he met her. “That’s not…?”

  “Yep, it’s the paper off of my book that day we met, right here at this table.”

  He grinned, shaking his head, and opened it, looking down into the box’s contents. Inside was a single pair of pink boxers. Derrick burst out laughing, and taking them out he held them up.

  “Don’t hold them up. People can see.”

  “Oh but I want everyone to know what my wife got me.” He stood, holding out the boxers for all to see. “Everyone, I want you to see the gift my wife got me.”

  Annie felt her cheeks become hot, and burying her face in her hands, she shook her head.

  “Don’t.”

  Feeling his hands on hers, she looked up to see him gently pulling them away from her face.

  “Don’t ever cover up that beautiful face.”

  She smiled, entwining her fingers with his. “At the risk of repeating myself, I really am glad you walked into this coffee shop on that day.”

  “So am I.” They gazed at each other, the moment suspended in time.

  “Now hurry the hell up and drink your coffee or we’ll be late for your plane.”

  Annie scowled, playfully smacking him on the chest.

  “Hey, what can I say?”

  “Well not that, thank you very much.”

  She drank her coffee, and taking her hand, he led her outside and they climbed back into the taxi, the driver managing to find every road and alley that could possibly get them there on time. Unloading her luggage from the trunk, he then walked her in. “Annie, you can’t go!”

  “What?” She turned at his words, her gaze looking to his.

  “You can’t go.” He slipped his arms around her, and pulling her to him he kissed her. He drew back, and she looked up at him “Without me.” Reaching into his inside coat pocket, Derrick pulled out his passport and a boarding pass.

  “No one can say you’re not a romantic.”

  “Who says I’m not a romantic? Why I’ll challenge them to a duel at dawn. My honor cannot be questioned like that.”

  “Shhh. People will hear you.”

  “Let them. Let them hear me.”

  She pressed her hand to his mouth, giggling as he continued to talk beneath it.

  “Then shall we take our leave, my lady.” He bowed, as if in one of those romance novels, about people from another time, and offered her his arm.

  “You’re in a funny mood. And I have to say I like it.”

  “Oh really?” He glanced around. “Shall I dress like Mr. Darcy when we get back?”

  “Okay, now I’m impressed.” But then she stepped back. “Who was she?”

  “Who was who?”

  “The woman that made you sit through…” She pouted. “Oh, you poor darling.” But then he looked away. “You didn’t? You watched it? And no one made you. Were you on drugs at the time? Or had you fallen on your head and thought yourself a woman?”

  “I’ll have you know I am not totally without…”

  “Without what?”

  “We are going to miss our check in.”

  “Nice try. We are going to pick up this conversation when we get back.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  “But haven’t you forgotten just one little thing?”

  “Oh? And what’s that?”

  “Luggage?”

  “Luggage? What’s that?”

  “Derrick.”

  But then he took her by the shoulders and turned her around. There in front of her was Lawrence, a suitcase sitting upon the floor next to him. Leaning over, he whispered in her ear. “I think of everything.”

  “Hey, Brian. Just calling to tell you that although you can be a major pain in the ass, that I wouldn’t trade your friendship for anything.”

  “Wow. If I’ve ever heard of backhanded compliments before…well that’s the worst one I have ever heard!”

  Derrick laughed. “I love you, buddy.”

  “I’m…I’m sorry? This is Derrick Sloane, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, Brian. This is Derrick. Annie and I are on our way to Toronto, and I just wanted to call to let you know — ”

  “That you consider me to be a huge pain in the ass. Yes, I do believe I got that part. Have you been drinking? Because I’ve told you about drinking in a pressurized cabin and — ”

  “No. I haven’t been drinking. I just…” He sighed, and reaching over he took Annie’s hand in his. “Just wanted you to know how much you’ve meant to me.”

  “Okay, who are you and what have you done with Derrick? If it’s a ransom you’re looking for then — ”

  Annie leaned acr
oss Derrick. “Hello, Brian.”

  “I decided we’d go together. This is something I wouldn’t miss for the world. The chance to be here with Annie, holding her hand as I look into her eyes and tell her I love her.”

  Smacking Derrick playfully, Annie laughed. “Stop it!”

  “What can I say, I’m a hopeless romantic at heart. And I love Annie…more than life itself.”

  “The hopeless part that I can agree with. You better hang up before the flight attendant tells you to turn off your cell.”

  “I’m not using my cell. I’m calling you through my laptop. And I just wanted to…I wanted you to know that I’ve always…your friendship has always meant a great deal to me. I just wanted you to know that.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen we are experiencing some turbulence, if you would ensure your seatbelt is fastened, your seat is in the upright position, and your dining tray secured, we should — ”

  Passengers screamed, and the call dropped out. Derrick put his arms around Annie, and holding her tightly to him, he whispered in her ear. “I love you, Annie. I love you so much…”

  Derrick sat up sharply in bed. “God!” Dragging a hand down his face, he breathed hard feeling as if he had just run a marathon, his eyes slowly turning to the phone on the bedside table. It hadn’t rung. That wasn’t what had awakened him. No, it was the plane going down in flames into a fiery crash that had yanked him out of a sound sleep. It had seemed so real, that even now he could swear he felt the flames burning his flesh, as he held Annie to him. Her arms holding him tightly as she buried her face into his neck.

  Jumping up from his bed he ran into the washroom, dry retching into the toilet as he stared down into its water. “Oh, my God. Oh, my God.” He gasped for air, and stumbling to the sink, he ran the water splashing it up over his face. Leaning on the edge of the sink, he continued to breathe hard, his eyes slowly moving to the reflection before him in the mirror. He was white as a sheet, the memory of Annie’s screams tearing right through him.

  “Just a dream. Just a dream. Just a dream,” he chanted over and over. But its memories still clung to his consciousness, his thoughts unable to pull away, its remnants echoing through every thought, every awareness. He sighed, and grabbing a towel, he wiped it across his face. Tossing it aside, he turned from the mirror. “Wow.” He laughed, his heart still racing within his chest, and he walked back into the bedroom staring at the empty bed — the image of Annie within its sheets coming to him as he stood gazing upon it from across the room.

  “What are you doing? Just stop it already. It was a dream, for God’s sake.” Dragging his hand through his hair, he tried to push the thoughts from his head, forcing them to leave his consciousness, but it wasn’t working. “All right, I am going to prove this isn’t real. None of that was real. There is no woman named Annie. I don’t meet her in a coffee shop today. Hell, I wouldn’t be caught dead in that dump.” Walking over to the bedside table, he picked up the phone. Pushing a number, he pressed the receiver to his ear.

  “Lawrence, could you bring the limo around please, I’ll be right down. Thanks.”

  Turning, he walked into the walk-in closet. “God, I hope I still have them. Where the hell are they?” Pulling bottom drawers open, he dug to the bottom of the various articles from years gone by. Things he kept, more for keepsakes than anything else. Old, worn out things. Things that he wore to some specific event or place. And reaching down under it all he pulled out the pair of jeans he had seen himself wearing from the dream. “There you are.” He stood staring down at them as he held them out before him. “God, it’s been years since I’ve seen these.” He laughed at the patch on the ass. At the time, he had thought it was so cool. Now, it just felt puerile. Holding them up to him, he looked in the mirror. “God, I don’t believe I’m doing this. And for God’s sake, stop saying God!”

  Pulling them on, he grabbed a T-shirt from one of the shelves. Slipping on a pair of running shoes, he stared down at the man he used to be…all those years ago, when he was young and foolish. Back then he did as he pleased, and to hell with the consequences. “Let’s do this.” Walking to the front door, he grabbed the keys from the crystal bowl, the bowl tipping from the table in his enthusiasm to get out of the door, and it fell to the floor smashing all around his feet.

  Derrick stared at the pieces of glass and tucking his keys into his pocket he bent to pick them up. Carefully collecting them, so as not to cut himself, he took them to the counter. Wrapping them in yesterday’s newspaper, he placed them into the garbage.

  Mr. Schwartz waved, and Harold the doorman smiled. Grabbing the brim of his hat, he nodded his head, watching as Mr. Schwartz and Winston hobbled by.

  “Oh look, Mom, it’s Mr. Schwartz and Winston.” Running over, Jerome knelt down, patting Winston, Mr. Schwartz smiling down at him.

  “He likes you, Jerome.”

  “Hey, Winston.” Jerome smiled, and then rubbed behind his ear.

  “Oh, now you’ve got a friend for life.” Mr. Schwartz laughed.

  “Yeah, you like that, don’t you, Winston.”

  “Hey, Mr. Schwartz,” Mrs. Petersen said, coming over.

  “Can we get a dog, Mom? Please?”

  “You already know the answer to that. Our building won’t let us.” She flashed Mr. Schwartz a look as much as to say, And thank God for that! “Come, Jerome, we’re going to be late.”

  “Ah, Mom.”

  “Jerome.”

  “All right. Bye, Winston. Bye, Mr. Schwartz.”

  Mr. Schwartz nodded. “Bye, Jerome. Mrs. Peterson.”

  “Mr. Schwartz.”

  Closing the car door behind Jerome, she then climbed in behind the wheel. “Do up your seat belt, Jerome.”

  “Good morning, Mr. Sloane.”

  Stepping from the front door of his building Derrick nodded at the doorman, ignoring the look of shock on his face as he stared after him. Walking over to his limousine, he climbed in.

  “Bye, Mr. Schwartz.” Mrs. Peterson waved out her car window and pulled into the traffic.

  “Yes!” Jerome swiped his fist through the air.

  “You playing that thing again?”

  “No,” he replied, his eyes not moving from the game screen.

  “Jerome!”

  “All right, all right.” Turning it off, he slipped it into his backpack and zipped it shut.

  “And do you have your seat belt done up?” She turned looking over her seat into the back. “Jerome, how many times have I told you, do up your seat belt before I start driving.”

  “Mom!”

  Turning back, Mrs. Peterson saw a man running out in front of her.

  “What the hell happened?” The man pushed between the people in the crowd as he tried to see onto the street.

  “Some moron on a cell phone ran out into traffic.”

  A blanket was draped over the man, his hand sticking out from under it, a white cell phone still held firm within its grasp.

  Derrick noted Lawrence’s raised eyebrows as he observed him in the rear view mirror. “Yes, Lawrence, it’s me. No someone is not trying to steal my identity. No I haven’t been taken over by some alien force. And no, I haven’t bumped my head and now I think I’m twenty years younger.” Closing his eyes, he held up his hands. “Sorry, Lawrence, I’m not feeling myself today.”

  “That’s all right, sir. No need to explain. Where to, sir?” Lawrence replied politely.

  “Oh, that, yes.” He laughed, and shook his head. “Take me to…God, I can’t believe I’m going to say this.”

  “Sir?”

  “Just talking to myself, Lawrence, another one of those things you’ll need to ignore today, I’m afraid.” Looking from the window, he rubbed his lips together. “I need you to take me to…” Just say it already! “Just take me to The Coffee Shop.”

  Lawrence stared. “I’m sorry, sir. Did you say, The Coffee Shop?”

  He couldn’t see Lawrence’s face, but he had a pretty good idea what express
ion it held just then, and he laughed to himself. “Yes, I’m sure you’re thinking, ‘are you sure you didn’t bump your head, sir?’” He swallowed. “Yes, Lawrence, I’m sure. Take me to The Coffee Shop, please. If you would?”

  “Yes, sir.” He nodded and pulled into traffic.

  Derrick leaned back, and resting his head back up against the seat, he closed his eyes.

  “I’m sorry, sir.”

  “What? What is it?” He looked out the window.

  “Something’s happened, sir. The traffic’s not moving.”

  “A truck dropped its load?”

  “No, sir. Not sure what it is.” Looking toward the street ahead, Lawrence shrugged. “It appears we may be delayed for some time.”

  “Oh, you can take that alley there, go over a street, and then cut across to…” Seeing Lawrence had turned around and was staring at him, he stopped.

  “You’ve been there before, sir?”

  “No, I just know how to get there from here.”

  “You haven’t been there, but you know how to get there.”

  “Yeah, I…I think I do.”

  “Very well, sir.” Putting on the left turn signal, Lawrence pulled between traffic. Making his way down the alley he cut across. “You’re right, sir. This will take us directly there from here.”

  The knot in his stomach grew tighter by the second, and he tried to push the tension he was feeling from his mind.

  “Here you are, sir.”

  “Already?”

  Lawrence just looked into the mirror, and Derrick nodded his head. Get a grip, will ya. Jeez, you’d think this was real. Lawrence had started to climb out to open his door. “I’ll let myself out, Lawrence.”

  “Sir?”

  Derrick shrugged, and sighed. “I’m not myself today, Lawrence. But then I’m sure you already know that by now.” He climbed from the limousine, his eyes turning reluctantly to the coffee shop door.

  He’d been wondering about it since the moment he awoke. Did it really exist? Did any of it? This place? Her? Only now he was standing before it, this fragment of a dream. This place that existed in a world inside his head, where he had met, dated, married, and then lost the woman of his dreams. Literally, the woman of his dreams.