by JA Lafrance
“You’re welcome.”
Silence returned as they drove on. The number of passengers dwindled with each stop until only Evelyn remained. Dani wondered why the old lady was riding the bus so late. But asking would be rude. She only hoped that Evelyn wasn’t some lost senior like those that appeared on missing person reports.
“It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it? Calm.” Evelyn’s voice was wistful even as it disrupted Dani’s inner monologue.
“Yeah, it is,” Dani mumbled as she made another turn. It was true, though. The weather had remained clear all day without a cloud in sight, and the lack of wind made sure it stayed that way through the night.
“You see each of these homes we drive by?”
She wasn’t paying attention to the houses considering she was keeping her eyes on the road, but she made an affirmative noise, anyway. Some passengers liked to talk, looking for companionship. Dani didn’t mind.
“Every house has a family, whether it’s a family of one or ten. And each of them have their own stories, their own joys and grief.”
It was a deeper topic than Dani had been prepared for and she let out a shaky laugh. “Family of ten?”
Evelyn tapped her cane against one of the poles and made a tsking sound. “Lots of cultures have generations living together, you know. The old looks after the young. It takes a village.”
Dani wondered why there was a hint of sadness in her tone but didn’t feel comfortable enough to ask. They passed another stop. She drove on without stopping since no one was waiting there and Evelyn hadn’t asked to be let off yet.
“Now, as I was saying, each of them has stories. Have you ever wondered about them?”
“Not really.” But those two words alone didn’t seem adequate enough as an answer, and after another pause, Dani spoke again. “I hear a lot of stories on the job. Sometimes, it’s over conversations people have with each other, sometimes over a phone call.”
“And sometimes from talking to people like myself,” Evelyn added.
A slight smile graced Dani’s lips. Evelyn may be quirky, but she was sharp. “That too.”
“So, what’s your story, Dani? Did anyone ever ask you?”
The question caught her off guard and she didn’t answer at first. She took another turn instead and realized with a start that she was nearing the end of the line.
“No one has asked me before.” Dani pulled into the last stop and opened the doors before she turned to survey her bus. True enough, Evelyn was the only passenger left as no others had gotten on.
“So?”
Evelyn showed no signs of getting off and Dani wondered for a moment if she was lost. “This is the last stop.” She tried to keep her tone gentle.
“Right.” Evelyn rose from her seat and moved with grace despite the cane. “But you haven’t answered my question.” There was no sting in her words. Rather, mischief danced in her eyes.
Dani laughed and rubbed the back of her head. “I’m just your average gal. No story.”
With a raised brow and a smirk, Evelyn shook her head. Dani didn’t even know little old ladies could make that kind of expression.
“Nonsense.” Evelyn wagged a finger at her. “Everyone has a story. I expect you to tell me yours tomorrow.”
Before Dani could protest, Evelyn stepped off the bus, more spry than anyone her age had the right to be. With a small chuckle under her breath, Dani closed the doors and drove off to her last destination of the night.
By the time she finished the paperwork and dragged herself home, the continuous exhaustion had taken its toll. She managed to strip and hang up her uniform before she threw herself face first into her bed. Within seconds, Dani was out like a light.
“You look exhausted, my dear.”
Dani’s eyes widened as, like yesterday, Evelyn stood at the open doors of her bus. 11:00 pm. Stop 11586. For some unfathomable reason, it also lifted her heart to see her.
Or maybe what coursed through her was relief that Evelyn wasn’t a lost, wandering soul like she had half-feared last night.
“Long day. I was running late getting to my shift and didn’t get my caffeine.” Dani replied as she lowered the bus. The incessant beeping did little to lower her spirits. And when Evelyn stepped in with the same thousand-watt smile, Dani couldn’t help but beam herself. “Good evening, Evelyn.”
“Another beautiful night. You should see the stars.” Evelyn settled in the same seat as before.
“I’ll keep an eye out for them when I get off my shift,” Dani murmured. She glimpsed Evelyn straightening her heavy jacket. It was a chilly night, colder than the last.
“Do you want me to turn up the heat for you?” she asked.
“Hey, don’t you fucking dare.”
Dani glanced at the rearview mirror and frowned. That’s right. The man had stumbled on a few stops back and slumped into a seat a few rows behind before pulling his wide-brimmed hat over his face. She remembered the scent of alcohol permeating from him and had hoped that he wouldn’t be any trouble. No such luck.
“Sir.” Best not to pull out of the stop yet. The last thing she needed was a belligerent passenger harassing her or Evelyn while she was driving. For now, she acknowledged the man with a neutral tone, and kept the doors open, as she’d been trained to do.
“Sir is right, you bitch.” He lurched out of his seat and ambled toward the old lady.
“Sir, I cannot move the bus with you standing.” Dani’s hand twitched towards the radio button but reaching for it now would be obvious. She had to deescalate the situation, even if protocol directed that she stay in her seat. But what about…?
“Indulging yourself too much does not give you an excuse for being rude, boy. Sit your bottom down.” Evelyn rose from her seat and stood in the middle of the aisle, wagging one finger at the dude while holding her cane with her other hand.
He stopped, finding his path blocked and pulled himself to his full height. Dani paled at the sight in her mirrors. The man had a good foot and a half over the brave gal; he towered over Evelyn. God, she was going to get herself killed. Dani reached to unbuckle her own seatbelt.
Suddenly, the drunk slumped his shoulders. As Dani turned around to get a better look, all the rage seemed to have fled him and instead, he bowed his head. “Sorry ma’am,” he mumbled and slunk away, back to his seat.
“How did you do that?” Dani whispered in awe only for Evelyn to turn back around and give her the now familiar toothless grin.
“You just have to let them know you mean business.” With a firm nod, she eased herself back into her seat.
“I guess.” She checked to make sure the man was still sitting before she closed the doors and pulled out of the stop. It wasn’t until two stops later when he stumbled off the bus that she let out a sigh of relief.
“Are you all right?” Evelyn asked.
Dani nodded, only to realize Evelyn could not see the gesture, so she spoke instead. “Yeah. That wasn’t so bad. I’ve had worse.” She let out a shaky laugh. “Some days, I wonder why I haven’t made a job change.”
“Why haven’t you then?” Evelyn was sounding more and more like her inner voice.
The natural answer would have been inertia. Dani was too tired working day to day to think about job hunting again and she couldn’t afford to quit without something else lined up. But when she opened her mouth, that was not the answer that came out. “I enjoy being outside, seeing the city, helping people get from place to place. I like talking to people and—” Dani smiled ruefully to herself “I like hearing their stories. It makes the city feel a little less lonely.”
“You’re lonely?”
Her questions were getting more personal, but it surprised Dani to find that she didn’t mind so much. Something about Evelyn’s soothing voice drew her confidence. Besides, Evelyn was her hero, at least for the night. “I guess I am a bit. My family’s all pretty far away. This job doesn’t leave much time for making friends either.”
�
��What about a nice boyfriend? Or girlfriend?”
Dani wished Evelyn would move to another seat where she could see her face a little better, but Dani heard the playfulness. She laughed at the question, loving how progressive Evelyn was despite being born in a conservative time. “No, no time for dating either.”
“Ah, but there must be someone that has caught your eye?”
For the first time in Evelyn’s presence, Dani flushed as her mind brought up the image of Hiro with his black short sleeve t-shirt that showed off his toned arms and the barista apron that hugged his built figure tighter than any apron had the right to. And there was that smile.
“Ah ha! So, there is someone!”
“Maybe,” Dani replied at last. “But it’s nothing. I mean, I just see him in passing sometimes.”
“Tell me about him.”
Dani let out a slow breath. “His name’s Hiro and he owns a coffee shop close to where I live.”
“Tell me more about him.”
Her cheeks remained warm. Dani had told no one about Hiro, not even her mother, whom she dutifully called every two weeks. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened before she forced herself to relax with a long exhale. “There’s not much to tell. I don’t know him very well.”
“Well, tell me what you can.” There was a grin behind Evelyn’s words. Dani could hear it.
It was easier to talk without having to maintain eye contact or to see Evelyn’s expression. “Well, he’s tall, has black hair and blue eyes. Toned. It looks like he works out though I don’t know when since he always seems to be working at the coffee shop. But I think what I respect the most is his kindness.”
“Oh?”
Dani nodded to herself. “I know he packs everything that doesn’t sell and gives it to the food bank. I’ve seen him offer coffee and food to the homeless, give them a space to sit in his cafe.”
“And?”
“He’s a wonderful dad. I’ve seen him with his two-and-a-half-year-old, and she adores him. He’s had her in the toddler carrier while he was working a few times when his childcare bailed.” It was more than what Dani thought she would tell Evelyn. But alone in the carriage with Evelyn, it was as if they were two best friends gossiping over coffee, despite the age difference. It felt...nice. Human. Dani pulled into another stop and checked her watch. Ahead of schedule, she opened the doors and kept them open while she waited.
“A father! Is he a married man?”
Dani shook her head as she turned toward Evelyn. “Nah. Pepper is just one of the girls that work at the cafe, and she told me that his wife ran off not long after their kid was born.”
“Oh, that’s sad.”
“Yeah.”
“So,” Evelyn leaned forward, putting weight in her cane as she peered at Dani. “Do you think he’s interested in you?”
“Well, he always makes my coffee, even if he’s not the barista on duty.” Dani chewed her lip and let her gaze wander. Anywhere but meeting Evelyn’s. He was interested. Once.
“So how come you haven’t done anything about it?”
Dani looked up at last. The elder woman’s face was gentle, kind.
“I don’t know. I guess I wasn’t sure when I would have time for a date. And the moment’s kind of passed. Two months back, he slipped me his phone number in the back of my receipt, but I never called or made a move. He’s probably moved on.”
There was understanding in Evelyn’s eyes as she nodded. “How do you know if you don’t ask?”
Dani opened her mouth, then shut it again with a shrug. “I guess.” Another glance at her watch told her it was time to move on. She shifted in her seat, closed the doors and pulled out of the stop. Evelyn didn’t follow up with a reply, as if she sensed that Dani needed space. The carriage grew quiet once more until Dani pulled into the last stop.
“Evelyn?” Dani looked back over her shoulder.
“Yes. Oh, right.” Evelyn startled as if she had fallen asleep before she looked behind her out the window. With more slowness than the previous night, she rose with her cane’s support. “Think about it, my dear. It doesn’t have to be a boyfriend but don’t let your job consume your life.” With that said, she stepped off the bus and walked off without giving a chance for Dani to reply.
“Quad shot Americano.”
Dani looked up from her phone just in time to catch Hiro’s gorgeous smile, and her heart skipped a beat even as she tucked the phone back in her pocket. Evelyn’s words from last night echoed in her mind. Perhaps it was time to cut back on the number of shifts. She had been too willing to take on overtime and was getting run down.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
A flush crept up her cheeks and she shook her head clear. “Sorry. Thanks, Hiro.”
“Are you okay?”
Damn him and those beautiful eyes that seemed to see right through a person. Too tongue-tied to speak, she gave a single nod. Meanwhile, her heart only seemed to speed up more, pounding in her chest as if begging for escape.
Or for her not to do it.
“Dani?”
She could almost sense Pepper’s gaze on her from a distance.
“Would you be interested in going out with me sometime?” she blurted out in one breath, the words slurring into each other.
Hiro stared at her, his shock clear by the way his brows arched and the way his lips parted a smidgen. Dani could imagine kissing those lips. Not an appropriate thought right now!
Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Now I’ve done it.
“Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I should go.” Dani grabbed her drink and spun around, almost spilling the hot liquid on herself.
“Dani, wait!”
She turned, unsure if her cheeks could grow any hotter, and sucked in a breath at what she saw. Hiro was smiling again, his entire face animated with joy. “I would like that a lot. Would Saturday work for you?”
“Let me check my shift schedule and get back to you?” She squeaked. Why was her voice so squeaky?
Hiro nodded. “Still have my number?”
Dani nodded. Yup, her cheeks definitely could—and did—get hotter. “Yeah, I do.”
“Good.”
The warmth with which he regarded her stole her breath away and the heat from her face travelled down her body. Dani stood there, transfixed and reluctant to walk away until suddenly, her phone blared out an obnoxious tone. Jolted out of the moment, she scrambled to turn off its alarm. She has set it up as a backup warning for when she had to be on her way after the previous day’s fiasco, but now she almost regretted it.
“I should get going.” Dani gestured over her shoulder with the hand holding the phone.
“Hey boss,” someone called out from the backroom.
“Yeah, I should go.” Hiro mimicked her gesture.
“Okay.” Dani turned around and fled the scene. She felt it happening without her control; a lop-sided grin stretched up into her cheek, threatening to become permanently affixed to her face.
As night rolled around and she pulled up to stop 11568 again, Dani saw that Evelyn wasn’t there waiting. She wanted to tell the old lady that she did it, that she took her advice and now had a date planned. With a sigh, she glanced at her watch. Okay, I can afford to wait another two minutes.
Light rain misted the night air for the first time in days, although it didn’t warrant turning on the wipers yet. Perhaps that was why Evelyn didn’t come tonight.
The waiting, however, paid off. Evelyn shuffled down the sidewalk and took her time stepping on to the bus. Dani’s eyes widened in alarm. This was far from the spriggy and mischievous woman who had boarded her bus the last two evenings. Instead, Evelyn looked pale and weak.
“Are you all right?” Dani asked, afraid of the answer.
“Hmm? Oh yes, yes; don’t you worry my dear. Just feeling my age tonight.” Evelyn settled in her usual seat and looked up at her. “You, however, look positively glowing. Tell me the good news.”
“I asked Hiro ou
t. We have a date next week.” Dani reported, although she followed Evelyn with her gaze, worried that she was going to faint any minute.
“Good.” With a tired yawn, Evelyn leaned back against her seat. Dani’s concerns must have shown on her face, for Evelyn waved her off. “Don’t you worry about me. Drive on.”
“Okay.” Dani turned to pull the lever that closed the door and drove the bus away from the curb and into the street.
Silence settled in and for a while, Dani thought Evelyn may have fallen asleep. That was until she spoke up.
“I think this may be my last night.”
Alarmed by the finality of the statement, Dani frowned. ‘what do you mean?’
“Ah, I’ve been going over to visit my son at night. My granddaughter has been having night terrors and her father needs sleep so he will be awake for his job during the day. So, I thought I’d go help keep the wee one calm.”
It was a strange arrangement. “What about her mother?”
For the first time, Evelyn sounded angry. “The one that gave birth to her left as soon as she could. Ran off with some other man. Broke my boy’s heart. She’s no mother to my granddaughter.”
Ouch. Dani made a mental note to avoid that topic. Still, it was odd for an old woman to stay awake overnight. Then again, Dani didn’t have kids, so who was she to judge? She made a slight affirmative noise to show she was listening.
Evelyn let out a long sigh. “But these nighttime visits are draining me, and I don’t think I’ll be able to go over anymore. Hopefully the babe will sleep better now.”
With no passengers tonight, Dani was still required to wait at scheduled stops. As she stopped the bus, she glanced at Evelyn.
“You know,” Evelyn started again, this time wistfully as she stared out the window. “They’re my biggest regret.”
The urge to go sit next to Evelyn and hold her hand was great, but Dani remained in her seat although she released the buckle. Evelyn let out a long sigh.
“That righteous anger is rather hypocritical of me though.”
Dani shifted in her seat and leaned forward. “How so?”