Page 21 of Never Too Late

“Oh hey, Idah. I didn’t realise you were working today. I thought it was your day off. What are you doing here?” Jackie shouts over from the counter.

“Hey, no. I’m not working today. Just went to take some flowers to Lottie with a friend. I was on my way back so thought I’d call in. Wasn’t feeling like going home to a lonely flat just yet. Can I help with anything?”

“Don’t be silly, love. I’m fine, we're quiet today anyway. Go sit yourself down and get comfy, I’ll bring you over a drink and a sandwich…” I stop and pause for a second. Jackie never offered me a sandwich. Looking up from my kindle I glance over.

“Dax, don’t act like you didn’t just give me that look. I’m already making you one. I know I don’t need to ask you. Idah I’m not sure if you’ve met Dax already, he owns the record store with his brother.”

“Yep. Fully aware of him and his brother. Can’t forget if I wanted to,” Idah replies with her head dug inside her bag. She soon stands straight after pulling a notepad and pen out.

Fuck.

I can only stare dumbfounded at her response.

“Why don’t you go take a seat at the table with Dax, I’ll bring your things over to you,” Jackie suggests, already making her way out back to where the kitchen area is.

“Okay, thanks,” Idah replies quietly, not much louder than a whisper.

Automatically my body tenses up, I’m not used to being around people often and I try to avoid interactions with others as much as possible when outside the store. But as she is already on her way over to the table, there’s nothing I can do about it. Instead, I smile her way and place my Kindle back in the pocket on the inside of my jacket, promising to return back to the world I can get lost within as soon as I can.

“Hey, Idah, I just want to apologise for the way things went with my brother and in the store. I’m sorry if either of us made you feel uncomfortable – that wasn’t our intention at all. As you can imagine we don’t often come across people our own age around here, it’s more of a pensioners’ town if you haven’t already noticed. Just kinda throws us off seeing people our age, you know? Doesn’t help that Ty will flirt with anyone who has a pulse.”

“I’m not sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult.”

I can’t help but smirk at her reply, one because I don’t blame her for having that reaction, and two, I’d love to see the face on him if he were to hear her say that. “Smart. Anyway, you have nothing to worry about with him I don’t think. He is a flirt, but he means well, he’s harmless. I told him you’re not interested anyway, I mean, I don’t know if you are, I’m sorry if I’ve overstepped.”

“No, you’re right, I’m not. I’m not interested in guys, anyway. I’m not afraid to say it, I’m comfortable with who I am. It just never came up in the conversation. But don’t worry. Thanks for saying something, though. He seems harmless, I wasn’t offended. I was just taken back, you know. Haven’t really been around many people since what happened with my girlfriend.” She coughs. “Erm, ex-girlfriend. I just feel overwhelmed at times. Often feel like I need to escape situations when I feel uncomfortable.” She awkwardly looks around me, trying to focus her attention on anything other than myself.

Well, that’s one feeling I can relate to.

“Nice sunflowers anyway. You said you went to see Lottie. Sorry, I didn’t mean to be listening to your conversation. She’s your ex, right? Are you still friends?”

“You could say that, I guess. As close as can be. I go take her fresh flowers every other day. A friend has offered to do it if it becomes too much for me. That’s where I’ve just come from, actually. We went for a walk and went and spoke to her for a while.”

Idah stops mid-conversation as her phone ringtone cuts her off and she takes the phone from her pocket.

“Hi, Jae,” she says as she answers the phone, and the name she says sends chills down my spine. I start to cough, almost choking while drinking after hearing her say the one name I didn’t expect to hear again. She quickly pulls the phone away from her face, covering the microphone, “Take it easy, here, I have a bottle of water I haven’t opened, take a sip.” Already sliding it over the table towards me before turning back to her phone call. “Yeah, sorry, I’m fine. I’ve just come to the coffee shop for a sit down. I’ll let you know when I’m home. Thank you again for coming with me… Yeah, that’s fine. Okay. Bye.”

Jae.

Idah also has a Jae.

Jae is a common name, right?

Because it couldn't be my Jae. No, he’s not mine anymore. I can’t call him that.

“Speak of the devil. That was him, he was making sure I’d gotten home okay. It’s good knowing someone else is new in the area. It’s been really nice getting to know him actually, he's been really helpful, seems to know a lot more about this place than I do,” she hesitantly replies, putting her pen onto paper, writing away.

Jae. Jae. Jae. There’s got to be a million people with that name. It can’t be who I think it is.

It can’t.

“He’s new to town, did you say? I haven’t met a Jae yet. I used to know someone with the same name, that’s interesting.” My lips start to tremble. My voice almost a whisper by the end of my reply.

“Yeah, he mentioned that someone he used to know introduced him to this place a while back. I think he’s struggling with something too. It’s nice not to struggle alone,” she continues, oblivious to my spiraling.

My body freezes as I take hold of the dog tags around my neck and squeeze.

I squeeze harder and harder and harder, pulling at the chain with such force I’m surprised it doesn’t snap from around my neck.

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