Page 5 of The Last Trip

The next day, I’m back. This time I don’t need to bump into her table or try any other trick to catch her attention. This time I have it right away.

The second I walk in the door, I find her. To my pleasant surprise, she’s already watching me. I smile and wave. Casual. Cool. Unaffected.

Without lifting her elbow from the table, she waves back. Just her fingers. Her lips curve upward with a small smile.

I cross the coffee shop, zigzagging through the long line on my way to her. “Fancy seeing you here,” I tease.

“I’m here every day.”

“Is that so?”

She tilts her cup toward me. “We work here, so we get everything for half off.” Her eyes narrow at me, crinkling near the corners endearingly. “Funny thing is, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen you in here until yesterday. You don’t exactly fit the vibe.” She gestures around.

I grin. “Yeah, I just happened to be in the neighborhood yesterday. Lucky me.”

Her dark brow quirks. “Lucky, hmm?”

“That I’ve made a new friend who can give me discounted coffee.”

It takes her a second to process what I’ve said, but once she has, she purses her lips with a quick shake of her head. “You’re going to be trouble, aren’t you?”

“Only if I’m lucky.” I place my hand on the table, waiting to see if she’ll send me away. “Where are your friends, by the way?”

She points across the room, toward the counter. “Mei is working, and Ava had an early class.”

“Class? Oh, you’re students?” I ask, feigning surprise.

She nods slowly. “Yeah. Are…you? I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere.” I can’t tell if she’s testing me to see if I’ll lie, but I will. I have to. It’s not time yet.

“No, no. Not a student.”

Not technically a lie. I’m proud of myself.

“Can I ask you something?”

She smiles, glancing down. “You just did.”

“Can I ask you something else?”

One shoulder rises with a shrug. “I don’t see why not.”

“Would you like to go out with me? Tonight?”

Her eyes dance between mine as I hold my breath, trying to read the rejection or acceptance before it comes. “Well, look at that. Guess you’re lucky after all.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

HER — PRESENT DAY

Cautious of the snow and possible ice, Calvin helps me up the stairs of the cabin, across the front porch, and inside before he returns to the car for our bags.

I slip my coat off, hanging it on the back of one of the dining room chairs as I look around. The place has clearly been cared for, despite being a vacation rental for those of us who need an escape from the city.

It reminds me vaguely of my home as a child. The furniture doesn’t match, and the decor is homey and simple, with wooden plaques of painted reminders to ‘Enjoy the little moments’ and that ‘Together is the best place to be.’ There’s a concrete statue of a cocker spaniel next to the fireplace in the living room, and the recliner and two sofas look worn but clean.

It’s the kind of home I always imagined raising my children in, though our home now feels more polished and less warm than this one. Calvin cares about keeping up appearances, and to be fair, the apartment is very neat and tidy, even if it feels a bit cold. A baby will change all of that. Soon, our white counters will be decorated with brightly-colored bottle racks and burp cloths, and our perfectly matching furniture will be mixed in withbouncers and rockers and playpens. Everything will change, and then it will feel right.

The door shuts behind me as Cal pushes the suitcases forward on their wheels and shivers dramatically. “Well, what do you think?” He pulls off his coat and hangs it on the chair next to mine before slipping a cautious arm around me. He doesn’t know if we’re okay yet, but the truth is, I don’t either. Soon, I hope we’ll be able to talk about it, but I don’t think I’m ready yet.

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