Page 9 of A First Sight

Except, when she reappeared five minutes later, it hit me like a punch to the gut. The same lips and smile. Fair skin. Even her eyes were the same shade of turquoise.

Our Scottish culture, like many others, was one rich with stories of magic and the supernatural, and while I respected that, I was never one to believe in it. At this moment, however, thoughts of ghosts and the wee folk came flooding into my mind, the shock taking me back to a childhood place where most anything was possible.

I shifted in my seat as she went by, desperate to keep her in sight for just a few moments longer. By angling my chair, I could watch as she took a seat across from a man with reddish-brown hair a few shades off from my dark auburn. I couldn’t see much of his face, but I wasn’t interested in him.

They were too far away for me to hear them, and I couldn’t see more of her unless I completely turned around, but I wasn’t so far gone as to do that. Still, as I motioned for a waiter to bring my check, I was all too aware of every movement the young woman made. There weren’t many. She was still, contained as if she didn’t want to draw too much attention to herself. I could have told her that was impossible. Mine wasn’t the only head to turn when she walked by.

After paying my bill, I continued to nurse my coffee until the couple was getting ready to leave. When they stood, I did the same, surprising myself. I wasn’t an impulsive person, but my actions didn’t seem to be my own at the moment. I pulled on my jacket as I followed them from the restaurant. Had I gone mad? This was pointless. What did I intend to do when they got into their car or hailed a cab? Behave as if I was in some sort of action film and chase after them? To what end?

Except they didn’t go into the parking garage nor wave for a cab. The man put his arm around the woman’s waist in the sort of possessive gesture I recognized. There was no mistaking. They were a couple. Still, I walked. We passed a few businesses, but they didn’t pause until they stood in front of a place I hadn’t noticed before.

The Huntsaid the sign above the door and a rather large man stood in front. A bar or a club. I enjoyed going to a pub with friends once in a while, but it had been a long time since I stepped foot inside an actual club.

I handed money to the man at the door and followed the couple inside. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust before I scanned the area to find her. With it being a Tuesday night, the place wasn’t full, making it easy to spot the pair. They were at the bar. After a momentary hesitation, I started in that direction.

I kept a few feet between us at the bar, pretending I was looking at the crowd rather than a single person. She had her back to me at the moment, but I could still see her face in my mind. Of course, I could because it was Belle’s face.

“What can I get you?” The bartender’s question distracted me.

“Scotch,” I said. “The best you have.”

I handed over my credit card, and he nodded. While this place was far from a dive, I had my doubts about what theirbestwould be, but I wasn’t here for the alcohol.

While not overpowering, the music was loud enough that I couldn’t hear the conversation between the couple, but I could tell it was mostly one-sided from the way the man’s mouth never stopped moving. Even when he wasn’t looking at her, he was talking.

I thanked the bartender for my drink and sipped it. Not bad, although a far cry from the batch Uncle Ben had gotten from Shannon’s.

The man set down his empty glass and took her hand, leading her to the dance floor. This wasn’t a first date, I could tell.

I didn’t know why that thought entered my mind. I had no intention of approaching her. How long they’d been together, and the status of their relationship, was none of my business.

And yet, I couldn’t help but wonder about them. About her. How they met. If they were married. Engaged. Only a few months into their relationship. Had they met each other’s families? Made plans for their future? Were they discussing having a family? Did they already have one?

The last question hit me hard.

This woman could be a mother, happily married for years, and I could only see my Belle.

I needed to leave. Silently wish her all the best and then forget about her.

But I couldn’t.

I wasn’t ogling her. Undressing her with my eyes and having thoughts I shouldn’t have about another man’s woman. She just reminded me so much of Belle.

And I hoped she was happy.

But what if she wasn’t?

I frowned.

I needed to know more before I could let the matter rest.

As if that was linked to the future Belle never had.

Logically, it made no sense. Perhaps logic would have won out on a normal day, but today wasn’t normal. The ghost of my lost love was too close for me to reason.

I took out my wallet and plucked out a hundred-dollar bill. The man had paid for their drinks with a credit card. All I needed was the name listed on that card, and I could take things from there. I was pretty sure the bartender would appreciate a nice tip in exchange for a name.

EIGHT

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