“Once again, the finger.”
“Anyway, I need to go. I’m a busy and important woman with things to do.”
Like coming up with a six-letter word for “Zen enlightenment.”
“Fine,” William said. “See you Wednesday.”
And with that, they hung up.
Ugh! Fuck Zen enlightenment!
Needing a break from the crossword, Vanessa decided to finally get around to reading the day’s news. Opening the site of the local paper on her tablet, she immediately discovered an item about how the San Diego County supervisors were considering allowing places like restaurants and coffeeshops to reopen for customers again provided the amount of new Covid cases did not exceed a certain threshold by Friday and that establishments continued following health protocols by limiting the amount of customers in their places at one time and enforcing social distancing of their patrons.
No way!
Just below that piece, was another one stating that Brawn Brothers, the coffeeshop a few blocks away from La Vida Mocha, had not only been heavily fined again for continuing to allow large groups of guests to congregate on their patio as well as inside their establishment, but had also been ordered to shut down until a hearing before the Carlsbad City Council during which their license to operate would be up for discussion.
The news had made Vanessa to do a little happy dance and yell out, “Ha! Ha! Suck it, Brawn Brothers!”
It occurred to her that this explained why La Vida Mocha’s morning had been so busy; far more so than it had been in long time. Apparently, all those former Brawn Brothers customers still needed their caffeine fix. That sudden onslaught had run Vanessa ragged, and more than once she had wished for Chloë’s presence, but it was worth it. La Vida Mocha’s morning receipts were quite healthy.
Now, nearing one o’clock, things had been still for a while. She’d had a few more lunchtime visitors but that was it. If things stayed true to pandemic form, she wouldn’t see her next round of customers until three o’clock or so.
Just then, the bell over the door dinged.
Spoke too soon…
Looking up, she expected to see another random stranger just popping in for a whatever to go, but was left breathless when she saw Megan.
“Oh my God!” Vanessa said, coming around the counter to the seating area. She met Megan near one of the empty tables. Being this close to her again was making Vanessa’s heart palpitate, especially when Megan’s scent of vanilla and cherry blossoms reached her nostrils.
“How are you?” Vanessa asked.
Megan rolled her eyes, a habit Vanessa was learning she liked because she did it so theatrically.
“Just had lunch with my mom,” she said. “I ended it when she told me that a lesbian couple we saw really should try harder to find some men.”
“No!” Vanessa was laughing. “Awkward.”
“So, I’m here wondering if you have any available men for me to choose from?” Megan made a show of looking around. “Hmm…nope, no men; guess I’ll remain gay.”
Vanessa laughed.
“Anyway, I have a boring meeting this afternoon and will definitely need some caffeine; so, here I am.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m allowed to legally peddle what probably should be considered a controlled substance by now,” Vanessa joked.
“I have a confession,” Megan said. “Halfway here I debated on whether to stop by so soon after yesterday. I didn’t want to seem stalker-ish.”
Vanessa wanted to tell Megan that if she could hand-pick a stalker, it would be her.
Instead, she said, “Are you kidding? I’m glad you’re here.” That last sentence came out throatier than Vanessa intended, hungrier, and she blushed a bit, hoping Megan didn’t notice. “Besides, you’re expected to keep my business afloat with all those Americanos, remember?”
“I haven’t forgotten! I cleared out my savings account to afford your exorbitant prices, madam, so start brewing, please.” She paused and held Vanessa’s gaze. “But I have another confession. I would have come by here even if you sold hubcaps, just so I could see you and say hello.”
Vanessa felt her breath hitch.
“Well, it’s good to know that if I lose the coffeeshop I can still lure you with hubcaps,” she said. “And on a day full of good news so far, the fact that you wanted to see me so soon is the best news I’ve gotten.”