“Thank you, Marcus. Are you still practicing?”
She was even prettier than he remembered. She had lost her Mississippi accent in the last nine years.
“Yes, I am. The practice is doing quite well. I’ve added a few new associates since I last saw you. Why?” Marcus smiled. “Do you need a lawyer?”
“No, Marcus, I don’t think a lawyer is what I need right now.” Yvonne replied as she walked to the registers. Once she paid for her hair color she turned to Marcus. “It was great seeing you, Marcus. Maybe I’ll see you again while I’m in town.”
Marcus took out his wallet and gave Yvonne his card.
“Give me a call and maybe we can have dinner or a drink.”
“I’d like that.” Yvonne said, but she knew she wouldn’t be around long enough to take him up on it. Nine years ago she had what she called a schoolgirl crush on Marcus. She tucked his card in her p
urse. “Good night, Marcus.”
While the cashier scanned his items, Marcus watched Yvonne as she walked out of the store. She started walking through the parking lot when she noticed two men standing by her car. She stopped dead in her tracks and looked around the parking lot. There was nobody in sight. She looked around again. When she saw Marcus coming out of the store, she walked toward him quickly.
“Marcus!” she called, just as he reached his car.
“Hello again.” Marcus said, his smile growing.
“I was wondering about your offer for that drink. If maybe I could take you up on it?”
“Sure. You’ve got my card; just give me a call and we’ll get together anytime you’re free.”
Yvonne looked back at the two men standing by her car.
“Actually, I was talking about now. That is if you’re not busy.”
Marcus looked at Yvonne curiously. “No,” he said slowly. “I’m not doing anything right now.”
“Good.” Yvonne said and walked around to the passenger side of the car.
“What about your car?”
“Ahh, it’s not … it will be alright here for a while.” She got in quickly. Marcus closed her door, shrugged his shoulders, and got in on the driver side. He started the car and started out of the parking lot.
As they passed her car, Yvonne dropped her purse and busied herself picking up the contents until they were well on their way.
I don’t think they saw me, Yvonne thought.
She looked out the back window, and there didn’t appear to be anyone following, although she couldn’t be sure. Yvonne looked at Marcus and smiled as he drove, and continued to look behind her.
“Is everything all right, Mrs. Haggler?”
“Huh? Oh, everything is fine. Where are we going?”
“There’s an Applebee’s not too far from here.”
“Applebee’s? Isn’t there someplace a little more quiet? So we can talk and get reacquainted.”
“I’m staying at a Residence Inn not too far from here. I think they have a bar.”
“Sounds good to me. Mind if I ask why you’re staying at a Residence Inn?”
“It’s a long story, Mrs. Haggler.”
“Yvonne, you can call me Yvonne.”