by Karen Pokras
“And I didn’t take any music classes,” Tessa told him. “But small world, isn’t it? So what was your career plan? Did you have visions of becoming a big time rock star? The next Paul McCartney perhaps?”
Todd shook his head and smirked. “See, now you sound like my mother. That’s exactly what she asked me. The answer was, I had no idea. I just knew I loved making music. Period. Past that, I seriously had no clue how a music degree would help me. Eventually, I realized I could play music without a fancy piece of paper signed by the university president. However, I knew I probably wouldn’t be able to support myself that way. So I dropped out of the music school and declared finance as my major. I’m not really sure why I picked it to be honest, except my roommate at the time was a finance major, and he seemed to like it. I know, not exactly the preferred method for picking one’s path in life, but here I am. It all seemed to have worked out okay.”
“I suppose you must have liked it since you’ve stuck with it.”
“I got lucky,” he said. “After some initial grunt jobs.”
“Like slinging burgers?” Tessa joked.
“Right,” he laughed. “Like slinging burgers. Well, after that, I really just was in the right place at the right time. I’ve been fortunate with how things turned out. What’s that saying? Timing is everything? I guess I had fate on my side.”
“I used to be a big believer in fate,” she said, looking away.
“Not so much anymore, I take it?”
Shaking her head, she felt the sting of tears starting to form. Time to change the subject and quickly. “Do you still play guitar and piano?” she asked, forcing a smile.
“No. Sadly, I haven’t picked up my guitar in ages or sat behind a piano.”
“Why not?”
“Work. Life. I’ve been so wrapped up in other things. Talking about rates of returns and stock yields all day hardly gets my creative juices flowing. Maybe I need some new inspiration. Like tonight—tonight has been very inspirational.” Even in the dim lighting, she could see a hint of a sparkle shining through his eyes.
“But we were sitting here talking about rates of return and stock yields,” she reminded him, grateful for the low lighting. She could feel her cheeks getting flushed from his comment.
“Well, somehow coming from you, they seem so much more interesting.” He reached across the table placing his hands over hers. A warm surge swept through her body.
She tried to steady her breathing and was grateful that he only held the top of her hands, as her palms were a sweaty mess. When the waitress came by, he let go, giving Tessa the opportunity to take another sip of her coffee before discreetly wiping her hands in her napkin.
“Can I get you two anything else?” she asked.
“No, I think we’re all set,” Todd replied. “Just the check, please.” Turning to Tessa, he said, “I’m sorry we missed the play. It’s such a nice night. Would you like to go for a walk in town?”
“That would be great,” she replied, putting her hand back on the table. She waited for him to take it again, but the waitress promptly returned with the bill. She was grateful when he slid several bills in the leather folder without flinching. “Would you excuse me for a moment?” she asked. “I just need to check in with my sister to make sure Sophie is okay.”
“Of course. Take all of the time you need. I’ll wait for you by the front door.”
“Thank you.”
Picking up her phone, she waited until he was far enough away and dialed Holly’s number.
“How’s it going?” her sister asked as soon as she answered.
“Hello to you, too,” Tessa replied laughing. “It’s going good.” She knew Holly probably wanted every detail, but didn’t want to waste time at the moment since Todd was waiting for her. “I’ll fill you in later. How’s Sophie?”
“Fast asleep. I wore her out.” She tried to stifle a yawn as she talked.
Tessa laughed. “You mean she wore you out.” Peeking around the corner, she could see that Todd had his back to her and was gazing out the front window. “Anyway, I’m probably going to be another hour or so. Is that okay? Feel free to crash on my bed or the couch if you want.”
“It’s no problem. Go have fun.”
“Thanks, Hol. I owe you one.”
“You owe me more than one, but that’s what sisters are for,” she replied. “Love you. Be safe.”
“Always. Love you, too.”
Chapter 19
Stars lit up the sky as Tessa and Todd made their way toward Forest Hills’ quaint downtown area. The streets were crowded for a Tuesday night, with people out window shopping and enjoying the comfortable temperatures, which were unseasonably warm for late February. Perhaps that old groundhog was wrong for once. They could use an early spring after the brutal winter they’d endured.
Despite the brief hand holding in the restaurant, Todd did not reach for her hand as they walked down the street. She didn’t know whether to feel disappointed or relieved. Scratch that … she definitely felt disappointed, although she wished she could be certain her palms were not sweaty. She wiped them against her jacket just in case and hoped the warm breeze would take over to dry them off if necessary.
They managed to keep the conversation going while strolling along. Todd asked if Sophie was okay at home with her sister, and Tessa asked if he had a busy day at work tomorrow. They’d stop at shop windows occasionally to take note of items of interest and, of course, made the obligatory comments about the weather, mentioning what a nice night it was for winter on the east coast. Both seemed a bit nervous as to where, when, and how the walk would end.
“It’s been ages since I’ve been down this way,” Todd told her, looking around. “When I was in college, we used to come down here all of the time. There was a little pub, right here on this corner. The owner used to let me play guitar on Friday nights pretty regularly.”
“O’Grady’s,” Tessa replied, smiling. “I remember it. When I was in school, we used to come out to see a cute boy play guitar here on Friday nights.” She stopped in front of the pub that was now a flower shop to study his face. “You were the cute boy?”
“What do you mean were?” he teased, smirking just enough to bring out his dimples. “Are you saying I’m not cute anymore?”
“Yes,” she replied. “I mean no.” She laughed. Oh, he was definitely still cute. “I mean … it’s funny I didn’t recognize you. We came out to see you all the time. You look so different now.”
“Wait a second.” He smoothed his hair back, fully exposing his forehead, and parted it on the other side. Then pulled a pair of tortoiseshell eyeglasses from his front pocket and put them on. He positioned his hands as if he were holding a guitar. “How about now?”
“Yes! The glasses are a little different, but there’s no doubt about it. You’re the cute boy with the guitar!”
“I wear contacts now,” he said, pulling off the glasses and fixing his hair back the way he wore it now. “And yes, the frames are different from the ones I wore back in college. These are actually some reading glasses I picked up in the pharmacy. Even with the contacts I need them for some things. Getting old is so much fun. I probably should have had them on before when we were looking at all those statements, but I left them at home.”
“Wow, I can’t believe I knew you back then … well, sort of. I don’t think we ever talked or anything. The pub was always so crowded. You really knew how to pack a house.”
“I don’t think it was me,” he said. “It was probably those happy hour prices. Fifty-cent drafts tended to bring college kids in. Even if it was only the crappy stuff in Dixie cups.”
“Well, I was there to see you, and now suddenly here we are, back at the pub. Of course, it’s a flower shop now, but still. We’re back at the same corner. Stuff like this always blows my mind. My sister, Holly, reconnected with someone she knew in high school years later, and they just got married.” She felt her cheeks getting flushed again. “I’
m going to shut up now.”
Todd grabbed a single pink rose from the canister of colorful flowers on the sidewalk and handed the man a dollar bill.
“For you,” he said, holding it out to Tessa.
She smiled. “Pink is my favorite color. Lucky guess?” she asked.
“Maybe,” he responded.
She looked down and blushed. “I hope you didn’t think when I brought up my sister getting married I was implying we were … Sometimes I say stuff without thinking first. I was just being silly.”
Putting his fingers under Tessa’s chin, Todd lifted her face back up. “No, not silly at all,” he said. “Remember what I said at dinner about being at the right place at the right time? That doesn’t just have to do with coincidence.”
“I told you. I don’t believe in that fate stuff anymore,” she said.
“What if I can convince you you’re wrong? What if I can convince you there’s a force that’s greater than you and me. Look around you, Tessa. Here we are standing outside the building of the place where we were first brought together. Only we never knew we were supposed to meet for some reason. It took all of these years to figure it out. Maybe fate was trying to tell us we weren’t ready yet, you know? You still had to have Sophie, and I still had to get my career started.”
Could that be true? Was this fate’s doing? She nodded slightly, unable to speak, mesmerized by his words, his eyes, his lips.
He continued, still keeping his hand softly resting under her chin. “But now fate brought us back together—to this spot. It means something. The right place at the right time ... I just happened to come to your office yesterday and wind up spending most of the day? Then we eat dinner at a restaurant that’s within walking distance from here? I didn’t plan that. My intention yesterday was to drop the statements off and leave. I actually had a busy day scheduled and kind of got in trouble for blowing off some important stuff.”
“I’m sorry about th—” Tessa started, but Todd put his fingers to her lips to stop her.
“No, it was meant to happen that way. The same way this was … again completely unplanned. We missed the play and decided to go on this walk, and now, here we are, at the place where maybe we were destined to meet all along years ago, but for some reason didn’t. I don’t think those are coincidences.”
“So what do we do now?” she asked, barely able to get the words out.
“I think I’m supposed to kiss you,” he replied, leaning in to Tessa’s waiting lips
Chapter 20
“That’s just the most romantic thing I think I’ve ever heard,” Holly said, once Tessa finally got home that evening and retold the events leading up to the kiss outside of what used to be O’Grady’s Pub. “You know me, I’m a big believer in fate and destiny. Why do you think I got so hung up on Ben when he suddenly reappeared everywhere in town after Ava’s wedding?”
“Um, because Jared turned out to be a complete loser? And, if I remember correctly, I’m the one who had to convince you it was fate that Ben kept showing up. You were the one who kept saying if anything the universe is trying to tell me I’m meant to be with Jared, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, how’d that work out for you?” She smirked and shook her head. “Funny how your memory seems to have changed over the years.”
“Oh, yeah, right. I can’t believe I actually wanted to marry that guy.” Holly shuddered. “Luckily, something kept nagging at me, telling me there was a reason Ben was back in my life. I just couldn’t shake it. Fate has a way of letting you know when the timing is just right.”
“That’s kind of what Todd said.”
“He sounds like a smart guy. A smart guy who believes in fate. So what happened after your magical kiss? Did the walls come back at record speed like they usually do to lock you in and throw away the key? Poor guy.”
Tessa rolled her eyes. “It was a nice date. I’m not saying I gave him a key, but the door is definitely unlocked at the moment.”
“Oh really?” Holly asked, raising her eyebrows. “And yet, here you are, still standing in one piece without the world crumbling around you. Dare I say you’re even smiling … glowing perhaps? Come on, you know I love it when you admit I’m right.”
“You were wrong about the doctor,” she said, grinning.
“Okay, well, I can’t win them all. However, you do have to admit that he got you back on the market, so in that respect, I was right.”
“How so?” Was Holly really going to stand there and rationalize that showing interest in a married man was a good thing?
“Because, before Dr. Sleazeball, you were just sitting home every night, not even willing to consider dating anyone anymore. I mean, you had a few dates here and there after Scott, but it’s been at least a year now since your last date if I remember correctly, and it wasn’t with anyone you even seemed remotely interested in. Anyway, the doctor, while not the most ideal candidate for you—”
“You can say that again,” Tessa mumbled.
Holly sighed. “I’m just saying he got your emotions stirring and open to dating again, that’s all. Otherwise, you probably wouldn’t have given this Todd guy the time of day, and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
Smiling, she nodded. “I suppose you’re right.”
“What was that? I didn’t get that,” her sister said, putting her hand to her ear.
Tessa sighed a loud, dramatic sigh. “I said perhaps you maybe could have been correct in this one situation.”
“Oh, wait a second.” Holly grabbed a piece of paper and pen out of her purse. “There are no witnesses here. Would you mind jotting that down for me, and then just sign and date at the bottom. Or anywhere on the paper.” She smiled wide as she handed both items over to her sister.
“I used to do this to you back when I was trying to get you and Ben together, didn’t I? I can now see I might have been a tad bit annoying.”
“Yes.” She grinned. “Paybacks are a bitch. Go ahead, I’m still waiting on that signature.”
“Don’t you have to get up early for work, Holly?” Tessa asked, gently pulling her out of her chair and pushing her toward the door.
“No,” she replied, picking up her purse and her coat on the way. “It’s really not that late. You still haven’t told me what happened after the kiss. When you called from the restaurant, you said you’d be home in an hour, and now it’s three hours later. A lot can happen in three hours. Care to share?”
“What? What’s that, Ben? Yes, your wife’s on her way home right now.” Tessa opened her front door and eased her sister out into the hallway.
“Come on, sis. I live four miles away. You can’t hear Ben calling for me. I’d tell you! You know I would.”
“Thanks again for watching Sophie, Hol. I really do appreciate it. Be careful getting home. Love you.” She softly closed the door, leaving her sister standing in the hallway of her apartment building.
“Love you, too!” Holly called from the other side. “And glad you had a great date!”
Standing with her back against the door, Tessa couldn’t help but smile. After the kiss that had left her both speechless and breathless, Todd did in fact take her hand in his again. They walked until the end of the strip of shops, stopping occasionally to sneak into a back alley for more kisses. When the shops ran out, they followed the path along the river, finding a bench to sit on where they talked, held hands, and kissed some more. The path eventually looped back around to where their cars were parked at The Urban Bistro.
“I can’t ever remember feeling like this after a first date,” Todd had said, cupping Tessa’s face in his hands before lowering his lips down to meet hers once more.
She melted under his touch, trying to savor the feel of his lips, knowing the evening was coming to an end. Was he going to ask her out again? She hoped a second date would be in their future. She wouldn’t have to wait long to find out.
“Can I see you again?” he asked, pushing her hair out of her eyes.
“Yes,�
�� she said softly, trying to maintain her balance. Just the slightest touch of his hands on her face made her knees weak.
“I’m free this weekend. Would Friday night be okay? Maybe we can actually make it to a play this time.” He smiled, leaning in to nip playfully at her curled back lips.
“That sounds perfect,” she replied as he straightened back up.
Holding her door open, he gave her another tender kiss just before she slid into the driver’s seat.
“Until Friday then,” he said, blowing her a kiss as she started her engine and drove away.
Chapter 21
“O-kay, these weren’t here five minutes ago,” Tessa said to herself quietly as she walked into her office upon coming back from the restroom. She bent down to smell the enormous bouquet of assorted pink flowers sitting in a beautiful crystal vase in the middle of her desk, which a delivery person must have left when she stepped out momentarily. Taking in the amazing aroma, she spotted the small card sticking out among the sea of pink petals and picked it up to read.
Can’t stop thinking about you.
“He didn’t sign it,” she said, bending down once more to take another whiff, although it really wasn’t necessary, as the fragrance had now filled the room. “They must be from—”
“Must be from me?” the voice said, finishing her sentence.
“Oh shit, you startled me!” Tessa exclaimed as Todd entered her office. Jumping back, she nearly knocked over the entire bouquet. She put her hand on her chest as if that would control her erratic heartbeat. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, the business excuse is I found some more statements to drop off. But, the truth is, I couldn’t wait until Friday to see you again. And since it appears Mr. Abbott is once again out of the office …” He stepped forward and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her in for a kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
