by Annora Green
The Little Cafe, on the other hand, was thriving, and in the past years had developed somewhat of a cult following. Ari had opened an online store to sell her uniquely sourced blends of coffee beans, and even a subscription box to the cafe’s devotees that was mailed out once a month.
In the space upstairs from the cafe, Rachel owned a yoga studio. She had “retired” from party planning, insisting after a 30th birthday trip to India that she had found a new calling in life. The combination of a coffee shop downstairs and a yoga studio upstairs proved to be an irresistible draw for many in the neighborhood.
With Rachel occupied with her new profession, Sophia gave Ari a hand from time to time at The Little Cafe, creating new sandwiches, salads and desserts. Strawberry turnovers were in regular rotation.
And now, they were planning a trip, just the two of them, in part so Sophia could get her mind off of Percy’s absence, as well as to celebrate their successes.
Sophia also had something else in mind.
“I’m leaning towards Argentina,” Ari said aloud. “I think it’s got a bit of everything we’ll want to see and do on vacation. Outdoor stuff and art for me, culture and fashion for you.
“That’s fine with me. My father’s family is actually from there,” Sophia said.
“Really?” Ari asked. “Wait... maybe you mentioned that to me once.”
Sophia nodded.
“Does that mean... do you speak Spanish?”
Sophia nodded again. “Of course.”
Ari stared at her, amazed. “You learn something new everyday.”
Sophia laughed. “It’s a little rusty, but it will work. I’m better at Spanish than Icelandic.”
Ari’s mouth dropped. “You speak Icelandic?”
Sophia laughed. “No. I’m joking, dear. I’ve limited myself to just Spanish and French as second languages.”
“Don’t forget the language of love,” Ari joked lamely.
“La distancia más corta entre dos lenguas es una lengua,” Sophia said.
“I have no idea what you just said, but it sounded ridiculously sexy,” Ari responded.
Sophia raised her eyebrows and took Ari’s hand. “You have no idea how sexy it is. But you soon will.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll see. By the way, a highly effective way in which to learn a new language is in bed,” Sophia said, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.
“Suddenly I’m way more interested in learning languages,” Ari said, playing along.
¨°¨
On the trip, Ari had wanted to go backpacking in the mountains, which Sophia vehemently protested.
“Be my guest, but you will never get me in hiking boots,” she said. “I’ll stay in the hotel room with a glass of wine.”
They compromised by taking a horseback ride through the foothills, which overlooked endless acres of land covered in vineyards. They were deep in the heart of the winemaking region of Argentina, and as they were visiting in November, spring was in full bloom.
At the end of the day, they both collapsed in their room at a luxury resort overlooking the vineyards, exhausted but elated.
“Don’t fall asleep too long,” Sophia said sleepily to Ari, who was closing her eyes next to her. “I have reservations for dinner.”
“What time?”
“10.”
“10?”
“It’s the time they eat dinner here,” Sophia said sleepily, before they both drifted off into their naps.
Sophia woke up around 8, and busied herself getting ready for dinner. She glanced over at Ari sleeping at one point, the familiar sight of her radiant blonde hair splayed across the pillow, her cheeks flushed from the day in the fresh air and sun. She looked lovely, truly glorious, thought Sophia, pausing.
Sophia walked over to her carry on bag. There, in a tucked-away zipper, she had stored a little ring, carrying it carefully from home on the planes and cars they had taken to get here, to their remote escape.
She put it in her evening bag.
¨°¨
There was live music at the restaurant. Sophia had been careful to choose a place that would be special. She did not want it to feel too uptight or make Ari uncomfortable, but at the same time, she wanted it to be memorable, unique. They were seated in a courtyard behind the restaurant, with a fire in the middle of the outdoor space and strings of fairy lights all around them. The food was fresh, the wine flowed freely, and the music lent it the relaxed, cheerful vibe that Sophia had hoped for.
They were seated near a fountain, too, which Sophia felt lent a nice touch.
“Arianna?” Sophia asked after they ordered.
“Yes?” Ari asked.
“You’ve always been so supportive of me.”
“And you’ve been supportive of me,” she replied quickly.
“I know. But when I moved to France, it was hard. I knew I was ending our relationship. And yet you were encouraging me to go.”
“It seems like so long ago now,” Ari said. “You were gone nearly two years, but it’s already been over two years since you returned.”
“I never expected you to still be around, much less still interested in reconnecting with me, when I got back,” Sophia sighed.
Ari smiled and shrugged. “But I was.”
“I was so lucky,” Sophia said. “I was so grateful for the second chance. Those two years were so important. They allowed me to realize what my life would be like once I got the career I’d always wanted and had dreamt of. But they also realized what a tragic, empty feeling it was to live a life without someone to truly share it with. And vice versa, to not have someone else whose life you can participate in. To not have another world you are a part of, to not have your horizons broadened in that way.”
Sophia paused. There were tears in her eyes. She was not expecting that. She had thought, a million times, about what she was going to say, but tears had never been a part of the plan. She took a moment to take a breath, to collect herself, to get what she was about to say back on track.
Meanwhile, Ari took Sophia’s hand and squeezed it. “Sophia... where is this coming from?”
“Arianna, I adore you. I have since I saw you outside that one morning before Christmas when I got mad at you, I have since you stood up to me at that town meeting, I have since you visited my house and it was raining and you brought me that bottle of wine and we shared it before dinner. I cherish that night, in Vegas, next to the fountain, and I love that we’re sitting next to another fountain right now because it reminds me of how beautiful that moment was. I cherish every second we have had together and I cherish the thought of every second we will, hopefully, have in the future.”
Sophia paused, reached into her purse, and took out a small box.
Ari’s mouth dropped slightly open at the sight of the box, but she did not say anything.
“Will you do me the honor...?” Sophia asked, and before she could get the rest of the words out, her voice caught in her throat, and Ari’s cheeks flushed and a smile crossed her face and her eyes turned watery too.
Ari nodded, half-stood up, and leaned across the table to kiss Sophia.
“Of course,” she laughed, pressing her forehead to Sophia’s after the kiss, smiling.
Sophia laughed in relief, elated, and handed her the ring box. Ari opened it, revealing a simple diamond solitare.
She tried it on. It fit perfectly.
“There’s only one condition,” Ari said a few seconds later.
“What?” Sophia asked.
Ari smiled at her. “That you finally stop paying for coffee every time you come into to The Little Cafe.”
Sophia smiled, leaned over and kissed Ari.
“I could get used to that.”
About the Author
Annora Green has spent over a decade writing for newspapers, new media publications and corporate communications. Annora has a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from McGill University, Quebec, and a Master of Adult Educatio
n from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia. Born in Chicago and raised in the Great Lakes State, she now divides her time between Montreal, Canada and her hometown in Michigan.Lattes & Lace is her first published novel.
You can visit her at www.annoragreen.com
