The Coffee Shop

by Lauren Hunter

  Annie looked up at him. “What?”

  “I was expecting you to say, uh-oh.”

  She laughed. “Okay, when you do that.”

  “Do what?” he asked.

  “That hesitating thing. That makes me very nervous, I’ll have you know,” she said.

  “Oh, so you’re a rip the Band-Aid off quickly type of girl.”

  “What?”

  “You know, when you — ”

  “Yes, I understand your meaning, I just…yes, you could say that I am.”

  “I was hoping you’d go away with me this weekend.” She didn’t speak but kept looking at her hand in his. “I was hoping to spend more than just a few hours with you at a time. Is that horrible of me to say?”

  “No.”

  She answered so quickly that he was a little surprised. “So you’re okay with me asking that?”

  “Just, don’t expect too much from me, okay?”

  “No, I understand.”

  “I just don’t want you thinking that if I do go…”

  “I won’t.”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m sure.” She looked away, and he tried to catch her gaze. “Hey, what is it?”

  “Nothing, I’m just over analyzing, as usual.”

  “So, what is it you are analyzing?”

  “Ah, I’m always doing that, it’s no big deal, really it’s not.”

  “I’d like to know.” She became quiet, and he found himself tensing in his chair.

  “It’s just that, I’m not sure you are.”

  “Hey, Annie, I would never do anything to make you feel uncomfortable or obligated. You do know that right?”

  “I guess I do.”

  “Do you? You do realize how much you mean to me, and I wouldn’t want to do anything to mess that up?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “But what?”

  “That’s the point exactly. You keep saying things like that. That I mean so much to you. So how can I expect anything less than you expecting more? And if I say yes, you’ll take that as an invitation to take our relationship to the next level.”

  “I’ll be honest, yes, I would like to be more serious in our relationship. Most guys would like things to move a lot faster than they usually do. But I know you, believe it or not, and I would never jeopardize what we have. I’m not a teenager any more. I do have some self-control, and patience.”

  Annie laughed.

  “What? Oh now you’re visualizing me as an out-of-control teenager?”

  “Something like that.” She leaned back in her chair and smiled at him. “Yes, I would love to go away with you this weekend.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “So, where are we going?”

  “Oh, that’s a surprise.”

  For a moment Annie became quiet. “As long as the words ‘party’ or ‘wedding’ aren’t involved in this little trip.”

  Derrick couldn’t help but chuckle. “Scout’s honor. The words ‘party’ or ‘wedding’ will not come up this weekend.”

  Chapter Eight

  Annie brought her scarf up over her face. “Did I mention that I hate the cold?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, I’m mentioning it now. I hate the cold.”

  “Well, we’re here now.”

  “Yes, we are, aren’t we? Where is here again?”

  “Ely, Minnesota. Why?”

  “Oh, I’m just imagining the headlines. Couple found frozen to death in lakeside cabin. Bodies discovered in late spring when the snow finally thawed enough for searchers to reach them.”

  “Now it’s not that bad, and as long as you are bundled up you should be fine.”

  “You mean like an Eskimo?”

  “Come on, I’ll get the fire going and you can sit in front of it with a piping hot cocoa and warm yourself up. How does that sound?”

  “Oh you have no idea how good that sounds right now.”

  Derrick laughed, and pulling up by the lake he unloaded the bags, carrying them in and setting them just inside the door.

  Annie stared up at the building before her. “Um, you call this a cabin?”

  “Yes, what would you call it?”

  “Uh, cabin is not the word that comes to mind. Huge mother of a house, maybe?”

  “You think so?”

  Annie turned and stared at Derrick.

  “I guess it’s bigger than your average place.”

  “Try many times the size. When you said cabin, I was imagining a tiny place with a potbellied stove and hand-hewn wood logs and, well, not this.”

  “I never thought about it. I had it built a number of years ago so I could get away from it all.”

  “Let me guess, you usually come here in the summer time right?”

  “I’ve come in the summer, but I’ve also come in the winter as well.”

  “So, you’ve come here in January before?”

  “Yes.”

  Annie nodded her head. “And you decided it was a good idea to repeat that experience?”

  “I guess I grew up with snow, and I’m used to it.”

  “I grew up with it too, and that’s why I hate it.”

  “So, why haven’t you moved to someplace like Hawaii?”

  “You know, right now I am asking myself that same question.”

  Derrick tried not to grin at her remark and closed the door behind her and pointed in the direction of the living area. “The fireplace is over there. The switch is just to the left of it on the wall.”

  Annie stared at him and walked into the living room, stopping before the fireplace. “A gas fire? You have a place on the lake, and you installed a gas fire?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  “Oh, I don’t know, something to do with the whole roughing it ambiance.” She turned to look up at the vaulted ceiling, a sweeping staircase rising up to rooms off a balcony that overlooked the living area. “Then again, the whole roughing it concept was obviously not part of this whole…” She paused.

  “Whole what?”

  “I don’t know. What would you call this?”

  “I never thought about it. I wanted a comfortable place, out of the way, where I could relax in peace and quiet. It never occurred to me to make it harder on myself.”

  “Harder?”

  “I come here to unwind and rest and relax. Having to chop wood, and then pile it and then keep carrying it in, and then starting the fire, and then constantly tending it to keep it going, well, that’s work. And I’m here to rest up, not create more work for myself.”

  “Okay, I see your point. It’s just a little weird is all.”

  “Weird, I’ll accept.” He drew his arms around her and smiled down at her.

  “You said something about hot cocoa?”

  “Oh, yes I did, didn’t I?”

  He felt like a kid on Christmas morning, and she smiled at his enthusiasm.

  Annie lowered her voice, sounding like a lumberjack. “Well, I’ll get the fire going.” As she flipped on the switch, it started with a whoosh. Standing before the fire, she pulled off her mitts. Holding out her hands before the fan, she waited to feel the heat. “You need any help in there?”

  “No. I’ve got it.”

  “Wait, we didn’t stop off at any store along the way. How is it you have milk? Oh please tell me it’s not that powdered stuff.”

  “No, I had someone come in and ready the place for the weekend.”

  “Oh, really. You do that often do you?”

  “Often enough.”

  “So, you bring girls up here all the time then?”

  “What?” Turning, he looked at her from the kitchen. “What makes you think I do that?”

  “Okay, this expression is going to get a lot of use before this weekend is over, but I’m going to use it anyway. You’re kidding, right?”

  “That’s what you think I use this for? Annie, you’re the first girl I have brought here. Sure, I’ve invited friends up, but it’s usually a gro
up, and no one is alone with me here. That is, until now.” Returning to the pot on the stove, Derrick stirred the milk and cocoa, waiting until it steamed, and he poured it into two cups and brought it into the living room. “It should be warm enough to take off your jacket and boots. I had them turn the heat on in advance so it would be warm by the time we got here.”

  Annie took one of the cups from him. “You thought of everything.”

  “All right, I know I had everyone else do all the work, but hey, I worked hard to get where I am, and now I can afford to pay someone else to do it. And you could look at it from the perspective that someone is earning a wage from these things I have them do. So, we both get something out of the arrangement.”

  “That’s true.”

  “So am I off the hook for not being the tough backwoods guy this weekend? I mean, you weren’t honestly expecting me to be lugging firewood and tending fires were you?”

  Annie shrugged.

  “You were.”

  “No, there’s nothing wrong with this. I just didn’t know you had a place like this. I was imagining, you know. This small place with…”

  “Yes, I know. Are you horribly disappointed?”

  “To tell you the truth, I am relieved!”

  Derrick practically spat out the cocoa he had just sipped. “What?”

  “I did this a couple of times, the whole cabin thing, and to be honest, I hated it. Sure it’s really beautiful, and peaceful and everything, but my poor dad worked so hard just to keep things going; it was anything but restful to him. But then mom and I did our share too. And camping, the idea of it is romantic, but actually doing it? People never stop to think out the everyday details, if you get my meaning. Now that is anything but nice. And where do you wash up? It’s not like you can carry the water in with you. No, that is for the true nature fanatic. People that really love the idea of being in nature and a part of it. People that don’t mind the disgusting, or inconvenient part of it. They love it. And I say good for them. But it’s just not for me. Call me a city girl wimp, if you have to, but I just ain’t doin’ it!”

  “Did you acquire some sort of an accent just now?”

  Annie grinned. “Sorry. Not sure where that’s supposed to be from.” Setting her cocoa down, she took off her jacket. She sat and crossed her legs in front of her. Picking up the cup of cocoa and cupping it in both hands, she held it close to her. “I used to be more ambitious, in my twenties, but lately, I just don’t want to go to all the extra effort, if I can avoid it. I know that sounds awfully lazy of me, but all that time spent on those everyday mundane things that could be used for something so much more important.”

  Derrick tossed his jacket over the back of the sofa and sat close to Annie, his body turned toward her, his elbow resting on the back of the sofa as he leaned his head against his hand. “Like what?”

  “Oh, that’s just it. Everybody has their own personal idea of what is really important, and to someone else it may not be important at all.”

  “So what’s important to you, Annie?”

  She smiled. “Good friends. A really good book. Finding the answer to a challenging question. A really good meal, shared with someone that you care about. Being in love with someone you feel you can trust.”

  Derrick looked down, and he took another sip of his cocoa. “Do you trust me?”

  She turned to him, as he looked deep into her eyes. “Yes, I do.”

  Derrick smiled to himself, and they both finished their cocoa in silence, each gazing at the flames over the fake logs. “Here, let me show you to your room.” Jumping up, he took the now empty cups back to the kitchen and rinsed them in the sink. Grabbing the suitcases, he headed up the stairs toward the balcony. Setting his own suitcase down before one door, he then walked to the next door and opened it, stepping inside.

  Annie stepped through the doorway, past him, and he smiled as she stared at the room. A brass bed with a white lace comforter sat between two large windows, framed in matching curtains. To the left there was a gas fireplace complete with mantel, and a cozy chair in the corner next to a table with a light. The snow from the outside lit up the room with this otherworldly glow.

  “Do you like it?”

  “It’s wonderful,” she said.

  He set her bag on the cushioned bench at the foot of the bed. “I’ll let you settle in and freshen up. If you want you can take a nap to rest up.”

  “If I didn’t know any better I would think you were trying to tell me something.”

  “Tell you something?”

  “That I’m old and stinky.”

  Derrick stared at her.

  “Okay, now I know I’m getting more comfortable with you. I’m sharing things that no polite person should ever say.”

  “So, you’re saying the closer people get the less polite they are?”

  “Some would describe it as more open and comfortable. But when you think about it, how many strangers would they ever do certain things in front of?”

  “Like what?”

  “Do I really need to say? Just think about all the things you would not do in front of a stranger, or in public, and then visualize family doing it in front of you. To be honest, I would have preferred to be a stranger just then. Some of that stuff I really don’t need to experience!” She sighed. “So, tell you what. That thing I just said before now, you did not hear me say that.”

  “If you insist.”

  “I do. But yes, I will take time to settle in and put my few measly items in the drawers and in the washroom.”

  “Great, in the meantime I’ll get dinner started.”

  “Dinner started?”

  “Don’t look so scared. I had a gourmet chef prepare us all our meals. All we have to do is heat them up.”

  “Warmed up gourmet food. Hmm, what does that taste like?”

  “Well, we are about to find out.” Her expression was priceless. “You honestly didn’t think you and I would try our hand at cooking, did you? It worked that one time, but I’m not risking us ruining everything in that fridge in an attempt to make it taste halfway decent.”

  “You do have a point. You did tell them to buy things like fruit and cereal right? Because we can’t mess up that.”

  “Yes, there is fruit and cereal.” He nodded.

  “Good.”

  “And the kinds of meals that were prepared were not all pre-cooked, some were ready to be cooked, like the lasagna. Those that need reheating actually taste better reheated, like the chili, non-spicy, for you.”

  “All right, how much did you drill Angela before this trip?”

  “Just enough not to mess it up completely.”

  “Hmm, I see.”

  “So, in the meantime, I’ll get dinner started.”

  “In the meantime, isn’t that what they used to use in old movies? You’d see one scene, then the words, in the meantime…and then they’d take you to another scene?”

  “Are you suggesting I’m old now?”

  “Am I? Oh, my, I never thought about it that way.”

  “Sure you didn’t.” Annie laughed. She had such a carefree laugh that always made him want to smile.

  “So, if I may ask, what is for dinner anyway?”

  “Oh, that’s a surprise.” Her expression grew threatening, and he thought she might reach out and grab him by the collar and make him talk.

  “Have you ever thought of having that word tattooed across your forehead? Then you wouldn’t have to expend any energy saying it, you could just point at yourself.”

  “Are you now suggesting I’m lazy?”

  “Am I?”

  “All right, you’ve had your fun. Just for that…”

  “Is that a threat, Mr. Sloane?”

  “That’s a surprise.” Derrick tried not to grin, but he couldn’t help himself. “Besides I seem to recall you using the same word.”

  “Once, I used the word once.”

  Derrick laughed, and backing away, he made his way back down th
e stairs and into the kitchen.

  Annie closed the door and leaned back against it. What are you doing here? You don’t do this kind of thing, ever! You’re not that kind of girl. Although, he did set me up in the guest room.

  It was obvious he was hoping to take their relationship to the next level, but she wasn’t sure if she was ready for something like that. And deep down she realized she must believe she was, otherwise she would never have said yes. But it scared her. Sure, he loved her now, in this moment, but what about six months from now? Would he have grown tired of her by then? Would he want to move on, leaving her alone and wondering what happened?

  Stop it, Annie. He’s not like that. I know he’s not. He would never…You always do this, you think it to death and then it never gets a chance…but then there’s good reason for that after what happened last time. Is it any wonder this scares me?

  She pushed the thoughts from her head, and opening her suitcase, unpacked the few things she brought and put them in one of the dresser drawers. Taking the toiletries into the washroom, she set them on the counter next to the sink. There was fresh soap next to the faucets, and in the bathtub, the towels neatly folded and fluffed. Everything was perfect.

  Strolling back into the bedroom, she slipped her boots from her feet, and climbing on top of the down comforter, she let herself sink into its softness.

  I could get used to this. She shook her head. Oh, Annie, what have you gotten yourself into?

  The knock at the door made Annie jump, and she sat up, staring at the room around her. Where am I? For a second she just stared, taking it all in, and slowly she remembered where she was, and she laughed to herself. “Yes?”

  “Dinner is served.”

  “You mean reheated, don’t you?”

  Derrick chuckled through the door. “Dinner is at a temperature that would be considered perfect for eating, if you should so choose to join me.”

  “I choose to.” Running her fingers through her hair, she brushed it away from her eyes. She jumped from the bed, walked over to the door, and opened it.

  Derrick took one look at Annie and stepped back. “Whoa!”

  “What?”