"Will do! Anything for the flower guy." She hung up with a giggle.
Cole waited anxiously for several minutes, then traffic got heavy and he had to concentrate on the road. About fifteen minutes later, Phoebe called him back. Cole was grateful for the hands-free hookup in the car.
"Okay," she said. "I finally found her. She and her sister are having dinner at Doppelgangers. It's a steakhouse on the beach. Got a pencil?"
"Hang on," he frantically made his way to the shoulder and pulled off the road.
Grabbing a piece of paper and a pen, he waited for her directions. Phoebe gave great instructions, complete with exit numbers, street names and landmarks.
"You missed your calling, Phoebe. You should have been a tour guide or a traffic cop."
"My job pays better. But I worked a newspaper route in that part of town for a couple years. Know it like the back of my hand. Good luck, Cole! I look forward to meeting you."
"Me too, Phoebe. Thanks again!"
"Sure thing!"
He pulled back into traffic, praying he could find the restaurant. On a wing and a prayer, that's how he was making this trip. Half-assed, fly by the seat of his pants. It was hard for him, because he planned things, too. The relationship with Mara was the only facet of his life he hadn't plotted out carefully. After about twenty minutes, he found his exit. He turned left at the end of the exit ramp and started looking for Phoebe's first landmark.
Mara pulled up to the restaurant behind Cissy. They were just getting seated, when Kirk Sandusky walked over to join them. His eyes glittered excitedly as he sat down.
"I always get jazzed after a good delivery. She did great, didn't she? I was expecting that to go a lot longer. Near as I can tell, though, she's been in the preliminary stages of labor the last two days. Probably why she felt so rotten."
"That would make anyone feel terrible," Cissy interjected. "I'm just glad it all went well."
"She's a trooper," Kirk grinned proudly as he perused his menu.
"She's got a great doctor," Cissy smiled, patting his hand.
Mara wondered if she'd make it through dinner before she had to take her leave. Cissy and the doctor already seemed rather chummy. As their meal arrived, her phone rang.
"Yes? Oh, hi, Phoebe. Olivia had her baby! Cissy and I are out to dinner with her doctor. Oh, Doppelgangers. I expect to be here for awhile. Okay, call if you need me."
She hung up and looked at the phone. "That was weird," she said to her dinner companions. "Phoebe was calling to see where I am. She didn't need anything, she was just curious."
"Mara, it's Phoebe. Who knows what her motivation is half the time." She grinned and cut into her steak.
"True, but it was weird. She wanted to know how long we'd be here."
"Maybe she plans to join us?"
Mara shrugged and cut open her potato. It was hot and crispy, stinging her fingers with heat. It was delicious and made all the tight, empty corners of her stomach feel better.
"I didn't realize I was so hungry," she said. "I never did have lunch, and breakfast seems a really long time ago."
There was a band warming up as they ate. They had a sound Mara enjoyed, an easy going, indie style that appealed to her. After a few of their own songs, they opened the floor up to requests.
"This song is by special request," the front man said over the opening chords. In a soft, sweet tenor, he started to sing the haunting melody of Linger.
Mara looked wildly around the restaurant. Cissy watched her for a moment, then touched her hand.
"What's up, Mara?" Her sister's face grew concerned.
"Don't you see? Someone requested that song. He has to be here somewhere! It couldn't be a coincidence!"
Standing up at the table, she scanned the entire restaurant. Down by the band, leaning casually against the back wall, she saw a man in a white linen suit. The build and stance were familiar. Could it be? Was it?
"Cole!" It had to be! He was walking toward their table, hands in pockets. "Cole?"
Before Cissy could stop her, Mara ran toward him, bumping through the tables without noticing. Cole met her half way, picking her up. He swung her in a tight circle, kissing her as if his life depended upon it.
"Cole! Oh, Cole!"
He led her down to the floor in front of the band and started dancing with her in front of the entire restaurant. She had eyes for no one but Cole and heard nothing but the song drawing to a close. The music ended and she clung to him. Scattered applause started back by her table. Cissy stood up, cheering and whistling in front of everyone. Mara blushed deeply, holding Cole's hand tightly as they walked back to Cissy.
"This is him?" Cissy bounced up and down excitedly as they approached. "Oh, my God, Mara, he's gorgeous! Hi, I'm Cissy." She held her hand out to Cole. "I'm Mara's sister. This is Kirk." She introduced the doctor, glancing from Cole to Mara significantly.
©2021 Dellani Oakes
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