The Coffee Shop (21 page)

“I need to admit something to you, Annie.”

“Uh-oh.”

“No, nothing bad about you or anything. I just wanted to tell you, the idea of never seeing you again, to be honest, it scared me. I’ve never felt about a girl the way I do about you.” He turned to see her staring up at him. “I’ve proceeded to freak you out, haven’t I?”

“No, I just…yes, it’s strange to have someone say they feel that strongly about you so soon into a relationship. But I never pictured you as the kind of person that would admit he was scared, about anything, to anyone. It just surprises me. That’s all.”

“Oh, good. So then I haven’t completely freaked you out.”

“Well, now I never said that.”

For a second it felt like his heart had stopped beating.

“But not so much that I am running for the hills or anything.”

Derrick stopped short. “Excuse me? Did you say, ‘the hills,’ because I distinctly heard you say, ‘the hills?’”

“Oh you’re not going to give me a hard time about that, now are you?”

“Well, yes I was, as a matter of fact.”

“So, you don’t have any little expressions from your youth that have stuck over the years, and that slip out now and then?”

“No, thank God. Because in a meeting, that would not go over well, I can tell you. The way others see you is key to survival, if they see any sign of weakness they will go for the jugular.”

“So wait, you’re saying that if you let slip a small town expression, that it could mean the life or death of a deal?”

“Yep. I know I am more than capable, but it would be how they perceive me that alters the outcome of an agreement. If they even suspected I come from some small town…”

“That could mean the end of the deal?”

“Yes. Although, I have come across more than my share of what some would call, good ol’ boys, that are more cunning and shrewd when it comes to business dealings than any city raised boy ever was. I guess it has something to do with that survival of the fittest upbringing, and I guess the city has its own version of that as well. But just because you were country raised does not make you some sort of fool that can be had. And I could see how I could well use that to my advantage. Have them think I am some fool just off the farm and then take them for all they’ve got. But I would never do anything quite so underhanded. I prefer to lay most of my cards out right there where they can see them. That way, when I get the upper hand they can see it was by shrewd business and not some underhanded method that just leaves a bad taste in their mouth, and a reputation that will have no one dealing with you in the future. This way, they will respect you and come back to perhaps team up with you on something in the future.”

“You see, I knew there was something honest in your core. You are a good man, Derrick Sloane, and that’s what I like about you. That’s what I sensed about you from the moment I met you.”

“Oh, you did, did you?”

“Why sure. Take that jerk on the white cell phone, for example. Here he is distracted by his phone call, and in a hurry, and not bothering to be careful, and he spills his coffee all over you. Not one apology, not one look of remorse, not one second was spent in offering to help you clean up in any way. But instead, he blames you for the entire episode, curses at you, and leaves, deliberately bumping into you on the way out. The guy was an ass!”

“Excuse me, but did you just say — ”

“Yes, I did. And that is exactly what he was. But did you start screaming and yelling, did you start blaming him for something that the entire shop could see was his fault, did you tell him off? No. You took the high road, and even shrugged it off.”

“Well, to be honest, it happened so fast, that I didn’t have time to react, let alone say anything.”

“So, you’re saying that if you had the time to think about it that you would have told the guy off?”

“Probably. It would depend on what kind of day I was having as to exactly how I would handle it though. As to which curse word I would use at any given moment.” She was staring at him, and he looked down. “Well, maybe I am exaggerating just a little bit.”

“A little bit?”

He hesitated.

“Derrick?”

He laughed at her expression. “That guy was being a jerk, and I probably would have said something to him just to let him know he can’t get away with it. You know the expression two wrongs don’t make a right? Well, I can’t always agree with that. That jerk, for instance. Here he goes around openly mistreating people in the worst possible way, and if no one stands up to him, then he is being sent the message that what he is doing is acceptable. Perhaps he doesn’t even see it as wrong. Without anyone to point this out to him he just keeps on abusing people. So, if by giving him a healthy dose back of what he is giving out, then maybe he’ll realize, hey I can’t get away with it. Or, hey, I don’t like being treated that way, and hopefully he’ll see that is exactly how he’s been treating others. Or that maybe one of these times someone may not be as tolerant and up and punch him in the nose.” He shrugged. “So, if my giving him back what he is giving out stops him from ever doing it to anyone else ever again, then, to me then two wrongs did make a right. Although, from my perspective, what I am doing isn’t wrong.”

“So, what do you say to people who tell you you’re just sinking to his level by doing that?”

“Oh, man, don’t even get me started on that one.”

“But oh, please do,” she insisted.

He laughed. “By talking at a level that would be considered above his, is he even really hearing the message being conveyed? I would say not. It goes completely over his head, right past him without him grasping what is being said. If you have two people both talking to each other but from a completely different perspective then you aren’t communicating. If I speak in a civilized tone, using words with more than one syllable, is he understanding I am angry, and that what he is doing is wrong and needs to stop? No. But if I talk at his level, in his tone, using his words, he understands me perfectly. Message delivered!”

“I love how you see things. You took some philosophy in college, right?”

“No, I just took a step back and thought about it. When I witness that kind of abusive behavior, I get angry and want to do something about it. I want them to stop doing that to nice people. I guess you could say I can’t help myself.” She was staring up at him with a look he had never seen before. “What?”

“Listening to you talk just now, makes me want to be exactly like you.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I think the world is already spinning from there being one Derrick Sloane in it. If there were two, well I don’t know. It could mean the end of civilization as we know it.”

She laughed, strolling next to him as they moved down the beach.

“Ah, here’s the place I was talking about.”

Derrick ordered a couple of slices of pizza, and as they sat at a table, eating and watching the sun slowly get lower in the sky, he smiled at how the day had come full circle.

“I’m so glad you came by the store. I was wondering if you would. But then I wasn’t sure what you’d have to say either. Part of me was afraid you’d tell me I was being short-sighted for not seeing your side of things. Thing is, I had carefully considered all my options years ago and — ”

“You don’t need to explain yourself to me. I had no right to butt into your life like that.”

“I can understand why you wanted to. I know you want what is best for me. And I appreciate that you care about me enough to say something.”

He grinned at her words. “I know my thoughts aren’t always welcome, but it doesn’t seem to stop me from doing it anyway, unfortunately. One of these times I’m going to get a punch in the nose, if I keep putting my two cents in.”

She finished her pizza and smiled up at him. “I love watching the sun set on a beach. There’s just something very moving about it. I’ll never get tired of it.”

“You say that like you are remembering fond moments from your past.”

“Yes, I guess I am. As a girl I’d watch the sunset. I’d sit by myself and watch the sun as it would get low in the sky. And then it would turn orange and red, and it was like I’d have the whole world to myself. It was so peaceful. There was this one summer when we traveled to the coast. My mom and I would walk on the beach at sunset, the warm air gently blowing in from the water. And there was this walkway, a sort of wide gravel path you could stroll down. It would always be full of people strolling up and down. The houses just right there next to the beach slowly coming to life, as the lights would be turned on and glow out into the night. You got this feeling of all the possibilities that hadn’t been explored yet, of what the night could hold. What fun and entertaining things it could have in store. It had this magical feeling that…”

“What?”

“Oh, it’s just that I’ll never have that again, not like that anyway. She’s gone now, and it’s just not the same without her somehow, you know?”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, actually, I do.”

She nodded, and rising, they strolled back down the beach, only this time in silence as they both remembered those times from before. Derrick reached out to take Annie’s hand in his own, and she entwined her fingers into his.

And when finally she said good-bye at her apartment door, she leaned forward and kissed him.

“What was that for?”

“For not trying. I appreciate that you are not trying to push me before I’m ready.” She smiled. “That means a lot to me.”

“You know, now I understand.”

“What’s that?”

“Why you pretend to not know anything.” She didn’t say anything, and he leaned against the door frame. “The moment people know, they immediately have expectations of you.” He shook his head. “I did it myself. Your every move becomes watched, and judged and criticized.”

“Whatever I choose to do, I don’t want to do it because it’s expected of me. I want it to mean something, I want it to matter. And I want it to be my choice if and when I am ready, on my terms. And you are right, the moment people find out, there are these expectations and questions, and pressures.”

He smiled and watched as she moved a step back.

“Good night, Derrick.”

“Good night, Annie.”

She slowly closed the door, and for a while, he just stood there, remembering the kiss. Then he turned and left her building. Riding back to his penthouse, he couldn’t wait to see what his dreams had to tell him, after such an amazing night.

Chapter Seventeen

Derrick rolled over, sliding his hand across the bed to Annie’s side, but it was empty. Opening his eyes, he looked to see the sheets thrown back in disarray, the bed cold where she would normally be. “Annie?” Sitting up he looked to an empty room, clothes thrown over the back of the chair by the bed, the lamps on the bedside tables a different style. And he looked to the clock on his side. It was 8:00 a.m., and he could smell bacon cooking in the kitchen. “Bacon? 8:00 a.m.?”

Climbing out of bed, he pulled on his robe and walked out into the kitchen. There at the stove was Annie cooking breakfast, and coming up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist. “I didn’t know you liked bacon. If you wanted bacon, all you had to do was ask me, and I could give you a little bacon right here.”

She screamed, and Derrick jumped back.

“What are you doing?”

Turning sharply, Derrick looked behind him. There, standing in the middle of the living room was Annie, staring at him in dismay. “What the…?” He looked back to see a woman, about the same height and build as Annie, and with blonde hair, staring in horror at Derrick as she stood with a metal spatula clasped tightly in her hand. And if he didn’t know better he would have thought she was ready for battle the way she was holding it. “Who the hell are you?”

“That’s Sharon, as if you didn’t know.” Coming over Annie patted her comfortingly on the shoulder. “It’s all right, Sharon, Mr. Sloane thought you were me. You can go back to work now.”

“Yes, Miss Maddock.”

Grabbing Annie by the arm, Derrick pulled her aside. “What’s going on? And just who is Sharon?” And then he looked down at her clothes. She was wearing one of those power suits he would see women wear. “And what the hell are you wearing, might I ask?”

A perplexed expression crossed her face.

“Derrick, are you all right?” She brought her hand to his forehead, and he pulled it away. “That’s Sharon. You hired her when I made VP. You felt we needed help with — ”

“Wait, I hired her?”

“Yes.”

“When?” He tried to fathom all that he was seeing. “When did I do this?”

“About a month ago.”

“When you made VP?”

“Yes. Seriously, Derrick, are you sure you’re okay?”

“When did you start eating bacon? You never eat bacon. And what’s with the suit? You always hated those things.”

“Okay, now I know there’s something wrong. I’m calling Brian.” Annie grabbed the phone, and she dialed. “Brian, I’m sorry to bother you so early, but could you please come over here? I think there’s something seriously wrong with Derrick. Well, he’s forgetting things. He forgot he hired Sharon and practically molested the poor woman in the kitchen, thinking she was me.” She paused and a look of anger crossed her face. “That is not funny I’ll have you know, Brian. Look, are you coming over here or not?” She paused again, as she listened to his answer. “Good. I’ll tell the doorman to let you come up.”

“I’ll bet you and I are really popular with Denise, right about now.”

Annie stared. “Derrick you’re scaring me. I’m going to cancel my business trip.”

“Business trip?”

A look of concern crossed her face. “Denise and Brian aren’t together anymore. And as for the business trip you claim to know nothing about, we discussed this.” She picked up the phone starting to dial, and Derrick grabbed it from her.

“No, I’m fine. I just didn’t get much sleep last night, and I got up out of a dream too fast is all. I just got a little confused. I’m fine now.”

She came close, looking up into his eyes. “You’re sure.”

“Yes, I’ll be fine. Look, you’ve already called Brian to come over here. He’ll have a look at me, and we can spend the day together hanging out. How does that sound?” Her face relaxed, and she smiled at him

“Yes, that sounds agreeable to me.”

“Agreeable?” Since when do you use the word agreeable?

“What?”

“Nothing. Just teasing.”

She shook her head.

“Your breakfast’s ready, Miss Maddock.”

“Thank you, Sharon.” Sitting at the kitchen table, she took a sip of her coffee. “Did you want to join me? I hadn’t asked Sharon to make you anything because you usually sleep in. But I can — ”

“No, that’s fine. I’ll make myself something.”

He walked back into the kitchen, Sharon frowning at him as he moved in her direction.

“I think we both already know how Sharon feels about that, Derrick. If you need something, she will make you whatever you want. That is what she is being paid for, and very generously, I might add. So, let her do what we hired her for.”

“Uh…that’s okay. I’ll just sit with you and have a coffee.”

“Ah, aren’t you sweet.”

“So, I’m still half asleep, you’re going to have to help me out a little bit here. Where was this business trip to?”

“Toronto. Calaire, flight two one nine. I already told you that last week.”

“Yes, well, you know me, in one ear and out the other.”

“That doesn’t describe you at all. Derrick, you’re really starting to worry me.”

“Don’t be.” He waved a hand through the air.

“Your coffee, Mr. Sloane.”

Derrick looked up to see Sharon setting a cup before him on the table. “You didn’t need to do that.”

“Sharon,” Annie said.

He could see her studying him. “Sharon.” He smiled.

“Okay, that’s it. I’m staying.”

“No!” Grabbing her by the shoulders, he pushed her back down into her chair. “I’ll take it easy, and I’ll be just fine.”

“You promise?”

“Yes.”

She relaxed into her seat, and taking up a piece of her bacon, he took a bite.

“Hey, get your own.”

“Make me.” Her eyes narrowed, as if accepting the challenge, and he laughed holding up his hands in defeat. “All right, all right. Here. Here’s your bacon.” Putting the end of it in his mouth, he leaned down across the table offering it to her. Smiling she bit it, giving it a tug as she pulled him closer to her, and she kissed him.

“You better make me an honest woman, one of these days, Mr. Sloane. We can’t have the world thinking me a fallen woman, now can we?”

“I’ll think about it.”

Playfully smacking him on the arm, she smiled. “You better. If you know what’s good for you.”

The doorbell rang, and Sharon went to answer it.

Derrick looked to the clock in the kitchen. “That can’t be Brian already.”

“He only lives a couple of blocks from here.”

“He moved? When did he move?” Seeing her studying him once again, he just smiled. “What I meant was, how slow he can be, first thing in the morning. Until he’s had his cup of coffee he’s useless. You know that.” He stood looking down on her. She looked so small sitting there at the table just then. And he was about to ask her if she had lost weight, but then he bit his tongue. “You finish your breakfast, and I’ll go greet Brian.” He stepped back from the table. “After all, we can’t have you late for your trip, now can we?”

“Coffee, I need coffee. You know I’m useless first thing in the morning until I’ve had my coffee.”

“Good morning, Brian.” Brian narrowed his eyes as he stared across the room at Derrick, and Derrick took a step back. “Sharon, do get the man his coffee. We don’t want to be seeing headlines in tomorrow morning’s paper: Doctor commits murder because he didn’t get his morning coffee.”

Crossing his arms, he watched as Brian took the cup, as if some precious offering. Holding it delicately within his grasp as he drank its contents, his eyes closed as if in some ritualistic prayer to the coffee bean god.

Giggling, Annie stood, taking her plate to the sink. “Good morning, Brian.”

He held up a hand, motioning for her to wait, and opening his eyes he turned. “Good morning, Annie.”

“Oh, so it’s okay to speak now is it?”

Brian looked at Derrick. “When you call me at eight in the morning on a Saturday?”

Derrick held up his hands. “Enough said.”

“Brian, do have a look at him, if you will please, he — ”

Kissing her full on the lips, Derrick then slowly pulled away.

“He is saying the strangest — ”

Grabbing her around the waist, he kissed her again, this time pulling her along in the direction of the door.

“Derrick, I can’t talk while you’re kissing me.”

“Exactly!” And he kissed her again. Reaching down he grabbed her suitcase, and opened the door.

“Oh, now what do you think you are doing?”

“I’m going to carry your case down to the limo.”

“In your bathrobe? I think not! No, I can handle this.” She extended the suitcase’s pull handle, and grabbing her purse, she slung it over her shoulder, wheeling the case after her out the door.

“If you insist. But don’t say I didn’t offer.”

“You really are the sweetest thing.” She smiled. “How did I get so lucky?”

“That’s my line. You should know better than to steal someone else’s line. Not good form, my dear. Just not good at all.”

“If you insist.”

“Now there you go doing it again. Honestly, what am I going to do with you?”

She shrugged.

He grinned, looking her up and down. “Well, give me a moment and I’ll think of something.”

“Okay, enough of that.” She laughed, giving him one last kiss, and closed the door behind her.

Turning back, he saw Brian staring at him from across the room. The coffee cup still tight within his grasp. “Do give our harried guest another cup of that coffee, if you would, Sharon.” He watched as she poured him another cup, Brian then taking another long drink. “You can take the rest of the weekend off, Sharon.”

“Sir?”

“I’ll be just fine on my own. When Miss Maddock gets back I’ll have her call you.” She continued to stare as if she didn’t know what to do with herself. “Don’t worry, you’ll still get paid even though you’re not here.”

“Now there’s a job I’d like to have. Let me be your cook.”

“Yes, well, being a cook requires that you can actually cook.”

“Was that some kind of crack about my cooking?”

“If it walks like a duck…” Brian’s eyes narrowed, and Derrick laughed.

“Very well, sir. If you really feel that you won’t be needing me.” Slowly, Sharon went to the closet and took out her purse. Slipping it over her shoulder, she went to the front door. “Good bye then, sir.”

“Good bye, Sharon.”

Smiling, Derrick watched as she closed the door. “God, I thought she’d never leave.”

“What the hell is going on? Why is Annie calling me to come over here to have a look at you at eight on a Saturday morning?”

“I’ve seriously altered the timeline.”

“Okay, now there’s a sentence you don’t hear every day.”

He had blurted it before he even thought to check to see if Brian had any idea what he was talking about in this loop. And he tensed not daring to look to see his expression.

“I gather from the way you’re sitting there you are probably wondering if I’m ‘in the loop,’ so to speak.”

Derrick sighed. “Every time I see I have altered the timeline, I have no idea if I’ve told you about any of this, or even talked to you, for that matter.”

“Yeah, we talked. It was Annie that managed to get us back together.”

“Let me guess, she arranged to have us meet without us realizing the other would be there.” Brian nodded. “And I told you about the whole alternate timeline thing?” He waved his hand before him.

“Yep.”

“And you?”

“Thought you had completely lost it? Uh-hmm.”

“And now?”

“Relax, Derrick. It’s okay.”