Be Mine (7 page)

Turning the card over, she again looked for any clue as to who her mystery man might be and fantasized about his identity. Tall dark and handsome – or maybe just Mike Montgomery.

Pulling her phone from her pocket, she gave a fleeting thought to calling him. A knock at the door startled her and she put the phone away.

“Sarah, they’re ready if you are.”

“Yes. Thank you. I’ll be right there.”

She quickly pulled her head back into reality, knowing whomever she dreamed about couldn’t possibly be as spectacular in the flesh as he was on the cards he sent. It just didn’t happen.

“You wanted to see me?” Ellen asked as she peeked her head around the corner of Mike’s open office door.

“Come in, Ellen. Shut the door.”

Ellen rolled her eyes. “Am I on research duty again?”

“This isn’t about me,” Mike gestured to the seat in front of his desk. “Sit.”

Ellen cringed. She didn’t have a clue as to what was coming next.

“I crossed paths with someone interesting at Starbucks yesterday.”

“Really? Who might that be?”

“Tall, muscular, bald. I guess you could argue that he was a handsome guy. Sound familiar?”

“You met Penn?”

Mike rose from his chair and walked to the window and looked out over the city. “Penn.”

Ellen didn’t say anything, waiting for Mike to make a comment. But he didn’t. He stood with his back to her, continuing to look away.

“What?” Ellen asked, breaking the silence. “I met him at yoga.”

“What else do you know about him?” Mike continued, still not turning to look her in the face.

“He’s a chiropractor in town.”

“Anything else?”

“He’s nice?” Ellen asked trying to give the correct answer.

“I think you need to give this guy a chance, Ellen.”

“What makes you think he’s interested in me?”

“Do
you
think he’s interested in you?”

“Yes.”

“Very well then.”

“No. No,” she repeated standing from her chair. “Not very well then. What do you know that you’re not telling me?”

Mike turned to face Ellen’s demanding tone. “Does he know your story?”

“You mean does he know I’m a widow?”

Mike didn’t say a word. His face did all the talking. Raising his eyebrows, he dropped his head and pursed his lips.

“What do you want me to say, Mike?”

“Nothing, Ellen. I care about you. And I know you’ve been through a lot. But–”

“But what? Seriously, Mike. Spit it out. We’ve known each other way too long to beat around the bush.”

“I don’t think you know this guy’s real story. That’s all.”

“Are you saying there’s something wrong with him?”

“I’m saying there’s something very
right
about him, Ellen. I think you should give him a chance.”

“Since when are you so interested in my love life?”

“We’ve known each other way too long to beat around the bush –
Ellen
. It’s time.”

“No offense, Mike, but I don’t think I should be taking advice on love from a man who hasn’t had a real relationship…ever.”

The words were true and cut to the very core of him. “Love? Who said anything about love? That’s clearly
your
word. Not mine. And at least I’m finally trying,” he replied, refusing to be angry with her for the comment. “I think it’s time you tried too. Besides, I care about you too much to see you lonely.”

“I’m not lonely, Mike. I’m alone. Those are two completely different things.”

“Are they?” Mike asked. “Because I feel like that’s the lie I’ve told myself for years. I’m just trying to save you some
alone
time. God knows I’ve seen enough of it.”

Ellen walked slowly to the door, turning before leaving. “I’ll think about it.”

Mike nodded as she left, knowing that someday Ellen would thank him.

After rehearsal, Sarah felt inspired. She’d had a good day working on the new piece and unsure of whether it was the secret admirer or the newfound confidence she had after playing Beethoven, she formulated a plan.

As she walked the city street from the auditorium to her downtown apartment, she decided to take a page from the ‘note and purple rose’ handbook and leave a message for Mike Montgomery. Just to let him know someone was interested.

She stepped into the coffee shop full of confidence but suddenly second-guessed herself. Worried that he’d think it was too forward, or worse, that he was in a relationship, she sat at the table by the window and thought through her big idea.

Taking her phone from her pocket, she went back to her Google search. He seemed pretty amazing on paper – just like her mystery man.

She waited until the shop was empty to ask for help with her little plan.

“What can I get started for you today?” asked the young man.

“I have an unusual request,” Sarah began.

“Tell me,” he said with a smile.

“I want to pay for and leave behind a message on a cup for a man that comes here in the morning. Do you work mornings?”

“No, ma’am. I’m usually in the afternoons.”

“There’s a young girl here. Works mornings. College student, long brown hair, brown eyes?”

“Lexi Scott?”

“Yes,” replied Sarah, remembering her name. “Can I leave the cup for her? I think she’ll know who to give it to.”

“Tell me exactly what you want,” he said with a wink. “I’ll make it happen.”

It was yoga night and Ellen thought about Mike’s words of advice as she walked down the street to the familiar studio. She burst through the door and immediately began to look for Penn, secretly hoping they’d have a chance to talk.

Even though she’d turned down his request for her company, she couldn’t get the sound of his voice as he called her Elle out of her head. She wanted the chance to be with him again.

After Mike hinted that maybe she didn’t really know Penn, she began to second-guess her refusal of his romantic advances. Why wouldn’t she try to get to know him? Even if it didn’t turn out to be romantic, she would have a new friend. And Ellen knew that really good friends were hard to find. She liked Penn’s company and at the very least she’d have someone new to hang out with.

When class began and Penn wasn’t to be found, she felt horrible. It was a let down not to see his face, and an even bigger disappointment that she wouldn’t have the opportunity to talk with him after class. She wanted to explain herself more. She wanted to tell him why she wasn’t ready to date. She wanted to know Penn’s story.

Ellen knew Mike was holding something back when he mentioned meeting Penn, but he wouldn’t elaborate any further, stating that she needed to talk with him herself.

Ellen struggled with the yoga class, unable to focus and clear her mind for the first time in as long as she could remember. As she finished, she wondered if maybe Penn was taking yoga on a new schedule so their paths wouldn’t cross. And then it occurred to her – what if she’d chased him away? What if she never allowed anyone else to love her? Good men like Penn weren’t going to stick around time after time while she casually tossed their affections to the side in the name of her scared and empty heart.

As she left class and walked home in the cold by herself, she was cruelly reminded how solitary the hike was. For the past couple of weeks, she’d had Penn to make her laugh, to make her smile. He gave her something to look forward to and she realized she missed his attention.

“It’s time,” Ellen said to herself as she made the turn to her apartment. She knew she had to change her life course. And she needed to do it soon. If not, she could be lost in a sea of lonely contentment for the rest of her life.

A
s Mike entered the Starbucks at his usual seven fifteen a.m., he was preoccupied with his appointments that day. He had a meeting with the billboard company at ten and two new client presentations. It didn’t sound like a busy day, but the stress would make it a ball-buster.

“Good morning,” he said, looking up from his phone.

“Good morning, sir,” said the young male barista.

“Where’s Lexi this morning?”

“She’s off today, sir.”

“Oh,” Mike quipped, surprised and disappointed not to see his favorite coffee girl. “Venti, café breve please.”

“And your name, sir?”

“Mike.”

“You wouldn’t happen to be Mike Montgomery, would you?”

“One and the same,” Mike replied. “Why? Are you a design student looking for an internship or something? We don’t have any openings right now.”

“No, sir. Nothing like that,” he smiled. “You can pick your order up at the other counter.”

“Thanks,” Mike sighed as he held his phone to the scanner to pay for his coffee.

“No, sir. Your coffee’s already been paid for this morning.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Yes, sir. You can pick it up at the other counter.”

Mike said nothing but raised his eyebrows and gave the young man a half smirk, thinking that maybe it was some sort of promotion they were doing in the store. God knew he’d spent enough time and money in that location, so he didn’t bother to ask for an explanation.

“Mike?” he heard the voice call to him at the end of the counter.

“Thanks,” he said as he picked up his coffee and noticed it wasn’t what he’d requested. “I’m sorry, but I ordered a Venti and this is a Grande.”

“Yes, sir, but the note that was left for you was on the Grande cup. I hope that’s okay.”

“What?” asked Mike as he slid the cardboard sleeve away from the cup to reveal a handwritten message on the side complete with a heart.

I hope you have a wonderful day. P.S. You have a great smile.

Mike read the words and felt all the blood rush to his face, causing his ears to ring. “What
is
this?” he asked in a whisper.

“A message for you, sir.”

“From whom?” Mike asked, not taking his eyes from the words on the side of his coffee.

“I don’t know, sir. I only know I was supposed to give it to you if you came in this morning. And again, I apologize it was the wrong size.”

“No, no. It’s perfectly okay,” Mike nervously shifted his weight back and forth. “I’d just like to know who left it for me.”

“Sorry. I can’t help you with that. It’s pretty cool, though. We were all hoping you’d come in this morning.”

“Yeah,” stumbled Mike. “Thanks.”

He took his coffee and began to walk out the door, amazed at what had just happened. He paused only for a moment and then pulled a business card from his jacket pocket. Writing on the back in a flurry of excitement, he wanted his admirer to know he appreciated the gesture:

I’m smiling today because of you
.
– Mike

All this time he was thinking of his coffee goddess, Sarah, while someone else was thinking of him. He was flattered, but still determined to see his plan for the non-fat no foam goddess through to the end – no matter what might happen.

After tipping the barista handsomely to deliver his business card, Mike quickly made his way to his office and prepared for the day.