Sara's Promise (9 page)

The place was buzzing with lunch customers, even though it was past one-thirty in the afternoon. William and Annie had both ordered BLTs and sodas at the counter, then chose one of the high-backed booths near the windows to sit in while they waited for their food.

"This is a nice place," William commented as he looked around the coffeehouse. Cottage Coffee was true to its name with a cozy, cottage atmosphere. The high-backed wooden booths were painted white, as were the tables and chairs around the room. Soft blue cushions padded the booth seats and chairs, and blue curtains with a seashell print hung in the square windows. At the counter, large, rounded glass display counters showed off delicious baked goods, and a huge blackboard hung behind the counter with the menu written on it in chalk. William also noted a back area that held a fireplace and several sofas and cushy chairs, where people could relax, enjoy their coffee, and visit with friends or read a book.

"I can see why the kids like coming here," he said to Annie as he nodded toward the back area. "Looks like a great place to hang out with friends."

Annie nodded her agreement. "Cherise has done a wonderful job of giving this place a cozy atmosphere. Years ago, the place was just a basic little café with 1950s style tables and chairs, an old black and white linoleum floor, and a counter with swivel stools. When she finished college and went into business with her parents, she talked them into turning it into a coffeehouse and changing the décor. Her ideas helped boost business and tourists enjoy coming in here because of its casual, seaside look."

"She sounds like a smart lady," William said. "I hope I get a chance to meet her."

Annie nodded her head toward the woman bringing their sandwiches. "Looks like you'll get your wish. Here she is now."

Cherise walked over to the table with a big smile and set the two plates in front of Annie and William. "Hey, girl, Janie told me you were here, so I decided to bring your food over myself and meet your friend."

"Thanks, Cherise," Annie said, giving her friend a sly smile. She knew Cherise had probably been racing to get their sandwiches done so she could come out and meet William. "This is William Grafton. William, this is my friend, Cherise."

William turned fully to greet Cherise as she wiped her hands on her blue apron.

"Nice to meet you," William said, extending his hand and smiling up at her.

Cherise's eyes grew large as she stared directly into William's face. She quickly snuck a look over at Annie, who only nodded slightly. Cherise finally lifted her hand to shake William's. "Uh, nice to meet you, too," Cherise said as she continued to stare at William.

William looked confused. "Is something wrong?" he asked, looking from Cherise to Annie and back to Cherise.

Annie just shook her head slightly as she lightly kicked her friend's leg. The kick stopped Cherise from staring hard at William, but she gave Annie a funny look.

"You have a nice place here," William said, ignoring the odd looks being passed between the two women. "I hear it was your idea to change this place into a coffeehouse. Looks like it was the right move to make."

Cherise turned her full attention to William and graced him with one of her beautiful, winning smiles. "Thanks. Yes, it was my idea, and it's working out well. We have a good business here year-round compared to many of the other places."

"That's important in a seasonal tourist town," William said.

Cherise nodded. "Well, I guess I'd better get back to the kitchen and help out. It's busy today. It was nice meeting you, William. I hope you enjoy your lunch."

"I'm sure I will. It looks delicious. Nice meeting you, too. I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot of you now that I know about this place."

Cherise looked over at Annie. "I will definitely be seeing you soon," she said with a grin and headed back to the kitchen.

William chuckled. "That sounded interesting. What did she mean by that?"

Annie just waved her hand in the air as if to brush the comment aside. "Oh, we live right next to each other so we see each other all the time."

William nodded, and they both started eating their sandwiches.

William left an hour later, after they had made a date to go out to dinner Friday night. The lunch crowd had dispersed, and the place was quiet. Just as Annie was getting ready to leave, Cherise came out of the kitchen and headed straight for the booth. She sat opposite of Annie and stared at her with her brows raised.

"Well?" Cherise asked.

Annie sighed. "Okay, just say it."

Cherise placed her elbows on the table and leaned in close to Annie. "Oh my God. It's him. It's your dream man, literally. Why didn't you tell me you were dating the man from the photos?"

Annie shook her head. "I know it seems weird. I had no idea who he was when I took the photo assignment. After I met him, I realized it was him, and his house was the one I photographed from the beach."

"And that he was the guy you've been taking pictures of for the past couple of years?" Cherise interrupted.

"I know, I know. But we hit it off so well. It's all been happening so fast," Annie said.

"Do you know how amazing this is?" Cherise asked in a near whisper. "He's the man of your dreams, living in the house of your dreams. And now you're dating him."

Annie nodded, thinking back to all the times William had haunted her dreams long before she ever saw him on the porch of his house from the beach. Her dreams of him were connected to the same dreams she had of the ribbons of colors, only glimpses of his face appearing through the colors. She never understood the meaning of the dreams, and even now, she had no idea why he invaded her dreams.

Cherise reached across the table and lightly touched Annie's arm, bringing her attention back to the moment. "Annie, William must be your soul mate. You two are meant to be together."

Annie shook her head vehemently and sat back in the booth. "No. You know I don't believe in such things. It's just a coincidence that we met. That's all."

"Then why have you been stalking this guy?" Cherise asked with brows raised.

"I have not been stalking him. I saw him by accident," Annie said indignantly.

"And photographed him. And continued looking for him every time you walked on the beach."

Annie sighed. "You make it sound so terrible. You know I didn't mean anything sinister by watching him. I was just drawn there. Drawn to him…" Annie stopped, realizing what she was saying.

Cherise smiled. "You mean drawn to him like you would be drawn to a soul mate?"

Annie rolled her eyes. "For the last time, I don't believe in the idea of soul mates," she insisted. "This is not some grand scheme. It's not divine intervention. It is just pure coincidence. That's all."

Cherise sat back in the booth and stared at her friend. "Mmm-hmm."

"Don't mmm-hmm me and don't give me that look," Annie told her friend. "Besides, I'm still not sure what's happening between us. He still seems to be clinging to his wife's memory. I'm not sure there's room for me in his life yet."

Cherise shook her head at her friend. "I saw how he looked at you. He's very interested in you, Believe me. Did he ask you out again?"

Annie nodded. "We're going out Friday night."

"If he was still hung up on his deceased wife, would he ask you out again?" Cherise asked.

"I suppose not," Annie replied.

Cherise sighed. "Girl, why don't you just sit back and enjoy your good fortune of meeting the man of your dreams? How many women can say they dreamt about a man, then started dating him? It's meant to be, I tell you. It's meant to be."

Annie rolled her eyes. "We'll see."

Friday night, William picked Annie up from her place at six, and they drove down the coast to Cannon Beach to a delightful restaurant right on the beach with a spectacular view of Haystack Rock. Annie had decided to wear her favorite sleeveless, black dress that fell to just above her knees and was decorated simply with a few select sequins and beads around the scoop neck. Her black, high heel pumps gave her some height, but William still had several inches on her. In her dress and his dark suit, they were a handsome couple and the people in the bar couldn't help but stare at them as they sat to have drinks while they waited for their table.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" William asked as Annie gave him a smile. 

"Yes, you did, but I won't complain if you tell me again," Annie teased.

"Okay, you look beautiful tonight." William smiled back at her, a mischievous twinkle in his brown eyes.

"Thank you," Annie said and took a sip of her soda as William sipped his wine.

The bar was busy and noisy with chatter and music. One group of young people seemed to be having a little more fun than everyone else, talking loudly and slamming back shots.

Annie excused herself to freshen up in the ladies' room and carefully made her way through the throng of people, trying not to bump anyone and have a drink spilled on her. Luckily, there was no line, and she entered the restroom without having to wait. As she stood in front of the mirror reapplying her lip gloss, she heard someone throwing up in one of the stalls. Concerned, she asked tentatively, "Are you okay in there?" All Annie heard in reply was a grunt and the sound of the toilet flushing. 

Annie turned back to the mirror to give herself one last check, when the door to the bathroom stall opened up and out stumbled a young woman, who looked a little worse for wear. As she locked eyes with the woman in the mirror, it took Annie only a second to realize she was staring at William's daughter, Sandy.

Sandy stared at Annie a moment, then scrunched up her face. "What are you doing here?" Sandy asked as she walked on wobbly legs to the counter. Steadying herself against the counter, she looked at Annie with hazy eyes. "What?" she demanded.

Annie turned and looked directly into Sandy's eyes. Her pupils were dilated, her hair was in disarray, and her mascara was smudged under her eyes. Sandy couldn't seem to stand steady, even when leaning against the counter. She was dressed in a too-tight, hot pink, mini skirt, a low-cut black tee, and ankle boots with heels too high for her to balance on in her condition.

Remaining calm under Sandy's angry stare, Annie said, "The real question is what are you doing here? The last I heard, you're only twenty years old. Aren't you too young to be drunk at a bar?"

Sandy sneered at her. "Who do you think you are, my mother? Mind your own business." She turned to look in the mirror and stumbled, losing her balance. Annie reached out and grabbed her arm to steady her.

"No, I'm not your mother and thank God for that. Because if I were your mother, you wouldn't be here, high on alcohol or drugs," Annie told Sandy, who responded with wide eyes. "Honestly, Sandy," Annie continued, "why are you here? And what are you high on? You didn't get this way by just drinking alcohol."

"Well, aren't you just full of questions," Sandy slurred. "What about you? Why are you here in your fancy dress? Are you trolling for men? Won't my father love to hear that."

Annie's eyes sparked. "I'm here with your father," she retorted.

Sandy seemed to sober up by a few degrees at this news. "Crap. My dad's here? Shit! Did he see me here?"

"No, of course he didn't see you or else he'd already have dragged you out of here. I didn't see you either until I came in here."

Sandy sighed. "Good." She wobbled a little again, and Annie grabbed her arm to steady her.

"Come on, Sandy. Let's get you out of here. You are obviously high on something, and we need to get you home." Annie had just begun to pull Sandy along with her when the door opened, and a young woman with jet black hair and thick eyeliner walked in.

"Oh, there you are," the woman said, staring at Sandy. "Come on. We're blowing this place and heading up the coast to another bar." The woman looked from Sandy to Annie and back again. "Hey, what's going on here? Who are you?"

Before Annie could reply, Sandy pulled away from her grasp and said, "Don't mind her. She's nobody." Sandy turned to Annie. "And you'd better not say anything to my dad about this. It's none of your business, you hear?"

Annie stood there a moment, not knowing what to do. How could she knowingly let William's daughter leave in her condition? Yet, was it really her business? At last, she grabbed Sandy's arm and spun her around to look her straight in the eyes. "Give me your phone," she demanded.

"What?" Sandy stared at Annie in shock.

Annie insisted again, "Give me your phone."

Looking dazed, Sandy produced her phone from the small purse she carried and handed it to Annie. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm putting my phone number into your phone in case you need to call someone," Annie replied as she typed in her name and cell number. She handed the phone back to Sandy. "Call me anytime of the day or night if you need someone, okay?"

"Are we leaving or what?" the dark-haired girl asked, annoyance edging her voice.

For one brief second, Sandy stared at Annie, trying to figure her out. Then she turned and let the other girl lead her out of the bathroom.