Chapter 2- Winding Up
Helen arrived at theCabin Coffee Company to a full house of caffeine seekers.Every table was full of anxious bodies awaiting or sipping a liquid fix for winding up their brains.When she entered, her eyes scanned the room for the person watching the door as if they were expecting someone.Two people looked up, one, a woman with dancing eyes.She was expecting a man, possibly a boyfriend, who entered directly behind Helen.The woman rose to greet him with affection.
The second person was a man.Tall, broad shouldered, grey hair mixed with blonde and blue eyes that had seen too much.His eyes scanned the room, checking the doors and her.His eyes rested on her.
Helen walked over to his table, the latest novel she was reading tucked under her arm.She offered him a smile.
“The tables are all full, and this appears to be the only available seat,” she said.“Are you waiting for someone, or can I be a placeholder until a table becomes available?”
He said nothing but waved his hand.Helen placed her book on the table and looked towards the counter.“I'm ordering.Do you need a refresh or a bottle of water while I'm going?”
“Water would be good,” he said, reaching for his wallet.
“I got you, for letting me share the table,” she said, offering a soft smile at the corners of her lips.
At the counter, she ordered a coffee, a croissant, and a bottle of water for the man who had come looking for her.She didn't know who he was or what he wanted, but Azrael's instructions were to do what she did, Helen partly had no idea what the hell that meant or what demon had summoned this man to her world.She returned to the table and passed him the water.
“Shenita,” she said to the man.
“Mike,” he replied.
“You don't look like a Mike; can I call you Michael?”she asked, taking a seat.
“And you don't look like a Shenita,” he said.
“Looks are deceiving,” she said as the doorbell jangled, and he looked up, spotting a white male coming through the door.
“Are we expecting someone, Micheal?”
“Not sure,” he said, crinkling his forehead.“I came looking...I dunno.Now I feel stupid.I need to leave.”
“Wait,” she said.“Something in your spirit prompted you to come here to meet this person.Are they expecting you, or is this a surprise meeting?A potential lover, a friend...”
“None of that,” he said.“I'm nearly seventy.Got no interest in that kind of stuff anymore.Looking forward spending some time with the grandkids, relaxing.”
“Okay, then what are you hoping for in meeting this person?”She asked.
He frowned at her as the barista called out, “Latte for Shenita.Latte for Shenita.”
Helen held up her hand as the cup of warm attitude adjuster arrived at the table with a pretty little heart in the center formed with milk foam.It brought a smile to her face as more people arrived, and the coffee spot became more crowded.Michael noticed as well.
“Micheal,” she said, sipping the coffee, “there are matters on your mind that you need to get off.I can sit and read the chapter I planned to finish, or I can be the substitute for the friend you wanted to meet.”
“Substitute?”he asked, looking at the door as the bell chimed.
“Yeah, it sure beats looking up at the door every time someone walks in,” Helen said.“I can pretend to be who you planned to meet.You say what's on your mind and get clear of the intrusive thoughts, and you go about your day feeling lighter.”
He scowled at her, looking suspiciously at the cup of coffee and the lady.“And what will you get out of this?”
“The conversation has to be a lot more interesting than this next chapter of a serial killer who, evidently doesn't understand human anatomy, and neither does the author,” she said, smiling.“How hard is it to Google where a radius and an ulna is and know which bone is rotating and which one is stationary?”
This brought a smile to Michael's face.“Funny, and I wanted to talk to that person about my daughter, who is a doctor.”
Helen arched her brows.A sudden rush of adrenalin hit her at the possibility that this man was Michael Kurtzwilde.However, the voice she heard in the house from the other room when he’d made the visit didn’t sound like this one.This voice sounded like a man who was tired of walking to school in the snow, uphill both ways, carrying a loaded backpack and a tired toddler.The realization that he was looking for her to discuss Passion Fruit was another issue.She remained calm.
“I bet you're proud of her,” she said softly.“Is everything okay with your daughter?”
