Lindy and I meet in the lobby at the Golden Pillar around nine and proceed directly into the restaurant.
“We meet again,” I say and kiss him on the cheek.
I take his arm. .No sense in being anything but kind. The guy went all out last night. Least I can do.
He smiles.
“Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day in Middle Valley,” I say. “And let me just say again that last night was truly wonderful.”
“Yes, it was,” Lindy says as we are seated. “Not sure how much I can eat this early after all that food.”
“My feelings exactly,” I say.
As if on cue, and without request from either of us, the wait staff brings pastry, two cups, and a full pitcher of the Pillar’s special blend, the strongest coffee in the county.
This feels good – not pressured like last night. No expectations, I suppose. He knows the score. I know the score. We’re two old friends just enjoying each other’s company.
We speak of staying in touch. Lindy suggests it and I agree, with no specifics.
“Does that mean I can call you once in a while?” he asks. There is a flirtation there that makes me uneasy.
I sip my much-needed caffeine and my mind goes briefly to Silas, who is, no doubt, already in the office.
I smile. “Just not during business hours. I have a job, you know.”
I am careful not to give him a clear answer – not positive, but not negative either.
I decide to leave it at that. Maybe in a few weeks or months, I’ll be receptive, but for now I prefer to wait.
We eat as we talk, chit chat, nothing substantial.
As expected, neither of us comes even close to eating our entire breakfast. We finally give up eating and have a third cup of coffee until it’s time to say goodbye.
We get up from our table.
“So … ” Lindy says, taking my hands him his.
“So …” I say. I look directly into his eyes as I can feel mine filling up. I really do love this man, but the fact is I love me more.
“We had a good run, right?” he says. “We did okay?”
I nod. “We did okay.”
“I love you, Merc, and I hate that I did this to us,” he says.
“I love you, too, Lindy, and I hate that you did, too.”
As we leave the restaurant, the tears take over. I didn’t notice if he had a similar reaction. I’d rather not know.
I look up and notice Bitsy looking my way, half hidden in the lobby doorway that leads to the offices and kitchen. Whatever, Mother. I really don’t need that right now.
I leave quickly, but look back briefly. Lindy lingers and buys a paper on his way out. He glances briefly at the headline and proceeds to walk slowly toward the dock and the Lady Lux.
End of story, I think. My phone rings. Not even a moment of peace, for crying out loud.
I look at the name on the screen. It’s Cassie Cunningham.
Why is she calling me at this hour?