A cool breeze rustles through the trees surrounding the café. I scribble notes in my journal. I have a presentation in the city and I have some time to relax and prepare.
I sip my tea and take a deep breath of the midspring air. I look over the city from the elevated plaza where I'm seated. Neo Athina truly is a marvel of technology. I admire the high spend rails going in and around the city.
After I'm done admiring the trains, I resume writing in my journal and sipping my hot tea.
Out of the corner of my eye I spot someone familiar. He stands in front of the café cashier ready to order.
"No..." I whisper to myself. I close my journal and look at the man in line. He is a tall dark man with a shaven head. Unfortunately, I can't get a look at his face.
"Darius is that you!" The man in line and I both turn towards the voice.
Evan Liu. My old friend from the national service. I look back and get a good look at the man in line. It is Darius McFarland another friend from our service.
"Evan! Darius!" I shout and jump from my seat. Both Evan and Darius turn and see me. They both smile.
"Damn Brian how are things?" Darius steps out of line. I gesture him to stay.
"Stay in line I'll save you both a seat." Evan joins Darius in the café line. After three minutes in line and at the counter Darius and Evan come to my table with coffees and bagels.
"Brian, you bastard!" Evan says giving me a light, playful shoulder punch. "Brian the Brain." Darius says and slaps my on the back.
"How are things?" Darius asks.
"Oh wonderful! I haven't seen you guys since my wedding."
"Ah good times. How's Emilia doing?" Evan asks.
"Emilia is doing great she just published her book and sold several paintings to a wealthy collector."
"Incredible!" Evan says.
RING! RING! My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and see a remainder for a presentation I have to give nearby.
"Shit!" I completely forgot about that.
"I'm so sorry to bail on you guys. I have a give a speech on some discoveries I made."
"Shoot that is too bad." Darius shakes his head.
"Tell you what. I will talk to my wife about having you over for tea tomorrow."
"Sounds good." Says Darius.
"Yeah, count me in." Evan replies.
"Excellent. It is at my home on Bergsen Island."
I hurry on to my presentation.
The following day
Emilia, Avery and I do some cleaning and prep before our guests arrive. Emilia prepares the tea and some sandwiches while Avery scrubs the indoor floors. I am outside tending to the gardens.
I look out at the water and sea a ferry coming in from the mainland. Looking down at my phone I see that it is half an hour before 3PM. I finish up some trimming before going inside to shower and get some clean clothes on.
As soon as I finish getting cleaned up and dressed, I hear Emilia call.
"Brian our guests have arrived."
I make my way down stairs and go outside. There Evan and Darius stand outside the garden gates. They are dressed in casual slacks and sports coats.
"Hey!" Darius smiles and wives. I stretch out my arms and greet my guests.
"Welcome to my home!" I open the gate and embrace my friends.
"Nice garden you have here." Darius walks over and observes the flowers and trees in my garden.
"Since when have you been into garden?" Evan laughs.
"When I started my science career. This garden has proved me with lots of materials for my biology and botany experiments."
"What is it that you study?" Evan inquires.
"Oh, what don't I study?" I laugh. "My fields include biology, botany and geology. A few months ago I was studying rocks and crystals that we could use as alternate fuel sources. We made some big discovers. Now I'm studying how to create plants that can resist disease and blight."
Evan and Darius whistle.
"Impressive. Damn impressive." Darius says amazed.
"I'm not surprised. You were genius back in our service days." I blush at Evan's compliant.
"Thanks Evan." I turn to Darius
"Darius tell me what you have been doing lately?"
"So glad you ask? Darius beams with excitement. "I finally left the ER I was working at and now I have now set up my own private practice."
Evan and I applaud Darius.
"That's incredible Darius." I compliant him.
"From combat medic to E.R. to private practice."
"No more dealing with terrible accidents and nerve-wrecking emergencies." Darius shivers and strokes his bald scalp.
"My hair was turning gray at age 30." Darius laughs.
"Tell me what have you been up to Evan?" Darius asks Evan "Last I heard you were studying to become a professor."
"Nah." Evan shakes his head. "I was considering that but I wasn't interested in academia. I chose to go to trade school and now I'm working as a carpenter."
"That's great Evan." I compliant him. Evan smiles but still looks ashamed.
"Yeah Evan. No shame in abstaining from academy." Darius agrees.
"Academia can be a little pretentious if you ask me." I think back to all the pompous professors disrespect the cleaning and service staff at the university.
"The world runs on janitors and carpenters like you Evan." Evan brightens up at my comment.
"Thanks guys." Evan replies.
The door to garden opens and out comes Emilia.
"Welcome to our home dears." Emilia says to Darius and Evan.
"Ah Emilia is so wonderful see you after all these years." Darius walks over and hugs Emilia.
"Great to see Mrs. Boyd or should I say Ms. Watts." Evan says cheekily and hugs her. Emilia laughs.
"Haha. I usually go by Emilia Watts. However, I have no problem with Mrs. Boyd."
"Sounds good." Evan smiles and rubs his hands together. "So, what's to eat." His eyes are filled with hunger.
"Would you boys like to have dinner outside or inside?" Emilia asks.
"Hmmm." I pause to think.
"How about outside?" Darius points to the circular table in the garden. "It would be a crime to spend such a nice day inside."