I watched as the tall, auburn haired woman walked past the coffee shop window. Granted, I always watched women walking past the window, but this woman seemed different, somehow. Familiar in one way, but very unfamiliar in other ways. She intrigued me. She intrigued me more when she came in and ordered a coffee. "Chelsea, your order is ready." I heard the barista announce. I had known a Chelsea, but she looked nothing like this woman. This woman who locked eyes with me and headed for my table.
"Hello. You don't remember me, do you?" Chelsea said it as much as a statement as a question.
I stammered as I got up from my chair "N-no, you have me at a disadvantage. I'm Ted. Please, join me?" My statement came out as a question, but she took me up on the invitation.
Her eyes were very familiar, but the face, the body, not so much. "Yes, I do have the advantage. And I plan to keep you twirling in the wind for a bit." she said as she stirred her coffee. One cream, one sugar. Vaguely familiar, but then a lot of people took their coffee like that. "Think back. in your past. Not too recent, not too distant. I'm in there somewhere." A smile crossed her face.
She had me. I was totally intrigued. More than I had been in my twenty eight years on Earth, but it wasn't entirely unpleasant. It was a bit exciting. "So, can I get some more hints?" I asked. I hope I do, I thought to myself.
"Yes, but on one condition. You take me out for Valentine's Day. Dinner. And who knows what else." She wrote as she spoke, leaving ten digits on the napkin. I hoped they weren't a dodge as she got up, turned and walked out of the coffee shop with her sweet, light coffee. I wondered if she knew that I had no other place to be for Valentine's Day and this was definitely the best offer I had had in, well, forever.
I made a reservation at a nice Italian place I knew. Rather old school. The waiters wore starched white coats and they had booths where they pulled the tables out to have you slide in to the back of the "U". And of course crisp white tablecloths. The kind your teachers said reminded men of bed sheets. Whatever that meant. I also found the least gouging place to pick up some roses. That happened to be my local grocery store. A little trim, some good paper and it would look good enough. I would get them later, still had a couple of days until the date.
The phone rang after I entered the numbers. That was good. Now I hoped that it wouldn't be a police department or even worse, the call in line at the local radio station. "Hello, this is Chelsea. Ted, leave me the place and time. "
Wow. I did not expect that. I obediently left the information. I still could not place her. The only Chelsea I could recall was in high school. I don't recall ever dating her, but our lockers were close by. I wondered. Could that be her? If it was, it was half of the Chelsea I remembered. That one had been very large and people had made fun of her. I did wonder whatever happened to her. Hmmmm, Chelsea. She had definitely gotten into my head. This was going to be a Valentine's Day to remember. Or to forget. But it wouldn't be typical, that much I knew.
The night arrived and I went to the restaurant. Roses in hand. The appointed time came. And went. My drink was sweating in its' glass, as was I. I took a sip and placed the glass back on the circle of dampness it had left. As I was starting to get more worried that I had been stood up, I saw movement. A tall, lithe figure approached the table. Heels and an exquisite dress, cut high in the skirt and low in the top left enough to the imagination to warrant more investigation. A pair of hazel eyes bored into mine as Chelsea said "I always like to make an entrance. I hope I didn't make you nervous."
"Not at all. I knew you would be here." I lied as she slid into the booth next to me and the waiter returned the table to its position. The walls of the booth were tall enough to hide most of the surrounding area from us, and us from them. The lights were dim. Ah, ambiance. She looked, smelled and sounded wonderful. Three of the five senses down, I still had two to go. I hoped.