Copyright © February 2018 by CiaoSteve
CiaoSteve reserves the right to be identified as the author of this work.
This story cannot be published, as a whole or in part, without the express agreement of the author other than the use of brief extracts as part of a story review.
This is a work of fiction. The events described here are imaginary; the settings and characters are fictitious and are not intended to represent specific places or living persons.
Author's Notes
Foreword #1 : All sexually active characters in this series are over 18
Foreword #2 : This is a story and intended as such.
Foreword #3 : This is part 3 of Another Cup of Coffee. Although there is a short recap at the start you may want to go back and read the previous parts to understand the story so far.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kat Reynolds' life hadn't turned out quite the way that she had intended. A failed marriage behind her and a lost career, she now found herself rebuilding her life as a barista at a railway station coffee stand. Even though it was a disappointment, there were positives. She had quickly made friends and for sure the new life was so much better than the spiteful relationship that she had endured during her short marriage.
There were ups and downs, happy times and sad, but life went on and Kat had convinced herself that she was not in the market for another man. Christmas was just around the corner and boy how Kat loved everything about it; from the decorations turning everywhere into tinsel town through the scent of pine needles on the tree and finally the joy of giving and receiving presents. For Kat this should be the highlight of the year, but it just didn't feel the same this time around. For the first time she could remember, it was going to be a Christmas alone.
An invite out for coffee had left Kat in a quandary as to whether to go or not. Her heart said yes, after all he was a rather dishy tall dark and handsome chap, yet her mind told her not to get involved again. A little white lie from Susie left Kat with no choice but to attend what turned out to be a very enjoyable morning. Now though she had yet another dilemma, having been invited to his Christmas Eve party.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Monday morning was a hive of activity at the coffee stand. As usual I had drawn the short straw of the early shift along with Susie, getting ready before the morning rush. We busied ourselves in more ways than one with almost as much chatter as there was work.
"Go on then, tell me all about the hot date," came Susie's voice from somewhere out the back.
"It wasn't a date and you know that," came a terse reply.
Susie walked out to the front. "I'm sorry Kat, I should have said . . . How was the coffee with your tall dark and handsome stranger? Did you pull?"
"I guess it was okay. His name is Federico and he's over here from Italy. He just wanted to say thank you. That's all."
"Susie's not believing you. Come on Kat, a hunk like that, there must be more."
My face had turned a deep shade of red under the interrogation.
"You're blushing. There must be something you're not letting on. Now, come on girl, dish the dirt."
"I told you Susie, there's really no dirt to dish. We had coffee, chatted a little and he invited me to a Christmas Eve party at his place. That's all."
"So you did pull then," beamed Susie.
"
No
, I haven't said yes. He said he wanted me there as a friend, but I don't know Susie. It's all too soon after Jack and I guess I'm worried it will just go the same."
"But you like him, don't you. On second thoughts, you don't need to answer that. The colour of your face is already telling me. So what's the problem?"
"It's me Susie. I do like him, he's perfect, almost too perfect. It's just that I can't do it or maybe I don't want to do it or maybe I'm just scared to get involved again. You don't understand Susie. You've not been through what I have."
"Oh I think I understand, but what I see though is a little different. I see a beautiful young woman, with a whole life ahead of her, throwing it away because of one mistake. If you let Jack rule the rest of your life then you're no better off than before."
"But what if . . . "
"Trust me Kat. Once bitten, twice shy. You'll know soon enough if it's not going the way you want, but if you never set off on a journey then you'll never know where it is going to end up. Tell him
yes
."
"But we're working on Christmas Eve."
"For you to be happy my dear, I'll gladly cover the end of the shift. Now, pull yourself together, I think your Mr Darcy is on his way."
I dashed out back and tried to compose myself. He was earlier than normal and I really hadn't convinced myself of my answer. I could hear voices out front. The first I recognised as Susie but the second I didn't. It was an order for a decaff latte so not my Double French. Maybe Susie had been mistaken. I continued to busy myself, a hand through my hair and a check in the mirror just in case. Finally I heard Susie call out.
"Kathryn, are you there? There's somebody here wants a coffee and a smile."
My heart skipped a beat. Kathryn . . . coffee . . . smile . . . it had to be Double French. I dashed out front and there he was, waiting by the till with a smile on his face. We both just stood there, looking each other in the eyes before Federico finally broke the silence.