It was a routine he'd stuck with for years. Every weekday morning, thirty two year old Matt Bremner would rise early, and after a piece of toast and an orange juice would hit the road for a thirty minute run round the harbour road. It was time he used to reflect on his days activities, as the sweat flowed freely he prioritised his workload to keep ahead of the pack and his uncompromising bastard of a boss off his back. To be fair, it kept him focused, driven and successful. Finishing his run, he would shower, shave and don one of his dark coloured suits and a tie. It was then into the car and a short drive towards the city where he would stop off at his favourite café for a cup of the best coffee in the world. Wild Plum Café was located on a busy corner overlooking the harbour. The interior was finished in a dark plum, the trim and furniture finished in deep mahogany providing unquestionable atmosphere. On summer mornings, the sun would glimmer off the water and in winter the usually brisk morning wind would skate visibly across the white breaking waves. While the coffee was worth every visit, there was even a bigger attraction for Matt. Being an early bird, Matt would always have the opportunity to sit at his favourite table. It provided a panoramic view of the harbour, but more importantly it gave him the opportunity to watch the coming and goings of his favourite waitress.
He liked nearly everything about Toni, her long wavy flaming red hair which was always tied back in a pony tail, the way her pretty freckled smiling face would reveal white and even teeth. He liked the way that her plum coloured uniform shirt was stretched over her ample breasts and tucked into narrow waisted jeans. He liked how her full buttocks filled her tight jeans and how her strong thighs carried her effortlessly around the café to complete her duties. He admired her confidence and strong personality, sometimes with just a hint of arrogance. He liked her mannerisms, like stroking her hair and standing with one leg forward as she spoke with him. What he didn't like was the large diamond ring on her wedding finger which he tried to ignore as best he could. As time went on, he'd built up a rapport with Toni, she was friendly enough and if she wasn't busy she'd often stop and pass the time of day with Matt.
Toni knew that Matt was flirting with her but took it in her stride. When she had enough of his flirting, she would politely excuse herself and Matt would admire her swinging buttocks as she retreated to the kitchen. Matt was always careful not to make a fool of himself for he enjoyed Toni's attentions. He was however fully aware of a likely uncompromising fiery temper that lurked underneath her pleasant manner, just waiting for some unsuspecting blithering fool on which to unleash it. He tried to be friendly and entertaining when she was around him, and then fantasise about what she would look like under those tight jeans and what he'd like to do to make her happy.
It was in early spring that Toni suddenly disappeared from the wild Plum, a concerned Matt asked after her to the owner's wife who was standing in for her absence. He was told that she was taking a well earned week or two's vacation. Matt counted down the days until her return, and on a Monday morning he was rewarded with her presence. Matt wasn't alone in the café that morning, and the first thing that he noticed as he took his chair was the spring was gone from her step, the second was the engagement ring was nowhere to be seen. She didn't look at him as she tended to her other customers but soon arrived at his table. It took but a second to realise that she looked different, her large green eyes had lost their sparkle and her face was a little puffy. A weight loss was evident as her once tight jeans seemed to just hang on her waist. She gazed into Matt's searching eyes for a few seconds and then looked away.
Matt waited until she looked impatiently back at him, and then he smiled, it wasn't reciprocated.
"Hi, I'll just have the usual thanks."
She walked away without comment leaving Matt to feel concerned for her. Minutes later Toni returned and placed a steaming cup in front of him.
He looked up at her and smiled, "Thanks."
This time she held his eye for a few seconds, "Sorry if I was rude before. I'm not myself at the moment."
Matt smiled, "Its okay, I can see things have changed."
She followed his eyes down to her left hand where once sat a diamond ring, she rubbed her ring less finger with the other hand.
"That obvious is it?"
"Yeah, it is." Matt replied as tears began to roll down her pretty face.
"Sorry." she whispered and hurried out of sight.
Over the next few weeks, Matt would arrive every morning at his table and always with a smile on his face. He watched as slowly but surely as Toni returned slowly to her old self. The sparkle in her eyes returned and her confidence more evident. On quiet mornings she would stand by the table and talk to him, although sometimes she would stare out across the water oblivious to his chatter. But to Matt it didn't really matter, for he simply enjoyed her presence.
It was a fine Friday morning that thing's changed. Matt was halfway through his coffee and in discussion with Toni about the weekend ahead.
"So, have you anything lined up?"
Toni shook her head, "Nope, just a quiet weekend. I don't go out much these days. It'll just be me and my big black cat."
"Doesn't sound much like fun."
She shrugged her shoulders, "I don't think I'm good company these days."
"So you wouldn't be interested in a quiet meal out with a valued customer?"
Her eyes narrowed as she digested the proposal, but her response was prompt.
"Sorry, but I'm off men at the moment."
Matt took a risk, "What if I wear a dress and promise to talk girly stuff? I'll even shave my legs if it'll help."
It got a smile but the same result, "Thanks, but no thanks."
Matt cursed himself as Toni moved away to serve other customers. He hadn't planned to ask her out and wasn't prone to being impulsive, he had just blurted out the proposition without thinking. Now embarrassed, he walked to the counter to pay the bill and escape as quickly as possible. He looked down at the counter as Toni approached him and placed his coins into the till, then slipped the change onto the counter beside his hand.
"I'm free tomorrow night if the offer's still open, and you don't have to shave your legs."
Matt raised his eyes to her smiling face, "What about the dress?"
Her smile widened, "Nah, wouldn't look good with hairy legs. But just friends, okay?"
"Just friends." Matt lied for the first time.
"Here's my address and phone number." she said scrawling over his till receipt.
It was the first time that Matt had seen Toni in anything else but jeans. The emerald green dress contrasted with her thick red hair which now flowed curvaceously down to her shoulders. High shoes emphasised her slim ankles and tight calf muscles, a knee length dress hid the rest. The restaurant wasn't the best in town, but Matt didn't want to go over the top as he didn't want Toni to feel uncomfortable. Instead he chose one that he'd frequented before; the food was good and the atmosphere was usually noisy and fun. Their small table was near an outside window and they made small talk while waiting for their orders to be taken. Matt noticed her right hand rubbing her wedding finger as if searching for the engagement ring that was no longer there. She caught him looking and stopped.
"Sorry, force of habit." she stated apologetically.
Matt shrugged his shoulders, "Its okay. Do you want to talk about it?"
Her eyes shifted from his and looked out the window as if looking for escape.
"Do you really want to hear?" she asked making eye contact.
