Note to readers: This one builds a bit slow but rest assured that we will get there in good time. Enjoy!
*****
Usually described by the staff at the Iron Man Café as 'that older guy' who looked pretty good for his age, Arthur had indeed been a regular for many years. Of course, everyone who worked there recognized him; new employees were introduced with a suggestion to 'keep this one happy.' As with any good coffee shop, the regulars mostly all knew each other and the place had a certain "Cheers" TV show feeling where you were always welcome.
Almost every day, Arthur would drop in for his large café latté. He would read his book or a newspaper always keeping an eye on folks coming in and out. He liked it there.
Much as he thought of himself as 'the old man' truth be told, he was only in his mid-fifties, not so old at all. But compared to the staff, he was pretty much 'the old man.' Although he is no longer married, Arthur had split amicably and he was still friends with his ex-wife. She lived at the other end of the country so they rarely met in person. Email was their preferred means of contact, but they would Skype as well when the need arose.
Arthur, never Art, was still in good shape from running and hiking the wooded trails that passed by his house in the country. For someone my age, he thought, "I look pretty good." But it did not matter as he was not the dating type and besides, he was not ready to commit to another serious relationship and who would have him in that case?
The new girl showed up one day and soon enough became a steady customer at Iron Man. Arthur recognized her, he thought, but from where? It was about two weeks before the young woman finally returned his 'hello' with one of her own. She had been stand-offish but that was no skin off Arthur's nose; he had no interest in meeting someone new, much less one so young. But he was polite and over the next few weeks, he discovered that the girl had recently returned to his town after several years in Australia.
Still, he did not recognize her, nor did her name elicit any memory. Caitlin, it was, was working at a preschool. She loved the challenge and the dynamism of the kids under her care, and she talked about them all the time.
Arthur got to know Caitlin bit by bit until one day she sat across from him at his regular table and stared into his eyes, not blinking. Arthur was a bit thrown because she was not saying anything, not asking a question or going on about her work. This was odd to him. He stammered a little, saying "is there something in my teeth?" (Dope! He thought as he said it.)
"You don't remember me, do you?" she replied.
Arthur was flustered. Who could she be? It couldn't be a daughter he knew nothing about. But she'd been in Australia for at least four years. Who was she? Finally, he admitted as much, "I am so sorry but no, I don't remember you though I wish I could."
Caitlin remained coy but gave him a bit more information: "When I lived here I was dating a boy at the high school. He was the same year as I was so we graduated together. After grad his family encouraged him to reconnect with his estranged father; he was in Australia."
"Go on, this is interesting," encouraged Arthur, though still baffled that this girl knew him.
"Andy, that was his name," she continued, "moved to Australia to live with his father and to find work. After six months of hanging around here, I decided that is should visit Andy. I wasn't especially lonely, if you know what I mean, but Australia? With a place to stay! Why not?"
"How long did you stay there? Just a couple of weeks' vacation?" asked Arthur.
"I was there for almost a year," replied Caitlin.
"Andy must have been happy, then," said Arthur.
"Not exactly. He came back here about a week after I got to Australia..." she let the sentence fade.
Looking confused, Arthur was about to ask what happened when Caitlin added a little more. "To be honest, I found that Andy had not grown up at all in that six months. He was as much of a kid as when I was with him. And I did not find him especially interesting any more. Boring, actually.
Arthur asked the obvious: "But you stayed there for a year without your boyfriend?"
"Not exactly," she said again, following it up with, "I'm sorry Arthur but I have to head out to cover my shift at the preschool. Let's talk more later."
And that was it. She was out the door and Arthur was left with a bizarre story that did not make much sense. Caitlin, it turned out, was a delightful storyteller as he had just experienced.
It was more than a week before Arthur saw Caitlin again and, while the odd story she'd started was not keeping him up at night, he was certainly curious about the next chapter. He didn't want to appear pushy when he asked Caitlin if he could join her for their coffees.
"I've been looking forward to seeing you again," said Caitlin. She had a little smile in her eyes that only made him more fascinated with the young woman.
"Me, too," he said. "Where have you been... not that I am stalking you," he chided.
"I had to go to the city for a new training program for work. They opportunity came up when one of the other girls had to drop out because she was sick, so I stepped up."
"Good course?"
"Excellent, but boring if you don't work with preschoolers, I assure you."
The two friends sat quietly together. One was dying to ask about Australia, the other kept mysteriously quiet. But they were comfortable with each other so nothing more was said about the trip.
After a good few minutes, Caitlin asked Arthur, "do you remember me yet?"
He was embarrassed to admit that she was still a mystery. "I am so sorry, but please tell me," he smiled as he said it.
"No need," was her reply, "you will know soon enough."
This was ridiculous, but Arthur discounted the exchange as a young woman's playfulness and nothing more. There might be a hint that she was familiar, after all, he'd seen that from the very first time she walked into the café. 'Maybe I am getting older,' he thought.
Around the time Arthur was making signs that he was heading out, Caitlin decided he should hear the rest of her story: "Aren't you going to ask me about my time in Australia, Arthur?"
Caught unawares, Arthur hesitated before replying, "only if you want to tell me about it. I figured you'd changed your mind after our last chat."
"No, not at all. In fact, I have been looking forward to telling you more..." again she let the words slide off into nothing.
"Oh, okay. I'd love to hear it if you want me to."
