lifted in the wind.
“Well Miss I can do it myself, why did you force us to come?” Richard asked.
“I just don’t want to do it alone,” Beth admitted. “Thanks for being here for me. You know I will repay you one day.”
Richard drove the convertible down 5th Avenue past the stately red bricked homes until the homes were left behind and replaced with massive business buildings. At Redding Street, Richard skidded around a right turn on two wheels. Beth held her hat tighter and Lil covered her eyes trying to abolish the front row view. The Mustang paused at a red light. Richard bust out in laughter.
“I wish I could have taken a picture of your faces. I’m an awesome driver. No need to be scared,” Richard said as he continued to laugh with his entire body.
“Just slow down, I want to get there in one piece,” Lil demanded.
“Alright, wouldn’t want Beth to miss meeting Mr. Right,” Richard said.
The light turned green and Richard slowly drove forward. He drove ten miles per hour for a block.
“What are you doing?” Lil demanded.
“Why, I’m making sure I get you to the restaurant in one piece,” he said with an undertone of laughter.
“I will get you back for this,” Lil said scowling at Richard. “You just wait.”
“Don’t be like that baby,” he said as he lowered his sunglasses and peered at her over the rims.
Richard continued down Redding into the small shopping district of Brookville. He jerked a left onto Brock Street and cruised at a speed of 25 miles per hour. Beth captured the area in her mind. She loved it here. It was a shopping district but felt intimate. It was always a pleasure to spend time here to shop and eat. The bank sat at a narrow driveway which provided access to the parking lot. Squeezing the Mustang into a tight right turn he accessed the lot and parked directly in front of the Morning Watch Cafe.
Beth peered through the expansive clear front window.
“Full house as usual. Let’s get a booth before Andrew arrives,” Beth said.
“As the threesome left the car and headed for the door of the cafe Beth asked Richard, “Why do you bother to lock your car doors when the top is still down?”
Richard smiled, winked at Beth but didn’t supply an answer as he held the door for the ladies to enter the restaurant.
“How many?” asked a waitress who was probably no more than twenty gleaming with the visible pregnancy under a starched white apron adorned with light houses.
“Four,” answered Richard.
The group of three was lead through the entryway to the dining area. Lil slid into the booth on one side and Beth slid in on the other side. Richard slid in beside Lil.
“I guess this means Andrew is sitting next to me,” Beth stated.
“Well he is your date,” Lil pointed out.
The waitress smiled as her soft brown eyes scanned the group.
“Would you like to order any drinks while you look over the menu?”
“We would love to have a bottomless pot of coffee,” Lil answered.
“Lil, he’s here,” Beth whispered.
Lil looked toward the door.
“Oh Beth he’s cute,” Lil whispered back.
Beth stood and waved Andrew over with a smile.
“Hello Andrew,” Richard said as he stood almost towering over Andrew and offered his hand. “I’m Richard and this beautiful lady is my lunch date Lil. And you already know Beth.”
Andrew gripped Richard’s hand with a firm shake. He tipped his head acknowledging first Lil and then Beth. A wide smile adorned his face as he slid into the booth next to Beth. The waitress returned with a pot of coffee which she sat on the table. From her apron pocket she pulled out a pad and pen.
“Flavored creamers