Chance Encounters

[Shadi]

This is a closed thread for cgraven and myself, read and enjoy.

Closing the file on my desk I stretched and looked at the clock on the wall. 11:45am, just enough time to nip out for a quick lunch. Pulling on my jacket I headed for the lift and out of the building, a short walk and I was soon pushing open the door to my favourite coffee shop. It was usually quiet in here, not many people knew about it and from the outside it didn't look that great but they served the best Tuna salad in town.

Finding a table, I sat down and ordered a salad and coke, my drink was served straight away and I sipped it slowly while I watched the world go by on the otherside of the window. It was unusally busy for a week day and the place was starting to fill up, there were one or two faces I recognised as regulars and I nodded as they passed me. A few people looked in but moved on when they saw how busy it was but it didn't take long before people were sitting at any empty seat they could find.

I decided to eat fast and leave, my normally peacefull lunchtime was rapidly becoming the crush I came here to avoid, smiling at the guy who brought over my salad I started eating, the food more than making up for the inconvenience.

 

[cgraven]

It had been a busy morning as the tour season was in full swing I made my way to my favorite out of the way place for lunch and to my great surprise and dismay it had been discovered. I place my order with the counter man and he slide over my coffee and egg and chips sandwich. Balancing them in a poor imitation of a street juggler I looked for any available seat. I saw a young dark haired woman I recognized as a regular sipping her coke and the seat across from her was the only one available.


“Pardon me miss is this seat taken?”

What a sight I must have looked a poor elderly juggler with ginger hair touched with sliver, yet still not a bad figure of a man all things considered.

 

[Shadi]

I looked up to see who was talking to me, "Erm, no please take a seat." I hid a smile as he struggled to hold on to his lunch which looked in danger of sliding off the plate at any moment. I'd seen him a few times before and with the crowd in here I was glad I was sharing the table with someone I at least recognised even if I didn't know him.

unconciously I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, "Let me move my plate so you have more room." I slid my things over to clear a space before he dropped everything. "Do you need a hand?"

 

[cgraven]

"Erm, no please take a seat."

her voice was light and a smile played at the corners of her mouth.

"Let me move my plate so you have more room” ………………"Do you need a hand?"

The way her hand had brushed away the stray strand of hair was so captivating.

“Yes I could as a matter of fact…………………….Juggling was never my strong suite.”

I slid in to the seat as she assisted me and let out a sigh of relief.

“Thanks, I think I would have been wearing lunch with out your help.”

 

[Shadi]

I laughed as an image of him juggling his lunch popped into my head, "I'd pick something a little smaller to start with if I were you."

I watched as he settled into his seat and made a half-hearted attempt to finish my salad.

“Thanks, I think I would have been wearing lunch with out your help.”

"Not a problem, it's a bit busier in here than usual, I guess summer is nearly here."

I looked up at him while I spoke, he had a nice face, friendly and open, not something you saw often and I wondered what he did. He didn't look like a lawyer, he didn't have that hard edge to his eyes, I thought of a few jobs and dismissed them finally deciding to ask him.

"I've seen you in here a few times, do you work locally?"

 

[cgraven]

"Not a problem, it's a bit busier in here than usual, I guess summer is nearly here."


She looked up at me, her eyes bright and active the kind of eyes that bring a face so beautifully to life.

I've seen you in here a few times, do you work locally?"

“No not really I am a tour manager & guide often in the city but I live in a small village north and east of here.”

Her eyes never leave me as I sip my coffee and slowly start on the egg sandwich.

“Yes summer is nearly here and my work load will be less as the high prices will drive the tourist away till fall………………Oh by the way my name is Mike,……So Miss do you work in the city?”

 

[Shadi]

A tour manager and guide, I could see him doing something like that. "I'm Lisa," I hold my hand out for him to shake. "I work a few blocks away as a proof reader for a book company, this is my escape from the hassles of an office job, it's not much but it helps me keep my sanity."

I find that I keep looking at him, there's something about his face, I'm not sure what it is but there's something there, as I look away trying not to stare I notice the time.

"I'm gonna have to go, I have to get back to the office. It was nice meeting you." I got up from the table and picked up my bag, as I headed for the door I stopped and turned back. "See you in here tomorrow?"

 

[cgraven]

"I'm Lisa,"

I took her dainty and shook it.


I work a few blocks away as a proof reader for a book company, this is my escape from the hassles of an office job, it's not much but it helps me keep my sanity."

Her smile was pleasant and she kept studying me as if looking for something

"I'm gonna have to go, I have to get back to the office. It was nice meeting you."

She rose gathering her things and headed for the door then suddenly as if on a whim she turned her eyes smiling.

"See you in here tomorrow?"


“Yes Id like that sure same time.”

And she was gone. What had possessed me to say yes. She was attractive no denying that, and I wanted to know more about her sure. But this was the last day of the tour and then a two week break time for a rest and home. Yet I had made a luncheon date for tomorrow Friday. Oh well .

I found myself looking forward to that meeting.


***************************************


I arrived 40 minutes early and sat at the same table the time seemed to drag by my heart leaping at the tinkling of the old fashion door bell every time someone entered but still no sign of her.

 

[Shadi]

“Yes Id like that sure same time.”

With those words in my ears I left, I could still hear his voice as I walked back to the office. I wasn't sure why I had asked if he'd be there, there was just something about him, he was good looking but it wasn't just that, there was something else as well.

***************************

The morning was going so slowly, I had a pile of work that never seemed to go down and I was worried I would have to skip lunch. Eventually I closed the last file and looked up, 11:45am.

Jacket in hand I was out of the office and in the hall, the lift was taking for ever and I was about to take the stairs when it arrived. It wasn't long before I was outside the coffee shop and resisting the urge to look through the window I went in, there he was sitting at the table we had shared yesterday.

I took a moment to look at him before he noticed me then walked over. "Pardon me is this seat taken?"

 

[cgraven]

Then there she was Lisa, standing there the light silhouetting her . So trim and young and me and old fart in his early 50’s God what I fool I was for ever coming but no hope for it now.

"Pardon me is this seat taken?"

“I smile up at Lisa as I stand no it’s free do sit down.”

1st meetings so awkward the small talk about work the desperate search to find common ground. But her smile the way she holds her head appearing to hang on my every word is so seductive.

“I don suppose your free this evening Lisa, I have tickets to the Palace in the “West End” for Les Measurable” I know it has been running forever but if you haven’t seen it”

My voice trails off as I wait for her polite refusal.

 

[Shadi]

He greeted me with a smile and stood while I took a seat, once we were comfortable we talked about random things, nothing of any real importance but the way he payed attention to me made me feel like the most interesting person in the room.

The way he talked about himself and his job was with an almost carefree manner, not like the guys I sometimes spent time with who were always going on about their great cars or an amazing business deal they were about to close, which quite frankly bored me to tears at times.

“I don't suppose your free this evening Lisa, I have tickets to the Palace in the “West End” for Les Measurable” I know it has been running forever but if you haven’t seen it”

I was surprised at the invitation, I hadn't seen a wedding ring but surely he was married, a man like this couldn't stay single for long.

"I would love to join you but only if your partner doesn't mind, I'd hate to get you into trouble."

I found myself selfishly hoping that he was single just so I could spend some more time with him.

 

[cgraven]

"I would love to join you but only if your partner doesn't mind, I'd hate to get you into trouble."

“Little fear of that is there is no one in my life at the moment nor has there been for quite sometime Lisa.”

I paused sipping my coffee and again watched her sparking eyes that made me feel as if I where the most interesting fellow. I did not know why a sweet young woman like Lisa would even consider dinner and the theater with me yet I did not question my good fortune.

“ Would you care for a bit to eat before the performance?”

Our conversation then revolved around all the little details of dinner, her preference and a meeting time and place.

“Then it’s a date Lisa, I’ll see you this evening.”

We finished our lunch and went our separate ways till the appointed meeting time.

 

[Shadi]

We made arrangements for the evening and then once it was all decided we left the coffe shop, lunchtime was over and I needed to get back to work.

***********************
Soaking in a warm bath I thought about Mike and our 'date' this evening. I wondered what he thought about me, he was older than me but I wasn't sure by how much, not that it mattered there was so much more to him than what was on the surface.

I dried and styled my hair, piling it up on my head, a few pins securing it safely. I had decided to wear my little black dress, nothing overly extravagant it was just enough. All set I left my apartment and was lucky enough to get a taxi straight away, a short ride and I was at the small Italian resturant we had agreed on.

 

[cgraven]

The afternoon seemed to drag by. I was still a bit stunned why an attractive young woman like Lisa would accept a dinner and theater date from a stranger so much older than they. The restaurant we had agreed on was over by the Ritz Carlton nothing fancy but the cuisine was excellent. I was waiting by the door when the cab pulled up and Lisa glided from it the little black dress she wore was stunning and so very flattering to her figure. Her Raven’s wing black hair piled atop her head gave Lisa a classic look that was most becoming. Extending both hands to her ZI smiled.

“A very stunning out fit Lisa, you have excellent taste.”

I felt so out of place with the black business suite I wore yet it was all I had with me that was casual.

Our table was in a seclude little corner away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the restaurant.

“Would you care for something to drink before dinner Lisa?”

 

[Shadi]

As I climbed out of the taxi I saw Mike waiting for me near the door, he smiled when he saw me, holding out his hand for me to shake. He complimented me on my dress and I felt myself blush slightly, I didn't know where it came from but my cheeks were warm and flushed.

"You don't look so bad yourself."

Inside the resturant he lead me to our table, it was a little out of the way and quieter than the rest of the place.

“Would you care for something to drink before dinner Lisa?”

I thought for a moment, " A glass of wine would be nice, thank you." I watched him as he caught the attention of a waiter and ordered drinks for us, I still hadn't worked out what it was about him that interested me so much, he commanded himself with a quiet dignity that I found appealing, he was charming, even treating the waiter with respect not just as some guy who was here to serve us and I felt like a million dollars when I was with him. Again I wondered what he thought about me and hoped that whatever it was, it was good.

 

[cgraven]

Drinks ordered the main course on its way I looked at Lisa and smiled.

“Do you mind if I ask a question Lisa?”

Taking all the courage I had I sipped my wine , smiled and cocked my head a bit to the side studying the young woman across from me.

“What ever made you accept a date with a perfect stranger and one shall we say a bit older than you.”

 

[Shadi]

“Do you mind if I ask a question Lisa?”

He looked at me intently for a moment, then spoke again.

“What ever made you accept a date with a perfect stranger and one shall we say a bit older than you.”

I was a little taken aback that he had just come out with it like that but then again, I shouldn't have been so surprised, it seemed that was his nature.

I slowly sipped my wine and then looked at him. " I have to be honest Mike, I really don't know. It's not something I normally do but" I paused not sure how to say what I wanted "well this may sound daft but I would like to get to know you better." I stopped and took another drink, using my glass to hide my face for a second. "You seem like a really nice man and you're different from most of the men I know and well, I like you."

I stopped again, I was stumbling over my words and didn't want to sound like a complete idiot as I tried to explain something I didn't completely understand myself

 

[cgraven]

There was a surprised look on Lisa face, then slowly haltingly she answered.

" I have to be honest Mike, I really don't know. It's not something I normally do but" ……………."well this may sound daft but I would like to get to know you better”……. "You seem like a really nice man and you're different from most of the men I know and well, I like you."


I smile as Lisa hides behind her wine glass.

“Well I must say that’s quite flattering Lisa.”

There is a soft gentle glow in my eyes as I tell her about a life at sea, Having gone into the tour management field after university, moving to the country, north east of the city. A little sketch of myself.

“And you Lisa are you from the city originally, and what do you do for work?”

Dinner was filled with small talk and the time slipped away unnoticed.

 

[Shadi]

I listened as he told me about himself, all the things he had done with his life, his eyes shone as he told me of his work and his home. He had done so many things and been to so many places I could hardly imagine what it must have been like, each day a new adventure.

“And you Lisa are you from the city originally, and what do you do for work?”

Compared to his my life seemed quite dull, I told him about growing up in the country and moving to the city for work, about how I missed the country life and saw my parents as much as possible just to get back there. I explained my job as a proof reader, most people think it's boring just reading all day but there's so much more to it than that.

We talked through dinner and as we finished the main course I decided it was my turn to ask him a question, smiling cheekily I looked at him across the table.

"I sort of answered your question earlier, so here's one from me. What made you invite a perfect stranger out on a date?"

 

[cgraven]

"I sort of answered your question earlier, so here's one from me. What made you invite a perfect stranger out on a date?"


I paused think about Lisa question.

“Well there is the obvious and that is you’re a very attractive young woman”

I tease Lisa then I become more serious.

“Really it was your eyes Lisa, from the first moment I met you, your eyes how they laughed as I juggled my lunch, how they watched me as we talked making me feel as If I was the only one in the world. How just there memory brings a smile to my face. and just know when you where talking of home how they shown so.”

I pause a deep blush spreading across my face.

“Silly I guess but then again you did ask Lisa.”

 

[Shadi]

I sit quietly for a moment, he has put into words a part of something I have been struggling to understand.

Reaching across the table I cover his hand with mine, "Yes I did ask Mike but it's not silly, not silly at all. I only wish I could put into words what it was but nothing seems right."

My mind is racing but I still can't say or make any sense of what or how I'm feeling.

"Have you ever met someone unlike anyone else you've met before, we've only got to know each other over a few short hours but I feel like I've known you for a lifetime.

I stop annoyed with myself for not knowing what to say and knowing that I won't make any sense if I carry on.

 

[cgraven]

"Yes I did ask Mike but it's not silly, not silly at all. I only wish I could put into words what it was but nothing seems right."

Lisa eyes where alive flashing one moment with excitement the neck cloudy with doubt, the wistful as if in deep thought. Her hand covers mine the movement natural and the feeling of her hand on mine soothing.

"Have you ever met someone unlike anyone else you've met before, we've only got to know each other over a few short hours but I feel like I've known you for a lifetime.

Lisa voice is soft and questioning and that question is reflected in the clear depth of her eyes, eyes that all ready hold my spirit captive. Then a blush kisses Lisa cheeks a deep roe pink and she lowers her eyes demurely.

“Yes Lisa I have and it was the 1st time I saw your eyes smile up at me.”

We have lingered over coffee and I look at my watch.

“Damn the show started 40 minutes ago!”

It is my turn to blush.

"Well any ideas Lisa as the theater seems to be out?"

 

[Shadi]

I look at him, his words touching a deep part of me and I relax again, I might not be able to say what I feel but I know that he understands. The time has flown by and it's not until he mentions it that I realise how long we have been talking. I have been lost in his words, his eyes, I've been lost in him.

He looks a little embaressed that we have missed the start of the show and asks if I have any ideas. I take a little while to think and then something pops into my head, something I haven't done in a long time.

"How do you fancy a walk in the park, it's not that far and trust me it looks a lot better at night."

The thought of a walk in the park is appealing, just strolling along with Mike at my side, I couldn't think of anything better right now and I certainly couldn't think of anyone better to share it with.

 

[cgraven]

"How do you fancy a walk in the park, it's not that far and trust me it looks a lot better at night."

I smile and signal the waiter for the check.

“I would love a walk in the park Lisa, been a long time sense I went strolling with a lovely young lady in the moonlight.”

I give her hand a gentle little squeeze. The check paid the waiter tipped we depart the little restaurant and make our way to the park, Lisa arm casually slipped in mine as we stroll under the moon light. Every now and then a young couple on a park bench just out of the circle of the lamps kiss and hold reach others close the world and the passers bye the last thing on their mind.

The air is lightly scented with late spring flowers and the first blooms of lavender can be smelt on the night air. Our conversation is light about the little nothings of our work days, all those little nothing that make up the threads of our day and those tread the tapestry of our life.

We stop under a street lamp and standing there in the pale white circle it casts I slowly bend my head to brush Lisa’s lips in a soft kiss. Blushing furiously as our lips part I stammer.

“Please forgive me Lisa.”

 

[Shadi]

We walk arm in arm through the park, the moon is bright in the clear sky and the sounds of traffic are muffled by the trees. It's so peaceful just walking along the path talking about nothing in particular, there's a few people about but they are too busy in their own private worlds to pay us any attention.

We stop under a light for a while and Mike kisses me, a soft gentle kiss I barely feel, he pulls away and I can see the colour rising in his cheeks as he stammers an apology. For the first time he seems uncertain and the look on his face pulls at my heart.

"Forgive you for what?" I raise a hand and stroke his cheek, "You haven't done anything wrong." I gently pull him closer to me and softly kiss him, my lips lingering on his before I pull away.