Enter the Author
Persephone's golden eyes stared at Chris, smiling brightly as she extended her hand out. "Persephone de Cordova," she introduced herself. "I'm new to Seattle." She offered.
Chris immediately released his hold on Micaela to shake her hand. "Chris Ericson, born and raised." He smiled seductively at Persephone.
She frowned at his expression, quickly pulling her hand away since she didn't want to give him the wrong idea. Turning towards the woman who had recently resumed her seat, Persephone introduced herself once more while placing her left hand over her heart. "I'm an idiot, I'm sorry," she extended her right hand. "Persephone de Cordova."
The matronly woman who exuded warmth shook her hand, gently. "Micaela Dawson, so pleased to meet you!" She said, jubilantly. Her eyes moved to their third party, who was still standing. "Chris, sit down. You're making me nervous."
He turned to the younger of the two, "May I?"
Persephone waved her hand downward. "By all means, I was telling Ms. Dawson I wasn't staying very long, anyway."
Chris pulled a chair and was about to sit down.
"Actually, honey, before you sit down," Micaela spoke, "Mind getting me a blueberry muffin?" She motioned to the line, which had grown exponentially.
Persephone noticed Chris looking at the long line as well. "You want that now?" He asked.
Micaela grabbed the end of the table and attempted to get up. Persephone curiously noticed she struggled once more. "You know what, you're right, Chris." Micaela said. "I don't mean to burden you. It's just my knees-"
"Alright, alright." Chris removed his blazer, placing it on the back of the chair. "You win," he turned around, muttering, "You always win."
Micaela let out the cutest giggle Persephone ever heard, it was so infectious it made her smile.
As soon as Chris was out of earshot, Micaela spoke. "I have him wrapped around my little finger," she announced proudly.
Persephone nodded. "I see that." She attempted another sip of her drink, but it was still hot. She licked her lips clean, using saliva to soothe the mild burning feeling on her lower lip.
Micaela also reached for her drink, she, on the other hand, took a long sip. When her lips separated from the cup, Persephone noticed the drink was still steaming hot.
So, honey, tell me about you. Did you move up here with anyone?" She held on to the cup. "A husband, or boyfriend, perhaps?"
Persephone shook her head. "Just me."
Micaela nodded, giving her a serious look. "Any family here? Friends?"
She shrugged. "No, they all stayed in California. It's just me," she repeated.
Across the coffee shop, Persephone noticed a woman reading a book- an actual book. She was about to point out the relic when she recognized the cover of the book. "That used to be my favorite book," she said wistfully, pointing at the book with a shirtless fireman nibbling on the neck of a scantily clad redhead in lace underwear.
"Uncontrollable?" Micaela asked.
Persephone looked at the book with curiosity. She had perfect vision and couldn't quite make out the title of the book with the long font printed on the front and the spine. "Yes!" She squinted toward the reader. "You can read the title from here?" She asked, pitching the last word higher than all others. "Are you related to Superman?"
Micaela laughed. "Darling, books are like your babies," she said proudly. "Once you've given life to it, you never forget it."
Still squinting and narrowing her eyes, Persephone froze as she was struck with a realization.
Micaela Dawson.
This woman who was enjoying a cup of coffee was THE Micaela Dawson. The woman who introduced her to love in her young, impressionable years. Her eyes shot to her guest. "You're Micaela Dawson, romance novelist."
Micaela smiled. "Retired romance novelist, actually," she turned her body towards Persephone. "You're familiar with my work?"
Persephone reached for her cup with both hands. Suddenly, she became very aware that she had ten fingers at the end of her hands, and she had no idea what to do with them. "I don't mean to fangirl here, but you were my go-to author when I was a teenager."
Micaela laughed, "I've only been retired for two years. Was I replaced as your favorite author?"
Persephone looked at the book with a feeling of nostalgia overwhelming her senses. Her mind drifted to all the relationships she had, all of which turned her into a needy, nervous idiot. She thought of all the men that played with her heart, broke it, and returned only to break it all over again.
She shook her head. "You just grow up and learn that real men are nothing like the protagonists in your stories," she commented. "You realize that all those times smart women become daft for a man all of a sudden is really just nature's ways of ensuring continuity of the human race," she turned to look at the author. "Because if women acted on what was right in front of them all along, a relationship wouldn't go beyond a month," she responded bitterly.
She noticed Micaela looking at her with narrowed eyes.
"You have bad luck in the love department, do you?"
Persephone reached behind her, grabbing her coat. "Had," she corrected her. "Now I have everlasting peace of mind, and that is worth so much more than the chaos letting a man in would bring, " she stood. "Ms. Dawson, great meeting you." She shook her hand once more. She began slipping her coat on.
"Before you go," Micaela grabbed her purse and pulled out a business card. "Would you mind giving me your phone number?" She turned the business card over to the blank side and gave her a purple pen.
Persephone stared at the card with a frown.
"I've lived in Seattle majority of my life, I would love to show you little-known treasures worth seeing," Micaela prompted.
Persephone nodded slowly. "That actually sounds quite lovely," she took the two items and wrote her contact information on the back of the pink contact card.
"One blueberry muffin," Chris returned handing Micaela a brown paper bag. "I submitted an online request and beat the system," he said proudly looking from one woman to the other. "You're leaving already?" He sobered immediately as Persephone finished fastening her coat.
Persephone nodded, "It's time," she told him. She looked at Micaela with a small smile and then looked at Chris walking deliberately close to him as she left.
A whiff for the road, she reasoned to herself.