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Description

Jane was supposed to meet Natalie for coffee at some new place down in the marina district, but fifteen minutes of wandering around, checking her maps app, checking her messages and Jane was getting frustrated. If Natalie wasn’t so damned insistent on an in-person meeting, she could have already looked at the new draft, approved changes, and gotten them sent to the copy editor. Instead, she’s standing in the middle of the street, waiting for a phone that seems like it is never going to . . .

‘BING!’

“Jesus about time.” Jane checked her notifications.

“Oh my heaven’s! The time got away from me! I’ll be right there, lickety split!”

Sigh. She’s in a chipper mood. Great. Jane had been hoping for Dour Natalie. Dour Natalie tended to acquiesce to her suggestions. Chipper Natalie tended to get distracted and go on tangents and come up with new ideas and generally make life more difficult for Jane.

Still, be right where? There is nothing here. No coffee place. No nothing. Just water, empty buildings, and . . music? Where was that coming from? Was that . . Sinatra? Bobby Darrin?
Jane stepped out around the corner, along a building she had passed what . . five . . . ten times trying to find Natalie. This teal door here. It wasn’t there before. Was it? Wait. It was. Wasn’t it. But the music -- that was new and it was coming from inside.

Jane checked her messages. Still waiting. Still not here yet.

The door. Glass. A teal “OPEN” sign hanging in the window. It was solid before. A moment ago. What the hell?!

Jane pulled the door and heard the chime of entrance bells, the fragrance of freshly brewed coffee, and that same music. Tables and chairs, cups and saucers, flowers and sunlight, nooks to the left to the right, what is this place?

“There you are! You found it!” A manicured hand, a giggle, and a yank on Jane’s wrist sent her reeling deeper into a kaleidoscope of song and seating and java.

*********

Jane just knew Claire would find this place just . . . well . . . golly, the only word for it is swell!

Jane twirled across the sparkling floor, feeling her skirt float out around her.

“Oh, Jane! I adore it!”

“Why thank you!” Jane dipped into a childish curtsey for Natalie. “I must say, I feel like a princess! And I do hope Claire arrives soon. I know she would feel the same if only she gives it a chance.”

“No need to fret, sweetie. You found your way here and so will Claire . . . and Allison . . and Heather . . . and Nicole and . . .”

“My goodness, do we have time to invite them all?”

“Oh, Jane! We have all the time in the world here!”

Description

Jane was supposed to meet Natalie for coffee at some new place down in the marina district, but fifteen minutes of wandering around, checking her maps app, checking her messages and Jane was getting frustrated. If Natalie wasn’t so damned insistent on an in-person meeting, she could have already looked at the new draft, approved changes, and gotten them sent to the copy editor. Instead, she’s standing in the middle of the street, waiting for a phone that seems like it is never going to . . .

‘BING!’

“Jesus about time.” Jane checked her notifications.

“Oh my heaven’s! The time got away from me! I’ll be right there, lickety split!”

Sigh. She’s in a chipper mood. Great. Jane had been hoping for Dour Natalie. Dour Natalie tended to acquiesce to her suggestions. Chipper Natalie tended to get distracted and go on tangents and come up with new ideas and generally make life more difficult for Jane.

Still, be right where? There is nothing here. No coffee place. No nothing. Just water, empty buildings, and . . music? Where was that coming from? Was that . . Sinatra? Bobby Darrin?
Jane stepped out around the corner, along a building she had passed what . . five . . . ten times trying to find Natalie. This teal door here. It wasn’t there before. Was it? Wait. It was. Wasn’t it. But the music -- that was new and it was coming from inside.

Jane checked her messages. Still waiting. Still not here yet.

The door. Glass. A teal “OPEN” sign hanging in the window. It was solid before. A moment ago. What the hell?!

Jane pulled the door and heard the chime of entrance bells, the fragrance of freshly brewed coffee, and that same music. Tables and chairs, cups and saucers, flowers and sunlight, nooks to the left to the right, what is this place?

“There you are! You found it!” A manicured hand, a giggle, and a yank on Jane’s wrist sent her reeling deeper into a kaleidoscope of song and seating and java.

*********

Jane just knew Claire would find this place just . . . well . . . golly, the only word for it is swell!

Jane twirled across the sparkling floor, feeling her skirt float out around her.

“Oh, Jane! I adore it!”

“Why thank you!” Jane dipped into a childish curtsey for Natalie. “I must say, I feel like a princess! And I do hope Claire arrives soon. I know she would feel the same if only she gives it a chance.”

“No need to fret, sweetie. You found your way here and so will Claire . . . and Allison . . and Heather . . . and Nicole and . . .”

“My goodness, do we have time to invite them all?”

“Oh, Jane! We have all the time in the world here!”