Chance Encounter by Chris Alesso

 
     
CHANCE ENCOUNTER
    The weather advisory had come out around noon but dark clouds outside the window were already telling the story. A storm was blowing in from the west and would dump two inches of rain over the next twelve hours or so. The Transit Authority foresaw that the evening commute would be difficult and suggested that people get home early. Since my staff would be preoccupied anyway, I told them to pack up as soon as they could and head for wherever they were going. I left as well but didn’t head home. I chose instead to come here.
    Here is Finnegan’s; home away from home to those of us who work in the financial district of this city. It’s what you might call a high concept restaurant - decorated in all glass and metal. The wait staff is haughty but knows their regulars by name. The menu is California cuisine - which means small portions of food, - impeccably prepared and delicious. The prices are substantial and exclude all but the expense- account set from regular patronage.
    I found my spot and was sitting at the bar, drinking alone and staring straight ahead at nothing in particular. But no, I wasn’t drunk. There was a drink in front of me, of course; I was just lost in thought. I barely noticed that the two full length walls of glass were nearly black, even though it couldn’t be much more than five o’clock. Vaguely I heard the rainstorm pelting the windows with the rat-ta-tat that makes you happy to be indoors.
    By arriving early, I had secured the coveted corner stool which affords a clear view of the entire floor. My purse sat on the single stool to my right, subtly suggesting that there would be someone coming to join me. In truth, I was happy to be alone.
    “Do you mind if I sit here?” a voice said from behind.
    I looked over my shoulder and saw a woman in her late-twenties, several years younger than myself. She was dressed in a stylish knit dress that suggested she had a big evening ahead of her rather than celebrating the end of a long workday. She could have been me five years ago. Her blond hair had not fallen limp from walking in the rain, so I surmised she had parked in the underground garage.
    “Do you mind?” She said. “If your date comes, I’ll move. I promise. It’s just that I’m meeting someone here tonight – sort of a first date – and we agreed to meet here at the bar. In this corner actually. All the other seats are taken.”
    I looked around and was surprised to see that she was right. The bar had filled up without my noticing. “No problem,” I replied with a forced smile as I slipped the purse against the bar beneath my feet. I returned to staring ahead.
    “Can you believe it?” She said as she got herself settled. “I’ve been talking to this fellow on the internet for a month and we finally made a date for tonight. I took the afternoon off to get ready. And then, because the weather was so bad, I decided to come early just in case there was no underground parking.” She exhaled and shook her head laughing. “There’s an overnighter in the trunk of my car. I was fully prepared to redo everything, if necessary.”
    “He must be quite a guy.” I said with a half-smile.
    “Don’t know yet.” She answered with a big grin. “I think he might be.”
    I lifted my cup in a mock salute. “May he be tall and handsome and wise.” I said. She nodded in agreement. “And rich,” I added with a giggle. She laughed and nodded again.
    I found myself wishing her well. “For your sake I hope he is all of that and more.” I said and turned to scan the room.
    The bartender, who had seen me raise my glass came over to ask if I needed another. I said yes and he turned to my new companion. “What can I get for you?”
    She thought for a moment and looked at my cup. “That’s Irish coffee isn’t it? -Just the thing for today’s weather. I’ll have that.”
    I guess the bartender liked her red dress, because he was back with the drinks in nothing flat. Then