Happily Never After by Bess George

quick stop at the café on the corner was a necessity this morning. It was the one place in the area carrying her favorite blend, so she’d developed a daily routine of buying coffee before going to work. After Carl mentioned he loved it too, she always ordered an extra for the security guard.
    The aroma of fresh coffee made her mouth water when she entered the building. She paid the cashier and had started to leave when someone called her name.
    The man from the gym gestured for her to come join him. Dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, he appeared ready to be outside for the day. She hesitated before giving herself a mental shake for being paranoid and covered the short distance to his table.
    “Hi, Joe, it’s nice to see you again. Do you work around here?”
    He had gotten up when she approached and now reached over to move one of the chairs for her to sit down. Before she could protest, he issued her a slight smile. “Come on, please join me, just for a minute. That coffee is so hot, it’ll still be steaming if you get where you’re going by lunchtime. I just started a construction job not too far from here but couldn’t resist stopping in this morning.”
    She accepted his gesture and sat in the chair he offered. They chatted about the city, and she relaxed at his amusing anecdotes about the history of Redding. The sadness in his face tugged at her heart strings.
    “Kelsey, tell me if it’s none of my business, but you look a little pale today. Are you feeling okay?”
    She sighed. “I'm all right. Life’s been hectic for me lately. First the move and now a full-time job has taken their toll. TGIF though, right? A relaxing weekend and I’ll be bright as a new penny by Monday.”
    He smiled at her joke. “So, is your office around here?”
    She blew on her coffee to cool the scalding liquid. “I started at the D.A.’s office a few days ago.”
    “Wow. That sounds important. Do you get to work with the police department?”
    The face of a particular arrogant man flashed through her brain, and she did a mental eye roll. “Yes, our office depends on them.” A rush of apprehension ran up her spine, and she skirted around the fact that she was an attorney. With a bright smile, she added. “I’m like a law clerk for now.”
    He focused on his cup and remained quiet for so long she didn’t think he heard her. When he looked up, pain and sadness radiated from him. “My wife, Janie, worked as a secretary. It made her feel needed. I always believed she should be the one in charge of the place because of how smart she was. I lost her over five years ago, but some days the memories are still hard for me.”
    “I’m sorry for your loss.” She reached out and laid her hand over his and gave a gentle squeeze.
    He revealed a thin smile and removed his hand to pick up his drink again. “Thanks. For a while, it was tough to move on but most of the time, I’m okay. Like today, sitting here talking to you. Now, I better take off before I get in trouble for being late.”
    They stood and he waited while she gathered her purse and cups of coffee. She stopped in front of the entrance to her building and smiled. “Well, this is as far as I go. Have a great day. Hopefully, we’ll run into one another again.”
    “You’ve been very nice to me. Redding can be a small community, so I’m sure our paths will cross again.”
    He held the door open for her before waving over his shoulder and continuing on down the sidewalk. She walked up to Carl sitting at the security desk and handed him a cup of the hot brew.
    “Whoa, your hands are freezing, and your face is white as a ghost. Are you coming down with the flu?”
    She couldn’t help but tease the guard. “You sweet talker you.”
    Flashing him one of her most winsome smiles, she signed the log book and went to the elevator. She punched the correct floor number and stared at the mirrored walls. Carl was right. She did look like death warmed over, although sickness