A chance meeting rekindles feelings thought buried…
When Beatrice Green literally bumps into an old acquaintance she thought never to see again, all the old sparks and repressed feelings resurface. But Alexandra Mason lives in California, is a successful producer, and absolutely has no idea that Betty has been harboring a crush on her for years.
Or does she?
As they settle down in the Café for a coffee, Betty assumes that will be the only time she gets with Al. Time she determines to enjoy, before she says goodbye again. But things are never that simple at the Café. Especially when romance is in the air.
BETTY AND AL AT THE CAFE is available to read for free until the 1st of March, when another story will be posted. For readers who would prefer to read on a device of preference, or who would like their own personal eBook of this story, you can find it here.
***
Betty and Al at the Café
Kat Simons
Betty hadn’t seen Alexandra Mason for almost three years and she still wasn’t prepared for the accidental encounter at the bookstore. She’d have thought, after all this time, things would be easier. She’d be able to greet Al with a kind of friendly former acquaintance sort of wave and then move on with her life, especially since Al had moved on with hers.
But no. That wasn’t how Betty reacted. Her first reaction was to turn into a blubbering, awkwardly stammering dork. Of course. She’d never been able to be cool around Al. Not that she was cool normally. Normally, she wasn’t quite this awkward, though.
“Hey. Hi. Wow. It’s you,” she stammered when she quite literally bumped into Al in the science fiction aisle as she was heading toward the romance section. “Good to, uhm, to see you?”
Al glanced up, blinked a few times, and her smile grew. “Hey! It’s Beatrice Green. How are you, Beatrice Green?”
A weird laugh that sounded forced escaped from her. “Great, great. Thanks.” Knowing Al remembered her full name was as disconcerting as coming face-to-face with her after all these years. “You?”
Al turned to face her fully, holding a paperback against her chest as she smiled. The smile made everything in Betty tight and jittery.
Around them, the bookstore bustled with people, all quietly perusing the stacks, lingering over a hardback at one of the display tables, scanning spines on higher shelves. Since it was a Saturday, things were pretty busy, but not so crowded you couldn’t get near the shelves or pass people in the aisle. Just tight enough, though, Betty hadn’t been paying close enough attention to not bump into anyone. That it was someone she knew was probably the worst coincidence.
The smell of coffee from the attached café had had Betty considering adding a stop next door to savor her rare afternoon off. At least, she’d been considering that before seeing Al again. Now, she couldn’t think past the next moment and might have forgotten what coffee was.
“You still with the orchestra?” Al asked, completely ignoring Betty’s question.
“Yup.” She winced. What was she, twelve? “I mean. Yes. Yes, still with the orchestra.”
“You made first chair yet?”
That Al remembered so many details about her was overwhelming. And for an instant, Betty thought maybe the attraction hadn’t been entirely one way back then.
Until she remembered that Al was like this with everyone. It’s what made her such a great producer. She literally remembered everyone, their names, their families, their hobbies. And she’d certainly have remembered the line up of the city’s orchestra from a time when she’d been producing a documentary about them. That documentary had won Al a prestigious award, and ensured the orchestra had sold out the next two seasons.
Betty rolled her lips into her mouth to keep another wince at bay, realized she couldn’t speak like that, and said, “I did. Last year.”
“Congratulations!” Al gave her shoulder a light thump that turned into a pat. Betty tried not to swoon. “I knew you would. You were the best cellist there, and everyone knew it.”
That wasn’t strictly true. The woman who’d been the first chair when Al had done the documentary was a legend. The only reason Betty moved up was because Gretchen had retired. But it was still a nice compliment, which, unfortunately, made Betty blush.
“How about you?” she asked, to get the focus off her because she knew Al would spot the blush and didn’t want to talk about it. “You were on your way to Hollywood the last time we all saw you. Brand new big job.” And since that took Al far away, Betty had swallowed her crush and pretended like it didn’t break her heart just a little to see Al leave for good.
“Busy,” Al said, with a little sigh. “But things are good.” She brushed her fingers through her short blond-gray hair, the gesture ruffling the softness layers.
Al was only a few years older than Betty, but she’d had that blond-gray hair even three years ago. She’d worn it longer then, in a bob that brushed her shoulders. Betty found she liked this shorter style even better. It gave Al’s wide face a sort of…she wasn’t sure how to say it. A kind of sassiness? That sounded weird, didn’t it? Al was tanner now than she’d been three years ago, her gray eyes bright, very faint lines creasing the edges when she smiled. And she still looked fit, though maybe a little underweight compared to last time they’d met.
She wondered if Al was taking care of herself? If she was getting enough to eat. Getting enough sleep. And then she wondered why she thought she had any right to consider telling Al go eat something and have a rest when they barely counted as acquaintances.
“Well, you look good,” Betty said, then felt the heat of a blush crossing her cheeks again. Panic had her wanting to run away. And also not move in case Al disappeared. And also a little worried this was all some fever dream brought on by her perpetual state of being a singleton.
“Thanks,” Al said softly. “You look good, too. Though, you always did.”
“I…” She had no idea what to say to that. She latched on to another topic of conversation fast, before she embarrassed herself by saying something inane like, “really? You really think I look good?” Instead, she said, “That book looks interesting.” And nodded to the book in Al’s hands.
Al glanced down at it. “Ah. This. Yeah. Just…doing some research.” She chuckled. “I’ve been roped into co-producing a science fiction TV series pilot and I’m not sure I’m up to the task.”
“Oh, I bet you’ll be great at that. You’re such an excellent producer.” Was she being weirdly fawning? Probably. “Do you not want to do the show?”
“No, I want to. It’s a fun project. With a few actors I really want to work with.” She waved her hand. “But you know. Always a little scary to try something completely new and different, right?
“Yeah. I get that. I was terrified the night I took first chair.”
“And then you received a standing ovation, right?”
Betty laughed. “Me? No. The orchestra, yes.”
“I bet the ovation was for you.”
Betty found herself grinning too wide. She couldn’t seem to help it. She needed to stop grinning so wide, but her face wasn’t responding to her panicked warnings that she probably looked like an idiot.
“We’ll be filming here, by the way,” Al said suddenly. “For the TV pilot. I should get tickets to your next concert. See how everyone is doing.”
“That’d be great. We’re sold out for the season, but I’m sure they’d arrange something for you. After all, you’re the reason we’re sold out.”
“I just boosted your name. You all did the work.” Al glanced toward the café, through a large open archway in the wall that separated the two businesses. “I don’t suppose you have time for a coffee? Chance to catch up? I’ve missed…this place.”
“The bookstore?” Betty asked.
Al chuckled. “No. This city.” Her expression softened. “Everything here really.”
Betty considered making an excuse. The thought of spending more time with Al flustered her and made a crush she’d thought long gone lurch back to life with a vengeance. She’d be better off making excuses and leaving.
Safer.
But Betty had spent a great deal of time trying to be safe. And what had that gotten her? If Gretchen hadn’t retired, Betty was certain she would have quietly remained second chair, maybe let herself fade into the background of the orchestra, just to be safe. Trying to stay safe had ensured a lot of lonely Saturdays, no one to share her day with. She hid in her music, in practice, and then in books, so no one could hurt her.
And yet, she’d still gotten hurt over the years. Without even getting to experience the good part before the bad.
If she said yes to the coffee, and that was the only time she spent with Al after this, at least she’d have had a good conversation with an attractive woman on one of her Saturday afternoons. It was better than running away.
“Sure,” she said. “I was thinking a coffee sounded good.”
***
The café was busy when they passed through the archway after buying their books, most of the tables occupied. That sort of put a damper on the idea of sitting around and having a chat. But just as Betty was about to chicken out and call the whole thing off, a woman sitting at one of the central tables stood and gestured to her place.
“You need a seat?” she asked. “I’m just leaving.” She tucked a well-read paperback under her arm, slipped her small purse over her shoulder and picked up a tea cup.
She was an older woman with a twinkly smile that made Betty think the woman was giving her a wink even though she didn’t.
“Thanks,” Al said, with a genuine smile. “Beatrice, you hold the table. I’ll get the drinks. Soy latte, right?”
Betty blinked, shocked Al remembered her preferred coffee, and had to nod her response because she couldn’t find words.
Al grinned and head to the counter, where a woman in a green apron was helping customers. Beside the register, on a stool that was much too small for it, a giant gray cat curled in a huge ball, snoozing contentedly.
The woman who’d given them her table wished Betty a lovely afternoon and wandered out the main door of the café, the little bell overhead tinkling. The woman behind the counter waved goodbye to the woman as she left, calling her Agnes. Betty assumed that meant she was a regular at the café. Betty wasn’t a regular anywhere. What would it be like to be a regular in a place like this, and have people know her well enough to wave goodbye as she left?
She thought she might like that.
Al chatted for a few minutes with the woman behind the counter before collecting their coffees and bringing them back to the small table Betty was holding. Betty tried very hard not to acknowledge her disappointed jealousy that Al was flirting with the barista. Maybe she hadn’t been. Again, Al talked to everyone and learned everything about them—and remembered those details! She’d probably just been doing that.
It occurred to Betty she’d better settle her wayward crush instantly because otherwise this conversation was going to be even more awkward than she’d already been.
“So,” she said, sipping her coffee. Then paused. “Wow. That’s really good.” She sipped again. “Really good.”
Al chuckled. “What were you expecting?”
“I don’t know. Normal coffee. Not something quite so delicious, I guess. No wonder the place is crowded.”
“Her cat’s name is Boo! Don’t you love that. Boo! Like a ghost. And he’s gray. Apparently, he has light blue eyes too, so he really looks like a ghost. But he didn’t deign to wake up while I was standing there.” She chuckled.
“A cat named Boo.” Betty smiled. “I like that.” She cleared her throat when eye contact with Al and their shared soft smiles went on too long. “How’s your coffee?”
“Excellent.” Al raised her mug. “Got a latte, too. But regular milk. No offense, but soy milk tastes like milk that’s gone off to me.”
“No offense taken.” She sipped her drink again. “Especially when this tastes so delicious I can’t even be offended.”
Al chuckled. “You look really good, Beatrice. Life must be treating you well.”
Betty shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s been…fine. I guess. Good professionally.” Thanks to Gretchen retiring. “It’s life. I guess.” She needed to shift gears. “California must be treating you well, too. You look great and…tan.”
Al let loose a laugh loud enough to make a few people turn and look. She didn’t seem to notice the attention or the one man who scowled. “Hard with so much sunshine not to pick up some color.”
“Well, it suits you.” Betty wanted to sink into the seat. She hadn’t meant to say any of that. Too close to being an admission. “Are you seeing anyone? That must be tricky with how much you travel for work. Or do you not travel as much. Though, wait, you said you would be filming here. That’s called ‘on location,’ right?”
Al’s expression did something funny that Betty couldn’t interpret, displayed emotions Betty couldn’t read. “It is called ‘on location.’ It’s only a pilot, so I’m just here for a few weeks to start. But if it gets picked up, I’ll be here a lot. Months at a time.” Al glanced around and sighed. “Missed this city,” she murmured.
Betty didn’t miss the fact that Al had avoided answering the question about seeing someone. Which would have been really helpful information for Betty so her ridiculous little heart didn’t do somersaults and her gut stopped its dancing at the thought of Al being around for months at a time. It wasn’t like they’d see each other. She’d be working. Al would be working. The pilot hadn’t even been filmed, yet, nonetheless picked up for a full season. Betty really needed to get her head out of the clouds and back to reality.
And knowing if Al was in a relationship would help that a lot. Like, a lot lot.
“If you have to be here for months, will that be bad?” she asked. “Since you’ve got a whole life in California and everything. It must be hard to leave things behind. People behind.”
She wanted to wince but hid it. She couldn’t have been more obvious, or more ridiculous, if she tried. But here they were. If Al hadn’t figured out she was awkward by now, Betty would be surprised.
“No one who wouldn’t survive my absence,” Al said after a few moments, her gaze settled on Betty’s.
“I’m…sorry?” She wasn’t sure what to say to that comment. She wasn’t exactly sorry. Well, okay, she sort of was because the comment meant Betty’s ridiculous hopes flared to life even stronger than before and that was bad. But also, Al looked strangely sad about not having someone who would miss her at home, and Al being sad made Betty sad. She wanted only good things for Al.
“I work too much,” Al said. “It makes it hard to have nice things.”
“I get that. I practice a lot. We travel sometimes. The concerts are mostly at night and sometimes during the day during the season. It’s a lot more work than people assume.”
“I remember.”
Betty released an awkward chuckle. “Right. Right. So yeah. I understand. It can be hard for…other people to accept a crazy schedule.”
“What do you do when the season ends?” Al asked, leaning back in her seat, cradling her mug.
“Sleep.”
Al laughed again.
Betty grinned. She liked Al’s laugh.
“And practice of course. There’s always practice. We still do occasional shows out of season. But most of the off season practice is learning new arrangements and testing new things for the next season, so… Really, it’s never ending.”
“You ever get a chance to take a vacation?”
“Sometimes.” Betty mostly used those breaks to stay home and read. By herself. But she didn’t mention that. “Mostly, just a lot of work, though. I mean, I don’t mind. I love what I do.”
“Me, too!” Al leaned forward now, her expression intent. “Sometimes doing what you love takes time. And travel. And…effort.”
“Right? Without all the work, we wouldn’t be able to stay at the top of our game.”
“And it’s not like I never take time off,” Al said, resting her arms on the table, the mug between her palms. “I take time off.”
“Of course you do.”
“It’s just, you know, some of this never ends so there are phone calls and things.”
“Sure. Deals don’t just stop because you happen to be on vacation.” Betty frowned. “Though it is important to have some quiet time, right?” She winced. “I’ve been told I work too much. Even by other musicians. That I need to take more down time. Get a life.”
“I keep hearing the ‘get a life’ line, too. What a crock.”
The comment startled a laugh out of Betty. Loud and delighted. Before she realized how loud she’d been and muffled the chuckle.
“Don’t do that,” Al said quietly, grinning with her. “You’re allowed to laugh loudly.”
Betty nodded, still smiling. “Getting a life is a crock, though,” she said. “I’d rather get a cat.”
Al nodded. “Definitely a cat. Love dogs, but am not around enough for them.”
“Do you like cats?”
“I do.” She leaned back in her seat again. “So I guess since you haven’t gotten a life yet, that means you’re not seeing anyone?”
Betty swallowed a too hot gulp of latte to hide her surprise at the change of subject. “Nope. No. No. Not seeing anyone. You?” After all, Al had brought it up, even though she’d ignored the topic when Betty had brought it up.
“Not seeing anyone,” Al said. “I was. She left.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry.”
Al shrugged. “She didn’t know how to live with a workaholic. I suppose neither do I?”
“Meaning?”
“I’m not sure how to live with myself this way. It’s kind of the reason I want this pilot to get picked up. It would give me a little stability. At least for a few months. I could take a breath.”
“You can’t breathe now?” It was Betty’s turn to lean forward, her arms resting on the table.
“Not most days,” Al said with a nod. “The hustle never ends.”
“I’m not sure if I should say sorry to that. You obviously love your work. You’re very good at it. So that’s nothing to be sorry about. But you also sound…” She trailed off and shrugged.
“What?” Al asked, not defensively but with genuine curiosity. “What do I sound?”
“It’s not really my place…”
“Go on. Don’t hold back now.”
“You sound sad.”
“Ah. That.” Al sipped her coffee. “Yeah. Well, not so much sad as…tired. I’m tired and a little resigned. But I don’t like feeling resigned.”
“Resigned to what?”
“Being so busy I miss something really good.”
“If it’s worthwhile, I’m sure you won’t miss it. Whatever it is.”
Al’s soft smile made Betty’s insides flutter again. For just a moment, she’d forgotten to hold up her guard. Now she was afraid Al had just seen right through her to her soul.
“Maybe,” Al said after a moment. “I thought I was super busy today. Here for work. And look what happened. I met you again.”
Yeah. More fluttering. And also a very vague feeling that Al might actually be…flirting with her? That couldn’t be possible. “So you aren’t sorry I literally bumped into you and nearly knocked you down?”
“No. Not at all.”
Silence stretched, for a long moment. The sort of long moment that made Betty a little breathless. She ducked her gaze first, looking into her mug, at the almost finished coffee. She didn’t remember drinking so much. But once her coffee was done, she wouldn’t have an excuse to sit here longer and talk.
And Al had said she was busy. The trip to the bookstore had been work related for her, so she probably had to get back to work of some kind.
“You want another?” she asked, despite herself, motioning to Al’s mug. “My treat this time.”
“Sure. I could do another. But no soy, please.”
Betty chuckled as she went to the counter, trying not to wobble because her knees were a little weak seeing Al’s mischievous grin.
***
They talked for another hour. And Betty kept expecting Al to say she had to go, had work to do, nice-to-see-you-let’s-stay-in-touch pleasantries without exchanging ways to stay in touch. Actually, Betty wasn’t sure if she wanted that last pleasantry or not. It might be more heartbreaking than if Al just thanked her and left without any pretend promises.
But Al showed no signs of being in a hurry or needing to leave. She kept asking Betty about herself, her life, like she was genuinely interested—and because Al usually was interested in other people, Betty tried so hard not to take that interest personally, not to read too much into it.
By the end of the hour, however, her crush had gone from a banked and quiet thing to a full-blown fire and she just knew she was going to get hurt. But during that delightful hour of easy conversation and learning so much about Al as a person, Betty really didn’t care. She didn’t even care that she was half in love with the woman by the end of the conversation.
Before that hour, Al had been…a story to her. The idea of her had been what Betty had been attracted to. She was successful and vibrant, beautiful in a relaxed, mature way, friendly, and good around people, confident. All things that drew Betty. But it was only after getting to know her so much better that she really saw Al, saw the sadness and the hustle and the struggle and the humor. The confidence wasn’t feigned, she really was confident in her skills and her talents, but she was also humble enough to give lots of credit to the people she worked with. She was funny, and self-deprecating, and Betty could see how this woman ended up getting personal details and histories from the people she talked to because Betty herself felt drawn to tell Al everything.
The hour flew by. And Betty only realized so much time had passed when Al’s phone, which she’d left in the pocket of her light jacket, buzzed.
That sound brought them both out of the little bubble of private conversation and they both sat back from the table blinking. Betty only realized they’d been leaning on the table, leaning into each other when they sat back.
Al sighed when she looked at the phone. “Sorry. I have to take this.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Al gave her an apologetic look and went to the café door, stepping out onto the crowded sidewalk to take her call.
Betty looked at the coffee mugs on the table between them. At some stage, the barista had come over and taken their old mugs, Betty had some vague memory of that, but she had been so focused on Al, she’d barely noticed.
A few minutes later, Al returned looking resigned. She plopped back down in the seat across from Betty and held her gaze for a very long time.
Betty wanted to fidget, her fingers picking at the soft material of her linen pants, as she waited for the bad news. For this lovely interlude to come to a final end.
“I have to go,” Al said finally. “Meeting. Some problems to troubleshoot.”
Betty straightened and forced a smile. “Of course. Sure. I’ve taken up too much of your time already.”
“No. No. You couldn’t do that.” Al continued to stare at her, her eyes a little narrowed. Finally, she said, “I’d like to…do this again. See you again. I’m in town for the next two months for the pilot and some other business. Would you…”
“That’d be great!” Betty rolled her lips into her mouth, blushing and feeling silly but also… Brave. Al made her feel brave. In a way she usually wasn’t. “Yeah. That would be great. You wanted to see the orchestra again, right? I can arrange something.”
“Perfect. I’d love that, thank you. But also… Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
“Yes. Yes. That would be… Lovely.”
Al’s smile was slow and knowing, and Betty felt that look run through her in a sparkle of warm bubbles. “Great. Do you have a phone?”
They exchanged numbers. When Al entered Betty’s and she typed in the name Beatrice, Betty said, “Oh, you can call me Betty. Everyone does.”
Al grinned. Laughed. And said, “You know that song?”
Betty blinked. “Oh. Oh yeah. The Paul Simon one?”
Al nodded. “So when you call me, you’ll know what you can call me.”
“I will. Al.”
***
And she did. Betty called Al the next day. They called and texted and talked every day after that for months. Al came to watch the orchestra play regularly—the conductor loved Al and got her a season ticket. Betty actually got to see the set of the pilot—which got picked up. And they spent every spare minute together, including flying back and forth to each other’s homes when they had to be separated for work.
And when they got married three years later, they played the Paul Simon song during the reception, dancing in each other’s arms, grinning, and reminiscing about their fateful meeting that day, all those years ago, at the café.
***
Thanks for reading BETTY AND AL AT THE CAFE. I hope you enjoyed it. If you’d like your own personal eBook copy of this story, you can find it for sale here. You can also peruse the previous Café stories that are individually available for sale here. And don’t forget to check back on March 1st for the next Free story from The Café!
Also! If you enjoyed this sweet contemporary romance, you might also enjoy my (hetero and spicy) Contemporary Romance DESIGNED FOR YOU! It is, conveniently, on sale this month, too!
Thanks again for reading! See you next month.
~Kat