Chance Encounter

"Have I ever told you the story of how I met your dad?" Kim asked her eight-year-old daughter, sitting on her lap in the rocking chair. The little girl shook her head, "no," her eyes wide with anticipation.

"Well, let me tell you." Kim paused for a moment to look into her daughter's eyes and continued, "It all started on a cool spring morning."

Kim was sitting in the quaint coffee shop, sipping her latte, reading a book peacefully, and enjoying the lively atmosphere around her. She felt content as the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filled the air. It's not that she had nothing to worry about; in fact, she has plenty of reasons to be stressed. She was struggling to finish her degree, grappling with increasing student loan debt, and dealing with financial worries after being laid off from her part-time job. But today was not about worrying. Today was about taking a break and appreciating the small joys of life: a good book, a hot latte and the hustle and bustle of the city.

That's when she noticed him—the handsome stranger walking into the cafe. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle even from a distance, and he had a friendly smile, which made her heart flutter.

"He he," Heidi giggled, "Mommy, were you blushing?" Kim laughed and nodded.

"Yes, I was. Your dad has a way of making my heart skip a beat." She said.

Kim cautiously glanced up from her book as the captivating stranger ordered his coffee at the counter. He was wearing a tailored black suit, a pristine white shirt, and an elegant white handkerchief poking out of his breast pocket. She found it curious for someone to dress so formally in such a casual café environment; perhaps he was lost on his way to a meeting or taking a respite before attending a funeral.

The barista handed him a cup of steaming coffee, and he slowly turned around and scanned the vicinity for an empty seat. He stood there with his coffee in his hands, his deep blue eyes downcast as if the weight of the world had been placed upon him.

"You can sit here if you'd like," Kim offered bravely, pointing to the empty chair at her table. She was never one to strike up conversations with complete strangers or, worse yet, offer a chair to an unknown individual. And yet something about this stranger tugged at her heartstrings. Or perhaps her maternal instincts, which somehow lay dormant within Kim, had been awakened. Her soul must have known the man by her side played a role in her life. Perhaps fate had already written it in a book, and some unknown author was busy writing her story. She smiled as she looked down at Heidi—"our story."

Heidi smiled up at her, her eyes filled with wonder and awe. "I'm in the story, mom?"

Kim laughed and pulled her daughter closer, squished her nose, and tickled her daughter's chin. "Yes, you are, my love." Kim kissed her daughter's forehead and rested her cheek on Heidi's soft hair. "You are the star of the show."

Heidi squirmed on her lap. "What happened next, mom?"

"He walks over and pulls out the chair."

Brad extended his hand and introduced himself with a smile. "Thank you," he said, "I'm Brad."

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Kim." Kim shook Brad's hand.

He took a sip of his coffee and stared at her thoughtfully. "So, what brings you here today?"

Kim hesitated for a moment before responding. "I'm just taking some time out of my day," she replied. "I decided to treat myself to some coffee and a good book."

Brad nodded in understanding. "That sounds like a great idea." They stood quietly for a moment. Kim was just about to break the silence when Brad spoke ahead of her. "That book looks interesting. What's it about?"