Connie's Cafe/Book Shop

Chapter 8 - Friday

Connie woke Friday morning to bright sunshine creeping through her curtains, she stretched and lazily gazed around her room. Peach looked up from her comfy position at the bottom of the bed, imitated her owners stretch and slowly walked up the bed to greet Connie.

Connie absent mindedly stroked her head, "Come on, let's start breakfast" she told her cat finally, "The day has started."

As she progressed lazily into the kitchen to sort out Peach and make herself a coffee, she started to think of the day that lay ahead. The shop didn't present anything special today, just a normal Friday, trade had been fairly good, enough to pay all the bills, not much else, but Connie was happy with that, but she had agreed to go on her date with Dean this evening. At the time she had been elated but now she felt nervous.

Connie felt that she was a confident person, at least she was confident with life in general, but she hadn't been on a date for over a year. She remember the last date with a shudder, that was a disaster. He had been a horrid man, very demanding and quite obnoxious, and that was the second mistake she had made since her break up just over eighteen months ago. She had then vowed never to date again, at least not to date until she felt she had found the right person.

Was Dean the right person, she thought.

She knew the others thought she had had a devastating relationship in the past, they hadn't asked, only hinted, they thought it was strange that she didn't go out much, but the truth was she had too many other things on her mind. It was true that she had been in a fairly long relationship with Zack, but she had been the one to call it off, she wanted to concentrate on her shop, her life and what was left of her family and she didn't need distractions!

Now her shop was up and running, her family was as stable as it ever was going to be again, and life in general was going well. She had run out of excuses and Dean did seem to be a lovely person.

As she got into the shower her mind wondered to Dean, he had a lovely face and gorgeous eyes, add his rather firm body and seriously, Connie couldn't think of a single reason to call off the date. He had been interesting to talk to and easy to be around. He certainly ticked all the boxes!

She wondered at how life was funny sometimes, Dean had just wandered into the shop off the street, amazing, she marvelled at her luck, these sort of things usually only happened in films!! Mr Right just appearing out of the blue, chatting you up, everything seemed almost unreal.

By the time she approached the shop door she found Tim leaning against the door frame waiting for her.

"Morning" he called out cheerfully, "You look radiant today" he added as she pushed the door open.

"Morning" she responded, "You don't look bad yourself" she added with a grin.

They laughed and went in.

...........

The day passed quickly, Betty and Pat came in as usual for their coffee and pastries ensuring that all was well and that Connie hadn't tried to change her mind about the date. Amy telephoned checking that all was well and the date was still on and a few books were sold.

Connie marvelled at her friends, they all seemed so concerned that she was going on this date and they seemed genuinely happy for her. A part of her became a little embarrassed with their attention, had she really seemed to them like a sad, lovely person in need of a relationship. That actually wasn't the case, she was quite happy with her life, but she had to agree that she was also happy with the idea of seeing Dean tonight.

By five thirty the shop was tidy, no more customers and they decided to close up. Half an hour early but Connie decided she needed the time to get ready!

...........

Upstairs in her apartment she took her time choosing her clothes, she didn't want to look over dressed or that she had made too much of an effect, but she did want to look nice. She eventually decided to wear a deep blue shift dress of a light wool which clung to her figure perfectly. Just as she corrected her make up in the mirror and reached down for her shoes the doorbell rang and Dean had arrived.

She felt the flutter of butterflies in her tummy as she went to answer the door.