Connie's Cafe/Book Shop

Chapter 13 - Three Months Later

The shop was brimming with customers, it had been Dean's idea to host a signing of an author event and offer free coffee and nibbles. It was really working. Most of the people not only were buying their signed copies of books but they were also looking around and many were buying other books.

Connie was feeling so happy, Dean had been so supportive. Since that wonderful night three months ago when he had come running up with that marvelous bouquet of flowers and apologies they had seen each other every day. Most evenings he would just come round to the apartment, sometimes staying over, and every Friday and Saturday they would go out.

Tomorrow, being Saturday, they were off to a friends picnic. Connie had been a little nervous when Dean suggested it as these were all his friends and she didn't know anyone but he laughingly assured her that he would stay close to her all day!

"Connie, can you come over here please" Tim interrupted her thoughts, he was standing over by the children's section with a customer.

"Coming." She hurried across the shop, "How can I help" asked cheerfully as she arrived.

She helped find the book the customer was looking for while Tim went to help another couple.

The day was manic but wonderful. Connie hadn't remembered having such a successful day. She was in high spirits as she closed the shop and smiled up at Dean. Dean had arrived that afternoon and had stayed helping her till closing time.

"Where to now?" he asked, giving her a hug.

"To celebrate of course!" she answered smiling, "Let's go for a drink and then for a bite to eat, I'm starving!"

They walked down the street hand in hand, stopped in at the little bar across from the park. Connie went to sit down and Dean went over to the bar to order the drinks.  He soon returned holding a glass of beer for himself and a glass of red wine for her.

"Oh my, what a wonderful day" Connie sighed, "Busy, and I'm so tired, but so manic, we sold so much!" Connie sighed happily and reached out for her glass.

"A toast" Answered Dean, "To the ongoing success of the shop."

They toasted with their glasses.

They fell silent, Dean looked carefully at Connie, "What's wrong, you seem a little pensive?" he asked after a while.

"OH nothing really, I'm just being silly, thinking of tomorrow, wondering if your friends will like me. What are they like anyway?" she asked.

"Oh Connie, really don't worry, they are lovely, laid back people.  I went to school with Tim and Andy and their girlfriends are great sports. Seriously you will love them, I promise.

When they finished their drinks they walked down to the little Italian place on the corner choosing what had become their favourite corner table.

They ate their pizzas and enjoyed a bottle of red wine. When they finished they slowly made their way back to the apartment. As they approached the door Dean turned towards her, "Listen Connie, first thing in the morning I have to pop into the office and finish off a couple of things, so I won't stay tonight, but I'll be round at 12 to pick you up, is that ok?"

"Yes, sure, sounds good. I'm so tired I just want to go straight to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow then"

He leaned over and gave her a lingering kiss, "Bye then, see you tomorrow, 12 o'clock"

"Bye"

He walked back towards his parked car and Connie put the key in the lock and let herself into the foyer, wearily climbed the stairs to her apartment door and was met by a very upset 'Peach".

"Come on" Connie scooped the meowing cat into her arms, closed the door and headed into the kitchen.

...................

Saturday promised to be a lovely warm day. Connie went down to the shop to check that Tim was ok. Amy had promised to help him out.  In fact lately Amy had been helping out a lot.  She didn't seem to be doing very well at the moment, if fact she didn't have any clients at all. Her last client had asked her to follow her husband for almost two months, convinced that he was having an affair but it turned out to be false and since that client Amy hadn't had anyone.  Connie paid her hourly when she helped Tim at the shop and lately she had been going out more and more with Dean and was grateful for the help.  The shop was doing well and she could easily afford to pay Amy.  In fact she was mulling over the idea of asking her to come and join them on a more permanent basis.  Maybe part time to start with.

......................

At 12 sharp Dean came into the shop collected Connie and by ten past twelve they were both sitting in his car and zooming across town to his friends house, about a thirty minutes drive away.

.....................

Dean had been right, his friends were really friendly and the afternoon had been a wonderful success. Everyone got on well with everyone else and she could see them all becoming great friends. With drinks flowing they had had to call a taxi to take them home, Dean had left his car with assurances that he would come back tomorrow to collect it. The taxi had just dropped them off and as they entered her apartment she looked at her watch, almost midnight! That had been one long b b q!

Dean grabbed Connie and pulled her tightly towards him, kissing her long and hard against her lips, pressing her tightly against him. 

"On Connie, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me" he gently whispered into her ear as he pulled away. "I love you."

Connie looked up into his eyes, "I love you too."