BLACK COFFEE (Daredevil Fanfiction)

Chapter 3

They walked into the diner and shook the wet off themselves.  A wind chime over the door pinged as soon as the door was opened.

"Grab a seat anywhere you want.  Menus are on the table," a woman's voice called out from behind the counter. "I'll be over in a minute to take your order"

"Thank you" Matt replied

They grabbed a table by the window.  Foggy picked up the menu and quickly read through it.  He read it out to Matt and when they were ready they called the woman over.

"Hi.  I'm Sarah.  Welcome to my diner" the woman introduced herself.  She was in her late thirties and had an Irish accent.  She took her notebook out from the small black apron she wore around her waist.  "Terrible evening out there.  I haven't seen you boys around here before.  What brings you out on a night like this and to our little town?"

"We got a bit side tracked" Foggy replied.  "We had a bit of a car accident, drove our car off the road.  It is now parked up on the side of the road.

"Are you okay?  Are any of you hurt?  Do I need to get you a doctor?"

"No, no thank you we are fine.  The car is definitely worse than we are.  What will I have?  I'm starving everything looks so good" he paused.  "I think I will have a toasted grilled cheese sandwich and a coffee. Thanks"

"Well that is good to know, knowing you are alright obviously not about your car" she smiled a warm genuine smile.  "So one grilled cheese sandwich on the way" she turned to Matt, "and what can I get for you?"

"I'll have the same, thanks" he smiled

"Perfect.  I'll be back in a few minutes"

She walked away and Matt turned his head.  He followed her walking back to the counter and then he mentally followed her around the diner.  He could smell her citrus perfume.  He could hear her talking to a customer two tables away.  Her laugh was infectious and he grinned to himself.

"What are you smiling about?" Foggy interrupted Matt's thoughts

"Hmm" Matt said. "What was that?"

"You're doing it again, you haven't listened to a word I've said.  I would really love to know how you do that."

"How I do what?"

"Just tune out like that.  It's like you are concentrating on something and your whole face changes, but you haven't heard a word I've said"

"Sorry" he coughed and rearranged his glasses.  "What were you saying?"

"I said we need to find a way to get our car moved.  We also need to find somewhere to stay for the night"

"I agree to both.  It's getting late.  We could ask Sarah when she comes back over"

"Makes sense as she lives here"

*******************
"There you go gentlemen, two grilled cheese sandwiches.  I'll just grab your coffees.  Cream or milk?"

"Neither thanks, we prefer them black" Foggy answered

"Sure no problem"

She quickly brought the coffees and before leaving she asked, "is there anything else I can do for you?"

"We were wondering if there was a hotel or somewhere to stay near by.  We need a place to stay for the night"

"There's a lovely hotel down the street, you can't miss it.  I will ring the local garage and have your car removed from the side of the road"

"That's very kind of you Sarah" Matt said

"No problem at all" she replied her cheeks suddenly becoming hot and red.

"Matt Murdock" he said holding out his hand, "and this" he said pointing at Foggy who had his head down and was now stirring his coffee with a spoon

"Foggy Nelson" Foggy replied lifting his head.  "I can answer for myself, thank you Matt"

Sarah giggled slightly and shook Foggy's hand.

"Nice to meet you both, enjoy your stay here and your meal this evening" she walked off and went to another table to take the couple's order

"She seems nice" Foggy said picking up his sandwich

"Yeah, very nice" Matt said as he tilted his head slightly.  He closed his eyes behind his glasses and zoned in on Sarah's laugh, "yeah very nice" he repeated to himself.

They finished up their meals and left the money on the table.  They decided to check out the hotel that Sarah had recommended.

"Have you got everything Matt?"

"Yeah I think so. Hey Foggy, you have cheese on your chin"

"Shit, why didn't you tell me earlier" he said checking his chin, but there was nothing there. "Son of a bitch" he swore.

"You fall for that every time" Matt laughed, "and every time you check.  Seriously, how do I know if you have cheese on your chin?"

"Get out the door Murdock"

"Thank you guys"

"Bye Sarah" they said in unison

*********************

The last customer of the night left and Sarah locked up the diner.  She turned off the lights, brought the shutter down and put the alarm on.  It wasn't long when she walked into her apartment and placed her Chinese food down on the kitchen counter.  Grabbing the bottle of white wine from the fridge, she poured herself a glass.  She took down a plate from the cupboard and emptied the rice and chicken on to it.

"That was one busy day" she said as she sat down on the couch and kicked off her shoes. Turning on the television she started flicking through the channels.  "Steve you would have been so proud of me today.  We made a great profit.  I sold all of those fancy cupcakes.  As for the new range of pastries, I couldn't keep the dessert tray topped up.  I'll have to do an order tomorrow, oh has Timmy been fed?"

She heard a purr from the kitchen window.

"There you are Timmy.  You are just in time for dinner, we are having chicken tonight.  You okay with that?"

Timmy purred and walked in and around Sarah's legs.  She got up from the couch and opened the small drawer on the coffee table.  "Have you seen where I put my order book?" she said as she looked at the photo of Steve and herself on their Wedding Day.  "You were so handsome that day, it really was the best day of our lives" she said smiling.

Picking up her order book from the drawer and grabbing the wine bottle she brought it back to the couch and refilled her glass.  Flicking through the pages of her diary she stopped suddenly on the date.  She covered her mouth with her hand to stop the gasp that she released and tears sprang to her eyes.  How could she have forgotten?  How could she have left this day go by without thinking of it or him at all.  She had always been so great with dates.  She never forgot anyone's Birthday or Anniversary.

"Shit, shit, shit, I'm sorry Steve.  How could I have forgotten" she whispered to the empty room in front of her, tears falling down her cheek.  She picked up her glass and looked to the ceiling. "Happy Fortieth Birthday honey.  Hope you are having one hell of a party up there, with all of your family tonight"