Yours, Eternally(2015 Revision)

Chapter Four

Matt and I strolled downtown in the scenic beauty New Hope offered.

“There it is.” Matt pointed out a café, still several yards away.

It was picturesque, looking exactly like a postcard from Paris. Between a bookstore and a closed antique shop, the building stood tall, looking over the Delaware River, providing apartments above the café. The sun illuminated the building front, acting as spotlight and capturing the sign that read Café du Coeur in its rays. With every step closer, my eyes lit up, drawn to the charm of it.

The front of the eatery’s patio were squared off with four foot high etched pewter gates, leading upward and around into an archway draped with vines that intertwined with purple orchids. I counted fifteen cream striped hunter green umbrellas leading into their round, black wrought iron and glass-top tables with matching chairs.

At the entrance way, a young, brown haired host named stood. “Welcome to Café du Coeur. Seating for two?”

“Yes,” Matt and I replied at the same time, and laughed.

“Right this way.” He grabbed two menus and turned around on his toes.

Matt and I followed the host's lead to the back left corner of the patio. Matt leaped forward to hold out a chair

for me, in which I graciously sat. Scott informed us our waiter would be us soon as he placed our menus on the table in front of us.

I took in the scenery of the café around us. “Matt, this place is gorgeous, I feel like I am in France.”

“Isn't it great? I heard about it a couple years ago and it became one of my favorite eateries. Some days, when I feel like being to myself, you can find me here. It’s like my little getaway.” He leaned over the table and stared into my eyes, whispering, “Consider yourself privileged to know my little secret.”

“Well, lucky me,” I said, pathetically attempting to sound flirty. Embarrassed, I cleared my throat and pulled the menu up in front of my face, completely hiding the warmth I felt brimming at my cheeks. Just my luck, the menu was in French. Wonderful . I continued reading, finding that underneath the French dialect were English subtitles.  Sneaking a peek over the top of the menu, I saw Matt lean back into his c hair, his own menu in hand as he said to me, “There is an indoor dining area and a coffeehouse inside, if you'd rather eat in there.”

Feeling his eyes penetrate though my menu, I kept my head down into it. “No, out here 's fine.”

We sat in silence as we decided what to order, when, in the midst of the quiet, we were approached by our waiter, introducing himself as Gage as he took out a notepad and pen from his black apron. “Can I take your order?”

“I haven't decided yet. Can we have a few more minutes?”

“Well, do you mind if I order for you?” Matt interjected, waving his hand at Gage.

“Sure,” I shrugged.

“Do you meat?”

“Yep.”

“Gage, we'll both have a cheeseburger des frites, bien fait.”“Uh,” I cut in. 

“I understood the cheeseburger part, but what was that second thing?”

“Frog legs. Well done. I figured it was a safe meal to order, no?”

I scrunched up my face and made a gagging noise, and I wasn’t faking. I wanted to vomit. “It’s not a question of safe, I won’t eat it. People really eat frog legs?”