Patience

Coffee Date

It had been a week or so since the "break in" at Kelly's apartment. A security system had been put in place, only four people knew the code to the alarm and Kelly was confident it would work.
From her run in with Adam, she had learned that he had gotten himself a job as part of the janitorial staff. He said it was a pleasant surprise that both Kelly and Jack were working there. She was glad that he had gotten himself a job but after the fourth of July incident, she wasn't sure how things sat between the two of them.

Kelly pulled the sleeves of her long-sleeved shirt down to cover her hands, it was a cool day and her fingers were freezing. Patience followed close behind her as they both entered the coffee shop. Mrs. Davis, Adam's mother, had asked Kelly out for coffee and Kelly thought she would introduce Patience to one of the friendly faces of her past.
Mrs. Davis was seated at a table beside a large window, her hands were folded on the table as she stared at the world on the other side of the glass.  Kelly and Patience walked over to her, they greeted each other and Patience took a seat while Kelly went and ordered their food and beverages. She then returned to the group and a short time later a waitress delivered their order. A glass of chocolate milk and a chocolate chip muffin for Patience, a cup of coffee and blueberry muffin for Charlene, and a cup of coffee and a glazed donut for Kelly.

"She's beautiful." Charlene said as she smiled at Patience.

"She is, I don't know where she gets it from." Kelly joked.

"How old is she?"

"I'm seven, going to be eight in October." Patience interjected.

"I see, so you'll be going into the third grade then?"

"Yep!" She responded proudly.

"How have you been?" Kelly asked the older woman.

"Good, its strange not having Richard in the house but Adam has been at home so I still have company."

"I didn't realize he was staying with you, I suppose its closer to work than Richard's cabin."

"He told you he was staying at the cabin?" The two women looked at each other, confusion clear on their faces.

After a couple moments Charlene began to laugh, it was a small laugh that left Kelly smiling at her through her confusion.

" I'm sorry, Adam must've been embarrassed to let you know he was staying with his mother." She let out another laugh, "Oh, I guess his feelings for you never went away." Charlene said with a sigh. 

"I'm sorry, his 'feelings' for me?" 

"Oh, dear. I've probably said too much but its your right to know, since it concerns you." She took a deep breath, "Adam has always had feelings for you, he was going to ask you out after you graduated but then he went off to Iraq and then with what happened with your brother, he just never had the chance." She explained.

"Oh, I didn't know." Kelly was at a loss for words, she didn't know what to do with the information she had just been given. Adam had been her best friend, had been like a brother and these 'feelings' of something more where not something Kelly shared.

"It's alright, it might not be for that reason at all, who knows!" The older woman laughed once more, Kelly joined but she didn't find anything about what she had just said funny.

×××××××

The coffee date came to an end after some more conversation between the three girls. Kelly and Patience held hands as they walked back to their car. Kelly wished she had brought a jacket as the air seemed to only get colder as the morning went one. She was about to get into her car when someone tapped her shoulder, making her jump. She turned around angry, but her anger faded as she saw who it was.