Installment #20 Starbucks

    Tucker stepped through the door of Starbucks and was not surprised to see Cynthia already seated with a coffee before her.  They had talked on the phone several times, but this was only the second time he had seen her in the eleven months since they had met.  He tipped his newsboy hat and stepped to the counter to order his usual Cappuccino with whipped cream and a little cinnamon on top.  He loved that stuff and Starbucks was one luxury he had no intentions of giving up any time in the foreseeable future.  He picked his cup up and as he did so he dropped a quarter in the tip cup.  Then he headed for the table.

     Cynthia looked up as he approached and smiled.  “I had about forgotten what you looked like, but here you are.”

     “Yes, here I am.  And here you are and I have something to show you.  Something you will really like!”  He smiled as he noticed her eyes light up.

     “Oh, Tucker!  You brought me a puppy!”

     Tucker stopped and stared.  A  puppy?  Why would he get her a puppy?  Was it her birthday?  He was confused.

     As quickly as she had made the remark, she was sorry she had done so.  Tucker’s mind did not work like other men’s.  But then she was surprised when he started to laugh.  “Oh, you are teasing me, aren’t you?  You already have dogs.  You don’t need another one!  No, this is way better.  At least I think so.  Come on.  Grab your coffee and let’s take a walk.”

     Cynthia obediently picked up her coffee and stood, ready to follow Tucker.  This presented a problem.  Tucker was used to walking behind his date and walking ahead felt awkward, but Cynthia did not know where they were going so she could not lead.  She did know they had to leave the coffee shop so she took the initiative and they exited into the parking lot.  Then they crossed behind the Corona Building and on to the Chinese Restaurant.  Instead of stopping, Tucker walked on to Pearl Street.  From there they walked east until he stopped on the side of a tan stucco house with brown trim. 

     “Do you like this house?  See the park?  Right over there is the river.  See the three story turret?  I call that a witches hat.  Do you like it?”

     “It is quite quaint!  Are you thinking about buying it?  Are you ready to move to Pueblo?”  She waited expectantly.

     “You have to tell me first if you like it?”

     “Well, I certainly like the outside!  But you are the one who needs to like it if you are going to move in to it.”

     “Come on!  I have the key.  Let me show you.”  He turned the key and the door swung inward.  Cynthia stepped inside.  It had some furniture.  Boxes were everywhere, the kitchen sink was full of dishes and newspapers littered the floor.  Several coffee cups were on the floor around a black leather recliner.

     “Tucker?”  She could not say more.  She turned to face him fully and found him smiling from ear to ear.  “Tucker, is this yours?”

     “Yes it is!  I now live in Pueblo, Colorado.  No more Denver.  It is all done and I am retired.  Now, let’s go to Nacho’s and celebrate.  Want to?  Are you hungry?  I love Mexican!”  He threw back his head and laughed and Cynthia was sure in that moment that he was completely insane, but she nodded yes and Tucker escorted her to the BMW parked at the curb.  Mexican it was.