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Well, This Changes Everything

“Aaaaugh! Why is this line so slow?”

“Calm down, Trilby. It’s going as fast as it’s going.”

“But he’s over there.”

“Yeah?”

“And I’m over here.”

“So?”

“But he’s over there with HER!”

“Well, it is her bakery. Stands to reason she’d be in it.”

“What’s he doing over there?”

“How should I know? What are you getting jealous about? He doesn’t even recognize your existence. You don’t own him. He doesn’t even know you.” Marta turned to the barista. “Can I have a Double Dutch Cocoa with Marshmallow Froth and Madagascar Cinnamon? Trilby, tell her what you want.”

“I’ll have a Chai Latte, but can you do the froth with almond milk?”

“And two of the Cheery Cherry Churros.” Marta stood so Trilby couldn’t see out the window. “What time should I pick you up?”

“For what?”

“To go shopping, of course. If you want a makeover, we’ll do a makeover. Your style is a bit out of date anyway.”

“You keep saying that.”

“It keeps being true.” Marta paid for their order and led her friend over to a tiled pillar facing away from the window. “What kind of look would you like to graduate to?”

“Hmm, how about curvy blond?”

“Honey, you’ve got no curves. You’re built like a lollipop. Big round head on a stick body. Blond wouldn’t work on you, either. You’d look like an albino. Considering how smart you are, you haven’t got a lick of sense.”

“That’s not fair, Marta.”

“Then stop trying to be something you’re not. You’re not Aundrea and you’re never going to be Aundrea. One of her is more than enough. You should be you. Be genuinely you and the right guy will stop dead in his tracks.”

“Jeb is the right guy.”

“You don’t know that.”

“You don’t know that he’s not.”

Marta took a deep breath and blew it out slowly with her eyes scrunched up tightly. “Okay, that’s a fair point. Stranger things have happened but I’m not going to let you ambush the poor guy. If it’s meant to be, it will happen without you acting crazy. Just be you and if it works out, great. Agreed?”

“What if I just got an ombre?”

“No blond and that’s final. What time can I pick you up?”

Trilby’s shoulders slumped in defeat as she tried to sneak a peek around the corner of the pillar. “Get me at seven.”

As they left the Zavijava, they saw Jeb leaving the bakery.

“Keep walking.” Marta barked.

“I need to put my gloves on. This latte is too hot and the wind is too cold. My hands will be chapped and raw by the time I get to the library. Hold this a minute.”

Marta took the latte and the churro. Trilby fumbled around in her coat pockets for her gloves.

“I know what you’re doing.”

“I’m getting my gloves.”

“You’re stalling so Jeb will walk within talking distance.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Trilby pulled one glove on and fussed with the fingers.

“Hi, Jeb.” Marta yelled as he crossed the street.

He smiled and waved.

“So, what brings you to town?” Trilby asked as she struggled to put her second glove on.

“Arranging some business with Aundrea.” He pulled a wooden spatula from his cargo pocket. “She’s going to give me some shelf space to sell some of my pieces.”

“That’s great, Jeb.” Marta said. “Makes sense, doesn’t it Trilby?”

He snapped his fingers. “Trilby. That’s right. I remember you from school. I always liked that name. It’s very distinctive.”

Trilby’s face flushed and her mouth fell open. She tried to close it but it kept opening and closing on its own.

“And you’re Marta. Could you give this to your mom for me? I remember she always brought in cupcakes for the holidays.”

“Um, sure. This is really nice work.” Marta handed Trilby her chai latte to free a hand for the spatula.

“Thank you.” His smile was dazzling in the morning sun.

Trilby’s knees were beginning to buckle. Marta coughed harshly to try to snap her out of it as Jeb headed back to his truck.

They walked together in stunned silence for a moment before Trilby hissed, “What the heck just happened?”

“Jeb talked.” Marta took a sip of her cocoa. “To us.” She took a bite of her churro. “Like, out loud. With words.”

“He knew me.” Trilby took a deep gulp of her chai latte. “He knew you.” She took a bite of her churro. “He knew your mom.” She made a face like she’d just licked someone’s armpit and she spit the churro into a nearby trash can. “Eww! What is that? That’s awful!”

“Don’t waste it. Give me the rest.” Marta reached out for it.

“What is the matter with you? That’s horrible.” She handed it off gladly.

“There’s no accounting for taste, my darling.”

“Well, this changes everything.” Trilby picked up her pace.

Marta rushed to follow along. “Now what?”

“He knows us. He likes us. He said words and everything.”

“Yes, he did.”

“And that voice, Marta. That gloriously mellifluous voice! It’s like the soundtrack of Heaven.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“I would. I’d go all the way, Marta.”

“Jeez, Trilby. Calm down. You’re going to give yourself an aneurysm.”

“I’ve never felt better in my entire life!” Trilby swirled around like an ungainly ice skater. “He knows me, Marta! He likes my name!”

“I’ll give you that. He did say it was distinctive and that he liked it. Definitely a point in your favor.”

Trilby began hopping around like a crazy kangaroo. “He likes me! He likes me! He likes me!”

“Okay, that might be overstating things a bit. He likes your name but he doesn’t really know you well enough to like or dislike you.”

“What are you saying?”

“You’re an acquaintance, at best. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

“Ahead of myself? I’m completely beside myself! If I was any happier, there’d have to be two of me!” Trilby skipped away to the library, leaving Marta in her merry wake.