Thirty-One
I ARRIVE AT HELEN’S office a little before 10 a.m. the next morning, having stopped by The Perfect Cup first. I have two large coffees—my usual double cream, double sugar, and Helen’s black with two sugars—and a bag with one chocolate donut and one cinnamon roll.
“Good morning,” I say cheerfully. Helen looks up at me with eyes still heavy from sleep. I stop and say, “You didn’t have coffee this morning?”
She shakes her head and reaches out to me. I hand her one of the coffees and she takes it eagerly. After downing a gulp, she manages a smile. “Thanks, sweetie. You’re a lifesaver.”
“We’ll have to put a coffee maker in our bedroom,” I whisper.
“Not a bad idea. But no, I slept in, so I didn’t have too much time to get ready. Someone kept me out late.”
I smile. We lingered ov
