At the Café the next morning Doris was surprised when the first patron to step through the doors wasn"t Harlan but was instead Joe"s new lawyer. In one hand, the woman held her cell phone and car keys. The other was wrapped firmly around the handle of her smart, sleek attaché. She stood in the doorway a moment, as if she were surveying the Café for some missing detail. Finally, her eyes found Doris behind the counter.
“Just me,” she said.
“Pick a seat, sweetheart. I"ll be right with you.”
Doris watched as the woman made her way to the back table–Harlan"s table–and tucked herself into the booth. Doris almost said something to her but decided to allow events to unfold as they would. “What can I get you?”
“I suppose a cappuccino is out of the question?”
Doris smirked.
“I figured as much
