"Hey sweetheart." She heard a familiar voice behind her. She smiled and took off her glasses to wipe her eyes. He looked so beautiful, she thought.
"Daniel," she smiled and then kissed his cheek. "What are you doing here?" she asked him.
"Oh, I just made it up with one of the guys earlier, and here I am. I feel like some coffee, and I want to see you," Daniel said. Aubrey smiled and squeezed his hand.
Aubrey unlocked the door to the coffee shop and walked in. He followed her in and glanced around the coffee shop.
"I'm back here," she smiled. He looked at her and then sat down on a barstool next to her. "How have you been?" she asked.
"I've been good. You?" he asked.
"Me too; I've probably been the best I've ever been. I have loved being able to get back into my routine, and I have been extremely productive at work," she smiled as she looked at Daniel. He was so good looking, and she loved everything about him. "You look good," she said.
"Thank you," he smiled. He was wearing a light jeans, his shoes, and a tight white t-shirt that made him look amazing.
"How are you?" he asked.
"I'm good. You?" she responded.
"I've been a little preoccupied with my day," he said, and then he took a sip of coffee.
"As have I with mine. I hope it's okay if I go on the way Tai and I talked today," she said, with a smile. He nodded and watched her as she grabbed the coffee pot.
"Sounds perfectly acceptable with me," he said, and she smiled and filled two mugs. She grabbed a couple of extra sugar packets.
Aubrey leaned back against the counter and enjoyed the sweet taste of her coffee. Daniel sipped his coffee and watched Aubrey. She had been so happy since he got out of jail, and that made him happy. He had tried to contact her back, and he was still in contact with her through some of the people who had helped him get out of jail. After trying to contact her through almost every contact person he had had, he finally found her number in her planner.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I am. I just miss him, and today was hard," she said. He noticed the way she held her cup of coffee, and he thought she might be crying a little. He quickly looked around the room and smiled when he realized she was looking for something. He watched her as she went around the tables, and he saw her drop her handkerchief. He grabbed it from the table and wiped his tears. "What is that?" she asked. He looked at her and smiled.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought I had that. I was just thinking I should probably give it back to you. It was just so endearing," he laughed, and then he handed the handkerchief back to her.
She smiled and took it from him. "Thank you," she said. His face started to cloud over as he got this faraway look, and then she saw him sit back and look at her from the corner of her eye.
"What are you thinking?" she asked. He smiled and looked at her.
"We should talk about what it is exactly that you want, Aubrey. I need to understand what you want before I can do anything," he said.
She smiled and cocked her head to the side to look at him. "I want you, and that's what I've wanted since the first time I saw you," she said.
He chuckled and smiled. He used his thumb to wipe his eyes. "Okay. I just need some specifics," he said, and she nodded.
"Tai and I talked. He said you had been trying to contact me daily, and you just recently found me in my planner," she said in a calm, rational tone. "I want to try again, Daniel."
He smiled and looked around the coffee shop. He felt bad that people knew about him and Aubrey. If she was with him, she wouldn't have to be afraid to talk to him. He felt really close to her as she sat there, and he knew that she was feeling the same thing. He was feeling the same thing, and it made him happy. He held up his hand to speak to the bartender.
"Can I get you anything, sweetheart?" he asked. She laughed and shook her head.
"I'm good, but thank you," she smiled. He gave her a quick wink and turned his attention back to the bartender.
"One to go please. I'll have honey, plain and a skinny-love, please," he smiled. He was happy that the bartender knew him, and he would make sure he get his drinks.
"One hot and one skinny-love coming right up," the bartended said, and Daniel smiled as he looked around the coffee shop. "Hey Aubrey, finding everything okay?" he asked as he turned around.
"Yes, everything's great," Aubrey said as she looked over to look at him. She smiled as he winked at her and then nodded her head to keep walking. He walked to the counter and took the glass mug of coffee he had just been given. He walked back over to the counter and smiled at Aubrey.
"How long have you been married?" he asked as he sat down at her table.
"Oh, I just told you," she said.
"No, I mean, to Tai," he grinned and then took a sip of his coffee. Aubrey laughed and then looked at him.
"Almost six years," she said as she looked at Daniel.
"That's really not long, this is mutual, I hope," he said, and she smiled.
"It is, and I'm glad you're here with me," she said. He smiled and then took another sip of his coffee.
"Thank goodness. I know I've been an emotional wreck, for so long, and I just wanted to make sure you know how much I love you," he said, and she smiled.
"I do, and I want you to know how much I love you too," she said. He put his empty coffee cup down on the counter and reached around the bar into the refrigerator. He took out the whipped cream from the refrigerator and then kissed her hand.
