Out of the Loop

Chapter Twenty-Three

She smiled timidly as he approached. “Hi, Derek.  It didn’t take too long to find the store, right?”

Derek smiled broadly.  “Nah, my dad told me exactly where to go.”

“Oh, Derek,” Maz said, “this is Mason, he owns the store.  Mason, this is my friend Derek Beauville.”

Mason looked Derek over seriously with his arms crossed, then grinned.  “Hey, Derek, nice to meet you.”  He stuck a meaty hand over the counter.  Derek shook his hand wholeheartedly.  “Your dad’s Mark Beauville, right? You two look very similar,” Mason observed.

“Nice to meet you, too.  And yes, sir, he is.”

“Oh, don’t ‘sir’ me, any friend of little Mads here is a friend of mine.”  

Derek laughed as Maz turned nearly crimson. “Okay, Mason.  So, Maz, how’re you?”

She smiled, the heat not quite fading from her cheeks.  “I’m good, thanks.  Do you want anything to eat?”

“Sure, what’s good?” The pair turned back to Mason, who pulled out a small menu and handed it to them.  

“Coffee, tea, cookies, and fruit here.  Nothing too fancy.  Mads, your usual?”

Maz nodded, her arms still around the book.  “Thanks.”

“No problem.  And Derek?”

“A hot cocoa, please.”

Mason began to pull various mugs and ingredients out from under the counter.  “Okay, you kids go sit down, and I’ll bring your stuff over when it’s ready.”

“Thank you, Mason,” Maz said again, and she led Derek to a small table near a window.

“So, uh . . . you seem to come here often,” Derek said, leaning on his arms on the wooden table between them.  Maz nodded, placing the book delicately aside.

The tiny store had a homey feel, with small, cozy tables and armchairs tucked in between mismatched, rickety bookcases full of assorted books.  Other than hand-carved wooden signs displaying genre, there was no real organization.  ‘Sci-fi’ spilled into ‘Non-fiction,’ which continued into ‘Children’s.’  Small antique lamps set on rickety tables, as well as a few lightbulbs in the ceiling covered with ornate glass shades, lit up the stacks.  A narrow staircase was nestled between two bookcases near the front counter.  Almost every surface in the store was made of worn, rough wood.  The pair sat in two wrought iron patio chairs at a small round wooden table.  

Derek glanced at it. “Another one?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

He started laughing. “I didn’t realize you finished the one you had earlier.”

Maz waved a hand. “I’ve read them all hundreds of times. And this one’s new!”

He smiled at her enthusiasm. His stomach still twisted nervously, and it was showing in his meek chatter. Maz had so easily agreed to meet him here on—what could he call it, a date? No, maybe that was too brash.

He observed her carefully as she stared out of the window at the passers-by. The butterflies in his stomach gradually subsided into a slight twinge.  He smiled to himself.  What is she thinking about?

Mason came bustling over with a platter holding their food, the perfect distraction for Derek.  He set down two handmade mugs full of hot cocoa, and a plate of ruby-red strawberries and warm chocolate chip cookies.  

“The cookies are on the house,” Mason said with a wink.  “Here’s your check, and come up to the front desk when you’re ready to leave.”  He set down a small folder, then headed back to the front counter.