I love New York in the fall. The leaves floating through central park on their journey nowhere. I often find myself on the same path. Enjoying a simple morning walk through the park. I've only lived here a few months and already have I found that the busy, famous Big Apple has grown on me. I find myself here, in the park every Saturday morning before most of my neighbors have even had their morning coffee. I like the peaceful relaxing feeling I have while walking along the near empty paths. After finishing my normal route, I head across the street to a cafe that I know all too well.
"Good morning, Mary, it's good to see you again. The usual I assume?" asks Marvin, the owner of the little shop.
" Morning Marvin, yeah I'll take the usual," I greet him happily. "How's Kathleen? Is she feeling any better? I haven't seen her lately."
Kathleen was his wife, they've been married 52 years and they are the happiest, most loving people I have the pleasure of meeting.
"She's still feeling ill, but she will be back in soon. She doesn't like to stay away from this place, yanno, it's our life's work and she loves all the people who step through our doors. Here you go Mary have a good week, I'll see you next saturday?"
"Of course, have I ever missed a saturday? Tell Kathleen I hope she feels better and I hope to see her next week."
"I will thank you, have a good day." I say goodbye and walk back out to the bustling streets of the city. I'm immediately hit with the glorious aroma of the freshly made bagels next door. As I was lost in my bagel dazed, walking down the still, slightly empty streets, I was knocked into by a runner passing by.
"Hey! watch where you're going, you're not the only one trying to use the sidewalk here buddy!" I yelled at the mystery runner I still haven't had the misfortune of meeting eye to eye.
"Hey, sorry I wasn't paying attention. I'm sorry about your coffee, may I buy you another?"
I finally looked up, and was met with the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. Dark and mysterious, yet at the same time, they are warm and truthful. I am dazed, and could get lost in their abundance of mystery.
"That would be very kind, thank you. I'm sorry I yelled at you, that was uncalled for. I should have watched where I was going" After losing myself for a moment in the beauty of his eyes and apologize for my previous outburst of emotion I never knew I had.
"I have no money on me at the moment, but I would like to get you that coffee--"
"Oh right, my name's Mary."
" I'm Jason, It's nice to meet you Mary. What do you say about coffee, next Saturday. Say, 6:30 at the little cafe around the corner." How could I say no to this?
"Sounds perfect, I'll see you then. Bye!"
He waved goodbye and started back on his run in the opposite direction from me, as I stay dazed in my spot, confused about what just happened. I walk back to my apartment to change, thinking the whole time about what next Saturday morning will bring, with a smile on my face the whole time.
My alarm clock blares the dreadful noise in my ear, waking me up for my usual saturday walk in the park. But as I turn off the alarm, I suddenly remember, it's no ordinary saturday. This saturday I have that coffee date with the mysterious and beautiful runner I had the run in last saturday, Jason. I hop out of bed and shower quickly. It's 5:45 am, and I want to get a short walk in, before meeting up with him at the cafe. I choose to wear my usual, I don't wanna seem too eager. I wear my boyfriend light wash jeans cuffed at the bottoms with my vegan snow leopard toms and a dark blue cardigan with a simple tank top underneath. I grab my phone and purse and walk out of the apartment building onto the vacant city streets. Have I mentioned how much I love New York City in the fall. The smells of the bakeries making their breads and pastries for the first customers of the day. The slight autumn chill is one of my favorite parts. I walk down the lonely streets and look up at the skyscrapers as the close in around me. They sit there each day and are the prize of the people who are the beholders of their remarkable beauty. Although the sky is grey and cloudy, it is a beautiful sight that one may only look upon from this very spot.
I'm sure if you ever find yourself in the city, you will find yourself in this same spot, gazing up to the clouds as I do, for that is who you are. We share that same approach to the beauty of the world around us. After finishing a short walk through the park, I walk across the street to the cafe to meet up with Jason. As I approach the shop, I see him standing there waiting. He looks nice, not wearing the running clothes he wore last saturday when we first met, but he looks nice, comfortable. He's wearing dark wash jeans with a simple dark grey shirt with a light jacket over top.
"I hope you haven't been waiting long" I say as I approach his side.
" No, not at all. It's good to see you again Mary."
" You too, and I'm glad we are meeting again under different circumstances, I hope no more coffees will be spilled on account of our meetings."
"I see more drinking coffee in our future than spilling, would you like to come in?"
"Yes of course," I say gratefully as i step inside the cozy little cafe, hoping that Marvin and Kathleen don't make any seen of this.
"Mary! it's good to see you, it's been too long dear," Kathleen cheerfully greets us as we step in the cafe.
"And who is this young man, we've never seen you here before." Oh Kathleen, always the nosey one.
"Hi, I'm Jason, a friend of Mary's" Jason stepped in.
'I hope they don't embarass me in front of him, they are always very over the top' I thought.
"Oh, you are are you. Well, we have never seen anyone so handsome accompany Mary into our cafe before. You must be pretty special"
'Oh gosh, why, why, why, did we have to come here, to this cafe. I knew they would be like this, it's so embarrassing. It's like they're my second parents, I should have known better' I mentally smack myself in the face for the surprise of a greeting from Kathleen and Marvin.
I glance up at Jason who is smiling. 'Why is he smiling? Is he laughing at me in that beautiful head of his?'
"Do you want to sit over here? I'll go up and get our coffees, what would you like?"
I'm brought back from my mental breakdown from the moment before by Jason's question. I shake my head, trying to find my voice to tell him what I would like. I tell him to ask for my usual, a second later thinking he probably thinks I'm a loner who spends her whole time at a coffee shop, and whose only friends she has are the couple who owns the cafe. 'Could this get any worse than where it is now?' I ask myself, as I watch the coffee date crumble into hopeless oblivion.
Jason quickly returns chuckling to himself as he sits down and hands me my coffee.
"What's so funny?" I ask him, worried he thinks I'm the weirdest girl he has ever run into.
"It's just, Kathleen and Marvin seem so nice, and they seem to like you a lot. Do you know them well?" He asks composing himself as he finishes his question.
"They are nice, a little eccentric, but definitely some of the warmest people I have ever met. They really love each other too, they've been married 52 years. I've been coming here every Saturday morning since I've moved here after a walk in the park."
"That's sounds nice actually. I don't think your a stalker/loner girl, don't worry. I always go running in the morning before work. I like the quiet that only seems to come in the early morning. It really clears my head, you know?"
"I completely agree. It's like a different city in the early mornings. It's calm, and when you're going through central park, it's like you have entered a new world. So peaceful and good, I guess is how I would describe it. I especially love the City in the fall, don't you? The small drop in temperature, the change in color of the leaves that seem to float by, so peacefully."
"I couldn't have said it better myself."
We continued to talk for an hour or so more until our cups were empty and the streets were beginning to fill.
"I guess we should be leaving, yeah" Jason addressed as he got up and put his jacket on. I stood up and grabbed our cups, taking them to the counter and giving Kathleen and Marvin a small smile as I turned and followed Jason out the door.
"We should do this again. I had a really nice time today" I smiled slightly at his statement and answered. "I agree, I had a great time talking with you this morning we should definitely do it again. How about next saturday?" Jason agreed and kissed my cheek goodbye. Walking off in the same direction he did only a week before. I headed back home with a smile plastered on my face the whole way. I can't wait for next saturday!
It was an ordinary Wednesday, nothing unusual. My friend, Bella, insisted that I meet her for dinner. Apparently, she has big news that she must tell me in person. There were still 2 days before I saw Jason again, and I couldn't wait. I hear my phone vibrating in my purse under my desk. I search through my purse to retrieve my phone. It's Bella, she's making sure I'm still on for dinner at 7:00.
I text back an immediate response saying, " YES YES YES, of course how can i not be there when you have this huge news that you can't tell me about :)"
She quickly replies, "Okay, yeesh, I guess I will see you there...REMEMBER don't be late okay?? It's at Estela, be there by 7:00 on the dot!"
The restaurant isn't far away and it's only 5:30 so I decide to take a shower and change into some nice skinny jeans, my new brown Tory Burch boots, and a nice button down. I finish off with accessories. My hair dried naturally wavy and it looks good so I add a little product, put on some light makeup and head out.
"Taxi!" I yell hailing a cab, "47 East Houston Street, please."
I arrive early to the restaurant. I'm sure Bella will be pleased, for once. I see our friends, Juliet, Emilia, and Annabelle waiting at a table along the wall. As I approach the table they take notice of me and wave me over.
"Mary, did Bella call you too?" Juliet asked me eagerly.
"Yes of course, is she not here yet? She texted me nervously just an hour and a half ago to make sure I got here early. That crazy lady."
"We just got here not five minutes before you. She sent us the same texts. It's good to see you nonetheless. But I agree, this is quite strange, she out of us all is never ever late. This is just not like her" noted Annabelle.
"You're all early!" Bella shouted overjoyed by the surprise, "I can't believe it. I'm sure you are wondering intently, why I called you all here today. I have big news to tell you, but first let's get some food into your stomachs."
She called over the waiter who looked astonished at her abruptness. We all ordered salads and drinks, and waited impatiently for Bella to finally tell us her news before we explode. I have known her since high school. She moved to the city a few years before I did. Juliet, Emilia, Annabelle, and I all stayed very close after high school. None of us really reaching out with Bella. She wasn't always our biggest fan, but we had mutual friends so we always ended up at the same parties and catch ups.
We were all finishing our salads as the subject of Bella's news came up again,
"So, Bella what's the big news, we are all dying to know" Emilia piped up.
"Oh yes, of course, it slipped my mind for a moment. So, I've been seeing this great guy for the past couple of months and I wanted you 3 to meet him, finally. It's getting pretty serious now. Oh great, every time Bella gets into a "serious" relationship, she flaunts it right in our faces, because she's found "the one" and we're still searching for that special someone. This time though, I think, even after knowing him a week, that there's something there. But I can't ruin little Bella's special moment, or maybe I'll just slip it in there that I found a great guy too, just to see how she reacts and freaks out. I smile to myself as I ponder my devious scheme.
"I told him to meet me here so you could meet him. He should be walking in any second now" Bella informs us. " You guys are just going to love him, just like I do. But you better not steal him away from me, I'm watching you!" She laughs.
"We wouldn't dare, Bella" I say as I turn to Juliet, Annabelle, and Emilia, to silently express our mutual disgust towards our unmentioned guest this afternoon. We wait for another 10 minutes for this mystery man to appear before Bella squeals and jumps out of her seat to meet her man, I haven't yet fixed my eyes on.
I gasp suddenly when I realize who Bella's mystery love is. It's my mystery guy. It's Jason.