The streets are painted in white dust. Icy sheets coating the sidewalks, providing caution for slim heels and clumsy feet. Storefronts were decorated in wide wreaths, silky ribbons, and candy canes. The smell of the cafe wafting out onto the streets as a couple swung open the door, laughing loudly, smiles stretching to their cheekbones.
She walked slowly toward the Bistro, slipping, sliding to the door. She gripped the handle, trying to steady herself before walking inside. Her cheeks were bright crimson, a combination of cold and embarrassment. Her legs stood, frozen, trying to wait for her color to warm back to the deep tan.
The girl was standing, her back facing the door, showing off her pigtails. A small gap of skin was apparent above her neckline. She was waiting on a young couple, her pen racing against the pad.
She breathed in deeply, shrugging off her coat, and pacing toward the bar. Her hands smoothed down her skirt before sitting down on the tall stool. Her legs crossed, making the top limb rise feet above the ground. The tan girl stared at her cuticles, knowing that the taller woman had seen her. She could feel her deep gaze beside her, hearing her feet clomping on the wood panels.
"Well, isn't this a nice surprise?" Kate smiled, leaning over to the girl.
She lifted her head up, unable to hide the cheesy grin on her face at the sight of those deep chestnut eyes. Rana always hated brown eyes, especially since she had them. She couldn't find the interest, or the individuality in brown. Blue and green eyes were always so much more prominent, and noticeable. Though, when she looked into those eyes, and the two gazes met, she felt a sense of comfort. A welcoming, almost as if she'd been wrapped in a warm embrace just by looking into them.
"Well, Zee's out of town searching for a new cafe location, so I thought i'd stop by," she muttered, trying to sound nonchalant. Trying to sound as if she wasn't thinking dirty thoughts in her mind. Trying to pretend she wasn't cheating on her husband with the woman right infant of her.
"Ah, so you come here to get pissed before he comes home?" the girl laughed, her arms now crossed.
The girl bit the insides of her cheeks before leaning in. She coughed slightly, nervous about her words to come, "Who said I came for the wine?"
Kate's eyebrows raised as she was taken aback by the girls confidence. It was usually Kate that started the flirtatious conversations, leaving sly remarks. That was how she liked it. But, somehow, the sound of Rana starting to come out of her shell, and show her love in very different ways, was exceptionally appealing, never mind sexy.
"Well, I don't know what you mean? Our chef was just fired, so the foods not that great. Is that what you meant?" she felt the need to play along.
"You are going to make me work for this, aren't you?" Rana rolled her eyes, a deep huff escaping her perfectly round lips.
The girl nodded, a wide smirk appearing, "It's more fun that way."
She slung her dishrag over her shoulder and strutted off to the kitchen, stopping at the door and turning. She gave a slight wink, and disappeared into the next room.
Rana's heart pounded, eagerly waiting for the girls shift to end. Or more or less a break. She tapped her fingers against the dark maple countertop, eyes wandering around the room. The young couple sat, holding hands across the small table. A group of rowdy men sat at the other end of the bar, clashing beer, making the contents spill on to their trousers. A sad looking, middle aged woman was corralling three toddlers into a booth, a baby on her shoulder. Then there was an elderly man sitting by himself. A cup of coffee sat in front of him, steam rising from the hot liquid. There was another cup on the other side of the booth, steam rising, no one to drink it.
Rana felt her heart twinge at the possibilities. She just wanted to stand up and hug him. Not sure if it was the nurse in her, or the genuine need to fill others hearts with happiness. Either way, part of her was drawn to the feeble man.
"He comes and has coffee everyday," Kate walked back, noticing the woman interest in the man across the way.
Rana looked up, her eyes deep with worry, "Why is he all alone?"
The girl sat down beside her, averting her gaze to the older man, "He used to come in here every morning with his wife. She passed away recently."
"And he still comes for her?" Rana said in amazement.
Kate nodded, "They have the kind of love you can only dream of. The kind of love that doesn't end with death."
The tan girl thought of what that might look like. What it might feel like to be with one person forever. To visit someones headstone, just to talk about your day. To lose the one person that means the most to you in the world. To lose the one person that cares about you that much.
She felt her stomach flip and twist at the thought of losing someone that important.
"Why is it a dream?" she whispered, searching the girls eyes for an answer.
"What do you mean?" Kate asked, her head cocked.
"You said that that was the love you can only dream of having."
Kate smiled, "Well, dreams are more like miracles when it comes to eternal love."
The girl turned back to the older man, now stirring cream into the second cup of coffee, talking to a figure that wasn't there.
"And you don't believe in miracles?" Rana scoffed.
Kate grinned, "Of course I do! A miracle happens to me everyday."
The girl tilted her head in confusion.
"It walks in here, face all red, trying to pretend it didn't just stumble into the door outside. It smiles from ear to ear at the simplest of things, and makes my heart pound."
Rana started to blush, now catching on.
"It likes to be bold, but always crawls back inside its shell afterword. It has tan, toned features, and bright eyes. It has no idea how much people look at it when it walks in the room," she inched her hand to the girls, having their fingers touch slightly, "My miracle is you."