"You didn't tell me why you were in the men's department at the store," Sharon started the conversation after they'd both gotten their drinks and found a seat. The coffee shop, a popular local place near a community college, was bustling with mostly younger students. People of all ages were seated around the place, but the vibe was certainly a young, hip, and modern one. Andy, who had gotten a cup of black coffee, sipped at it, and his eyes met hers.
"I was looking for a suit," he told her and shrugged. "Of course, Provenza suggested a thrift shop," he rolled his eyes, and that got Sharon smiling as she cupped both hands around the coffee cup. Andy put his cup down and gestured, "I can't really afford some fancy tailor, but the department store was advertising a special."
"Don't you own a suit?" Sharon titled her head and offered a warm smile as her eyes sparkled looking toward him.
He gave her a quick glance, "Don't you own a dress? Seems to me most women say they are going shopping for a new dress all the time. I can shop for a new suit."
"Fair point," Sharon gestured with her hand and she sat back in her chair. "Any occasion? Most women shopping for a new dress have some special occasion like a formal event, an evening out-"
"Like a date?" Andy asked, eyeing her again. "Yeah, I have an occasion for it." He left her hanging on his statement and went back to sipping his coffee. She chuckled, sipped at her tea, and the two grew quiet, trying to adjust to even the idea they were sitting together at a coffee shop. When their eyes briefly met, Andy gestured to explain.
"Okay, I'm done messing with you. My daughter is graduating from college, summer term. She is finishing in just over five years, but she has good reason to go the extra time," he beamed. "She has a double major in finance and marketing that she already finished and now has a master's degree."
"Wow," Sharon's eyes lit up, and she nodded. "That's wonderful. Congratulations. Where did she study?"
"San Diego State," he offered. He shrugged as Sharon waited for him to continue. He gestured again, "She's starting a job with the Dodgers, and she got some great package deal she negotiated with them. I wouldn't want to mess with her. She's a tough kid, I mean, a young woman, "he said with a flourishing smile. "I'm so proud of her. She's worked really hard, and she's elated to have gotten a job with the Dodgers. I didn't get to spend a lot of time with her when she was younger, but she did start going to baseball games with me several years ago. She was dating a guy in high school who played baseball and didn't know a lot about it. It worked for both of us. I could teach her about it and spend time with her. Look what she's done with it now, "he nodded with a smile.
"That's really, really wonderful," she said with a warm smile as she nodded. "Really. I'm glad to hear she's doing well. Yeah," he nodded, and the silence took over at the table.
Sharon cleared her throat and gave him a small smile; she was nervous, and she gestured as she started to speak, "I should probably be going. It's getting late."
Andy raised his eyebrows, "We just got here. I thought we could catch up."
Sharon shook her head, "It's been lovely, really, but I do need to get back to my hotel. I have to start sorting through some listings my realtor was going to pull together for me. I have a million things to do to get ready for this huge move."
"Sure, right," Andy nodded. Sharon stood quickly, and he did too out of courtesy. He watched as she gathered her things. He reached over and put his hand on hers as she reached for her cup of tea. She glanced at him, "Stay a minute, please. It's only 3:30, and while I don't expect you to be out on the town tonight living it up about your new job, certainly you can spare a few minutes. We've barely been here 15 minutes."
Sharon let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She looked at him, and he stepped toward her, gesturing to her chair, which he held for her. She locked eyes with him, but she sat down as she continued her staring. He squeezed her shoulder as she sat, and he moved back to his chair and sat quickly. He started speaking right away too.
"I've rehearsed in my head what I would say to you if I saw you again. You saved me. I just want you to know I've been sober for over 14 years now. 14 years. I want to thank you for that. Because of you, I have my job and my sobriety."
"That's really wonderful, but it's not on me," Sharon said bashfully. "You did the hard work."
"Yeah, but anyone else would have canned me and not put in the time to help rehabilitate me. You did, and while I'm thanking you, I need to also apologize."
"Apologize?" Sharon asked, shaking her head.
He tapped his fingers on the table, looking away as he admitted this, "I took advantage of you when you were vulnerable, twice actually," he admitted finally looking at her. She could see the almost regret in his eyes, and she felt herself reddening from blushing. She tried to give him a small smile and shake her head. He continued, "Idiot guys only concerned with one thing take home a lady from a divorce lawyer's office, and the same can be said about my being an idiot with you after you showed up telling me your mother died. I took advantage. I'm incredibly sorry. It's something that as I've worked through my sobriety I truly regret. I've been with plenty of women, and I regret some encounters because I was in the wrong. I was with you, and I also apologize for almost propositioning you then a couple years after that. It was wrong of me, and going forward, I hope we can get along-be professionals," he gestured, "since we have to work together again."
"Oh," Sharon said, almost breathless as she felt herself holding her breath. She bit her lip and looked to her tea, "Please do not think that anything from long ago was one-sided." She met his gaze and gave a shrug, "We were both in difficult situations. Life happened, and we both made mistakes. I've changed, and you've already told me how much you have changed. I believe in second chances, so let's agree to push forward as colleagues, even friends."
Andy let out a long breath and nodded, "I would very much like that. Wow, it feels like a huge weight has been lifted. Thank you. I'm so glad I ran into you today. Just wow."
Sharon nodded back at him with a small smile, "It was quite a surprise seeing you, though," she started to stand again, "I'm not trying to be rude, but I do need to go. I have to meet my realtor a bit later, and I have a very, very early flight tomorrow."
"Oh, you're going home?" Andy asked, gesturing. Sharon started to collect her things again, and she looked over to him.
"Yes, I have much to do. I'm going to try and buy this condo I saw with my realtor this morning. I need to go back home-to Connecticut," she shook her head in a chuckle. "Sorry, it has been home, but being back in L.A., well, it just feels like home now. I'm going back East to start the huge process of moving."
"If there's anything I can do," he said, gesturing to her as he stood too. She looked over, and he shrugged.
"Thank you," she said, reaching to her purse. She pulled out a card and handed it to him. For a brief second, their hands touched, "This is my business card, and my number is on it, that is, until I get moved and get a new number. Strange these cell phones now," she said shrugging.
He chuckled and pulled his out of his pocket, "Yeah, I know what you mean. I was just getting used to a pager for work. He reached for a napkin, pulled a pen from his coat pocket, and he wrote down his number.
"That's me, and please call with anything you need for your move. When are you going to get back here?" Andy asked.
She hummed as she accepted the napkin and put it in her purse, "Looks like five or six weeks with everything I have to do. It will go fast."
"It will," he nodded, looking to her card. He tapped it, "You're leaving a good job."
"I am," she nodded in agreement. "I'm coming home, though," she shrugged. "That's what matters."
She put her hand up in a small wave, and he nodded to her. As she started to step away, Andy called to her, "Sharon?" She turned, and he tapped the card again, thinking about things. He held it up, "I'll call you."
"Okay," she said with a slight tilt of her head, almost wondering why he was restating something they'd agreed to with the exchange of numbers. Andy smiled, and she returned the smile before she gave him a wave to leave. Sharon turned around quickly again too. "Ahh, Andy," she said in a quick, almost breathless tone. She noted he was still watching her, "I'll probably be with my realtor a couple hours. We are meeting to discuss a few things. My friend, Gavin, is busy tonight, but I've also spent a few evenings with him. If it's not too late, ahh, dinner-" Sharon fidgeted, but she didn't have to say more.
"Dinner sounds great," he told her with a warm smile. "When and where?"
"If it's not too much trouble or too boring, my hotel has a restaurant. I'll be meeting with my realtor at the hotel," she offered. "It has been nice catching up with you."
"Likewise," he grinned. "Hotel restaurant is good with me. I just need the details."