Jade went into Granny's for a late lunch. She was feeling weak and tired. Been up since six in the morning, teaching how to read music, guitars, flutes and violins. Her head was screaming for merciful silence from the horrid sounds of the new students, and the mental exhaustion of explaining the music notes. It was almost as she was teaching a whole new language. It was pleasant with more experienced children, but when they started to learn, it wasn't a very good time.

A tall, scantily clad girl in her twenties took her order. Her name was Ruby. Jade ordered her usual breakfast, two pancakes, three turkey sausages, a bowl of fruit, and a heaping cup of coffee. She was in dire need of substance.

Ruby came back with her order. Jade thanked her and began to eat. After she finished her pancakes and sausage, she heard footsteps moving towards her table. It was Mr. Gold. He smiled down at her.

"Hello Miss Miller, it's so nice to see you. Are you all alone," he asked, a twinkle in his eyes.

"Hi Mr. Gold, would you like to take a seat," she implied to the other side of the booth.

"Yes, thank you, I'd like that," he said. Ruby came back, almost startled seeing Mr. Gold with someone, usually by himself.

"Ruby dear, the usual. I will be dining with Miss Miller today."

She looked at Jade to see if she needed anything. Jade smiled shaking her head no. Mr. Gold observed how she was so kind, to anyone and everybody. Jade looked back at him, finding herself blushing for no reason.

"Thanks for sitting with me, it gets awkward how people look at me being by myself everywhere," she laughed.

"I know the feeling dear. Do you not have a husband?"

"No, been by myself for a while now. I had someone, he left on some bad pretenses." Mr. Gold placed his hand on top of hers."

"Bad mistake on his part." He looked from his hand to her eyes. "May I ask what happened, if it's too hard to share…I understand.

"His parents didn't like my field of profession. They felt a music teacher and musician isn't sufficient stability. He never encouraged me anyway. I'm glad it happened. I like where I am now. I make just enough to have a decent life, and this town, so charming. I'm sorry Mr. Gold, what about you, are you married at all, have sons or daughters?"

"No, with shades of gray. I had a son, lost him, and a wife. That was a long time ago. I take it you don't have children?"

"No, thank goodness. My scheduale can be so hectic, I don't even think I would be able to ever give the poor thing attention, if I had one. I see the kids I teach. Ninty eight percent of my students, are children. There is no need for me to want one, being I can see all of them everyday! Somedays, it get's hard, some of them are hard to work with, usually it's from frustration. Music is not easy, but once you figure it out, your united with others, in so many ways. It's like, a universal language, it's hard, but once you get it, life can be so much better. When I have bad days, and I see my students have a break though, their smile, and the happiness, and satisfaction emerge from them, from their small victories, it makes my day. That's why I do what I do."

Ruby came by with a black cup of coffee for Mr. Gold and refilled Jade's, then walked away.

"That is such a interesting theory, I would expect such a statement from a interesting women."

"Such a flattering statement from such a flattering man." Jade swept back her hair to the other side.

"Oh, this hair, it gets all over the place." She laughed.

"Why don't you cut it?"

"I…I kinda like to hide in it, my hair, it's a mental thing.

"How entertaining this woman is, she's not the way she used to be, but how interesting she is in this realm. I could adjust to this. Thank goodness she isn't aggressive anymore, don't know if I can handle her with the state I'm currently in," he thought to himself. He remembered in his old life, how he used to terrorize her so, for his own sick pleasure; the visits on her trails, the self invites to her castle, just sitting in her window sills at night watching her sleep. He felt delight, his reminiscence in making her uneasy and giving her unwanted attention.

Mr. Gold observed that she didn't put any creamer into her coffee, she left it the way it was. Jade picked up her cup, her face hiding behind it, only her eyes were in view. She put it back down.

"So, drink your coffee black as well," he asked.

"Yes, I feel the sugar and cream block the whole flavor." Jade tried to muster up some courage with what she was about to say. Did he possibly see a glinter of playfulness in her eyes…or, did he see the old Jade possess her body for a moment?

"There are some things I prefer when it comes to being dark and bitter… my coffee, my books, my songs, and men." She let out a flirty laugh. Mr. Gold raised an eyebrow, seeming very interested.

"I see." Jade looked at her watch.

"Oh, gosh, I have to go. I have to get to practice. Sorry Mr. Gold." She put three ten's on the table.

"Coffee's on the house, thanks for the visit." She patted him on the shoulder, then left. He watched her leave, well, her rear view was more like it.

"That woman still has the body of a goddess, what I'd do, too feel and touch…she is making it so difficult to control myself…was she implying what I thought she was?"

Mr. Gold was never so astounded and confused from a woman, or left lingering, until he met her. That's when he had a good idea…what was the mayor's background? She was her mother in the other life.