"Cora? Are you finished?"
Cora looked up and saw her friend Sorcha waiting at the door. They had finished their shift in the restaurant and were planning to go to a bar together. Quickly she put her notebook in her bag and got up.
"Sorry, I am coming."
Her friend hooked her arm in Cora's and together they walked to the nearest bus stop. Their timing was perfect with the bus arriving at that same time.
"How did you survive this heat?" Sorcha asked while she chose a seat on the upper deck.
"I do not know. It was unbearable in my flat. At one point it was forty-five degrees inside." Cora sighed, just thinking about that heatwave.
"Why did you not come to my place. We have air-conditioning in every room. I told you that we always have a room available." Sorcha said surprised.
"I know. But I didn't want to be a bother." Cora answered. Sorcha lived in one of those bigger houses that Cora had seen during one of her many walks. They even had en swimming pool, and of course she had thought about going there. Next time when there was another heatwave. Although she did not know how many there were in the UK.
"This is our stop." Sorcha jumped up and ran down the stairs, they were almost late to get off.
The White Cross was a nice pub at the riverside of Richmond. They hoped to find a spot outside on the terrace. But they knew that it was a popular pub. And indeed when they arrived people were already standing outside. Against better judgement the walked on to the terrace to see if there was a free table.
"I guess it we will have to do with a glass of wine standing up." Sorcha said with a grimace.
"The wine will not taste any different, standing or not." Cora joked.
"I know, but I have walked so much this shift that I just want to sit down and enjoy this lovely summer evening. Finally, we have just nice weather, it is dry and not too hot. That is quite unique for this city."
"We have two free seats." A deep voice sounded from their right. Cora turned around and saw a dark-haired young man that had spoken. He had a round face and light eyes.
Before Cora could turn the offer down, Sorcha had sat down.
"I will get us those drinks." Cora said, she still had to get used to Sorcha free nature. She was more reserved and would never had said yes. They did not know this man and he had said we. Who else was with him?
"What do you ladies want to drink." A deep voice sounded. Vaguely Cora recognised the voice and when she turned around, she instantly knew. It was the same man from the supermarket a couple of days ago. She felt her stomach flutter. "For me a Vin Santo, what do you want Sorcha?"
"If they have it here a Nebbiolo please, otherwise a Pinot Noir is fine too."
The man that had offered to get the drinks looked at Cora and winked. "You have a sweet taste." Before Cora could react, he turned and walked away.
Confused Cora sat down, what was it that this man did to have this strong effect on her. His voice gave her chills. Those you get when you like something very much.
"I am John." The man that had offered them a seat stretched out his hand towards Sorcha.
"Sorcha, and this is my friend Cora." Sorcha said, when she saw that Cora was not responding. "Are you guys from around here?"
"I am from Twickenham, but Robert is from Westminster."
Cora loved the sound of his name. Robert. That name suits him, she thought.
"Westminster? We are dealing with a rich boy." Sorcha replied and smiled up towards Robert when he came back. He had ordered beers for him and John.
"It depends on what you call rich." Robert sat down next to Cora. Who felt her skin tingle when he brushed with his arms against hers.
What was happening. Why did she react like this. First in the supermarket and now this. "We have met before, did we not?" He was looking at Cora, who felt her cheeks turning red.
"I think we indeed did, very briefly in the supermarket. But John just told us you are from Westminster, what were you doing in a supermarket on this side of the city?"
Robert laughed aloud. "I have an apartment in Westminster indeed, but I am not always there."
The way Robert did not fully answer the question gave Cora the feeling that he did not want to tell her more, so she decided not to ask more questions.
"What do you do in daily life?" John asked.
"I work in my father's nursery. I hope one day to take over from him, but for now, I take care of the little ones that are brought in daily." Sorcha answered and she started rambling about her work. Cora felt a little envy because Sorcha was doing what she liked. She had always wanted to work with children she said, and knowing that later on the nursery would be hers made it worth putting all her effort in. She kept her job at the restaurant in the evenings, to keep contact with adults. She always said, working with children during the day, made you yearn for a normal conversation. For Cora, the restaurant job was to get some extra money, with her allowance she was able to rent her place and live a good life. But since she did not have other work besides trying to draft a book, she needed that extra income.
"Another round of drinks ladies?" John asked while getting up. Both Sorcha and Cora asked for a Gin Tonic.
"Do you also work in that nursery?" Robert nudged her shoulder.
Cora looked up and was once again struck by his beautiful blue eyes that were staring into hers. "No, no." She stuttered. She scolded herself, why was she acting like a schoolgirl, which did not know how to talk with boys. "I met Sorcha in the restaurant where we both work in the evenings. I am trying to become an author."
"You are a writer?" Robert said surprised.
"Well, I am trying to become one. My first book is nearly finished. I need to find the right publisher and then I hope that people want to buy and read it."
"What are you writing about? Do you write fiction or non-fiction?"
"This book is a non-fiction book. It is about a girl that discovers that she has a twin sister, when she enters a program for stem-cell donor. But that is all I am going to tell you, if you want to know what happens with her, you need to wait and buy the book." Cora surprised herself with her confidence.
John came back and put the drinks down. "Another round of beers for the man and two double Gin Tonics."
Double? Cora thought. She did not drink that often and she was already feeling the wine.
"I hope that one day I can buy that book." Robert continued their conversation.
"What kind of work do you do?" Cora asked, she saw that Sorcha and John were still talking, so she did not have to feel guilty for not giving any attention to Sorcha, or John.
"I work for my father's company, like Sorcha. But in a different field. We take care of estate's and help them with maintaining the grounds and how to keep the money flow healthy."
"That sounds challenging. Are there many estate's here in London?"
"There are some bigger houses here indeed, like Strawberry Hill house, Chiswick house, Hill House and Syon house. But we do not only help with estates here in London. We have our own estate up in North Yorkshire, my father and mother still live there. Against my mother's wishes I moved to London as soon as I was old enough. My sister had done the same thing before me, but she is not involved in the family business anymore. She married a very lovely man and her attention lays with him." Well, enough about me. You are not from here either?"
"I am not indeed. I moved to London about a year ago. I love this city, there is a romantic vibe that is very inspiring."
Robert laughed. "That romantic feel is not everywhere in the city, trust me."
Cora felt her cheeks blush again. "I know, but I think I found the right area of London for that feeling. Because Richmond has the romantic feel. I love the greenhouse at Syon house, it feels like I step back in time when I walk around places like that."
"That is exactly what we try to tell those homeowners to keep in mind. People like to pretend to step back in time, they should not modernise their estates too much. But you are also not from England, are you?"
Cora chuckled. "It took you long enough to start about my accent." She laughed again. "Where do you think I am from?"
Robert rested his head on his hands and stared at her. Cora felt her skin tinkle. "I think you are from the other side of the pond. Somewhere around New York I think."
Cora clapped her hands together. "I was not expecting you to guess correctly on your first try. I am indeed from New York. My mother and brother still live there. But I needed something else than the big city."
"And then you move to London?" Robert raised his eyebrows.
This made Cora laugh. "This city is a different kind of city and as you have noticed, I do not live in the busy city centre."
"You have a fair point there. You said your mother and brother still live in New York. What about your father?"
Cora swallowed, even though it happened five years ago, she missed her father. "My father died a couple of years ago."
"Oh, I am so incredibly sorry. That was an insensitive question." Robert looked at her empty glass. "Can I get you anything else to drink."
Cora looked at her watch. It was getting late, and she had planned a writing session tomorrow morning. She then looked at Sorcha, who was also looking as if she could use some sleep. "It is time for us to go home." She said while getting up.
Robert also stood up and pulled Cora's chair back. "It was nice meeting you. Maybe we meet again." He kissed her cheek as a greeting. Cora felt heat creep up her body and quickly she stepped back from his touch.
"Maybe we will indeed. Have a good night." She hooked her arm in Sorcha's and walked towards the bus stop.
"He was hitting on you big time." Sorcha said laughing when they sat down on the bus. "Did you get his number?"
"We were having a normal conversation. He was not hitting on me." Although Cora had felt butterflies flutter the entire evening, she did not want to admit that towards Sorcha.
"Whatever you want, dear Cora. But I am starting to realise why you are still single."
"You are single too?" Cora replied.
"But I have red hair and pale skin, you have beautiful dark brown curls, ice blue eyes and lips in the most perfect form and colour."
"Are you hitting on me now?" Cora joked.
"If you were not so outspokenly straight, I probably would. Yes."
Cora chuckled; she loved Sorcha's free spirit.