Chance Encounter

I enter the coffee shop glad to get out of the cold. Looking back outside at the blowing wind and the beginning of snow fall I admonish myself for wearing a skirt today. I should know that a skirt in Boston in January can be a bad idea.

Then I remember why I wore the skirt. I am meeting Cammie today for coffee. My first date with the petite redhead from Georgia had gone well the other night, and I wanted to look my best for her when we met for coffee. I'm still amazed at how she manages to make her southern accent sound sophisticated instead of like some rube.

I glance around the shop and fail to see Cammie. Checking my watch I see that I am five minutes early. I'm not anxious am I? I shrug it off and step into line behind a short bald man. I can't help but notice the light brown overcoat he's wearing. Very nice, it must be Armani.

The line moves unbearably slow, but I'm sure that the fact that I keep glancing at the door every thirty seconds isn't helping much. Eventually I move to the front of the line and order a low-fat latte.

While I wait for my order I consider ordering something for Cammie. When the girl with the bad skin behind the counter asks me if I want anything else I say no, deciding that it would be presumptuous, and I'm not positive what she would want. Some people consider coffee a very personal experience.

After paying for the coffee, I turn around to find a table. I'm frozen in place when I see the woman standing behind me. She is tall with a fair complexion and black hair. She has extraordinary cheek bones which lie just below the most mesmerizing blue eyes I have ever seen. Their color reminds me of the beautiful deep blue you see in the Caribbean, Tahiti, or Bora Bora.

This woman is someone I know, but I haven't seen her since I graduated from Chilton almost six years ago. However she is just as stunning as I remember. This woman is the first woman I ever admitted to myself that I was attracted to. This woman is the standard that I have measured every other woman against, but none have ever been able to measure up to. This woman was the source of untold teenaged fantasies as I lay in bed at night trying to come to terms with who I was. This woman is Diana, Aphrodite, and Nicole Kidman all rolled into one. This woman is Lorelai Gilmore.

I don't know how long I stood there staring at Lorelai, but eventually she smiles and says, "Excuse me."

Her words shake me from my reverie, but just barely. "I'm sorry," I manage to say, as I step out of her way. I glance at Lorelai as she steps by to place her order, but I manage to tear my gaze away. As I begin to look for a table to sit at I realize that my heart is beating a mile a minute.

I spot a small table with two chairs in the far corner that will allow me to see the entire shop. I walk to the table sitting down my cup. I take off my coat, select the chair against the wall and drape the coat over the back before sitting down.

When I look back at the counter and see Lorelai handing the clerk some money, my mind drifts back to the first time I met her. It was eight years ago when I was sixteen. I smile as I remember little details, like the red bandana she wore on her head, or that the house was full of stuff for the some charity sale they had going on, and the snack she brought us of pop-tarts.

I also remember how I felt when she invited us to go with her and her daughter Rory to a concert that night. At the time I didn't realize why I was so excited to be spending more time with Lorelai. It had been one of the best nights of my life, and one of the most humiliating. Both because of her and both made me want her that much more.

"Penny for your thoughts."

I look up to see Cammie's smiling face looking down at me. I smile at her even though I am not as excited to see her as I had been five minutes ago. "Hi, Cammie," I say as I reach out my hand. She takes my hand, and leans down as I lean forward so we can exchange kisses on the cheek.

As I sit back in my chair Cammie holds on to my hand for a couple of extra seconds. Finally she releases my hand and asks with that Dixie Chick accent I found so cute just a short while ago, "Have you been here long?"

"Just a couple of minutes."

Cammie removes her coat revealing a black skirt, and a green blouse. I can't help but notice how the top really sets off her red hair, and pale green eyes. As she puts her coat over the back of the chair opposite me, I am reminded of what attracted me to her.

"Let me get some coffee," Cammie said with an adorable smile. "I'll be right back.

"Okay," I nod. I watch her retreating form, admiring the sway of her hips, and the movement they impart onto the ankle length skirt.

I'm ready to forget Lorelai, but as Cammie walks towards the counter she passes right next to Lorelai, walking towards the tables. I can't help but make the comparison, but there really isn't one. My eyes lock onto the tall brunette woman as her gaze sweeps the coffee shop for a table. I watch her as she appears to move in slow motion. She spots a table and begins walking towards it.

Lorelai is wearing a black knee length coat. She has on a skirt, allowing me to glimpse her nylon sheathed legs. I'm frustrated in my attempts to get a good look at those legs, the tables and chairs in between us only allowing quick observations.

Finally she arrives at her chosen table. I thank my lucky stars because where she stops my view of this goddess is totally unobstructed. She is wearing a pair of black pumps that are the exact height to give her calf that perfect shape. I watch as she sits her cup, purse and briefcase on the table and begins to unbutton her coat.

Her back is to me as she removes her coat, but I am not disappointed. Even eight years after I first met Lorelai Gilmore, she still looks fabulous from behind. I watch as she drapes the coat over the chair and I admire her outfit. She is wearing a dark blue wool skirt that hangs a few inches above the knees. The skirt does an excellent job of covering her lovely hips, while not hiding their shape.

Above the skirt Lorelai is wearing a pure white sweater, which like the skirt is tight enough to accentuate the shape of her body. The sweater is a perfect contrast to her dark hair which falls across her shoulders and back.

When she turns to face me my breath is nearly taken away. The white sweater has a neckline with a slight plunge that really highlights her lovely neck. However the real feature of the sweater is the parallel bands of color, orange over blue. They are about two inches wide and pass directly over her gorgeous breasts. Between the neckline and the bands of color, it draws the eyes right to her breasts. Flashing neon arrows wouldn't have been any more obvious.

I watch as she sits in the chair, and then puts the briefcase and purse on the floor. She sits back in the chair and crosses her legs giving me a perfect view. God woman you are such a tease.

"Someone you know?"

I look up to see Cammie slipping into the chair across from me. "What's that?" I ask.

"Do you know that woman?" Cammie repeats.

"No. Yes. I don' know," I stammer. "I think it might be the mother of someone I went to school with."

"Really?" Cammie asked, glancing over her shoulder at Lorelai, "She looks awfully young."

I shrug and answer, "If it is who I think it is, she would be."

"Humm," Cammie said turning back to me, with a small frown. There's a hint of jealously in her voice as she says,  "She's real pretty."

I start to panic thinking that Cammie suspects my attraction to Lorelai, but I manage to divert her attention by saying, "Oh, you're going to make me jealous. I didn't know you had a thing for older women." Cammie smiles at my comment, so to further take her mind off of Lorelai, I ask, "So how's work?"

Cammie shook her head and said, "I'm having the worst day. I was so glad you called."

The conversation drifts into idle chit chat, with Cammie doing most of the chitting, about her work. I try to take part in the conversation, but most of my contributions are small, because my attention keeps shifting back to Lorelai, sitting at her table sipping her coffee.

About five minutes after Cammie sat down I see Lorelai look up and smile. I follow her gaze and see a man walking towards her carrying a briefcase. The man is tall, well dressed, and good looking. I immediately hate him.

I watch as Lorelai stands up and shakes the man's hand. They both sit down and the man opens his briefcase and removes some papers. Realizing that this was a business meeting, instead of an afternoon rendezvous, I breathe a bit easier.

I try to take my attention from Lorelai, and focus on Cammie. But as I look at Cammie little things about her start to bother me. First thing I notice is that when she wears her hair up like today, it really makes her neck look long and skinny. I also notice that one eye is just ever so slightly higher than the other, and I find that annoying, and don't even get me started on the nose.

Try as I might to concentrate on Cammie my attention is drawn back to Lorelai when she bends forward to get her purse from the floor, leaving me staring at the top of her head, with her hair hanging down. I am suddenly struck with an image of looking down my naked body at the top of that head, while the owner has her tongue deep inside me. I clinch my fists as I imagine wrapping my hands in those beautiful black strands of silk, encouraging her efforts.

Suddenly I am jerked from my fantasy by the sounds of the song Dixie. Cammie looks embarrassed as she says, "Oh, sorry, that's my phone."

I smile and give her an understanding nod, as I think, oh my god, how cliché. I watch as Cammie reaches into her purse and pulls out a cell phone. She looks at the display, and says, "It's the office." She presses a button on the phone, puts it to her ear and says, "Hello."

Cammie listens then says, "Yes, Curt."

She listens for a moment then replies, "Yes, they were supposed to dock this morning."

Cammie listens then shakes her head and says, "What do you mean they can't unload? I faxed the customs forms to their office this morning."

Cammie listens again, then looks at her watch and says, "Alright, alright, I'll be back in ten minutes."

Cammie turns off the phone, and says, "I'm so sorry, but I have to get back to the office."

I nod and smile, "I understand."

"I'm really sorry."

"It's okay, really," I respond, while I think, good riddance.

Cammie stands and puts on her coat, as she says, "Maybe we can get together later in the week?"

I notice Lorelai stand up, and then shake hands with the man she was meeting with, while I lied, "That'd be great. I'll give you a call."

Cammie picks up her purse, then leans down to kiss me on the cheek. While her mouth is close to my ear she says, "I'll be looking forward to it."

As Cammie stands up I can't help but think, it'll never happen.

Cammie smiles, then turns and heads for the door. As soon as her back is to me I turn my gaze back to Lorelai and the man. They are still standing next to the table talking. Even though their demeanor is totally business like, and they are not touching, I feel jealously building in my stomach.

I watch them talk without being able to hear any words. When I hear Lorelai laugh it sounds like music to my ears, and calms me slightly. I drink my coffee as I watch them talk for another minute, then they shake hands again and the man turns to leave.

I start to calm down as I watch Lorelai sit back down and drink from her cup. Okay, I wonder, what am I going to do now, just sit here and do nothing? Or even if I do what are the chances she'll remember me. And even if she does, what are the chances she'll be interested in the same thing as me.

I weigh the possibilities for a moment, and then decide that I'll never know if I don't take a chance, and no one ever accused me of being afraid to take a chance."

The decision made I stand up grabbing my purse, while draping my coat over one arm. With no doubts or thoughts of turning back, I cross the floor to where Lorelai sits. As I near her Lorelai spots me approaching. She smiles at me causing my stomach to do flip flops.

Now that I'm near I have a moment to study her again from up close. Even at forty she is a stunning woman.  I try to make it sound like a question when I say, "Lorelai? Lorelai Gilmore?"

She looks confused as she replies, "That's right." She twists her head, like she trying to place me. "I know you don't I?"

Giving her my best smile I reply, "I went to Chilton with Rory."

Recognition dawns on Lorelai's face as she says, "Oh, that's right. You were one of Paris's friends. You're aaa."

Lorelai scrunched up her face as she tries to recall my name. I can't help the slight feeling of disappointment as I hold out my hand and say, "Louise. Louise Grant."

"Louise, right. I'm so sorry," Lorelai said as she reached out to take my hand.

When she touched my hand I feel a spark, and a shiver runs up my spine. For a second I think I can see the same reaction on Lorelai's face, but that might be wishful thinking on my part. "That's no problem," I reply.

We stood there for a moment, and then Lorelai said, "Would you like to sit down?"

"Thank you," I said, as I put my coat over the back of the chair opposite Lorelai, and then sat down."

"So, Louise," Lorelai started, "How are things going?"

I nod and say, "Things are going good," while I can't help think, and they just got a whole lot better.

The end.