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If I’m doing this anyway, might as well get it over with quickly.
“That’s fine with me. I’ll see you soon, Alessandra.”
He said my name, and I felt my body shivered. The tone was completely casual, but I had always loved how he said my name. Another thing that hadn't changed. He cut off the call without giving me time to catch my bearings. Then, a minute later, I felt my phone vibrate and unlocked it to find the message he’d sent me with the instructions.
I sighed and looked down at my son.
“Your mom isn’t brilliant sometimes, but you’ll forgive me for that, won't you, baby?”
Danny just opened one eye to look up at me for a second, then closed it.
“Well, at least you look like you’re enjoying yourself.”
I couldn’t go with Danny to meet Joshua, but I was lucky. My parents hadn't gone to work, they were both on a short vacation and were out doing stuff for themselves. After arranging things with them, I got myself changed and went to meet Joshua.
***
It all took longer than expected, so when I arrived at the coffee shop, Joshua was already seated, with a mug in front of him. He was frowning down at his phone. Taking a breath to steady myself, I stepped forward. I stopped in front of his table, and he looked up. The frown immediately melted away as he grinned and stood.
“I’m sorry I made you wait,” I apologized. “There was some stuff…”
Joshua waved my apology away. “It’s fine; I got here a bit early myself. I didn’t wait for too long.”
I pursed my lips, knowing it was a lie. I was late by around twenty minutes because it took so long to get ready, then find a taxi and make it to the café. If he’d been early, then he had waited for even longer. No matter how free he said he was, he was still running a huge company. He couldn’t have that much free time.
“Please, sit down,” he said, gesturing to the seat opposite him.
I did. There was a menu on the table, and I picked it up and looked through it. Joshua must have called for a waiter while I wasn’t listening because there was one standing beside our table when I looked up.
“What can I get for you, miss?”
I made a quick order, getting something light and sweet, low on the coffee, and a slice of cake to go with it. The waiter noted everything down, then turned to leave.
“How have you been?” he asked.
I stared for a moment, then let out a small laugh. He arched an eyebrow at me, and I covered my mouth with my palm so he wouldn’t see the smile.
“I’m sorry, was that all you called me out here for? We didn’t have to meet just over that…”
I could feel my worry start to go down. I wasn’t sure what he wanted from me. What if he asked to get back together? Or asked why I left him or asked what life had been like for me for the past year and a half?
What if he asked me to go back to him?
I had no idea what my response would have been to any of it, and it was too early to even think about.
“That’s not all I asked you here for. Remember what I told you last time?”
I nodded. “About Wendy needing a nanny for her baby.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Still, why not just give my number to her and have her be the one to call me and meet with me?”
“She’s busy. I told her I’d make the call for you.”
The waiter came back, and we paused. He set my drink down, and my slice of cake.
I picked up the mug, blew lightly over the top, and took a careful sip. I sighed, tasting the sweet drink. The coffee content was low, and it had too much sugar, but it felt terrific. I’d had to restrict my coffee intake while I was pregnant. I didn’t have to give it up entirely, as long as I’d kept my intake low I could have the occasional cup, but this was the first time in ages I was drinking coffee at a café.
Even longer since I had done this with Joshua sitting across from me.
“So, what did you need?” I asked, getting serious.
