"A Scent from Brooklyn" (StoryADay Challenge/Day 24)

The Prompt: (by Michele E. Reisinger, who studied English and Political Science at the Pennsylvania State University and received an MA in English Literature from the University of Delaware. Her short fiction has appeared online at Light and Dark Magazine, Prometheus Dreaming, 34th Parallel, and is forthcoming in The Mighty Line. “Ask and Ye Shall Receive” was a merit winner for Passion and featured in TulipTree Publishing’s 2019 anthology Stories That Need to be Told)

Opening Line: “She met her true love in the middle of a field of tombstones.” 

Michele says: I love cemeteries. They have so many stories, so many characters. I find them comforting.

[…]

It could be people who meet there because they are mourning the loss of someone.

[…]

*

“A Scent from Brooklyn”

She met her true love in the middle of a field of tombstones. But she wouldn't have this realization for eighteen months.

Focus Tristan. 

Why do I always carry myself away with these fantasies in my head? Be present. It’s not everyday you meet a lovely person at a cemetery of all places. She’s coming back from the restroom.

“Have you ever smelled sandalwood?” she asked, sliding back into the booth. 

“No, not recently.”

“The ladies room had this beautiful scented candle near the sink. Apparently it’s from Brooklyn Candle Studio. I wrote down the name, I have to order some for my apartment.”

“How’d it get all the way here to Chicago?”

She shrugged and smiled. “Good news travels fast?”

Charlotte, our waiter returned holding two cups. “Peppermint tea with honey for Tristan, and coffee, light and sweet for Luna. Are you two ready to order?”

“Yes ma’am,” Luna said, looking down at the menu. “Today feels like a blueberry pancakes kind of day. I’ll have that and I’ll have a vegetarian omelette with swiss cheese, thank you.”

“Coming right up,” Charlotte said, jotting the order down. “And what will you be having Tristan?”

“I’ll have the Belgian waffles and bacon, egg, and cheese on a toasted roll.”

Charlotte finished scribbling. “I’ll have those out for y’all in two shakes of a lamb's tail,” she said, taking our menus. 

“Thank you,” we both said.

“How fast does a lamb shake its tail?” I asked.

“No clue,” Luna said, giggling. 

I stood up and removed my denim jacket.

“Stay a little,” Luna said, smirking.

“What?”

“It’s something my sister used to say to me all the time,” she said, looking down playing with the salt shaker. “When I would visit her, if I didn’t take off my coat, she felt like I was eager to leave. So she’d say ‘stay a little’ as she took my coat.”

“How long has it been?”

“Two years today,” Luan said. “And you would think that time heals, and I guess in part it does. But I still feel this void, you know, and it’s something that just lets me know that she’ll be with me always.” 

Luna wiped away a subtle tear. “I hope I don’t sound like a total downer, I’m in a much better place with it now.”

“You don’t sound like a downer,” I said, taking a sip of tea. “You sound human.”

“How long has it been for you?” 

“I lost my nephew seven months ago. He was eighteen.”

“He was a baby.”

“I know,” I said, exhaling. “Drag-racing.”

Luna put her hands over the mouth.

“Since he was a kid he loved cars. He loved passing me tools when I would come to fix my sister’s--his mother’s--car. I taught him how to drive.” 

“How is she handling it?” Luna asked.

“She’s still devastated. He was her only child. But we’re staying strong as a family.”

“That’s all we can do,” Luna said. “My sister had a brain aneurysm.”

Charlotte returned balancing two plates in each hand. “Breakfast is served, my loves. Is there anything else I can get for either of you?”

“Yes, one more thing,” Luna said. “Can I have four slices of buttered wheat toast?”

“Of course, I’ll bring that right out.”

“Thank you so much.”

The smell of fluffy blueberry pancakes can uplift the lowest soul. Luna cut into her vegetarian omelette and the swiss cheese flowed out like lava. The golden brown Belgian waffles in front of me were soft as ice cream inside, complemented with a bite of a B.E.C sandwich, I was transported to a breakfast utopia.

“This is why diners will always be close to my heart,” I said, with a full mouth. “It’s just so damn good.”

Luna laughed. “You have to try these pancakes.”

She cut a perfectly dimensional square and dipped it in syrup. “Open your mouth.”

“Here comes the choo-choo train,” I said. 

Luna smiled as she fed me the bite. She struck me as the kind of woman that was genuinely unaware of just how remarkable she was. 

I sat back and chewed. “Wow,” I said. “That was a blueberry nuclear bomb. That was maddingly  delicious.”

“I know!” Luna shrieked.

Later, Charlotte returned to collect the plates. “You two look very satisfied,” she said laughing. “Anymore tea or coffee?”

“I am a-okay,” Luna said.

“Me too,” I said. “I’ll take the check.” 

“Sounds good,” Charlotte said. “I’ll be right back.”

Time really flies when you’re lost in wonderful conversation. The diner practically emptied out since we got here. We were seated around 11:30am. I glance at my watch, 2:56pm.

“Thank you so much for this, I needed this,” Luna said. “And thank you for picking up my phone back at the cemetery, I’m so clumsy sometimes.”

“No thank you for coming,” I said. “I know it was super random, but I was hungry so I thought I’d ask you if you were too.”

“I’m happy you asked,” Luna said, smiling.

“Me too.”

“Here you go,” Charlotte said, putting the bill on the table. “Whenever you’re ready.”

Luna reached for it. 

“Don’t even think about it,” I said, laughing. 

I reached inside my pocket and peeled off three Andrew Jacksons, that’ll cover the meal and leave a generous tip for the lovely Charlotte. An establishment is nothing without great customer service.

“What’s on your agenda for the rest of the evening?” Luna asked.

“I have to pick up laundry, and do some grocery shopping. You?”

“It’s self-care Sunday. I’m going to draw a bath, light some candles and listen to Columbian music, just like my sister and I used to do.” 

“That’s a good night,” I said, putting on my jacket. 

Charlotte returned one last time to collect the bill. “Do you need any change?”

“No. Thank you Charlotte, you are exceptional,” I said.

Her face was flushed. She put her hand on her heart. “Thank you so much, I really, really appreciate that.”

“I appreciate you. I hope the rest of your day is fantastic.” 

“Thank you,” Luna said to Charlotte. 

“I hope to see you two soon,” Charlotte said, waving at us as we exited. 

Luna and I hugged. “Taking the train or a cab?” I asked. 

“Train. You?”

“I’m gonna walk,” I said. “I don’t have too far to go. Get home safe, it was an absolute pleasure meeting you.” 

We hugged again. I began to walk away.

“Hold on,” Luna shouted at me. “So you’re not even going to ask for my number?”

I walked back towards her. “Now how foolish would I be for that?”

“Pretty damn foolish,” she said, laughing.

I leaned in next to her ear. “Good thing I’m no fool. I put my number in your phone before I gave it back to you at the cemetery, call me some time.” I kissed her cheek and walked off. 

She was speechless for a moment. 

“But what if I had said no to breakfast?” Luna shouted.

“Then none of this would even matter,” I shouted, as I waved, turning the corner.

The End.

**This is a work of fiction. Names. characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.