| Chapter Five I walked quickly toward the small coffee shop with my head down so as I wouldn't be noticed. I slowed as the shop came in sight and took a deep breath to settle my nerves. I pulled open the door and the warm air hit me immediately. I glanced around the quiet room and quickly spotted Ritchie sitting in a booth by the far window. Very un-Ritchie like to be sitting so close to the public eye. His eyes met mine and he smiled. I walked toward the booth and slid in across from him. "The regular?" Tony yelled from behind the counter. I broke my gaze from Ritchie to him. I just nodded in reponse. I looked back to Ritchie. "How are you?" he wondered. "I'm really good. Practically fantastic, actually," I responded. "What about you?" He took a sip of his coffee and nodded. "I'm good," he smiled. Tony approached our table and handed me the cup he help in his hand. I reached for my purse that was sitting next to me. "I got it," Ritchie expressed as he reached for his wallet and paid Tony. "Thank you," Tony smiled. "I'm really glad you two are together again." "We're not together," we both said in unison. "Oh." Tony tried to hide his disappointment. "I'm sorry. Listen, if you need anything, just holler." I smiled a bit in response as Tony turned and headed back. "Anyways, where were we?" Ritchie laughed a bit. I was about to reply when I cute little girl approached the table. She looked not a day older than six. "Excuse me," she timidly squeaked out. "Can I get an autograph, Ritchie?" "Aw, well sure," he flashed her his million dollar smile as he gently took her small pad of paper from her hands. She held up a pen and he took that as well. He scribbled his signature then slid the paper back to her. She just stood there, glancing back and forth between us. I smiled a bit. "Oh, Ritchie, I love you!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. "Oh, I love you too, love," he smiled as he gently patted her back. Her mother rushed over to our table and grabbed the young girl's hand when she released Ritchie. "I'm terribly sorry," her mother apologized to us. "It's alright," Ritchie replied. While the mother was talking to Ritchie the little girl walked a few steps toward me. "You're so lucky," she whispered to me. I took a breath, touched by the young girl's response. I smiled at her as her mother proceeded to practically drag her away from our table. "...little girl, eh?" I caught the end of Ritchie's question. "Oh, yeah, yeah," I replied, distractidly. I was still thinking back on what she had said. You're so lucky... Chapter Six... |