Chapter 3: Name

“Hmm … this coffee tastes delicious, Hon,” Blue said after drinking the coffee.

Before I went to the coffee shop, I brought first Blue, the coffee I brewed yesterday. He didn’t taste that yesterday because he was busy, and he didn’t come home last night because of his work.

“Are you going straight to the café?”

“Yes, Hon. I just really pass here to give you that coffee, and to see you.”

When we went outside at the hospital, one of his colleagues immediately called Blue because he said they had an emergency operation.

“All right, Hon. Take care. I’ll pick you up later. Okay? Bye.” Blue quickly said goodbye, then kissed me on the forehead.

I smiled at Blue as he ran back towards the hospital. When he entered the hospital, I waited for a taxi.

Later on, there’s a car parked in front of me. When he opened the window of the driver’s seat, I was surprised when I saw the driver of this car.

The customer yesterday was so busy that he forgot to drink the coffee I blended. Why did he stop in front of me?

“You're Dana, right? The owner of Dana's café.”

“Yes. That’s me. Why?” I stammered in response. This is my heart again, the speed of my heartbeat.

What is he doing here? Why am I stuttering? Why is my heart beating so fast suddenly?

“Are you going to your coffee shop?”

“Yes.”

Why do I feel nervous, and at the same time excited, while talking to him? It’s like I still want to talk to him for a long time.

“You don’t have a car?”

“Nothing.”

“Great! I mean, you can come with me. I’m also going to your coffee shop.”

I took a deep breath. So, what if he's handsome and becomes cooler while sitting in the driver’s seat? Why am I excited?

“N-No, thanks.” I boldly answer so that he would not notice that I was pleased with what he’s doing.

“You'll have a long time to wait, and one more thing, I want to taste the coffee that you made yesterday.”

He’s not smiling, but he is still handsome.

I coughed to clear my voice and showed him my hand while wearing my wedding ring. “Sir, I’m a married woman, and faithful to my husband. It does not look right for me to ride in the car of a man I don’t know.”

The man also showed his hand with a wedding ring. “I’m a married man too, and also faithful to my Wife. I just want to go with you because I want to taste the coffee that you made yesterday.”

“Then, wait for me to arrive at the coffee shop, SIR,” I said and turned away from him.

That man is annoying. He also married, and then he wanted me to ride in his car?

When I arrived at the coffee shop, I looked in a corner when the man I had seen earlier was there and waved to me.

When I went to the counter, Marie and Kimberly quickly approached me.

“Ma'am, our customer yesterday who was busy was already there but didn’t order anything. I think he’s waiting for someone.” Kimberly whispered to me.

“Ma'am, did you know our handsome customer? Does he wave at you? Are you close to each other, Ma’am?” Marie asked me too in a whisper.

“I don’t know him, and especially we're not close.” My simple answer to them.

I looked at the customer who approached us. I was shocked when I saw the man I had seen earlier in the hospital.

“Good morning, Sir. What is your order?” I ask while not looking at him instead of the monitor.

“I want the black coffee that was free yesterday.”

I look at the man. “Sir, it’s not free anymore.” I don’t feel him. I want to avoid talking to him. I'm annoyed with him.

“It’s okay, I still like that coffee.”

“Okay Sir, five dollars is all you will pay.”

After the man paid, he went back to his place in a corner.

I’m irritating to him and at the same time secretly glad to see him.

“Ma’am! Marie!” Kimberly approached us while shouting our name.

“Why? What’s the problem?” Marie asks Kimberly.

“I already know the name of our Handsome, busy customer.” Kimberly’s language was exciting.

Marie immediately came to Kimberly. “Really?! What is his name, so I can add him on all my social media accounts?!”

“His name is,” Kimberly took a deep breath before speaking again. “I heard his name is. . . . Reed. Reed Cariaga.”

Reed Cariaga?

I look at the man whose name is Reed, and then, I immediately wipe my cheek when I feel my tears fall here.

But, Why do I suddenly feel like I'm missing, and pleasure? What does this feeling mean? And, why did my tears suddenly fall?

“Is Sir Reed's stomach not hurt yet?” I asked Marie when she came back here at the counter.

It's already late, but the man I saw earlier in the hospital whose name is Reed is still here. Kimberly said he left at noon but also came back quickly here and in the afternoon he just passed time here in my coffee shop and had nothing else to order but the coffee I blended.

“Looks like not yet, Ma'am,” Marie replied, then looked at Sir Reed.

“Girl!”  Kimberly excitedly approached me and Marie me as she handed Sir Reed's order.

“Why? Do you have a story again about our handsome, busy man customer?” Marie asks Kimberly with a laugh.

“Nothing. I just want to say that the smell of our handsome, busy customer is so good.”  Kimberly said, then laughed.

I just shake my head.

“I'm just joking, of course, I have a story to tell. ” Kimberly said suddenly.

“What's that? Is it about Sir Handsome Busy Reed?” Marie excitedly asked Kimberly.

I looked at Sir Reed, but immediately removed it when he looked at me as well. My heartbeat.

“Sir Reed is talking to a detective,”  Kimberly whispered.

A Detective? Why?

“Why?”  Marie asks Kimberly.

“He's searching for someone,” Kimberly answered Marie.

“Who is it?”  Marie asks.

“I heard the name is, Perl? Rina? Raina? Rinne? What is her name again? Uh, I can't remember.” Kimberly replied.

“Sir Reed is looking for a Woman?” Marie incredulously asked.

I approached the two of them and talked to them.  “Stop talking to others business and you, Kimberly, stop listening to our customer or anyone else. That’s not right.” I lecture them.

“Yes ma'am. Sorry.”

“That’s okay. Let's go to work again. ” I told them both.

**********

When I close the coffee shop, Blue just arrives in front of the coffee shop.

“Hon!”  Blue called me with a smile when he got out of the car and then approached me and gave me a kiss on my forehead.

“Did you close earlier? I'm sorry if I'm late.”

“No, Hon. You just arrive on time.”

“I thought, you waited. I don't want to wait for my most beautiful wife.”

“Hon, I am your only wife.”

“Yes. You're right. You are my only wife. ” Blue stammered.

Why did Blue suddenly look anxious?

“Let's go, Hon?” He asked.

“Let's go.' I smile in response.

I ignored Blue's sudden anxiety, maybe he was just tired in the hospital. He was tired of his patients.

Going to the restaurant that Blue was taking me to, I went inside first while he was looking for a parking space.

It looks like this restaurant is famous. So many people here.

While standing, I almost fell, but I was quickly caught by someone who hit me.

“Sir Reed?” I frowned when I saw his face.

“Dana?” He also asks with a frown.

When Reed released me, he immediately apologized. “Sorry, but you know my name? As far as I remember, you never asked my name and I never told my name to you?

His grin was irritating.

“My employees Kimberly and Marie were talking to you earlier,” I said immediately.

“They're talking about me?”

“Don't worry, I already told them not to do that again to our customer or any people.”

Suddenly, Reed said goodbye to me and came out when his cell phone suddenly rang. I think that's an important call.

“Hon?“

I looked at Blue when he arrived and approached me.

“Why aren't you sitting down yet?”

“I met an acquaintance.”

“Acquaintance?”

“One of my daily customers at the coffee shop. Let's go.”

“Okay.”

When Blue and I went to our place, he moved the chair for me and when I sat down, he kissed me on the forehead, and then he sat in his chair.

“Hon,”

I look at Blue.

“You can't order food with peanuts.”

“Why?” I am confused.

“You're allergic.”

I pouted my lips. Why am I allergic to peanuts?  It looks like peanuts are delicious.

But then, I suddenly smile.

I couldn't help but smile because of Blue. It looks like every detail about me, he knew. Blue seems to love me so much.

Yes. In the days to come, I will know how much Blue loves me. His love will change our lives, especially my life.