Page 7 of Not Yet Yours

Feeling ready to take on the world, I say my final goodbyes to the girls on shift and I step out of the coffee shop and breathe in the fresh air. I feel like spinning in circles with my arms out, laughing. Maybe I will burst into song and everyone walkingpast will sing and dance with me like in a musical. Ok. I’m not going to do that. I do want to though.

Instead, I pull out my cell phone and call Max who has been back from her honeymoon for a few days now after three weeks in Rio De Janeiro.

“Hello,” Max says.

“Hi,” I replied. “Are you busy?”

“Well, I mean I’m at work, so technically I should say yes, but I can talk if that’s what you mean,” Max says.

“Ah no. It’s ok. I was going to ask you if you wanted to meet for a drink to celebrate my new freedom,” I say.

“Oh God of course. It was your last day at work today, wasn’t it? Sorry, I forgot all about it. My head is all over the place trying to catch up with everything here,” Max says.

“It’s ok. We can catch up later,” I say.

“No chance,” Max says. “This is too important for that. I do have some stuff I need to get done tonight though, so how about we meet now and have an early dinner and a non-alcoholic drink or two and then we’ll sort something out later for a proper celebratory session?”

“That works for me if you’re sure,” I say.

“Of course I’m sure,” Max says. “Meet me at Vincent’s in half an hour.”

“See you then,” I say.

Vincent’s is our go-to place for occasions like this where we want to grab a quick dinner or a drink or two after work. It’s a nice place with an easy-going vibe and the food is good. And most importantly, it is halfway between the coffee shop and Max’s office. I guess now though we’re going to need to find a new venue for easy meetups if I’m going to be working from home. Or maybe not because I will be my own boss and I can leave early and drive out to Vincent’s whenever I want to.

I get to my car, get in, and drive to Vincent’s. By the time I get there and park, I have about ten minutes to spare before the time I’m meant to be meeting Max. I walk around to the front of the building and go inside. It’s still fairly quiet and I have a good choice of tables. I choose one in the window and go and sit down. I don’t have long to wait before a waitress appears at the table and asks if I’m ready to order. I order two Diet Cokes and ask for two menus. By the time the drinks and menus arrive, Max has arrived too.

“Thanks,” she says, picking up her glass and having a quick drink of it. “What is it?”

“Just Diet Coke,” I say. “You did say you were going back to work, so I didn’t dare get you anything stronger. Like you said we can arrange a night out another time.”

“I can’t believe that the last time I saw you, you were a barista and now you’re a business owner,” Max says with a beaming grin. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks,” I say. “I’m happy for me too. Nervous as all hell but happy.”

“You have nothing to be nervous about. Your stuff is amazing,” Max says.

We look over the menu and I choose a burger and curly fries and Max chooses a chicken and bacon wrap with sweet potato fries.

“So, come on then, tell me more about the business,” Max says when the waitress has taken our order and left us to it.

“There’s really not that much to tell that you don’t already know,” I say. “All that’s really going to change is that I won’t have to turn down so many custom requests because I will have more time and I might do an extra craft fair or two if I have enough pieces. The main change is going to be not having to go to the coffee shop and get yelled at by middle-aged women who should know better.”

“To be honest, that’s reason enough to get the hell out of there. The fact you’re going to be a famous sculptor is just a bonus,” Max says.

“I highly doubt that” I say, although I can’t help but smile at the idea of it. “But honestly, as long as I make enough money to live happily with my bills paid, food on the table, and a bit extra for socializing, I’ll be happy.”

Max raises her glass of Diet Coke.

“To being happy,” she says. “And to leaving that shit hole coffee shop and living the dream.”

“Cheers,” I say, clinking my glass against hers.

We both take a drink and I put my glass back down.

“Anyway, enough about me. Tell me all about your honeymoon,” I say. “You’ve got a lovely tan.”

“I don’t know how. We barely left the bedroom if you get my drift,” Max says with a laugh. I laugh too and then Max shakes her head. “Seriously, it was amazing. Beautiful beaches, gorgeous shops and restaurants, and so much to see and do. We went snorkeling and out on boat trips and we even paraglided.”

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