A few minutes later, we were both sitting on the stools at the kitchen island. I made us both a french toast and Heather brewed some coffee.
"We should make the bakery a café instead. I'm sure you'll have a lot of customers," Heather suggested as she started taking a bite of her french toast.
"I actually considered it, but then I realized I don't even know how to make good coffee. Also, we need a bigger space for that," I answered.
"Why don't we move uptown? Maybe we can find a place there for the new café."
"Are you crazy? We can barely keep up with the expenses here in the bakery since the rent goes up every year, plus our apartment costs so much as well. So how are we supposed to afford it if we go uptown? With so many competitions there, it would be impossible to keep our heads on the water."
Heather stopped and put her fork in mid-air, probably considering what I said as her eyebrows were raised.
"You've got a point. How 'bout we hire a barista instead or better yet, get a partner?"
"A partner? Who? You? I know you have all the time in the world and make somewhat good coffee, but we need different types in order to gain customers."
Heather frowned at me.
"You're mean. But you have a point. I'm not good at making coffee but I knew someone who could be your partner."
"Who?"
She smiled at me knowingly as she took her last bite of her french toast.
"Heather, spill it!" I said irritably. I sometimes hate surprises most especially these times.
She finished chewing and took a sip of her coffee before speaking.
"You see, I got this friend. He wanted to put up a restaurant here. He said he had a partner who was great in making coffee. So I told them about your bakery and this friend of mine is willing to be your partner to expand it into a café."
"O-kay... so who is this friend?" I asked her. Why do I feel so nervous all of a sudden? Heather sounded suspicious to me.
She smiled, a wicked glint in her eyes.
"You'll meet him soon," she said and stood up. She placed her plate and fork in the sink. Then, without a word, just took her coffee and went inside her bedroom.
I sat there thinking who could it be. Is she and Tom friends again? No, that's impossible! They haven't spoken or seen each other since he got married to her childhood friend, so why now? It will not make sense, and knowing Heather, she will never pick up anything that others had thrown away. Most especially Tom.
I finished my coffee and decided to confront Heather once and for all. I need to know who is this friend she was talking about. But before I could do that, my phone rang.
I went to pick it up on top of the kitchen island. I looked at the number and it was the same unregistered number before. My heart started pounding. I knew who it was and I was waiting for a reply from him. Red is calling me!
"H-Hello," I answered. I wonder why my heart is beating so fast. This is Red, my best friend. Why did I suddenly feel so nervous?
"Hi, Trudy," and for the first time in many years, my heart sank hearing his voice that made me regret the years we have lost. We were both silent, we could hear our breaths on the phone, anticipating every word that would come out of our mouths.
"H-Hi Red," I stammered. "How are you?"
He didn't answer for a long time. This is not us. We have never been so speechless of each other before but it had been many years.
Years I've wasted..
I heard him sighed and said, "I'm here."
"Where?"
"In New York..."
I gasped. Red is here! He is actually here so what now? Then an idea came to my mind as I remembered something. This is not a coincidence and I knew the only person behind all this. I narrowed my eyes as I went to knock on Heather's door.