Between the Lanterns(9)

“Today was a great day, Tara,” she said wistfully. “I think I could fall in love with that man one day.”

“The man you just set on fire and then threw coffee in his face?” Tara asked, laughing.

“He set himself on fire, Tara. I only put it out. I’m a damn hero,” Samantha said, sticking her tongue out at her business partner and best friend.





Chapter 4





WEST MAIN





The next day, Samantha decided to call John and tell him how Cheryl had always felt about him. First, she accessed her SmartChip’s contact list using her preprogrammed voice command “Contacts, y’all” and added his number to the very short list.

“Call John, please,” she then said. As the call was being routed, she thought about the intriguing man she had met twice now. August was something special. In this modern world of instant gratification and impatience, of go go go go and no time to be slow, he was different. He had manners. He had kindness. He wasn’t in a hurry to be somewhere or do something. August took his time and enjoyed the little things. And that, more so than his fine features, was what drew Samantha’s thoughts to August again and again.

“He…hello,” John answered, sounding in pain or at least distressed in some way.

“John? Are you ok, sweets? This is Sam. From the diner yesterday?” she said.

“Oh… hi there, ma’am. I… I’m in some great deal of pain right now,” John explained. “Could we talk later maybe? I’m sorry to cut you off, but I just don’t think I’ll be any good in a conversation right now.”

John sounded terrible, like something bad was going on for sure. Samantha intended on finding out what.

“John, where are you? What’s going on?” Samantha asked. “Tell me how I can help.”

“Well, dear, I’m at the clinic on West Main Street, right down from your diner, in fact. I never made it back to Columbus,” John said. “A lady in a real hurry to get back to her office, Lord knows why, hit me with her AutoCar as I crossed the dang road. Funny, ain’t it? I build them suckers for a livin’, and now one of them’s gone and killed me.”

“Don’t you dare talk like that, John,” Samantha scolded. “I’m on my way to the clinic now to sit and visit with you. Is that ok, sweets?”

Samantha was honestly less worried about talking to him about Cheryl at this point, and more concerned about making sure John wasn’t all by himself.

“I’d never dream of turning down the company of a lovely young woman like yourself. I’m in Room… 517,” John told her, gasping in pain and letting out a long, uneasy breath.

“I’ll be right over,” she replied. “See you soon, sweets.”

Samantha ended the call and then grabbed her bag before heading out the door. As she strode purposefully down West Main Street, avoiding those automatic sidewalks, and headed towards the Granger Clinic, she wished that she had August’s contact information. She had forgotten to ask for it, and he never offered it up. It would be nice for him to come along to the clinic, as it seemed like he and John hit it off so well the day before.

Her head was down and not looking where she was going, lost in thought and worried about the poor old man she had only met yesterday, when she ran into something solid. Two strong hands gently gripped her shoulders and eased her back a step. Samantha gazed up into the smiling face of August, his stark, white teeth standing in such contrast to his beautifully dark skin. Looking to her left and right, she noticed they were in the same spot where they first met.

“Sam, you ok?” he asked. “I was callin’ your name and thought you’d slow down or stop and notice me. But you just kept walkin’!”

Honestly, August had not minded one bit that she ran into him. She smelled like flowers and a home-cooked meal combined. It was immediately his new favorite scent.

“August, thank the Lord,” Sam said with a relieved sigh. “We never traded numbers. Then I needed you but couldn’t call. But,, here you are. Here we are. Between the lanterns again.”

August looked from side to side and noticed where they were for the first time. Strange that they should meet again in the exact same place.

“You… needed me?” He asked, his mouth turning dry. “Uh… well… I’m here now. Everythin’ is gonna be ok, Sam. Just tell me what I can do.”

She hadn’t even told him what was wrong and this sweet man was ready to stop whatever it was he was doing to help a woman he barely knew. Samantha looked into his eyes and saw everything. She saw his heart and his soul. They were kind and warm; gentle but tough. She saw their marriage, their kids, and their grandkids… in that moment in the reflection of his eyes,; she saw what could be their entire life together. And she wanted it all.

At that moment, between those two normal, everyday levitating lanterns, she realized August was her one true love. She didn’t know much about him, but she just felt it in her heart and her stomach. Samantha always listened to her stomach. When it came to food or love, it didn’t matter. She always listened.

“Thank you, August,” she said in a daze. “Uh, well I called John; you know, from yesterday? To talk about Cheryl and all, but he was in an accident after he left the diner. He’s over at the clinic right now. He says he’s dying, August. I was just heading over to sit with him and keep him company. Do whatever I can for him, you know?”