“Yeah,” Finn answered, his eyes still twinkling with delight as they trailed after the little girl.
“She’s very cute. It made me miss my students.” Pulling out her chair as she spoke, Penelope sagged into it with the slightest hint of melancholy.
Finn remained standing, an expectant look on his face, as if waiting for something more from her. When the moment stretched on long enough to become uncomfortable, he finally sat.
“Looks like we had the same idea.” He pushed forward the petit chocolate cake he’d purchased as she set down her carrot cake cupcake. “Seemed like a good pairing with the coffees.”
“Perfect,” Penelope purred excitedly, all thoughts of past students gone as hunger took over. “That looks delicious.”
Finn had the forethought to grab two plastic forks and passed one her way.
“Thanks!” She picked up her drink, deciding to brave it and take a sip before asking what it was. “Mmmm, vanilla latte.” She licked away the foam mustache it left behind.
“I hoped you’d like it.”
Again, Penelope felt how easy it was to be in his company. She expected to be nervous. In fact, she was surprised she wasn’t,considering how much time she’d spent thinking about him over the past few days. How often and in how much detail came to mind, producing a blush she hoped he wouldn’t notice. But in his easy presence, it faded away. She felt relaxed, sitting quietly enjoying their treats.
They both fell into the easy demeanor of people watching. There were so many types of people, and it was easy to get swept up in the entertainment of it. Harried parents with kids in tow, like Mary’s mom, trying to enjoy themselves but not quite succeeding, couples holding hands and strolling together, groups of teenagers giggly and on the hunt for others of their kind, hipsters with their stylish clothes and casual gaits.
“I wish I were like that,” Penelope said without really thinking, pointing out a woman in her mid-twenties in a stylish dress. She had flowing blonde hair and a carefree smile on her face.
“Why?” Finn asked, sounding confused.
Cocking her head to the side, Penelope thought about it before she answered. “The way she carries herself. She looks so content and relaxed. As if everything just comes easy for her.”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“Oh, I know,” she agreed, turning back to him. “I feel like I give off the energy of a nervous little mouse half the time. It’s not exactly the look I’m going for.”
“Well, I should hope not. Because that’s not how I see you at all.”
“No?” she fished. “How do you think I come across?”
Finn smirked at being caught. “Well, Ms. Penelope North, you come across as a very beautiful, caring, soulful sort. The way you look at everything around you… it makes me wish I could see my city, my dad’s house, my country through your eyes—fresh for the first time. You have this wonder about you. And that is all the ego stroking I’m going to do.”
He laughed as her lips turned down in a pout before she could stop herself. She had been enjoying his description of her and wasn’t expecting to be called out on it.
“Fine. Enough about me,” she retorted. “Tell me about you.”
“Really?” His eyebrows raised in fake shock. “Finally, she asks about me.”
“What do you mean by that?” she shot back, confused.
“Tell me something. Do you know what I do?”
Her mouth began to move as if this was obvious, but no answer came out.
“I’m sure to you I’m a guy that gigs occasionally, while also playing handyman to his cousin’s every need.”
Penelope felt the warmth of shame spread through her. That was, in fact, all she’d imagined he did. Or more to the point, she hadn’t bothered to imagine what else he might do.
“You do know I have a day job, right? Well, kind of had. But yes.”
Afraid to say the wrong thing, she waited silently for him to elaborate.
“I thought you might eventually pick up on the fact that I finish in the late afternoons. That I could only talk on my lunch break. That I asked so many questions about you being a teacher. Or more immediately, the way Mary referred to me as Mr. Casey.”
“Oh, no,” Penelope groaned, feeling utterly disappointed in herself. “You’re a teacher.”
