“Here’s your Yuengling,” Jess said, placing the beer on the table.
Startled from her thoughts, her companion smiled up at her. “Thank you dear.”
Jess slid into the booth opposite her. “Of all the brews, why do you stick with this one? There’s an indie renaissance happening. You should try something new.”
Her companion regarded the can before her. “This is one of the oldest drinks this young country can provide. I’d like to savor it.”
Jess fell quiet at that, eyeing the woman across from her before taking a sip of her IPA. “What are you going by now?”
“Laranna.”
“Cute name.”
“I thought so, too. And yourself?”
“I thought that Jess would suit me nicely.”
“That’s a shame. I rather enjoyed Olivia.”
Jess smirked in memory. “Different time and place.”
They allowed the sounds of the bar to fill the space between them. Music blared a little louder than was comfortable, and on a sound system with a little too much grain. The patrons raised their voices over it to be heard until there wasn’t an inch of space in the restaurant devoid of noise. All save the pocket of silence that engulfed their table.
“I’m a little surprised to see you so soon,” Jess said at last. “It’s only been, what, a few dozen years?”
Laranna nodded slowly. “Thirty-nine.”
“What is it this time?”
“The first inklings of cancer.”
“Again?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Jess took another swig of her drink and wiped her mouth. “Alright, let’s get this over with.”
Laranna nodded and reached across the table with both hands. Jess slid her palms easily into the other woman’s and closed her eyes just as a wave of energy hit her, making her jolt. Nothing felt different when they let go of each other.
“I don’t care how much time passes, I’ll never get used to that,” Jess grumbled.
“I’m sorry.”
Jess waved the apology away. “Are you going to stay long this time? We could go see a movie.”
Laranna frowned uncertainly. “I don’t—”
“Hi there, ready to order?”
Jess and Laranna both turned as a waitress stepped up to the table with notepad in hand and a pasted-on smile. Her nametag read “Sam.”
When Laranna said nothing, Jess said, “One plate of nachos and two hot dogs, please.”
Sam nodded, writing each down.
Jess side-eyed Laranna. “Would you help me with something, miss?”
Laranna’s gaze sharpened. “Jess, don’t.”
“What is it?” Sam asked.
“What would it take for me to convince you that you were in the presence of divinity?”
Sam frowned in puzzlement. “Divinity?”
“Yep.”
An uncertain smile crept up Sam’s face. “Like God?”
“You betcha.” Jess smiled.
Sam chuckled. “I don’t know, turn water into wine? Cure my aching feet?”
Jess motioned to Laranna. Laranna fixed Jess with an incredulous look and shook her head, mouthing, “No.” Jess motioned again, and with a roll of her eyes Laranna said to Sam, “May I see your hand, dear?”
“Why?”
“I’d like to thank you. For helping us with our food.”
Sam’s expression turned wary as she looked between Jess and Laranna, but she kept her professional smile as she reached her hand out. Laranna took it with both hands, cupping it gently while staring up at the waitress.
Moments passed. Sam coughed. “Ma’am?”
Laranna blinked and flushed before retracting her hands.
Sam regarded Laranna for a short while. “I’ll go get your food,” she said flatly before stepping away, undoubtedly on her way to tell the other staff about the two weirdos at table seven.
“You need to stop doing that,” Laranna whispered.
“I can’t,” Jess said, taking a longer drag from her drink.
Laranna closed her eyes and hung her head.
Jess eyed her. “You know… If a moment comes tonight when her feet stop hurting, in the instant she recognizes that the pain is gone, she might briefly think, ‘gee, that’s odd. Could there have been more to that woman than I thought?’”
Laranna looked back up.
“And while she’s thinking that,” Jess continued, “maybe, just maybe, the smallest bit of belief might find its way into her. And when that happens maybe her feet will hurt even less, and she’ll think again, ‘ok, this is really weird.’ And again she may start to believe.”
“Tis a fool’s hope,” Laranna said softly.
“Good thing I’m an idiot.”
Laranna blinked, then burst out a laugh. Jess smiled. “We’re both idiots,” Laranna said.
Jess raised her drink. “To us fools.”
Laranna smiled and clinked her glass. “To us.”
They both drank. Jess said, “Still want to see that movie?”
Laranna nodded. “I’d like that.”
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