Page 23 of If We Meet Again

“What do yourecommend?”

“The 1995.”

“What’s in it?”

“Vodka, strawberry, mint, lemon, rhubarb and soda. It has a similar taste to a Mojito, but the strawberry and rhubarb make it fruitier. It’s myfavourite.”

“The 1995 sounds perfect to me.”

A bartender with dark brown, slicked-back hair and a shirt that was three sizes too small approached. “What can I get for you, Meg?”

“Two ‘95s please, Alec.”

He smiled eagerly. “Coming right up.”

Ashley swivelled to the right to face Megan,“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Telling me the story. Allowing me to be a part of that; it’s quite the tale.”

“Will you write about it?”

“Yes, I would love to.”

Megan placed her hand on Ashley’s arm. “I can’t wait to read it. I hope I didit justice.”

“You did. I am excited tohear more.”

“I’m guessing my part of the date isn’t what you imagined it would be?”

“Not at all. It’s better.”

“Really? I wasn’t sure if you’d find it lame.”

The sarcastic response was her first, “I can’t say anyone else has ever taken me to see their grandma on a first date,” Ashley laughed. “That being said, it is the most unique date I have ever been on.”

“And it’s not even over yet,” Megan teased.

“There’s more?”

“Well, I thought we were eating Cronuts together and watching TV?” Megan raised a quizzing eyebrow.

“How could I forget?”

Ashley raised her drink; the clink of the glass on Megan’s signified a successful date. Nancy appeared ten minutes later with the details of her life in tow. She was a fascinating woman. Despite being seventy-five years old, she moved with a spring in her step, one she assured was down to the new lease of life she found when she returned to Christopher. The grey hair and thick-rimmed glasses aged her appearance slightly, but her slim build was that of someone thirty years younger. Ashley found it hard to imagine her as the centre of an epic love story. She shared pictures of her younger self in high school and the most recent photo of her and Christopher. The years had been kind to them. She shared the details of her split from Megan’s grandfather, the effect it had on the children and ultimately the aftermath of a divorce that shook Nancy’s parents to the core. It was the hardest decision she had ever had to make, but the alternative was far worsein her eyes.

The conversation lasted almost an hour before Nancy left for the evening. “Make sure you take full advantage of the bar girls.” They both nodded obediently. “It’s been great talking to you, Ashley. I will look forward to reading your takeon my life.”

“I hope I doit justice.”

“I’m sure you will,sweetheart.”

The bar became busier the closer it got to tip-off. 8 NBA games were due to begin, and Megan felt underdressed to still be out, so they made their way back to Ashley’s apartment. The warm summer nights made for a pleasant stroll backto Chelsea.

Ashley pulled her phone from her jeans pocket. The urge to warn her friends of their arrival had been playing on her mind since they left Nancy’s.

Megan is coming back with me. Be on your best behaviour. Don’t embarrassme…or else.