The Consultant

"I'm not sure what you can do to help me." Lucinda said looking at the man sitting across the table from her. "I feel a little silly coming here today, why if my Earl knew I was here he'd have a thing or two to say."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind you asking for help with your situation." The man replied, a slight smile gracing his face. It really was a handsome face, Lucinda thought. She wondered how old he was.  It was hard to tell, his features appeared to have smooth look of a young man, but those blue eyes had the look of someone who had seen ages.  They were quite piercing and a tad unsettling if she was honest with herself.  She thought about introducing him to her granddaughter, Lilah was a good girl after all but she didn't have any direction. She just needs an older man, Lucinda thought, boys matured later after all.

"What was your name again?" She asked, "my memory is not what it once was."

"That's alright, here's my card" the man said and he handed her a plain business card.  Lucinda took the card and looked at it. Thaddeus Nathaniel Tosman, and underneath Consultant, it read. She turned the card over but there was nothing else.

"And what kind of consulting do you do, Mr. Tosman?" She asked just a hint of scepticism in her voice. 

"Please," he said with that same easy smile, "just Thad is fine. No need to be so formal after all." Lucinda was about to comment back but he continued. "By the way I hope you don't mind, I took the liberty of ordering for you. This place does a very special dessert, a slice of chocolate cake that's to die for some say." He said the last part with a smile to let her know it was a joke.

Lucinda pursed her lips. Maybe not the best choice for Lilah, she thought.

"Young man," she said with firmness, "I'm not in the habit of eating such things anymore, too much sugar, and furthermore there isn't a cake out there that could hold a candle to my mother's recipe, I'll have you know."

"Please, just Thad," he said again amusement in his voice. "I think you'll be surprised by this one." He held up a hand to forestall her response. "I believe you asked what kind of consulting I did and I have yet to give you an answer."

She nodded but didn't say anything.

"I like to think myself as someone who helps people look back and take full measure of themselves and how they have lived their lives." He continued.

"That's awfully vague," Lucinda said critically.

"Perhaps, but nevertheless it's what I do," he said, "and I find the cake always tastes best with a clear conscience." "I'm not sure I know what you're insinuating," Lucinda said with a sniff.

She watched as Thaddeus took a sip from his coffee cup and gave her that same easy smile. Perhaps she'd been a little harsh in assuming he meant anything by his comment, and when had the coffee come? She hadn't seen anyone come to their booth, and yet looking down there was a second cup sitting in front of her. Very disconcerting she thought, I really must be getting old. What would Earl say? "It's nothing to be ashamed of, I think everyone has things they wish had turned out differently." Thaddeus replied.

"Well I suppose you're not wrong," Lucinda replied grudgingly. "Nobody is perfect after all."

"Is there anything you regret, Lucinda?" She looked up from the coffee cup she had been studying the past moment into his blue eyes. When had they gotten so piercing? She felt a slight shudder go through her and her hands trembled slightly. It was like he was peering directly into her soul, a disconcerting thought to be sure. After a moment his eyes softened, "It's ok, you're with a friend here. No need to be embarrassed, we consultants pride ourselves on our discretion."

"Well I really don't know what I could tell you. My life is pretty normal."

"So there's nothing you regret?"

"No," Lucinda replied stiffly.

"Perhaps, you just need a moment." Thaddeus said patting her arm. “Besides the cake is here and I want you to enjoy it.”

Lucinda frowned in confusion but sure enough sitting in front of her was a slice of cake, two layers with a decadent looking swirl of frosting separating them. It looked just like the one her mother used to make every year for her birthday. If only Earl was here to enjoy it.

Lucinda felt a tear forming in the corner of her eye. Earl was gone now, wasn’t he? She had forgotten again. Lilah was always reminding her when she forgot things.

“Its okay, my dear” Thaddeus said sympathetically sounding far older than his youthful appearance implied. “Please take a bite. I think you’ll find it quite enjoyable.”

Lucinda took a bite, and her eyes widened in astonishment. “Why this cake tastes just the way my mother used to make.” She said.

“I knew you’d like it.” He smiled. “A good life makes a good slice of cake.”

She nodded absently lost in the memories of childhood.

Thaddeus pulled out an antique looking pocket watch.

“I’m afraid it’s time for us to be on our way now.” He said regretfully. He stood up and she rose as well, surprised to realize she had finished the cake in front of her.

“Allow me,” he said offering his arm. She accepted it gladly and together the two walked out of the diner and into the light.