A Twist of Fate

Alarm clock blaring

It’s been such a crazy six months. Between getting laid off and that devastating breakup, I truly just want to stay in bed and just be. However, I promised my sister Kendra I’d meet up with her today after cancelling three times already. I don’t want to disappoint her again. Just once I’d love for my Saturday to consist of doing what I want to do even if that is sulking. Get over it Lia! You’re being selfish. Just get your behind up. Getting out will do you some good.

Phone ringing

“Hello?”

“Hey girl! You up?”

“Yes sis….I’m up.”

“Ok, just making sure you weren’t going to stand me up again.”

“Ha ha, you got jokes I see. Corny jokes. No, I’m not going to stand you up. What time?”

“Let’s make it noon. Is that good for you?”

“Yup.” “Ok, cool. See you then!”

I don’t even know why she wants to get together. It must be something important though. She’s been on my tail about getting together. As I’m getting ready, I notice the worn, small black notebook on the coffee table that’s been staring at me for the past two weeks. I found it at the coffee shop I go to every morning. Inside of it are beautiful handwritten poems and a phone number to call in case it was lost. Perhaps I’ll do that today after meeting with Kendra. The owner probably doesn’t realize it’s missing. I mean, all it seems to be is a bunch of poems. Beautiful poems nonetheless but again, just poems. Stop it! You’re just trying to talk yourself out of returning it today. Just call the number and see if you can return this thing. That way it’s done and it’ll be one less thing to do.

“Hello?”

“Good morning. This is Lia and I’m calling about a small black notebook I found at Kismet Café on Anderson Street. Is the owner available?”

“OHHHH MY! Yes, I’m the owner!”

“Oh, great. Are you available to meet today so that I can return it to you?”

“Absolutely but it will have to be around 5pm. Is that convenient for you?”

“Yes, that’s fine. Is the coffee shop ok?”

“Yes, that’s perfect!”

“Ok, great. I’ll be sitting at the table on the far left, near the window. Do you know the one I’m speaking of?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good. Oh, what is your name?”

“Mack.”

“Ok, Mack. I’ll see you at 5.”

“Certainly and thank you so much for calling. I was beginning to think I’d never get it back.”

“You’re very welcome.”

As I’m headed to meet up with Kendra, I stop at Kismet and get my daily coffee fix. They see me coming and already start to make my usual. I love it! As I’m walking up to the counter, I see this magnificent specimen of a man. He’s tall, perhaps about 6’2. Medium build and smells oh so yummy! We exchange glances and he smiles. Ohhhhh my goodness! I think I just melted. I keep it together though. You must keep it smooth Lia. Just as I have that thought, I trip and fall right into him. As I do, he tries to break my fall and his coffee spills all over us both. He lets out a painful gasp as I damn near give him third degree burns on his hands. OH MY GOODNESS!! I want to crawl into a hole. This is so freaking embarrassing. People in the cafe turn to look at the commotion I’ve just caused and I even hear a few laughs. GREAT!! THIS IS JUST PERFECT!! OF COURSE THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO ME. I have just about the worst luck. I begin to apologize profusely. He assures me it’s fine and asks if I’m ok. I tell him I’m fine, nothing that a dark room to hide from the embarrassment wouldn’t fix. The barista comes over with towels to help with the mess. Now, we both have huge stains on our clothes and since my shirt is white, I’m even more embarrassed by the transparency. I ask the barista to make another drink for him so that I can replace the ones I destroyed. As we both get our drinks, a woman rushes in and asks what is taking him so long. She seems to be in a rush and now, so is he. He thanks me for the coffees and hurries behind her. As I collect myself, I head out to meet with my sister. As soon as Kendra sees me, she asks, “What in the world happened to you?” I tell her and she laughs hysterically. Especially after finding out how fine he was.

“Did you get his name? Phone number?”

“Actually no. He has a woman. She came in and rushed him out of there. Seemed to be in a hurry.”

“How do you know it was his woman? Did you ask him?”

“No, I assumed by the demeanor. Plus, I was embarrassed enough by that point. Anyway, why did you want to meet so badly?”

Kendra proceeds to tell me that her boyfriend Chris proposed. They’ve been together for a year and a half and are about to get married. I was in a relationship for four years and all I got was a breakup. I’m happy for her but I can’t help but feel a bit of sadness due to my lack of a happy ending in love. I hug and congratulate her. She fills me in on all of the wedding details, colors, venue she’d like and my mind drifts in and out as I think about my failed love. Wondering if I’ll ever find the one meant for me and have that happy ending. Kendra knows me and notices my mind is roaming. She hugs me and tells me “Everything happens when it’s supposed to. Don’t worry. When it’s meant to be, it will be. When it does, at that moment you’ll realize why it didn’t work out with anyone else.” A tear falls from my eye and she wipes it away.

I look at the time and see that it is now four o’clock. I quickly tell her the story of the small black notebook and my meeting to return it. I congratulate her again, offer my services to help with the planning and make my way to meet Mack. After the day that I’ve had, my mind is spinning. I then realized I didn’t make time to go home and change my shirt. I look a mess. Oh well. What does it matter? I’m just returning a book.

I walk into Kismet and make my way to the designated table. I look at the time and notice it’s ten minutes to five. I pull out my phone and begin scrolling social media to pass the time. Just then, I notice Mack standing across the table staring at me. My heart immediately starts to race. It’s the guy I literally ran into earlier today.

He says with a laugh “Well, hello there. If it isn’t the clumsy one herself.”

I laugh and feel an overwhelming sense of nervousness and embarrassment. I also think to myself, “I still have this damn shirt on!” He sits across from me and I give him the small black notebook. He proceeds to tell me how important this book is.

“My grandfather wrote these poems for my grandmother. They’ve been married for well over fifty years. I lost this book when I stopped in to grab some coffee a couple of weeks ago and was devastated. My grandfather asked me to get it from his house so that he could give it to my grandmother. You see, he’s sick and it doesn’t seem like he has much time left. These are thoughts and feelings he’s had of her throughout the years that she’s never seen. So, he wanted to give the book to her before he passed away. I’m so grateful you found it and there’s still time for him to give the book to my grandmother himself. I couldn’t meet with you earlier because my sister and I were on our way to visit with him after we collided today. We’ve been doing so daily.”

My eyes began to well. At the same time, I was elated that was his sister and not girlfriend.

“That’s so beautiful yet heartbreaking at the same time. I’m glad I was able to get it to you in time.”

“I am too. This book means so much to him that when he found out I lost it, he put up a reward for it. I actually posted it here in the shop and a few other places I had gone that day since I didn’t know where I’d lost it.”

Just then, Mack pointed to the board that had the notice on it. The reward is $20,000.

“$20,000” I exclaimed!

“Yes, $20,000” he laughs. “You have no idea how much this book means to him. It’s a lot of money but not to him."

“Must be nice.”

“Yes. He’s made a wonderful life for himself and my grandmother. He built a very successful family business. One of which I help run. I’m his only grandson and very close to him. It was always his dream for me to join him in running it. My only hope now is to have what he and my grandmother has had all these years. I haven’t been so lucky in that department but I’m hopeful.”

Mack asks my name as he begins to write the check and I tell him “Dalia” but I go by Lia for short. I notice his name is printed as “Maqadar.” I tell him that’s a name I’ve never heard before. He says he had one heck of a time as a child with it and laughs. That’s why he shortened it to Mack, as he got older. He tells me it means, “That to which any thing or person is destined.” His mother had a complicated pregnancy and birth with him and the name was fitting. Whenever she would tell him the story, she’d say, “When something is meant to be, it will be and nothing can stop it.” I recalled my sister telling me that same thing just today.

I told him that my name meant “Fate.” We just looked at one another and smiled. Here we are, sitting in a café named Kismet. Where we literally crashed into one another. With names that mean fate. Was this the universe speaking? I’d say it was. Loud and clear.