Virtues of Saints & Angels
Chapter 8 – Hammer
He
leaned back against the tree as he pulled out his sketch book to keep working on
a sketch as he waited for his class to start at St Martin’s. His eyes moved
constantly, darting from the drawing to the people that were continually passing
him on their way to and from classes. He was looking for only one person, the
girl who had seized his attention in Angel’s café last Saturday.
He had been to the café the last three mornings on his way to college hoping to
talk to her again but he had only caught Angel’s notice. His daily visits for a
drop in coffee had her wondering what had happened in his world.
“Three mornings in a row for coffee, Orlando dear, people will start to talk if
you keep turning up every morning,” Angel laughed, handing over his soy latte as
he munched away on the lasagna leftovers that she had handed him.
“Ang, you know I would marry you in an instant if you would just get rid of that
old man of yours,” he grinned as he took a sip of his coffee.
“After thirty years of marriage I’d need a hammer and chisel,” Angel said,
trying to work out the reason why Orlando was coming in so often.
“I’m wounded Love, you lead me on with all your lovely food and company then you
drop me when it gets serious,” he pouted, feigning sadness at her
behaviour. “Seriously, I just ran out of everything this week and I haven’t had
a chance to get to the shop since I got back from Mum’s. What with work and
college, I keep running out of time. You don’t mind do you, I mean I could pay
if it’s too much.”
“Don’t be silly, Love, I’m just glad you enjoy it. I hate to throw things away
when someone wants them. I keep making the staff take home what’s left so I
don’t have to throw it out. Elizabeth’s still getting used to the idea; she
keeps arguing the point with me.”
“Does she? How long has she been here for?” he asked, trying to sound casual.
Angel’s mind clicked over instantly as she looked into Orlando’s sparkling
eyes. Now she knew exactly what was bringing him here every day, the hope of
catching sight of her new waitress.
“Just over two weeks, she is such a lovely girl. She works hard too, like you
with college and here as well.”
“Right,” Orlando answered as he busied himself brushing the split sugar into a
neat pile. “So, when does she normally work?”
“This week she’s on afternoons and evenings because her classes are all early.
She goes to St Martin’s, you know?” Angel baited the hook just to see how much
he would say.
“Yeah she said the other day, studying Graphic Arts.” Orlando wondered how long
she was at the college for today as he tried to think of a way to ask Angel.
“She’s got a long day today, from eight till five, poor girl. I gave her the
night off tonight, she’ll probably be so tired by the time she gets home.” Angel
smiled knowingly when she saw the gentle concerned look at Orlando’s face.
“Yeah, the long days are a killer. I might see her down there then, I have a
class there today.” Orlando stood and grabbed his bag and art satchel, as he got
ready to go. “Well Ang, thanks again for breakfast.”
Orlando’s mind wandered back to his sketch before he noticed a pair of boots in
front of him. His eyes ran up the shapely legs to the black skirt that skimmed
the top of her knees and on further over the white cotton shirt and light jacket
until they came to rest on the face he had been waiting for.
“Hello there, how are you?” Beth smiled as he jumped up to stand before her,
smiling broadly.
“Hello, fancy seeing you here. Have you got classes today?” he asked innocently
as he studied her face. Beth’s hair hung down loose around her face as she
smiled up at him.
“Yeah all day, I’m just on my way to my first one. Do you have one here today
too?” she answered as she watched him quickly bend down and throw his sketch
book into his satchel and picked it up along with his backpack.
“Yeah, mine’s about to start too. Can I walk with you?” Although his class
would not start for another hour he thought this would be a good way to get to
know her.
“Sure,” she smiled sweetly as she pointed the way to her class. He fell into step beside her as they moved down off the grass onto the path and headed towards the college’s main door.