‘Hey, Frank,’ she called out to the smiling proprietor, who was as always behind the counter, manning the place on his own. Looking longingly at his fresh produce display, she grabbed a free table for two by the window taking the far side so she could keep an eye on the door for her neighbour’s arrival.

‘What can I get for you?’ Frank asked as he approached.

‘Just a flat white, please.’ As much as she wanted one of his legendary cannolis, she figured it would be rude to order something before Ed’s arrival. But given his sweet tooth she thought he’d be only too happy to join her.

‘You got it. Anything to eat?’

‘I’m actually . . . waiting for someone. I’ll let you know.’

Hannah felt herself jumpy with nervous energy. It really was kind of like going on a blind date. She truly had no idea if she and Ed would hit it off in person, which was also why being anonymous all this while had made it so easy to communicate. So she hoped things didn’t feel awkward face to face.

Frank headed off to fill the order while Hannah tapped her hands on the table, feeling fidgety. She picked up her phone and glanced at the time.

It was now a little after eleven. She hoped he wasn’t having trouble finding the place or negotiating the street in his wheelchair or mobility aid, or whatever he used day to day. And now she wondered if it had been a bad call not just to meet in the lobby of their building and go from there. But that would have been way too awkward. This way, much like a blind date, either one could come and go as they pleased.

Just then, the door chimed and Hannah perked up to check out the new arrival but the person, a guy in a baseball cap, was much too young. Then looking properly at the face beneath the ballcap, she felt the room start to spin.

Ward had just walked in.

Shite . . . Hannah grimaced and automatically started to slump in her seat to fade away from view, even as her heart instinctively fluttered at the mere sight of him.

But if she truly thought about it, wasn’t there a subconscious part of her that had chosen this very place, considering their history? She wasn’t sure and she just sat there, hoping that he might just grab his usual takeout and wouldn’t notice her, but it was too late. Frank approached her table with her order right as Ward passed by.

‘Hey, man, how you doin’?’ he called out, bringing attention directly to where she sat. As Frank set the cup down in front of her, Hannah muttered a thanks but could already feel Ward’s gaze on her as he closed the distance between them.

‘Great, Frank, how about you?’

‘All good, man, all good.’