She swept her chestnut hair out of her face avoiding his gaze from the opposite side of the coffee shop. He sat slumped over his laptop. He made it appear as if he was more interested in something other than her sparkling blue eyes and demure smile. He knew from experience she would never look his way. He eyed her over the screen hoping this would be the day she would turn and walk over to him. She would introduce herself. She would tell him she had been noticing him for the past few weeks, but she was too shy to say hello. He would ask her to sit down. They would laugh and talk over several coffees, not noticing the world around them. They would discover they had so much in common and make plans for dinner.

He watched as she turned her collar up over her neck and grabbed her cup to leave. The door swung open with a blast of wintry air and she was gone. Her blue coat billowed behind her as she walked up the street and out of sight. He closed his laptop and sighed. He stuffed it into his satchel when he heard his name, “Mitchell!” He looked up and saw Kate’s wide smile from behind round dark-rimmed glasses.

 “I thought that was you! I got coffee. Do you wanna sit?” she asked as she brushed her auburn curls from her brow.

“Nah, thanks, Kate. I was getting to work. You enjoy,” he said. She sat and sipped her coffee watching him gather his bomber jacket from behind the wooden chair. The shop was beginning to bustle with the hum of customers ordering their lattes before a hectic day. Kate unwound her knitted scarf and placed it on the table. She stared up at him as he donned his jacket and slung his satchel over his shoulder. He gave her a warm smile that made her insides melt and her hands tremble. She set her coffee down to prevent the contents from spilling everywhere.

 “Okay, um, well, have a good day,” she said, hoping he didn’t notice the flush in her cheeks and the sweat beading her temples.

 “Thanks, Kate. You too. Nice scarf, by the way,” he said, giving her a wink. She could feel herself weakening and willed herself to stay upright in her chair.

 “Oh, thanks! My Gran knit it for me for Christmas last year and I love it, it’s so warm –“

 “That’s great, Kate.  See ‘ya later,” he replied, taking his empty cup and rushing out the door. Kate sat with the words, “Yeah, see ‘ya,” tumbling gently over her lips. She watched him sprint into the burgeoning sunshine.

Days passed and Kate revisited the coffee shop that Mitchell frequented. She knew there was a woman he wanted to see. He would sit alone at the corner table facing the door. He would open his laptop and position it preventing unwanted conversations. Kate had seen her waltz in with her long blue coat and her matching scarf wrapped elegantly around her neck. Her long brown hair swayed as if it had been washed and combed moments before entering the shop. Kate wasn’t jealous of her, exactly. She was annoyed that Mitchell had found her so captivating. She watched him wriggle in his seat the moment she walked in. He would stare atop the computer screen, and watch her order. He smiled when she smiled. He almost drooled as her hand brushed against the barista’s fingers when she gave her money. It was nauseating. It bothered Kate so much she often thought about asking him why he did it day after day but thought better of it. She couldn’t embarrass him like that; she wouldn’t.

Monday morning arrived rainy and cold. Kate sat at Mitchell’s unoccupied table wondering what had become of him. She could arrive at any minute and he wasn’t there to capture Miss Blue Coat’s entrance. Kate sipped her coffee and watched customers rush inside from the spatter of rain. She saw her right away. A black rain slicker replaced her long blue coat. She danced inside the door, deflating her opened umbrella. She motioned for someone to follow. Kate’s heart leaped at the sight of him. He was beaming despite the rain soaking his dirty blond hair and dampening his cheeks. He took up the height of the door as he guided her by the arm to the line. He looked like he would burst with joy. He had found her. Tears began to well in Kate’s eyes and she brushed them away. She hoped he hadn’t seen her in his spot watching them be happy together. Her fists clenched and her face flushed as she tried to move. She stayed forced to watch as the happy couple ordered their coffee and laughed at the rain. Kate stared as he put his hand on her waist.  She thought she might be sick. She gathered her things and raced for the door, but it was too late. Mitchell had seen her, “Kate? Join us!” he called. She barely heard him as she pushed through the crowd to the door. She managed to get outside when she felt a hand on the crook of her arm pull her to him. The rain pelted their faces, her tears melding with the droplets.

“What are you doing out here? Come inside,” he said as he watched her face fall.

“I can’t,” she whispered. Kate searched the ground for the words she needed to say, but couldn’t find. He tilted her chin and forced her to look into his eyes.  He returned her gaze with such tenderness it made her heart ache.

  “Kate,” he said, “you don’t understand. I’ve spent a lifetime waiting for her. I’m done waiting.  You see, I never knew my sister. I’ve found her, Kate! I want you to meet her.”