Down Memory Lane

Chapter 1-2

Two days later, Vincent hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Daniel. Their affair had been brief, perhaps six months. Maybe not even as long as that. Yet the mark Daniel had left on him had obviously been indelible. It must have been if he was so obsessed with the man twenty-one years later.

He returned to Holbrook’s Bookshop and Café on his way home from work, entering the building with a certain amount of trepidation.

“Oh, hello again,” said the girl he’d spoken to two days earlier.

“Er, hello…” He squinted at her name badge.

“Kylie,” she said, smiling at him.

“Hello, Kylie.”

“Can I help you today?” She looked over his shoulder at the world outside. “It isn’t raining today.”

Her forthrightness made him smile. “No, it isn’t. You’ll be pleased to hear I’ve come in to make an actual purchase.”

Kylie put her hands on her hips, a comical expression on her face. “Get out of here.”

“No, it’s true. I’m gonna do it.”

Kylie stood aside and made a sweeping motion with her arms. “Then go right ahead, sir.”

Vincent gave her a wink and walked to the back corner where he’d originally discovered the photographic book. At first he couldn’t see it, and his stomach lurched at the possibility someone else had bought it. It didn’t take long to notice it had been put on a nearby shelf by mistake, on top of a small pile of travel books.

Opening the volume, he flipped through, taking care not to leave greasy fingerprints on the pages. When he found the photo he’d been looking for, he stood looking at it, seeing Daniel McClary, not the actual model.

“He’s cute, isn’t he?”

Vincent slammed the book shut and turned. “Oh, yes.”

“There’s a guy who looks exactly like that who’s been coming in here a lot recently.”

“W-what?”

“Yeah. Every week, usually on Thursday, because we’re open a bit later on Thursdays. But sometimes on a Friday.”

Today was Friday. “Did he come in yesterday?”

Kylie shrugged. “I wasn’t rostered on yesterday. I can ask, if you like.”

Vincent shook his head. “No, no. That’s alright. I was just…curious.”

“Can I take that? I’ll put it through for you.”

Vincent gave Kylie the book and followed her to the checkout. After paying her, she put his purchase in a bag and handed it to him.

“I guess I’ll be seeing you again,” said Kylie, nodding at the book.

Vincent chuckled. “You’re not a shy thing, are you?”

Kylie laughed. “I like to add a personal touch to my customer service.”

“I can’t argue with you there.”

“Well, have a lovely evening.”

Vincent hesitated, looking over his shoulder in the direction of the cafe. “I think I might have a coffee.”

Kylie winked at him and nodded. “Okay. You shouldn’t have long to wait.”

Vincent opened his mouth to protest her assumption, but he didn’t have an opportunity to speak before she continued.

“For the coffee, I meant. They’re really very efficient over there.”

Vincent pressed his lips together, not entirely convinced she was telling the truth, but not caring one way or the other. He liked Kylie. She made him smile.

At the café, he ordered a flat white and took a seat at a table where he could see the bookshop door. His mobile phone indicated five forty-five. The bookshop closed at six-thirty. Forty-five minutes wasn’t a long time to wait. Not for Daniel McClary.

But the minutes dragged by. He ordered a second coffee, even though he didn’t want it. It sat in front of him getting cold as he watched the door open again and again with no sign of Daniel. All too soon, the café staff began cleaning the tables and refilling the sugar canisters. Patrons started leaving. When he looked at the time on his mobile phone, it read six-twenty.

It seemed unlikely that Daniel would show with only ten minutes before closing.

Vincent picked up the book bag and slowly moved towards the exit. He waved good-bye to Kylie and stepped onto the shadowy street. For a while, he stood by the bookshop window, hoping against hope that Daniel might come dashing towards him, desperate to buy a book.

At six-thirty, he knew he’d have to go home disappointed.