by Jean C. Fisher

Created on: May 10, 2009   Last Updated: October 26, 2011

Old Friends

Reggie looked out of the window to the streets below and took another sip of his Rob Roy.

The entire city was laboring under a glaze of slushy, sooty snow as workmen and couriers, secretaries and bank clerks scurried - heads down - along the frigid sidewalks. The austere, granite walls of downtown skyscrapers seemed only to add to the oppressive, murky scene.

"I so need a vacation," Reggie sighed quietly.

A ruddy-faced waiter approached his table, smiling. He was young, Reggie mused, probably a student at the nearby university working his way through law school or something.

"Welcome to Stockley's," the young man said, pulling an order pad from the pocket of his white apron, "I'm Todd and I'll be your waiter this afternoon. Are you ready to order or do you need a few more minutes?"

"Well, Todd," Reggie began as he eyed the young man with a slight smile, "It's a pleasure... But, you see, I'm meeting an old friend here for lunch today and she hasn't arrived yet - so I guess I'll be needing a few more minutes. But there is something you can do for me, Todd."

The young man leaned over solicitously, "Yes, sir?"

"Bring me another one of these Rob Roys that your bartender makes so well," Reggie said as he slowly pushed the empty glass towards the edge of the table.

"Certainly, sir," the waiter replied as he reached for the glass.

"Oh. . . and, Todd," Reggie interjected - grabbing the young man's elbow.

"Yes, sir?"

"You can tell him to make this one a double, okay?"

"Certainly, sir," the young man snapped before disappearing.

Reggie looked at his watch: 12:15. He was unconcerned. He'd been friends with Gabby for a very, very long time and he'd never known her to be on-time for anything.

"She'll be here," he thought with amusement, "Her kind never break their word."

A feminine voice roused him from his thoughts: "I know why you're smiling like that. It makes everyone think you've been up to no good."

Rising to his feet, his gaze traveled over her porcelain face and into her verdant green eyes for a moment before sliding the rest of the way down the length of her body. He leaned over and grasped her hand, touching it briefly to his lips.

Pulling back up to full height, he smiled broadly: "But, my darling Gabby, you know that, in my case, it couldn't be truer. Please, have a seat. May I order you a drink?"

"Yes," she answered as she smoothed a lock of copper-colored hair back from her forehead and sat down, "That's sounds divine!"

Reggie half-whistled, bringing

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