Chapter Text
The smell of coffee, burnt cream and sweets permeate the room. Barbara sighs. She’s not sure what’s wrong with her. She feels crazy. “What else is different.” She tells herself. She’s been coming back to this same coffee house for weeks now. She orders café americano and sometimes includes a bagel or croissant. She sits in the middle of the shop, with a clear view of the door and the tables scattered throughout the room.
The first time she had visited the shop was about three weeks ago. She was standing in line waiting for her drink. A voice behind her captured her attention. That South Philly accent. A smile fell upon her lips. She had tried to turn around without being obvious but could not see the face to go along with the voice. She had intended to leave after getting her drink but as was every other time she heard that accent, she needed to see who it belonged to. She took a seat at a bar facing the window.
“Yeah, can I get two lattes and some of that pound cake.” The voice said. In the window, Barbara could make out a person with red hair. Her heart plunged. It wasn’t her. The person she always looked for when hearing that accent had brown hair with blond highlights the last time, she had seen her. Her green eyes full of fire.
“Hey youse idiota, leave her alone.”
The little body was pushing the bullies away and off of her.
She could hear slaps and a few choice cuss words before a warm hand landed on her arm.
“Are ya ok?”
“Thank you. I don’t know”
The little body cut her off. “Hey, they’re idiots. They won’t bother you again.”
“Thank you again. I’m Barbara.”
“I’m Melissa.”
“Fottuti idioti.”
“Mel.” The name Barbara didn’t dare speak, fell from her lips as her head snapped up to see if it was her. She was met with the retreating back of the person storming off, red hair flowing behind her. It can’t be her.
The next day, Barb searched for Melissa. She shyly handed her the brown bag.
“I wanted to thank you again for yesterday.”
“It’s ok. What’s this?”
Melissa peeked her head into the bag. She could see what looked like a card and something wrapped in wax paper.
“It’s a card and a slice of the lemon pound cake I baked with my mama.”
“You bake? I help my nonna cook sometime.”
“Nonna, is that your mama?”
“No, nonna is Italian for grandma.”
“Before youse ask, I’m Sicilian.”
“Oh, I wasn’t going to ask. I’m part Jamaican.”
“Jamaica huh. Cool.”
“Melissa Ann, come and play with me.”
Melissa whirled on a younger girl heading their way.
“Didn’t I tell you to call me Mel here?” she said grabbing the younger girl’s hand.
“This is my baby sister Kristin Marie.”
Barbara held out her hand. Kristin Marie shook it with a smile.
“Hi I’m Barbara.”
“Bawa.”
Melissa and Barbara laughed.
“Not quite. You can call me Lee if it’s easier.”
“Lee. Do you want to play with us?”
The three of them hung out for the remainder of the day.
Barbara was thrown out of her memories again by a gruff voice behind her exclaiming how the red-hot lady came in every week and always seemed to be calling them assholes when she left. That sounded like Mel to her. Mel, her summer camp friend from childhood. They’d met the year Philadelphia had hosted its second city wide summer camp. Barbara had begged her mom to let her go but with things heating up in the world during that time her mom was afraid. It was her dad that finally told her to allow it. Telling her they had faith that God would keep her safe. She was reluctant to tell her mom but she found herself spilling the beans after making a thank you card for Mel. She asked her mom if they could bake a lemon pound cake. It was one of her favorite cakes to bake. Surprisingly her mom did not immediately pull her out of the camp. She did remember her mom whispering prayers over her later that night.
The next weekend found her back at the coffee shop. Waiting. Sure, enough the lady came in, red hair in a ponytail this time, she was wearing blue jeans, with a white shirt open to show her abundant bosom. Barbara found herself staring trying to notice nuances of Melissa in this woman. They had not seen each other since they were children. Barbara had not forgotten her friend and she often wondered if Mel thought of her. The lady was wearing shades so she could not see her eyes. She listened to her speaking on the phone. She spoke in Italian only. Barbara watched her. Taking note of her hands, her body and mannerisms. She knew features changed over time. There wasn’t anything that particularly stood out. The lady left out saying expletives as she had the previous week.
“Lee, can you come to my birthday party?”
Kristin Marie asked. Barbara was stunned. She did not know what to say.
“Kristin Marie, we talked about this. Youse know Lee stays on the other side of town.”
“It’s ok.” She put her hand on Melissa’s. A spark flew. They both pulled their hands away shocked.
“I’d love to. I’ll ask my mom.”
Kristin Marie greeted her with the biggest smile and a hug.
“Youse don’t really have to Lee.” Melissa had whispered later.
“I’d like to come unless you don’t want me to.”
“No, it will be fine. Everyone wants to meet the Lee.”
“Bawa Lee.”
They laughed.
The next weekend, Barbara’s head was down reading a book, so she didn’t notice when the lady entered the shop.
“Why youse gotta give me a hard time all the time.”
“Why youse gotta be so dumb.”
Barb’s head shot up again at the sound of her voice. She noticed the lady there with a taller blonde. Red lipstick, her bosom not as abundant as the shorter lady. They were gesturing and arguing in English and Italian. Barbara was transfixed. The taller lady’s eyes were blue, but the shorter lady’s back was to her so she could not see her eyes. She watched them order and walk over to the counter with the sugar and cream. They were in sync, handing each other the condiments while still arguing. Barbara noticed the taller woman nod her head and the shorter lady looked directly at Barbara. She was wearing shades again. As they were leaving the shorter woman approached her.
"Youse keeps staring at me like you have a problem."
“I’m sorry. I do not have an issue with you.”
“Why are youse staring? Who sent ya?”
“Yeah, who sent you?” The taller woman had moved behind Barbara, she was boxed in.
She did not stand up, feeling that any sudden movement would set the two ladies off. She closed her book and took a deep breath. When she looked up, she found herself staring into green eyes. The shorter woman having pushed her glasses to sit in her hair.
"Melissa Ann", she says tentatively.
"Do I know you?"
“How do you know her name?” The taller woman asked.
"It's been years. It's me, Barbara.”
Melissa stands there staring at the woman. Seated primly her body drawn into herself. It wasn’t until Kristin Marie came to stand beside her and hit her arm that she snapped out of her head.
“Bawa Lee?” Kristin Marie said softly.
“Oh, my goodness. Kristin Marie is that you sweetheart?”
Barbara found herself being hugged tightly by Kristin Marie.
When it dawns on Mel who she is, she puts her coffee cup down and grabs Barb from her seat. She hugs her and holds her tight.
“How do we know you are who youse say you are.” Melissa said trying to pull Kristin Marie up.
“Migliore amico.”
“Lee?!”
Barbara stood up. Melissa grabbed her and hugged her just as tight as Kristin Marie had.
“God it’s been a long time. How’s you been?”
The three of them sit down. Kristin Marie asks Barbara a ton of questions. Melissa found herself staring at her friend. She was no longer a scrawny kid with glasses being bullied by a bunch of cowards. She had filled out as her cousins would say. She was beautiful, her chocolate skin and eyes still had the power to make Melissa’s heart skip a beat.
I hope you don't mind; you look like a friend of mine
And it's seldom you find a face that's so kind