The Pacer

Issue date: 2/27/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Anna couldn't believe it was James. She had just about given up on seeing him again, but here he was, billowing out the blanket for them to sit on as they ate. He had packed several cold sandwiches of various sorts, sodas in a cooler, chips, some chilled fruit, and a box of Godiva truffles for dessert.

"This looks amazing," Anna said, falling Indian-style to the floor.

"I planned it all for you," James replied, pouring the soda into two fluted glasses.

"Why? Not that I'm not happy, but you barely know me."

"I know. Consider it a thank you, for not sending me to jail."

Anna looked over her shoulder. "Well, you seem to be on pretty good terms with the police."

James smiled to himself.

"What is it?" Anna asked.

"I have a confession to make: the officer that brought you today, the same one who was going to arrest me - he's a deacon in my church." James started laughing. "We go way back."

"You jerk! So I didn't really do a thing?"

"Sure you did. You saved his fingers from paper cuts. Had I been arrested, that would have been a lot of red tape to go through to dismiss the charges."

"Glad I could help," Anna murmured, fake-pouting.

"Here," James passed her a glass. "To you."

She thought about it for just a moment. "To me!"

Their glasses clinked, echoing under the arches of the trees.

***

The train station had emptied, the remaining passengers dissipating out into the night. Anna had finished her soda long ago; now she was staring out over the tracks, her mind far and away.

"Do you ever miss him?" Ethan asked.

It took her a moment to respond. She nodded. "We had some good times. Some really great times, even." She visibly shook her shoulders as if throwing off her sudden sadness. "So what are you doing tonight?"

Ethan had big plans to clean the fridge. "Not a thing."

"Good. You're coming with me."

"Where are you going?"

"We're going to a party a friend of mine is throwing in Manhattan. I've had enough talk of depressing things, and I don't want to go alone."

"Will you finish telling me your story later?"

But Anna had risen from her seat and made her way over to the ticket office. "Two tickets to Grand Central Station." She tilted her head towards Ethan. "And they're on him."

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