Angels and Baristas
“I’m sorry
Brent but I just can’t marry you.” Emphasizing her point Laura took his ring
off her finger and gave it back to him.
“Is there a
reason Laura?” a concerned Brent asked dipping his bread stick in the marinara
sauce.
“Your
proposal didn’t leave me room to refuse but that is exactly what I wanted to
do. In fact, I was working up the
courage to break-up when you threw your surprise in. Another few days and we wouldn’t have been a
couple anymore.”
“I see. “
“No, I don’t
think you ‘see’.” Trying to stay calm Laura leaned in and whispered, “Our relationship has damaged my relationship
with God and I am choosing now to go back to my first love.” Gathering momentum
Laura pleaded “Please don’t call me, text me or e-mail me ever again. I don’t want to hear from you.” With that Laura stood up from the table,
adjusted her purse strap and left the restaurant not even bothering to look
back at Brent’s stunned expression.
Several
hours later, after taking care of business, Laura sprinted into the mall and
made a beeline for the communication kiosk in the middle of the mall. Reaching her destination moments before
closing she managed to gasp out her intentions for changing her phone number. “I need to do this now,“ she said with a
sense of urgency.
“I’m sorry
ma’am but you are just going to have to come back tomorrow morning. We don’t have time to change a number
tonight.”
“You don’t
understand. I am leaving town in a few
hours and I can’t be traveling with the same number,” a desperate Laura
pleaded.
“There is
nothing we can do. Sorry.”
With
nothing else to do and nowhere to go Laura picked up her bags and dragged
herself to the bus stop. Scoping out the
area she spotted a café with a friendly window display and decided to pass the
time there where at least she could cool down from the intense July heat. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she
had not eaten since her lunch break earlier.
Having no money for anything other than her bus ticket and something to
drink she settled down into the cracked blue vinyl seat and ordered an iced
tea.
The urge to
sob came upon her so suddenly Laura gasped for air and let the tears flow. The years of pain melted away as the healing
touch of an angel soothed her hurting soul.
Fifteen minutes later Laura finally looked up and realized it was an
older woman who was comforting her.
“Just let
it flow honey, let it flow,” the kind woman soothed.
It was in
that cradled position Laura found herself at morning’s light. Extracting herself carefully from the
stranger’s sleeping embrace proved to be more difficult than imagined. Just when she thought she couldn’t handle it
anymore the chirping of her cell phone awakened the now smiling woman. Figuring it was Brent wanting her to
reconsider she let it go to voice mail.
At least he wouldn’t find her at her apartment or her job.
“Good
morning sugar. My name is Angel and I
own this establishment. What’s yours and
why the tears?” Angel asked.
“I’m
Laura.” Before she could stop herself Laura poured out her story. Not revealing too many details she told Angel
about her dream three nights before and her visit from an angelic being with a
warning. The crossroads in her life
could take her two different directions.
Right would bring her closer to knowing her Savior better and his plans
for her life. Left was her current path
with Brent the manipulator and abuser.
Wrestling all night with the decision led her to break up with Brent the
day before and try to leave town after quitting her job.
Angel
listened sympathetically until Laura was finished. “It sounds like you’ve been through a lot. “ Inspired, Angel asked, “Why don’t you come
home with me and rest for a few days? I
will take care of you.”
“You are
too kind. How can I ever repay you?”
Laura yawned.
“Well, I am
always on the lookout for baristas with great service skills. Does that sound like something you could do?”
Angel asked her crystal blue eyes focused on Laura.
“I was the
best barista at my shop,” Laura answered proudly.
“Perfect. Your new life down the right path starts
now.”
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