Original story
Frank tipped his lemonade toward Theo’s shoes and insisted the waterfront table was his. When Theo explained that another party had reserved it, Frank picked up the numbered stand. He came here every Friday. Surely that counted for something.
Zoe arrived with the reservation list. Frank’s name was on it, just where he said it would be. Then she showed him the date. He’d booked for next Friday.
Theo had been offering him the table by the window all along.
Extension
Frank looked down at the number stand in his fist. Two people were waiting behind Zoe, close enough to have heard everything. One held a little bunch of flowers. The other kept glancing at table 14.
“Is this yours?” Frank asked.
The woman nodded. “It’s where we sat the night we met.”
He put the marker back himself. Then he turned to Theo. “You offered me another table before I spilled that drink. Is it still free?”
“It is.”
Frank took the window seat. From there he could see the woman put the flowers in an empty water glass. When Theo came to take his order, Frank opened his calendar first.
“Next Friday,” he said. “Would you help me make sure I’ve got it right this time?”
