Scenes from a Bookstore Cafe
"You pay half and I pay half," she says when the bill arrives. "Fine, we'll go Dutch," I tell my new friend from Holland. She likes that expression. We met at Books & Books on the beach, to split a steak and brie quesadilla with two wines and a couple of espressos. I love how she was on the next bus out from N. Miami to South Beach when I asked her what she was doing for lunch. These days you don't see that kind of spontaneity, so I let her know how much I appreciated her joining me on this side of town.
The staff at this outdoor café is a friendly bunch, especially Omar, who’s always front row center with hugs and kisses for his favorite patrons and a loaded squirt gun for the pesky pigeons. Shelly and Joseph, two of my other favorites, are both personable and efficient, and no one can whip up a café latté like Sweet Caroline, with her signature caramel smiley face on the foamy top. It’s one of the few places on the beach where you get service with a genuine smile. Today the lunch crowd was served their famous black bean hummus dip with bagel chips, on the house, which was an unexpected treat and happened to go nicely with the wine.
I quit my job. I've never left a place without giving two weeks notice, but after what happened yesterday, which I can't discuss here, I'm out of there. By the way, I never drink wine at 11:30 a.m. on a weekday either, but today while sitting beside Mr. Goodheart, I thought, what the hell? You only live once! What's wrong with a little vino with my quesadilla? It’s good for the heart, and on days like today, it’s good for the soul as well. By Scarlet, Miami, FL Scarlet's Bio: I'm a married mother of two with a legal background and an interest in writing and the arts. I am in love with the diversity of this city and the opportunity to be a part of the fun and exciting events happening around town. There is nothing like South Florida for those of us who refuse to grow old.
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