Free Chance Encounters by J. Sterling Page B

quickly chastised herself for being ungrateful. Then she reminded herself that everything Clay did for her came from a good place.
    He walked out wearing a freshly pressed light gray suit. He had on a white button-down shirt with a blue tie. His dark hair was messy, just the way she liked, and the image of the first time she ever saw him flashed into her mind.
    Caroline couldn’t help but smile at how handsome her boyfriend was. “Talk about amazing.”
    His smile was genuine and he gave her a quick kiss before he led her out the door by the hand.
    “So, where are we going?” Caroline asked, knowing full well he wouldn’t tell her.
    “You’ll see,” Clay teased.
    “Do I get a hint?” Caroline pleaded.
    “Nope,” Clay answered, giving nothing away.
    Caroline let out an audible gasp as they pulled into a gravel parking lot that overlooked the ocean. Clay slowed the car to a stop as the crunch of the rocks underneath the tires cracked and popped. The chill of the night’s air forced Caroline to wince briefly before Clay quickly wrapped his arm around her and tucked her tightly against his side.
    “It’s freezing,” she noted.
    “I’ll keep you warm.”
    They walked quickly toward the white three-story building as Caroline’s eyes sparkled with delight.
    “I’ve never seen so many windows in a restaurant before. It looks like it’s from another time. It’s gorgeous.”
    “Wait ‘til you see the inside.”
    Caroline smiled, marveling at the architecture that appeared almost museum-like. White marble columns and windows that stretched from floor to ceiling adorned the entire structure. Clay held open the oversized glass door and ushered Caroline into the warm lobby where she let out a sigh of relief.
    “Wow.” Caroline looked at black and white photos of the restaurant in all of its incarnations framed along the wall. “Oh my gosh, did you know it survived the earthquake and the fires of 1906 only to burn down a year later?” She looked at Clay, a mixture of shock and sadness in her eyes.
    He smiled and nodded his head as he gave the hostess his name.
    “And then they rebuilt it two years later…but it’s changed five times since then!” She traced the outline of the building from 1909 with her fingers, entranced by its elegance. Then she looked at Clay and added, “I’m glad they restored it. Did you see these other buildings? No charm or magic at all.”
    “I agree.” Clay sweetly took her by the hand and followed behind the well-dressed hostess.
    “The outside sort of reminds me of the Getty Center back home. You know, the old one in Malibu, not the new one.”
    Clay’s face lit up. “You’re totally right. It does.”
    “Will this be okay, Mr. Matthews?” the petite hostess asked softly, not wanting to interrupt the other diners.
    Clay surveyed the corner table with its panoramic ocean views and replied, “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
    Caroline immediately looked through the glass and noted small lights illuminating the outdoor balcony and pathway down to the water.
    “I’ll never get used to all these rocks,” Caroline said as her mind drifted to the sandy beaches back home.
    Clay’s brows knitted in confusion momentarily before they relaxed. “Oh, in the water you mean. It’s weird, right?”
    “It’s just different. We don’t have giant boulders jutting out of the water at home. I mean, look! They’re all over the place. How does anyone surf here?” she laughed.
    “Good question.” Clay responded, his voice shaking.
    “Are you okay?” Caroline asked, overly aware that his responses were short and somewhat odd for him.
    “Of course. I’m just a little tired is all. You okay?”
    She grinned with sincerity. “I’m fine.” She stared out the window and watched as the water crashed onto the giant boulders, sending parts of the sea hurling in all directions. She thought how the water seemed angrier up here than it did at home. In Southern California, the ocean lapped