Free Forever Love (Arabesque) by Celeste O. Norfleet Page A

the morning.”
    “Good night.” He disconnected just as his meal arrived. He looked at the succulent meal in front of him and frowned. It looked delicious, but suddenly he wasn’t as hungry as he thought he was. He dug in, though. The food was delicious and once he started eating, his appetite returned.

Chapter 6
    G ladys stopped by his table fifteen minutes later. “Keith, I was asked to give this to you by a young lady waiting for a takeout order. You know I’d never do this ordinarily, but she said you knew each other.” She handed him a folded piece of paper.
    “Really?” he said, taking the paper and unfolding it. He read the message and chuckled. “I assure you I’m not following or stalking you. But imagine my surprise at seeing you eating at my favorite takeout diner.” He looked up and turned around and saw Gia sitting at the counter behind him. He nodded. She nodded.
    “Now, if she is lying and she’s some kind of crazy stalker lunatic, I’ll have Twister kick her little butt out of here.”
    “That won’t be necessary,” Keith said, pulling out a pen. He began writing on the same piece of paper.
    “She looks a’ight, real cute, but you know that don’t mean nothing nowadays. She might be outta her ever-loving mind.”
    He wrote “join me” on the note, refolded it and then handed it back. “Gladys, would you please take this to the young lady and see if there’s a reply.”
    “Sure,” she said, looking puzzled, then walked away.
    Keith smiled. This was certainly something he hadn’t anticipated. He dug his fork into his collard greens and put them in his mouth. The tart-sweet-spicy-succulent taste had just enough pizzazz to excite his taste buds. Gladys was right. Twister had really outdone himself. After that he ate the potato salad and sliced some grilled chicken. Just as he wiped his mouth and was sipping his water, Gladys returned. She slid the piece of paper to him. He picked it up and read it. It continued the conversation.
    “Sorry. Can’t. I believe this was your suggestion. 2 cars. 2 tables. No direct contact.”
    He wrote his answer. “I changed my mind. I want direct contact.” He underlined the word direct, then folded the paper and placed it where Gladys had put it. Lois came by a few seconds later, picked it up and kept going. He continued eating. She returned minutes later and placed the folded paper in the same spot.
    He opened and read it, then laughed out loud. “Careful what you ask for—you might just get it.”
    He wrote “I hope so. I like living dangerously. Join me.”
    After a while the note passing had become a ballet of sorts with either Gladys or Lois picking up and/or delivering.
    “But what fun would that be?”
    “Agreed. Your favorite takeout? I’ve never seen you here before.”
    “I’ve seen you.”
    “Really? When?”
    “A few times, late at night. Same booth—working or on the phone.”
    “You should have come over.”
    “Not my style.”
    “I guess I have to pay better attention.”
    “I guess so. We’re running these ladies ragged.”
    “Trust me. They’re having as much fun as we are.”
    “Still.”
    “Fine, then join me or I’ll join you. We can make this work.”
    Gladys returned with the note. “Are you sure?”
    He nodded and wrote a one-word reply. “Yes.” He placed the note in the spot. Gladys took it, then returned the note a few seconds later. Keith looked up at her, questioning.
    “She’s gone,” Gladys said. “She asked me to give this to you after she left.”
    Keith turned around to see the empty counter space, then glanced around, seeing only a few people in the diner. Gia was no longer there. He looked out the window. Her car was pulling off. He looked at the note and saw the last message she’d sent him. “As much as I may be tempted, I can’t do this. Maybe another time.”
    “Yes, definitely,” he said aloud as he tucked the note in his jacket pocket.
    “Can I get you anything else?” Gladys