Ernie was walking for exercise, but more than anything it was out of loneliness, whether he realized it or not. He walked the same route every morning before the desert heat became unbearable. Recently divorced and over fifty, life was confusing to him, so walking for exercise seemed logical. The upscale shopping area of El Paseo that was near his house was a nice place to walk, safe, no dogs and the people were nice. Everyone said 'Good morning'� as he walked by.

Ernie walked past the coffee shop on the corner of El Paseo and San Pablo that he walked by every morning. For whatever reason, this morning it hooked him by the nose and pulled him in. He waited his turn in line with four or five jittery coffee addicts. When he got his cardboard-lined cup of coffee he walked toward the window to watch other people carry on their daily routines. Her perfume, floating in the air, just a hint of a woman, became more distinct as he walked near her chair. She was pretty. He took a seat half-facing her with his back to the window.

She must have been about forty, maybe forty-three. Her left hand showed no signs of a relationship. Her hair was short, her face oval-shaped and she had a slender figure. The light-colored sunback dress she wore carelessly draped her bare legs.

But it was the perfume that seared into Ernie's being.

'Are you finished reading this section of the paper?'�

Ernie thought, 'No, I have to come up with something better than that.'�

'I couldn't help but notice you are reading the real estate ads. Are you an agent or are you looking for a place?'�

He realized that just sounded weird. Every line he ran through his head sounded desperate or strange. He sipped his coffee slowly and continued running lines through his mind.

The woman finished her coffee, put the newspaper on the table and pressed her lips lightly with a napkin. She bent slightly and picked up her purse and pulled something out. As she stood, she caught Ernie's gaze and smiled at him, a smile that would give any man chills. As she lithely turned to leave, the bottom hem of her dress swirled above her knees. Ernie followed her with his eyes, out the door, to the pearl-colored Lexus SC430 waiting at the curb. She started the motor and put the top down. She looked back toward the coffee shop window and smiled once again and sped off. Her perfume was but a ghost of what it had been, but it still caused Ernie to breathe deeply.

He stood up to leave and noticed the napkin with the impression of her lips on it. Half tucked under the napkin was a business card. Ernie picked it up.

Alexis Cooper - Broker
alexis@cooperdesertrealty.com

He put the card in his pocket and continued his walk.

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