Britannia, NY

A slightly annoying string of morning shifts has left Cecilia with something resembling a regular schedule for the first time since she started at this library. She's not a morning person, but she could get used to the idea of all those free evenings stretching out before her.

This evening, she's back at the coffee shop. It's nice enough that she's sitting at a sidewalk table instead of inside, with a steaming cup of chai and a somewhat embarrassing novel of the kind that's commonly called "chick lit". (She doesn't look particularly engrossed in the novel.)

Jim is a man of his word, and he's a Southern ex-pat to boot. He shows up at Laurel's door with a small corsage, dressed in his nicest non-work clothes (he's the kind of man who puts on a dress shirt and then rolls up the cuffs), and his everpresent shake.

"Hey," warmly, when she comes to the door.