Who: Maddie Buckley & Sharon Carter What: A random meeting Where: Starbucks When: This morning Warnings: nope Status: complete gdoc
Working as a 9-1-1 dispatcher in Madison Valley wasn’t all that different from doing so in LA. There were less natural disasters, at least so far, but otherwise the calls ranged from the mundane to the weird just like at home. After an overnight shift, she was exhausted and starving, so she decided to stop at Starbucks on her way home to pick up an iced coffee and a breakfast sandwich. The downside of getting off of work at the same time most people were heading in was that the shop was crowded.
She was reconsidering if she wanted to stand in line and wait, finally deciding to turn around and leave, when she bumped into a woman standing behind her. “Oh gosh, I’m sorry,” she said. “I need to pay attention.” Now she felt guilty, so Maddie stayed in line. “Let me buy you coffee to make up for it.”
*
“It’s no big deal,” came a kind voice and a warm smile from the woman she’d bumped into. Sharon was standing in line to get her morning coffee. The good news about working at a winery--even on the office side, rather than the hospitality side--was that the hours weren’t as crazy as they might have been working in business or childcare or something. She was early enough that she had time to stop, and to get something for Pepper, too, while she was at it.
“I can’t let you buy me a coffee for that,” Sharon said, shaking her head. “But if you want a few moments with a kind ear, I’m more than willing to keep you company.” She glanced at her watch. She had plenty of time before she had to be in to the office.
*
The offer made Maddie wince because she realized she must look as much of a mess as she felt. It was nice, though, and she did want to make an effort to meet more people, especially ones that weren’t from her home. “I’d like that,” she said. “Though I will insist you share a brownie with me.” The baked goods here were huge and she could never finish a whole one on her own.
“I’m Maddie,” she said. “Just got here last month and getting used to the place.” At least working in dispatch was familiar.
*
Sharon’s smile grew a little brighter at that, and she nodded. “I think I can handle a brownie for breakfast.” Even though she was supposed to be dieting so she could look amazing in the beautiful wedding dress that she’d picked out. …for whenever the wedding actually took place.
“Sharon,” she said, holding out a hand to offer for a shake. “I’ve been here… almost two years.” Twenty months, actually. Wow, had it really been that long?
She stepped forward in line so they could order from the barista. Sharon grabbed a skinny vanilla latte with an extra shot, and then ordered a drink for Pepper she’d pick up in about fifteen minutes--after she and Maddie had a chance to chat a bit.
*
Maddie ordered her own latte and the brownie, paid for her items, and then stepped to the side to wait for their drinks. She couldn’t help but notice the ring on Sharon’s finger when they shook hands. “Is that from here?” she asked, nodding at the other woman’s left hand. It was possible that the ring was a vestige from a previous life, though Maddie wasn’t sure if she’d be wearing it after nearly two years.
Then again, it had taken her a while to stop wearing her rings after Doug’s death. Unconsciously, she rubbed the bare spot her wedding ring used to occupy.
*
Together the pair moved down to the end of the bar where they could wait for their drinks and snacks. There was a table nearby, and Sharon slipped into one of the seats.
Sharon was a little surprised by the question. Honestly, she’d sort of forgotten that she was wearing the ring. She glanced down at it, then broke into a warm smile and slight blush--the kind of smile and blush that only a recently engaged person could wear. With a nod, she responded, “yes. He’s from my world, but we didn’t know each other well there.” Or, at all, really.
*
“That’s amazing,” Maddie said. “That you found each other here, I mean.” Could that happen for her and Chimney? Being in this place, without the constant reminders of Doug and everything he put them through, maybe they could have a fresh start. It was something to consider at least.
When their orders were up, she grabbed them and turned to join Sharon at the table, setting the cups down in front of each of them and then cutting the brownie in half. “My brother’s here,” she said. “And some other people from home.”
*
Sharon blushed, nodding. She felt incredibly lucky that she’d found him here in this world. Her life was so much better with him in it. And the fact that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her here… it made Sharon’s heart swell.
“Thanks,” Sharon responded gently. “I’m glad that you have people from home here. There are a lot of people from my world. I wasn’t close with all of them, but I did know many of them.”
*
Seeing how happy Sharon was made Maddie smile. It had been a long time since she felt that way and she wanted to again. “It does seem like there are certain worlds that this place likes,” she said. “At least from what I’ve gathered. In addition to a few of my brother’s coworkers and one of mine, there are a handful of folks that my brother met at home when his station went to Texas to help with some wild fires.”
She picked up her drink and took a long sip. This was exactly what she needed after a long shift.
*
“Hmm. You know, you’re right. I hadn’t thought about it that way. I wonder if we polled the refugees in this place, how many would come from each of the worlds represented. There are so many of us here.” Sharon lifted her own drink to sip from it. She lowered it again with a gentle sigh. It was going to be a long day, she thought. She needed the caffeine. Not that there was anything wrong with the day, she’d just been up late, and it was an early morning.
“I’m glad that you’ve got people here, though. I can’t imagine how overwhelming and disorienting this place might be to someone without friends.” Though, it felt like there were people here who were the welcoming committee, regardless of what world the newcomers came from.
*
“Everyone does seem really friendly and welcoming at least,” Maddie said. “I lived in a small town for a long time and kind of missed the camaraderie when I moved to LA. Being here is more like home.” Although these days, LA was feeling more like home than when she’d first arrived there.
Maddie hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was appropriate to ask more about people’s home worlds. “What’s it like where you’re from? My world was pretty… normal? I mean, we didn’t have magic or anything.”
*
Sharon nodded. She’d met a lot of really amazing people in this place. “It’s a change of pace for me.” For the last … well, long time, she was in big cities. She grew up in a relatively small place, but hadn’t been back since she was a teenager.
“My world… well, we’ve got superheroes and aliens. People with powers. There’s magic, though I haven’t spent much time with magicians.” She knew all about Stephen Strange, though she hadn’t spent much time with him at all.
*
Maddie chuckled. “I guess you had a bit of an advantage over me when you first got here then,” she said. All of the things that were commonplace here were fictional in Maddie’s world so she was still adjusting to the idea that they were real.
“Though I suppose now I have to wonder if there were things happening I didn’t know about,” she admitted. Maybe magic or something supernatural could account for some of the strange things they saw in their jobs.
*
"Maybe," Sharon agreed, but have a gentle shrug of her shoulders. "It's not a competition, though. We're all here together, and have to make the best out of it. I hope that my experience can help somehow." She'd come to learn that Madison Valley was full of people who genuinely wanted to help one another. And she'd adopted that same attitude herself.
Then she broke into a smirk. "Oh, I bet there were. There's always something going on under the surface."
*
Before she could drain her coffee, Maddie yawned. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I should probably get home and get some sleep. I just finished a twelve hour shift. Maybe we can grab lunch sometime though?” She liked Sharon and definitely could use some more friends.
* “That’d be nice.” Sharon responded with a nod and a smile. “It was nice talking with you. You can find me on the computer network.” Then she stood from the table. “I’m sure I’ll see you around, Maddie.”