Serendipity in the Rain

10:01 p.m.

Isle of Wight

The corner café that serves coffee, juices, milkshakes, and some light bites was run by a skeletal crew – the young chef Leon (also the owner) and a very pregnant waitress, Alice, who serves the tables and occasionally makes the milkshakes. It sat facing the ocean right next to the beautiful and ancient Shanklin Chine. This wooded coastal ravine is filled with waterfalls and lush vegetation, attracting many tourists daily. And this thankfully helps the little café to find its customers even though it has been choked by multiple pubs over the years.

Today, Friday night, was exceptionally busy as it saw more influx from people who were visiting the coast since the summer carnival just opened near the beachside. Even though there were twenty-nine minutes left for the closure, Alice had enough with the day. She was fatigued, hence, she approached the chef.

“Leon,” she called as she observed him cleaning the kitchen counters.

“Yes?” he said without looking at her as he was struggling to get a grease off next to the stove.

“I know we still have a little more time before closing, but I am feeling a bit faint. Can I leave now?” she questioned, hoping for a positive response.

Leon looked up at her with concern. “Are you feeling alright? Can I fix something for you?”

“No, I will grab something on my way home,” she replied gratefully.

“Sure. I will close the shop. You head home,” he said.

“Thanks,” she said with a smile and picked up her handbag. “I owe you one!” she said as she left the café.

Leon smiled and glimpsed at the large window that faced the beach; a large storm was moving over the island. Rain clouds glooming over the horizon. 

Ten minutes left for the closing time. Leon rearranged the tables and chairs after mopping the floor. And went to the store cupboard to place the used mop when he heard the door chime go off. He immediately knew someone had just walked into the café. With irritation, he stepped out to let the person know that the kitchen was closed. A young lady walked into the café. She wore a red dress that had white dots, and the frock extended up to her knees. She looked around the café and caught Leon’s gaze and smiled at him. Leon involuntarily smiled back. Something about her made his stomach flutter. She chose a table on the far corner and sat on it. He, realising that he had forgotten to turn off the ‘OPEN’ LED sign on the window, approached her.

“Good evening,” she wished with the same smile.

“Good evening,” Leon wished back with a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips. “I’m sorry, but the kitchen is closed.”

“Oh,” she muttered as her smile faded slowly. “Sorry,” she said and stood up.

“I can make a coffee,” Leon suggested immediately. Unexpectedly he was not irritated by this intruder. In fact, he didn’t care that he was tired, and he didn’t have any more left in him to serve another customer for today. However, he didn’t want her to leave, and he didn’t know why he felt like that. Something about her made him feel warm.

“Coffee will be nice,” she said with the smile returning to her stunning face as she sat back on her chair.

Leon walked back to the kitchen and turned on his coffee maker and brewed a cup of coffee. And simultaneously turned off the LED sign before any more customers stumbled in. The kitchen filled with the aroma of the freshly brewed coffee and suddenly he felt like having a cup. He carefully took the cup of coffee to her table where he noticed she sat with her legs crossed and looking out through the window. She looked like a marble sculpture to him – a breathtaking one.

He gently placed the coffee in front of her.

“Thank you,” she said as she took the first sip. Oddly, he waited for a response from her, as if her approval of this coffee was the utmost importance to his life.

“It is wonderful,” she said, looking up at him. Once again, his tummy fluttered with butterflies. He grinned like a little boy who had seen a candy. He gave a courteous nod. “Here, the shops are open longer,” she wondered.

“The summer is here, and the days are long now. So, I keep the shop open late,” he said, glancing at the clock that read 10:42 p.m.

“I apologise for bothering you on your closing time,” she said shyly.

“No bother,” he said immediately. “Are you hungry?” he questioned, and she pondered on that for a second and slowly nodded.

Leon rushed to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator and took out a plate of chicken club sandwich – which he was saving it up for his dinner. He grabbed a packet of crisps from the kitchen counter and brought both to her table.

“I hope you don’t mind a cold sandwich,” he asked with hesitancy.

“That will be perfect for this warm evening,” she uttered and took the plate from him with a childish chuckle. “I love chicken sandwiches.”

Leon grinned back.

“Please, would you give me some company? I’m pretty sure you must be tired from a long day of work,” she said hopefully, and he, without any hesitation, sat across to her. The gentle shower started to pound the window as the rain covered the Isle. She took the first bite and closed her eyes as she savoured the taste. For a moment there was only the sound of the rain hitting the window as his heart caused a palpitation once again waiting for her reaction to the sandwich he made earlier.

“My mum used to make these for us,” she muttered. “And this one tastes just like hers.” she said as she chewed it with her eyes still closed. Leon opened the crisp packet and moved it closer to her plate. “Thanks,” she said as she opened her eyes and looked at him.

“For what?” Leon asked with a puzzle.

“This unlocked a memory,” she muttered, pointing at the sandwich.

“My pleasure. I love chicken sandwiches too,” he said. “They remind me of my childhood. My dad used to take me and my brother to this little bakery, and he would get us a sandwich. My brother and I would share it. It was one of the very few memories I have of my dad. Ever since, I have tried to recreate that taste and, if lucky, the feeling of those late evening walks with my dad and my brother.”

“Have you succeeded in recreating it?” she asked with her curious eyes. Those eyes, hazel in colour, stared right at him, and he felt paralysed, unable to look away from it. He almost felt vulnerable from it's stare.

“Maybe,” he said, rubbing his chin with his hand. “I got the taste nailed, but…” and his voice trailed off. She understood.

“My mom owned a little bakery once,” she said. “It was a long time ago.”

The rain began to pour outside, waves crashing against the shore as the deserted road echoed with silence. Amidst this tranquillity, two strangers found solace in each other, getting lost in the memories together. Unaware of the fleeting nature of time, they were transported to a world where moments stretched on endlessly.

“Oh my, look at the time,” she said with a gasp. And Leon realised it was close to midnight. They both stood up together.

“Thank you for that lovely sandwich,” she said with a grateful smile. “And for the wonderful company.”

Leon smiled back and said, “It was my pleasure. It was so lovely to meet you.”

They both looked out through the window, the downpour had settled down to a gentle shower. She unknowingly hugged herself as if a cold drift went through her.

“I have an umbrella at the back. Let me fetch it for you,” Leon said as he noticed she had neither a coat nor an umbrella with her.

“Please, don’t worry about it. I don’t mind getting wet in the rain,” she said, looking at him. “I don’t want to hold you any longer. Thank you for this beautiful evening. I really needed it.” She smiled at him, causing a warmth to pass over Leon. But he also noticed a sadness cross over her face. He wondered why.

“No, please, I insist.” He rushed to the back of the kitchen without waiting for a response. He kept his coat and the umbrella at the back of the kitchen on a coat hanger. As he grabbed them both, he decided to walk her back safely, given that it was late and raining. As he re-emerged out of the kitchen, he heard the door chime go off again. He questioned who might have entered. But to his shock, he walked back to an empty café. He wondered where she had gone. He called out, but there was no answer. His heart sank.

He dashed out of the café, determined to catch her in the street. But the street was deserted. The streetlight cast an eerie glow on an empty, wet road. The only sounds were the gentle patter of raindrops on the tar road and the crashing waves over the sandbank. It was as if she had vanished; as if she had never been there. Leon stood on that desolate street, holding an umbrella and a coat in his hands, as he was drenched by the rain. His heart ached with a sense of longing and loss. A stranger, an angel, appeared out of nowhere, stole his heart, and vanished in a single evening. He prayed, wondering if he would ever see her again.