The Call - Chapter 4

     Once again, they seemed to time it perfectly. As Phoenix was parking at Hamada’s, Tyre pulled up next to her and flashed that beautiful smile. “Could charm a snake,” she thought to herself.
     They got out of their cars. He again touched her hand as he spoke. She thought, “Who would think that the simple touching of the hand could make someone feel as though they were in high school again?” He looked at her as though no one else in the world breathed but her. She felt herself blush.
     “Hey,” he said. “Good timing.”
     “Yeah,” she said. They went into Hamada’s. Tyre again took the lead and said, “Two under the name Thomas. We had reservations.”
     “Oh, yes,” said the hostess. “Right this way.” They were seated with another party of six because the tables were filled before the cook started his preparation of food on an open grill. As the waitress brought out water and took orders, they looked into each other’s eyes and smiled. Others at the table could see that this was a couple who liked each other a lot. They saw the lightness and laughter between them, and it seemed to spread an aura of goodwill around the four corners of the rectangular table.
     They both, again, chose salads to keep the promise of increased health. She chose fried rice and shrimp as her one side. He chose chicken and beef as his two sides and the chef heaved their helpings on to their plates after he cooked the food for the entire table. They talked as they watched the chef cook up the ingredients of the meals and somehow remembered exactly what each person had ordered. 

February 7, 2026