Chapter 5: Love Found

The months went by, and Ethan focused himself on work and social life. His aim was single-minded: to fill that gaping void that still stood there in spite of all his outward success. No number of rich dinners or gala events seemed to quench that hunger in his soul.

Till an crisp autumn evening, when fate decided to intervene, as he walked through the sidewalk throngs going home from work. A woman’s voice cut sharply out of a narrow alleyway.

“Hey! You there - yes you in the jacket! A little help please?”

Ethan hesitated, going around to look, to see a petite brunette in her early twenties. She was wildly gesturing from where she knelt beside an upturned produce crate. Several ripe apples rolled across the pavement as she tried valiantly to scoop up her scattered goods.

“I’m so sorry,” Ethan apologized, hastening towards her. “Let me help you with that.”

Together they quickly scooped up the escaped fruit and set the over-turned crate upright. Although not before a few sharp words were muttered beneath the woman’s breath. “Idiot customers” and their “stupid last-minute orders.” It seemed to Ethan that he was going to enjoy her spirit.

“I’m Samantha, by the way,” she said as they finished up, holding out her hand to him to be shaken. “Samantha Baker-by way of baking being my real profession.”

He reached out and took it with his. “Ethan Reid. Nice to meet you, Miss Baker.”

She smiled at his chivalrous gesture before dropping her gaze to the smooth business card he had given her.

“Well, Mr. Reid,” she began, exasperated. “If you are looking for some fresh homemade apple pie to complement that chivalry, I just so happen to know an excellent bakery not too far from here.”

And before he knew it, he found himself swept up in conversation with this delightful woman as they strolled together down the sidewalk. He could converse so easily with her in a way he hadn’t been able to with anyone else in so long. She seemed so unpretentiously genuine compared to all the others that populated his social rounds.

They parted ways, promising each other that they’d get along well again to meet up soon for that pie date. Ethan left feeling considerably lighter as he made his way home, already counting down the hours until their next meeting.

Over the coming weeks, a strong friendship bloomed between them. Built on long nights spent talking over coffee and late breakfasts consumed together at Samantha’s small apartment kitchen table. She outlined her dreams of opening an old-fashioned café one day, where people could linger with good books and even better, baked goods. Ethan offered to help make that dream a reality.