"This is going to be a real date, I assume?" Celeste asked. "You are not going to take her to a tawdry, rambunctious college party, are you?"
"No. Definitely not. I promise I will take Julie somewhere nice. Dinner and then something else respectable to-be-determined." The front door to Java Genius swung open, and a flood of customers came in. "I have to go take care of them, but can I call you?" Seth pulled his cell from his pocket and programmed in Julie's number. "I'm glad you both came in today. You two are much cuter than the stuffy English professor and her mother that were here before you. Julie? I'll talk to you soon." He returned to his job behind the counter.
Huh. Julie had a date. She smiled and put her feet up on the table. Seth was probably going to want an explanation regarding Flat Finn, but he seemed nice, and she could picture him tolerating Celeste's issues. Julie still wasn't quite clear on the scope of Flat Finn's purpose. Well, at least he was an attractive enough cardboard brother.
"We could come here and do homework together in the afternoons. It's pretty quiet here," Julie suggested.
"It is something to consider." Celeste rose and examined the paperback books that sat on a shelf. "Do you think you will fall in love with Seth?"
"I have no idea. I've known him for twenty minutes. That's not something you know immediately. At least I don't think so."
"You said that you didn't want ordinary. How do you know that he is not ordinary? Maybe he will turn out to be dull and uninspiring. Or worse, maybe he will make you adore him and then suddenly disappear and break your heart."
"Nice positive attitude you have," Julie said frowning. "Those are all possibilities, but I think I'll give him a chance anyway. It's worth the risk."
"I do not know about that."
Julie sunk further into the cushy couch. "I'm no expert. What the hell do I understand about boyfriends and love anyway? The only way I'm going to learn is by trying."
"I think that is valiant of you. Fearless." Celeste took a book of short stories from the collection and sat back down to read. "I find it a good sign that they have reading material here. This is an inviting atmosphere."
Julie pulled out her phone and checked her mail. "Hey, Finn wrote to us. With pictures."
Celeste leaned over excitedly and stared at the screen. "What did he say? Quick! Where is he now?"
"It seems he's on the scuba-diving leg of his trip. Look." Julie angled the screen so Celeste could see the photos of Finn dressed in a full wetsuit, snorkel, mask, and air tank. He was saluting the camera in one and falling off a boat in another. The third was taken underwater, and he was surrounded by a school of fish.
Dear Celeste and Julie-In a rush right now, so you both get the same message. Deal with it! You can now refer to me as Scuba Man. My new name entitles me to superhero status, so I expect both of you to give me the appropriate respect. My skills include cutting myself on barnacles, swimming at an Olympic pace to evade sharks, and collecting sand in uncomfortable places in my wet suit. Don't be jealous; not everyone can be as powerful as I am. Future powers to be determined.-Finn
Celeste beamed. "Isn't Finn funny? I love him."
"Does he ever call the house so you can talk to him?" Julie asked.
"No. Absolutely not," Celeste said sharply. "I asked him not to. It makes it easier for me. I would rather just wait to speak with him in person."
"I can understand that. And at least you have all these messages and pictures, right?"
The door to the coffeehouse opened again, and more people came in. Celeste tightened her hold on the book in her hand. "I would like to go home now," she said. "I need to go home. Right now. Right. Now."
"Sure. If that's what you want." Julie stood up and went to lift Flat Finn.
"I will do it," Celeste hissed. "I will do it."
"A couple of contractions here and there wouldn't kill you," Julie muttered.
She took their drinks, while Celeste moved rigidly, picking up Flat Finn with her usual awkwardness. Julie walked ahead, past two teen boys seated with two girls at a table near the exit, calling out their orders to a friend in line. Her heart sank. They must be the reason for the sudden need to leave. Julie cringed as she held the door open and watched Celeste march stoically past them, careful not to look their way. There was a small hope that the teens had conjured up a sane explanation for Flat Finn's presence. The advantage of being in a major city was that there were weird things to see anywhere. For all she knew, there were cardboard boys riding the T and auditing classes at Harvard. But one of the boys looked at the cardboard Finn and tapped the girl on his left to show her. She turned her head and giggled, her eyes wide and mocking.
Celeste brushed past Julie, onto the sidewalk.
They go to school with Celeste. Julie could tell.
She turned toward Seth at the counter and waved. "Thanks for letting us borrow your display for our theater performance," she said loudly. "We'll return it in good condition!"
Seth looked quizzically at Julie and then nodded slowly. "Yeah. Sure thing. Don't damage it, or you won't get your deposit back."
Julie shut the door and caught up with Celeste. "Do you know them? Those kids?"
Celeste shrugged.
"You know them, don't you?" Julie unlocked the car and took Flat Finn from Celeste.
"Perhaps," she answered sharply. Celeste got into the passenger seat and slammed the door.
Julie gently positioned Flat Finn and shut the trunk. She walked slowly to the front of the car, trying to figure out what to say.