At five feet nine inches, the former model from Moscow moved to Vancouver, Canada to live a comfortable life out of the limelight. For the most part, the Canadians left her alone except for a few young fashion-aware women who had to get a selfie. Eventually, even that attention waned and life continued as normal as it could.

Svetlana Georgovol changed her name to Lana George. Grew her hair out and gained a much-needed twenty pounds. The former model readied herself to embark on a new challenge when she met Jimmy waiting in line at the Coffee Grind Cafe near her apartment.

When Lana's cellphone rang she knew her friend made other plans and let the call go to her voicemail. Jimmy looked at Lana who shrugged her shoulders and smiled. That's how innocently it all began.

"You're not going to answer your phone?" Jimmy raised an eyebrow.

"No need."

"No?"

"She just called to ditch me again."

"She?" Jimmy smiled.

Lana laughed. "She. As in a woman. Why so interested?"

"Ahhh, would you like to share a table?" Jimmy asked quickly.

"Just a table?"

"Yeah, I am hungry."

Lana smiled. She thought he looked kind of cute. "Okay. But I have to warn you. I am a very boring person."

"I'm Jimmy."

"Lana."

"Ever eaten here before?" Jimmy asked trying to keep the conversation moving.

"Never. Have you?"

"Have I what?"

"Very funny. I like that." Lana laughed.

Jimmy just smiled. He was mesmerized by her eyes.

Lana asked a second time. "Have you eaten here before?"

"Oh, oh yeah a few times." He was a regular but hid that fact.

"You are back so it must be good."

"The people are friendly. The food is pretty good."

Lana looked at Jimmy. "So you like the food here?"

"Ah, yeah."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"I'm getting the lobster roll."

"Are you serious?" Lana looked at Jimmy. "I think I know why my friend cancelled."

"She doesn't like sea food?"

Lana nodded.

Just then Rosy, the barista greeted Jimmy. "Back again, eh?"

Jimmy just smiled. "Rosy you are too funny!"

Rosy rolled her eyes, Lana laughed. "Your favorite seat is still available, Jimmy!"

Lana stopped Jimmy. "You have a favorite seat." She shook her head.

"Grab your coffee and lobster roll. I have no idea where my favorite seat is." Jimmy walked towards the empty table. His favorite 'people watching' seat.

Lana looked at several customers watching them before she turned to Rosy. "Does everyone know him here?"

"Everyone but you." Rosy laughed. "Go, sit." Then pointed to her regular customer. "Jimmy, you've been keeping this nice lady from us!"

Jimmy tried to say something clever but he couldn't find the words. "Very funny, Rosy."

"We just met...right here in the line up and, you know? Here we are!" Lana smiled.

"I thought so, but it's just fun watching a grown man squirm." Rosy laughed yet again.

Lana's phone rang once again. She read her cellphone ID. "Martina, I am going to kill you!"

"What was that?" Jimmy stood as Lana made her way to his favorite table.

"Nothing nothing." She tossed her phone into her purse. "Oh hey, Jimmy. Do you own the place or something? Maybe you saved a baby from a fire? I know! You gave everyone a hot tip on a stock?"

Jimmy frowned. "What are you talking about? I just eat here."

Lana looked at Jimmy.

"Okay, I eat here...a lot." He admitted.

She continued to look at Jimmy.

"You've got me. I can't cook. I eat here every day. Sometimes lunch and supper. I do know how to pour milk over cereal."

"Do you remember how to use a spoon?" Lana began poking fun at Jimmy.

"Very funny! They serve complimentary soup every Tuesday. Do I remember how to use a spoon?" Jimmy chortled.

"So you work close by?"

"I used to work for Harbor Press just down the street."

"A reporter?"

"I was. Long story. Far too long to explain over lunch."

"Really? Interesting." Lana smiled and sipped her latte.

"What's so interesting?" Jimmy scrunch his face feeling his life was anything but interesting.

"You." Lana laughed.

"Me?"

"Yes, you!" Lana laughed.

"Why am I?"

"I will need more than lunch to tell you." Lana laughed.

"How long?" Jimmy seemed confused.

"A lifetime." Lana raised an eyebrow.

"Really? You find me that interesting?" Jimmy did not see this coming.

The two laughed and enjoyed lunch as much as they could. Every time Lana would look away from Jimmy she would catch the other customers looking at her.

"I feel like a goldfish here." Lana sighed.

Jimmy raised an eyebrow knowing exactly what she meant but would not let on he did. "Really? I didn't notice."

"Come on, Jimmy. Everyone is looking at us!"

Jimmy looked at the other customers. "Okay, okay! I am sitting with a beautiful woman. Like you never seen me with a beautiful woman before."

"Have they?" Lana looked at the stunned faces in the cafe.

"Have they what?"

Lana frowned. "Seen you with another beautiful woman here before?"

He pointed to himself. "Me? No!"

"Interesting."

"Not so much." Jimmy shook his head.

"Well, it is time for me to go." Lana stood. "It was..." She stood.

"Interesting?" Jimmy stood as well, the chivalrous side of him stuck out in the modern day.

"Different. Have a nice day, Jimmy. You stay here. Chat amongst your friends."

"It really was great to meet you, Lana."

"Well, bye."

"See you around, maybe?"

Lana nodded, stopped at the counter then walked to the exit. Jimmy watched as everyone in the cafe that knew him watched the former model turn her eyes to his. Then poof, the woman left the building.

Rosy rushed to the table "Get her number?" Jimmy's eyes open wide. "I didn't think so."

"Rosy..." Jimmy shook his head.

The barista pulled Jimmy down to her eye level. "You are thick in the head but adorable. If you don't go out that door and get her number, you can't eat here...again!"

"What are you saying, Rosy? She just walked away. When women walk away they are not interested." Jimmy shot back.

"Stop it, already!" Rosy raised her open hand in front of Jimmy's face. "I was kidding!"

"Whaaaaat?" Jimmy looked at Rosy then everyone looked at the two standing at the table.

Rosy thrusted a business card into Jimmy's chest.

He raised the card. "Lana's Barker Lounges. Where your dog can feel at home." He looked at Rosy again. "Did she drop this?"

"She asked me to give it to you. Come to the counter when you are ready to leave."

"Okay." Jimmy shrugged then sat and finished lunch feeling everyone's eyes on him.

Jimmy walked to the counter when no other customers were lined up."Now Jimmy, call this lady and do not return without her! I love you, but you are too lonely." Rosy touched his hand. "Go. Grab your happy."

"Okay, Rosy."

Jimmy walked slowly out of the cafe. A few customers gave him a wave, he smiled and nodded back. He sat in his car staring at the business card thinking of the possibilities.

"What the hell?" Jimmy decided the began to type the numbers.

"Hello."

He lost his nerve and hung up. "Geesus. You are an idiot!"

He started his car and drove home. Stepped inside his basement apartment and poured himself a stiff drink. "Dani's gone. Get over it!" He sank into his lazy boy chair and drank the entire glass of whiskey.

The year of heavy drinking had left Jimmy indecisive and questioning his place in the world. For the past several months he has fallen further into an abyss thinking of his failures and losses. Jimmy could not see the sun rising or future possibilities even when they were right in front of him.

His cellphone rang. He half-heartedly looked and recognized the number. Jimmy sat up and cleared his throat. "Hello."

The line went silent.

"Hmmm, I deserved that." He rang the number back.

"Hello."

Jimmy gutted it out and stayed with it this time. "Hey. I am sorry I hung up when I called earlier. I didn't think you were seriously interested."

"So you were not there to pick me up?" Lana's voice seemed to carry shock through the phone line.

"I usually go to restaurants to eat. You usually go to get picked up?" Jimmy felt at ease as he laughed ever so softly.

"Maybe." Lana laughed much louder.

"I usually don't get that lucky."

"You think you got lucky? We just had lunch."

"That was the best lunch I have had in a very long time, Lana. This is Lana, right?" Jimmy had to make sure.

Lana laughed again. "Are you always this funny?"

"Funny?" He dismissed the compliment.

"You're hilarious. So, like you know everyone at the cafe?"

"I know the people there on Tuesdays and Fridays."

"Today is Wednesday." Lana laughed. "Seriously?"

"Seriously what?"

"Come on! It was like you were the star attraction."

"I was a reporter in the city. People know me. I don't actually know those people."

"I didn't mean in that way. I meant everyone watched us like we were movie stars."

"You're exaggerating!"

"Hardly! Rosy told me you rarely miss a day there...If the cafe is busy a customer will just wave you over to their table."

"Yeah, they are good people."

"Good thing they didn't see you in line today or I would have never gotten to know you."

"Good thing?"

"Oh, by the way, you owe me lunch."

"Ah, okay."

"Tomorrow. Noon?"

"Ah, ah..."

"Busy?"

"Well, no."

"Rasputin's on Broadway. Be there!" Lana hung up and smiled knowing she would see him again.

Jimmy set his phone down, looked at his empty glass, and rolled his eyes. "Better not show her this side. You've been leaning on this old crutch far too long." And yet, with that said, he walked back to the counter and filled the glass again.

Before long the bottle laid empty and Jimmy passed out asleep on the lazy boy chair. Would meeting Lana be enough to fix what broke this man?