DÉJÀ VU

Deanna used to imagine she would recognize the right man for her as soon as she met him. Sparks would fly and they would fall in love. Lately, she wondered if that was nothing more than an idyllic scenario born from reading too many of the romance novels she loved so much. Still, for the time being, she had more important things to think about. “Right now,” she explained to a special group of her childhood friends, assembled for a rare girls’ night out in their hometown of Chicago, “I want and need to focus on getting my business off the ground. There’s a lot riding on this for me, and I have to give it my full attention.”

“Business schmizness.” Jennifer waved the notion away like it was a pesky fly. “We all admire and respect what you’re doing, and we support you completely. But you still have to have a happy personal life. Do we have to remind you that no matter how successful you become, it won’t be enough if you don’t have someone to share it with?”

“Then, all of you,” Deanna responded with a chuckle, “with my blessing, please wave your magic wands. Make Mr. Right appear before me.”

Amy raised her glass in a toast. “So it is said,” she proclaimed. “So it shall be done.”

“Amen to that,” Deanna said with a decisive nod. The girls all laughed, clinking their glasses together, and they spent the rest of the evening gossiping and reminiscing, feeling as though they had never been apart while looking forward to the high school reunion that triggered this week’s gathering.

The memory brought a smile to Deanna’s face as she made her way through the bustling United Airlines terminal at O’Hare. She’d meant what she said about the need to focus on her business, but she couldn’t disagree with her friends’ advice. She had even entertained silly notions about finding someone this weekend, maybe reconnecting with a former boyfriend or meeting someone new. She’d had a strange feeling it could happen. She never mentioned it to anyone, but it was an idea, a romantic illusion that filled much of her alone time in the weeks before the reunion. Now that the weekend was over, she knew that wasn’t to be, and she’d have to wait a bit longer for her love story to begin.

When she finally got through security, Deanna hurried to her gate, slowing as she neared the monitors, checking on her departure time. Seeing her flight still listed as “ON TIME,” she exhaled a small sigh of relief, but being all too familiar with O’Hare, she could only hope it wouldn’t change. She was ready to get home, eager to get her business into full swing.

She also felt small pangs of hunger as she made her way through the congested concourse and was glad she had almost two hours before her flight so she could get something to eat without rushing. Once she located her gate, she walked on, heading to Chili’s, a few gates away.

* * *

Chili’s was abuzz with activity. The tables were full with travelers juggling meals, cell phones, and laptops, their multilingual chatter filling the air. Servers scurried about, snaking through paths lined with luggage, and a television screen flickered over the crowded bar.

At the far end of the bar, a young man nursed his beer as he perused the handwritten notes from today’s meeting. His business trip to Chicago had gone well, but was cut short by today’s urgent detour to New York, where he’d be finalizing the biggest deal of his career. A rush of excitement coursed through him at the thought, reminding him of the need to e-mail his assistant about changes in this week’s agenda, and he pulled his BlackBerry from the briefcase on the chair next to him. Once the e-mail was sent, he signaled the bartender for his check.

When he stood, reaching for the cash in his front pocket, he noticed a striking young woman out of the corner of his eye. Letting his gaze linger, he smiled as she came closer, giving him a better view of her alluring features.

The determined set of her narrow shoulders mirrored the delicacy and strength in her face that was framed by long auburn tresses falling in sensuous waves. He was drawn to her beautiful green eyes with sweeping lashes, and also liked the way her lavender sweater gave just a hint of the curves beneath. This was a girl he’d like to get to know. But now was not the time. He had a plane to catch, and a very important contract to sign.

“Excuse me. Is anyone sitting here?”

The young woman he had been watching was beside him, asking the question as she pointed to the chair that held his briefcase, her voice velvet-edged and strong.

“Fortunately for you,” he answered as a strange sensation washed over him, “and unfortunately for me, I have a flight waiting and you have a choice of seats.” Wondering if she could detect the true disappointment in his voice, he turned to the bartender and handed him a twenty-dollar bill. “Her first drink is on me, the rest is for you.”

“Thanks,” Deanna responded, charmed by the sweet gesture from this tall, handsome man. Jolted, too, by an extraordinary vibration that coursed through her when she looked into his mesmerizing mahogany-colored eyes, she wished this was the guy her friends had promised would appear before her. “Maybe I’ll get to return the favor one day,” she offered, her voice bathed in hope.

With a friendly smile on his well-tanned face, he shrugged. “Stranger things have happened.” Those were his parting words as he picked up his briefcase and walked out of her life.

Watching him go, she admired the view, and felt a strange sense of loss.