Monday morning. 7:30. I left the house and felt my brain was scrambled. I was driving towards Whitehall via Shantalla Avenue and I saw the lights on in the Coffee Drop. If one could say they had a usual coffee shop then, I suppose, this one would be mine.

The girls behind the counter were great fun and they knew their way around a coffee machine, unlike the new noisy neighbours a few doors down. There were two girls working this morning. Tina was at the cash machine. I couldn’t see who was making the coffee because of the tall pastry display case beside me.

“Good morning, dreamboat,” she said.

“Good morning, Tina.”

“What is it today?”

“A flat white, please,” I said.

“A flat white for Tony, Sandra,” she shouted to her unseen colleague behind the counter.

“Who the fuck is Tony?”

“She’s only new, Tony. A bit deranged, if you ask me. Do you want anything else? I have some lovely apple crumbles.”

“I can see that, Tina, thanks.”

“Don’t!”

We both laughed.

“It’s a bit early, thanks. I thought I was gonna get breakfast in bed this morning, but it was only a dream.”

“Maybe it’s breakfast in bed you need.”

“A slice of toast would have been perfect, but not even that. There’s a guy we work with gets a full-cooked breakfast brought up to him on a tray every morning.”

“How long is he married?”

“About two weeks.”

“Fuck off, will you.”

“She’ll cop on to that soon enough, Tina, once he starts being a bollix,” the sound of a young voice joined the conversation.

I moved to the right of the pastry display to see who I was hearing. It was a young blonde girl, Sandra.

“So you’re the famous, Tony,” she said.

“If you say so.”

“Nice to meet you, here’s your coffee, I’m Sandra.”

The condiment station was behind me and I walked over to get some sugar for my coffee. I stirred it and tasted it quickly. It was very nice.

“That’s the nicest coffee I’ve had all week,” I said, seriously.

“It was made with love,” Sandra said.

We all laughed.

“I’ll drink it with an equal amount of love, Sandra. All the best, girls,” I said, heading for the door.

“Hang on, Tony. Where our kiss?” Tina said.

“I’ll give you a tip instead.”

“I’d rather a kiss,” she said.

“Instead of the tip?”

“Get over here, you dirty fucker, and give me my kiss.”

I kissed her slowly and for a short time. She sighed. I turned to go, Sandra tapped my shoulder.

“What about me?”

“Someone who makes coffee with such love should receive an equal amount of love in return.”

“I agree.”

“How much love was in that coffee, Sandra?”

“Say my name again, Tony.”

“Sandra.”

“All the love in my heart.”

“You’re such a messer.”

“I had you going, didn’t I?”

“Almost.”

“Am I getting a kiss or not? I want the good stuff.”

“Be careful what you wish for, Sandra,” Tina said.

“Come here then. Take it easy on me; I’m just a boy.”

She threw herself at me and planted her lips on mine, jerked her head around a bit, and stepped back.

“How was that?”

“It’s a start. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Two other women had entered the shop and were watching events unfold. As I passed them on my way out I nodded to them.

“Ladies,” I said with a smile.

“Are we not good enough for you?” the taller of the two said.

I laughed, but she kept a straight face.

“I don’t even know your name,” I said.

“Áine.”

I kissed her softly; it was nice.

“Happy, Áine?”

“Insanely, Tony.”

The shorter one took my hand and pulled me in for a kiss then. She wasn’t taking prisoners. I shook my head, smiled, and wished them a good morning.

“I’m Amy,” she whispered. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Tony.”

“Don’t be late, Amy.”