Chances

8.6 Linda West

Winter 1996, Café Hare and Hedgehog

"The view on the sea is beautiful!", Delilah exclaimed.

The terrace doors in the café at the docks were open. The air started to cool down already, but it still was still mild. 

Linda and Delilah finally had found some time again to catch up. They both have been quite busy with their lifes recently.

Delilah eyed her friend carefully.

"... How has your love life been, you got anyone new?", she asked finally. Ever since she started dating that guy from the cinema, she had her head full of romantic ideas, and wanted everyone else to feel the same.

Linda chuckled. "Nothing new! I'm quite busy with work at the moment."

And she was happy about it. It was good to not have to worry that someone wanted to meet her constantly.

"But I see you're still quite busy being happy in love with your boyfriend!", Linda teased her friend a little.

"Leroy? He's not my boyfriend anymore...", she replied.

"Huh?" Linda was surprised. She had expected Delilah to say something like that rather with a sad face, not smiling brightly.

"Now he's my fiance!", her friend burst out, seemingly amused about Linda's confusion. "We got engaged!"

"Really? So fast!", she cried out.

It felt like it had been only yesterday that her best friend had met the man in the cinema.

Linda quickly counted in her head. After all, it happened already 10 months ago.

Still, it wasn't much time to know each other before getting engaged.

But then, probably Delilah and Leroy had met much more often than Linda used to meet her boyfriends. They even lived in the same neighbourhood.

Linda almost forgot that her friend was still talking to her.

"...can't wait to live with me together forever!", Linda just caught her saying, trying to pay attention again.

Linda nodded, smiling.

"Also, I have a secret to tell you... I'm pregnant!", Delilah continued.

"Ohhh, congratulations!", Linda guessed. She wasn't sure if it was appropriate, but Delilah's face was beaming.

"Thank you!"

Good, she guessed right.

"But don't tell anyone yet!" Delilah went on, still excited. "I can imagine already what a fuss Leroy's gonna make about it! He'll be so happy!"

"Really?", Linda couldn't help it but smile. Delilah's happiness was contagious.

"Yes! We often talked about having a small family... He didn't really have one himself, when he was a kid. You know, his father left after he was born, and his mom was mostly drunk..."

"Oh... that's so sad!", Linda said, when her friend finally took a break. She knew Delilah didn't have a too happy childhood either. When they met in high school, Delilah lived with some foster parents.

She guessed Leroy and Delilah could be really happy together.

"But he's such a good person! And when we're married and our baby comes, everything will be so perfect!"

Linda smiled at her friend's excitement.

"Oh, I am so in love!", Delilah exclaimed.

"I'd never guessed...", Linda teased her.

Both laughed.