Chapter 18: Coffee Capture

When she heard a knock at the door, Roxanne quickly applied another coat of lipstick and smacked her lips. Even though she grew up on construction sites, Roxanne had a girlie side. That night, she was excited to see Tom and wanted to look sexy.
After their heart-to-heart at the bar, they found a table and talked about their favorite movies. It was one of the first times they were able to leave the heavy conversations about loan sharks, stolen permits, or babies to rest. Instead, they found common ground with their enthusiasm for psychological thrillers.
Tom told Roxanne he’d pick her up the next day to take her to a special place he wanted to show her. Because she made him promise it wasn’t a fancy restaurant or doctor’s office, she was eager to see what he had in store.
At the door, Tom kissed her cheek and told her she looked cute. Then he handed her a blindfold and told her she’d have to put it on once they got closer. A few weeks ago, she would have balked. Now, she trusted Tom enough to participate in his game. He drove through the city to a place on the city’s edge where he told her to put the blindfold on.
He drove a little further then parked. Helping her out of the car, he grabbed her hand and led her to a sidewalk. Once he positioned her, he took off the blindfold.
In front of her stood a small block of stores with apartments above. The building was made of a classic red brick and white trip that looked clean and modern with a hometown feel. The awnings, in a burnished copper color, reminded her of traditional urban store fronts, and quaint flower boxes with vibrant blossoms lined the apartment windows. She looked confused staring at the scene that almost looked like a movie set.
“What’s this?” she said.
“This was my first solo project.”
“Oh,” Roxanne smiled, understanding why Tom brought her there.
“You didn’t seem to know what to tell your dad the other day, you know, about my projects. Those buildings downtown, that’s my parents. This is me.” He reached out his arms to indicate the buildings.
“I love it,” Roxanne said. “Not what I thought your style would be, but definitely neat.”
“It looks traditional, which is how I wanted it, but there’s a modern edge with solid up-to-date materials. Contemporary and classic at the same time.”
Roxanne was impressed with Tom’s description, and also impressed with his knowledge. He gave her a tour around the building, pointing out ideas he came up with, both of them talking shop about construction and materials. Tom’s eyes sparkled when he talked about the mechanical features of the building, and being a building site manager, it made Roxanne swoon.
“Want a coffee?” Tom asked, pointing to one of the store fronts that housed a coffee shop.
“Only if you let me pay,” said Roxanne. Tom acquiesced and held the door open for Roxanne to enter. She pulled out her credit card from her purse to pay for their cappuccinos, and then they sat down at a little table outside.
Her phone dinged.
“What was that?” Tom asked.
“Oh I just get purchase alerts for every credit card transaction I make. It’s just so I can keep track,” she said. She took a sip from her cup. “I didn’t think one of your projects would be so modest, I mean, I just thought you did big buildings,” Roxanne said.
Tom nodded. “Yeah, that’s my folks,” he said. “I wanted to create a community.”
“It’s definitely cool.” Roxanne looked across the table at Tom. He appeared more relaxed in that environment, certainly not as rigid and stiff as he was at the bar. The sun started to set in the horizon, casting a glow on their faces.
“Hey, Tom,” said a kid about 12 who was walking by, “How ya’ all doin’?” he asked giving Tom a slap and then backward slap on the hand as a kind of greeting.
“I’m good,” Tom smiled. “How you been, Dave?”
“Good, just got an A in math.” Tom smiled and nodded.
“Who’s the girl?” Dave asked, making googly eyes at Tom.
“Sorry, yes, this is Roxanne.”
Roxanne reached out her hand to shake, but Dave slapped it and backward slapped it like he had done with Tom. “Nice to meet you,” said Roxanne.
“She’s quite the lady,” Dave nodded. “I better get going, gotta get something for my mother. I’ll tell her you said hi.”
“Please do,” Tom responded. “Anything you need?”
“Nah, that’s okay. We good. Nice to see you,” Dave said and continued his walk.
“Nice kid,” said Roxanne, nodding her approval.
“I made sure the apartments were affordable. Dave’s mom didn’t have the best credit, but I got to know her. Gave her a chance. She works hard,” Tom said.
Roxanne looked at Tom in a new way. She never thought he acted snobby, but seeing a generous, easy-going side of him aroused her.
“I can see you’re really great with kids,” Roxanne continued to lay on the compliments.
Tom shrugged. “About that,” a clouded look shadowed his face. “I don’t want to put any pressure on you, about the pregnancy.” He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “I promise to sort out that permit issue. I will, you don’t have to…”
Roxanne wasn’t sure how to respond. She thought about revealing to Tom that she had already submitted the permit with a forged signature, but she didn’t want to sour how well things were going between them. Who knew that actually falling for each other would be the thing that put baby making on hold?
“It’s okay,” she said. She fumbled with her purse that was hanging across her shoulder, feeling unsure how to answer Tom. She didn’t know if he meant he didn’t want to sleep with her or if he meant he didn’t want to inseminate her.
“I just think it’s better if we wait. Now I see I shouldn’t have rushed anything,” Tom said.
“But what about Ruby’s land?” Roxanne’s phone buzzed in her purse, and she took it out to look at the call. She saw it was from her father and left it go to voicemail, leaving the phone sitting on the table between them.
“I know Ruby’s father left a secret provision that the land be sold to a family man. I can either convince Ruby that will be me some day in the future or I’ll just have to give it up.”
“Tom, no,” Roxanne looked concerned. “I see what you’ve done here. I know you can develop something great. I’ll help you however you want with Ruby. We can convince her.” She grabbed his hand and nodded confidently. He smirked nervously in return.
By the time they were nearly finished with their cappuccinos, the sun had dipped below the horizon. The stores were closed, and with no one else around, Tom and Roxanne sat in the darkening evening, enjoying each other’s company.
What occurred next, happened in quick succession, so fast, Roxanne and Tom didn’t have a chance to react. A grey van drove up to a parking space near the sidewalk. Two men in ski masks jumped out of the back of the van. Each man grabbed Roxanne under one armpit and carried her into the van. She tried to pull away and kick, but to no avail. They were too fast for Tom to react. Once Tom realized what was happening, Roxanne was halfway to the van.
He tried to chase the van and read the license plate, but they had covered it with something. He turned back toward the table they’d been sitting at, stunned. Some men had kidnapped Roxanne, and he needed to get her back. He couldn’t fathom that one minute she’d been sitting there and the next, it seemed like she vanished.
The only trace of her was her phone which sat on the table. She couldn’t even call for help.