We decided to stop somewhere for lunch on our way out to the coffee house. I strategically chose Bubba’s on Hillcrest. Why? Because I knew it was in a location Jabari would like. We fell in love with the towering oak trees that curved over the narrow streets and the quaint little cottages with white trim and neat lawns.
White Rock Coffee turned out to be everything we had expected. The coffee was great, the atmosphere laid back. Jabari and I sat at a table in the upstairs alcove. He made notes in his planner of ideas and things he wanted to accomplish during the week and I read my book club book. Every once in a while, he would say, “This is a good song,” referring to the music that was playing over the coffee shop’s sound system. And I would smile and nod in agreement which would then be followed by a generous sip of my caramel slammer (blended caramel latte drink).
We stayed long enough to soak up enough of the atmosphere to last the drive home. Then we packed our things and headed out. But not before I purchased a pound of their signature whole bean coffee, Lady of the Lake.
On the drive home, we listened to music and the gentle whoosh of my car’s AC. We were on Northwest Highway, somewhere between the White Rock train station and 75 when Jabari said he really liked this neighborhood. I smiled and nodded, looking around at the passing cars, feeling energized by the bustling city life.
It was on that afternoon that the path was revealed and all we had to do was take the first few steps toward our next destination.
