Rainy Fates

No one came in on rainy days, which was why the diner was quiet for lunch. Oliver and Leigha were cleaning up around the floor while Anita worked the bar. She was thinking hard about her date with Norman the previous week. Everything in her head felt confusing. She knew she had a soulmate, and until Anita found him, she should not consider romance. So why did going on a date with Norman feel right? The rest of the night had been enlightening. She learned he was a man of many hobbies, origami being his current passion. And he seemed interested in her, even after learning about her soulmate search.

After encouragement from Leigha, she felt she was doing the right thing by meeting new people. But she still wanted to find her soulmate.

"So, how did the date go?" asked Shasta as he cleaned the table behind the window in the kitchen?

"It went fine, I guess."

"You guess? Was he not your soulmate?"

Anita shook her head, no. Shasta's face remained neutral as she turned to face him, wiping the counter under the window.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I know you had been hoping Norman was the one."

Anita nodded, "It would have made everything so much easier. But now, I don’t know what to do. I want to learn more about him but,” They both stopped wiping. "He wants more and I want to find my soulmate. And then he had to go and throw another idea that leaves me even more confused about soulmates.”

Shasta's eyebrows knit together in confusion, trying to understand what she meant.

"He brought up how we met on New Year's. Both our hands touched the same spot on the fence when we put up our fortunes. So, he said maybe it was like a fated meeting."

Shasta groaned, "You do realize with that logic that any meeting can be a destined one."

Anita tilted her head in confusion.

"For example, Miles and Ramona. Remember when Cyrus hired Miles, he saved her from tripping. That's like a destined meeting of sorts."

"True, so that means they're soulmates through that meeting."

"Possibly, every first-time meeting someone, there's a connection, good or bad. You decide what to do with it."

"Like how we met, and you told me you didn't believe in soulmates."

Shasta turned pink, looking down at the table.

"Sure, something like that."

Anita grinned, "Are you saying you now believe in soulmates, Shasta?"

He frowned at her as he looked up.

"I still don't believe in soulmates. But every time you meet a person, something will come out of that meeting. People decide it, not fate."

"Fate still could play a part in destined meetings."

"Fate is an excuse for the actions people take."

Anita giggled, "There's the Shasta, I know. Always denying your fate."

"I'll make my own choices; no fate is going to force that on me."

Anita shrugged, continuing to wipe off the counter.

"Sure, but there are some avoidable things."

"Like what?"

"Fate leading you to make friends with the people here." She gestured to the employees at the restaurant."

"My choice was to work here and who I am to be sociable with."

Anita bobbed her head as if not convinced by his answer.

"You wait. Someday, Shasta, I'll show you how real fate can be."

Shasta rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you will."

Anita giggled again.

"What's so funny?"

"Your stubbornness, and thank you for helping me."

"With what?"

"My soulmate. I need to look harder, so I can give Norman a proper answer."

"Right, good luck with that."

"Thank you!"

Shasta scoffed to himself, moving away from the window to clean elsewhere. Anita shrugged but continued to clean around the bar, happier than before.