5-minute romance

Katherine didn’t have time for love, but when Don walked into her life, she realized she had seen his blue eyes before…in her dreams!

Ihad that dream again last night, Liz,” Katherine announced over Sunday brunch. “That one about your dream man?” her best friend teased.

Katherine nodded. “In it, I’m sitting on a beach, listening to the waves crash, when suddenly this man comes up, takes my hand and we run into the surf.”

Liz pulled her sweater closer. “Summer dreams in October. Makes me want to turn up my thermostat! Did he say anything this time?”

“He did, actually,” Katherine recalled. “Something like, ‘I finally found you,’ or ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’ Pretty nondescript, but I still wonder what it means.”

“Sounds to me like someone’s looking for their soul mate,” Liz trilled. Katherine sighed. “Who has the time?” She had taken over her father’s plumbing business after he’d retired, and now her whole life revolved around work.

“What’s this dream man look like?” Liz prodded playfully.

“He has these amazing brilliant blue eyes, but otherwise, I can’t see his features clearly,” Katherine mused. “Besides, I don’t see why I keep dreaming of being on a beach when we live 500 miles from any coast. The only time I’ve seen the ocean was 30 years ago, when Dad took us to California on vacation.”

“Well, the next time you have this dream, ask dreamboat about it,” Liz said.

Katherine laughed. “I might do that.” The next day at the shop was Monday mayhem. Two of Katherine’s best plumbers had the flu, so her dad had to come in to pick up the slack. Then around noon, her computer crashed. “We don’t have time for this!” Katherine yelled. “Don’t worry,” her father said, ever the fixer. “Mike Janson’s son just moved here and he’s a tech guru. Give him a call.” It was nearly four o’clock when said guru showed up. “Sorry I’m late,” he called out. Katherine turned to greet him, trying to hold her aggravation in check. “Well, I’m sure glad you could make— oh.”

Her heart pounded as she gazed into his bright blue eyes framed in dark lashes…eyes straight out of her dream.

“I’m Don,” he said as their gaze locked. “K-katherine,” she faltered as he grasped her hand in his. Soft, strong…familiar.

“Mike’s your father?” she asked, trying to hide the tremor in her voice.

“Sure is,” he said with a smile. “I moved here two weeks ago to help him out.”

“With your wife and kids?” she hedged. Why did she want him to say no?

“Nope, just me.” His eyes found hers again, his smile widening. “Still looking.” “Me too,” she said, her voice hitching. Just then, a customer came in. “Oh, erm…duty calls!” Katherine sputtered, moving toward the counter. “The computer’s in my office,” she added, pointing the way. As he slipped behind the door, she let out a deep breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

An hour later, Don emerged with a grim look on his face.

“I’m afraid you’ll need some new hardware,” he said. “I’ll go pick it up and come back in a couple of days.” Katherine groaned. “I know…don’t worry, we’ll get it fixed,” he said, and winked. Her heart jumped.

That night, Katherine had the same dream again…except this time, the man pulling her toward the surf was Don. “Come on, Katie,” he urged. Katherine awoke with a start. No one had called her Katie since she was a girl.

Don was back on Wednesday, and soon, her computer was up and running again.

“You’re good to go, Katie,” he announced with a smile that rocked her clear to the ends of her long blond hair. “Wait, what?” “I said…” he began. “No, I mean, what did you call me?” she asked, her eyes widening.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Don apologized, “I just thought…you may go by Katie.”

“Oh it’s totally okay, it’s just…no one has called me by that name in years.”

Don shrugged. “I don’t know why I did. The only Katie I remember was a little blond girl visiting us at the beach in California 30 years ago.”

Katherine’s heart beat like a drum. This sort of thing didn’t happen, did it? “Funny, the things you remember.” Katherine shook her head. Had they met as children? Impossible! Still, she was certain she had dreamed of this man, and she wanted to get to know him better.

As if reading her mind, Don said almost shyly, “Do you want to go to a ball game with me on Saturday afternoon?” Her heart soaring, Katherine nodded. “Can I pick you up around one?” She smiled. “Sounds perfect.” “Great,” he said. “It’s a date, Katherine.” “Call me Katie,” she decided. “Katie it is,” he agreed with a wide grin. With that, Katherine’s dream man walked out the door…but her hope for and dreams of the future were very real indeed.