Operation Date Escape

a try today. Maybe some chicken teriyaki.”
    “ I’m going to have a strawberry and banana fruit smoothie,” her mother said. “Can I get anyone else one while I’m there?”
    “No thanks,” Nanci said. “Love them, but not with pizza.”
    Kelsie shook her head. “I’m going to grab a Diet Coke. Thanks.”
    Her mother set off across the food court to the smoothie stand while Kelsie and Nanci went to get in line for their food.
    Deli tray in hand, Kelsie turned and searched the crowded lunch area for Nanci and her mother. She spotted them in the center of the food court, waving her over.
    “How did you manage to find a table?” she asked as she walked up to them. The place was packed.
    “A little bit of luck and a whole lot of speed,” Nanci told her with a grin.
    “Speed?”
    “Yeah, I was faster than the old lady with the walker I was racing to the table against.”
    “You didn’t,” Kelsie gasped.
    “No,” Nanci said, laughing. “But I did break into a run for the table when I saw the people before us get up to leave. Nearly lost my pizza slice in the process.”
    Kelsie laughed. Only Nanci.
    “How’s the smoothie?” she asked her mother as she settled onto the chair next to her.
    Her mother moaned softly. “Mmm, very good. And worth every empty calorie.”
    Kelsie set her tray on the table and then placed her purchases on the floor between her feet. The smell of the chicken teriyaki had her mouth watering.
    The three of them went through the remainder of the sales flyers as they ate, deciding on what stores the wanted to stop in before heading home.
    “ Is that a fortune cookie?” Nanci asked between chews, pointing to the wrapped cookie next to Kelsie’s plate.
    Kelsie nodded.
    “I love those things. I can’t wait to see what it has to say about you. Open it,” her friend said excitedly.
    Your day will be filled with torturous shopping? Kelsie resisted the urge to voice that thought aloud. They had her best interest at heart. Picking up the tiny package, she ripped it open and pulled the fortune cookie free of its wrapper. Then she cracked it open.
    “ What does it say?” her mother asked anxiously. “That you’re going to have a long life? Maybe even come into an unexpected windfall? Better yet, you’re going to have tons of children?”
    Kelsie rolled her eyes. Only her mother would wish for the fortune to be ‘tons of children’. How a cookie was supposed to be able to predict one’s future was beyond her. Pulling the sliver of paper tucked inside the broken cookie free, she skimmed over the words printed across it in disbelief.
    “No way,” she muttered, shaking her head. If she hadn’t picked up the order herself, she would have thought her mother or Nanci had done this as a joke.
    “Kelsie?” her mother said, lowering her slice of pizza back down onto the red and white checked paper plate it had come on. “What is it?”
    Sh e quickly crumpled up the sliver of paper. “It’s nothing. Just a bunch of nonsense.”
    “Come on,” Nanci urged. “Nonsense is fun. Read your fortune to us.”
    “I’d rather not.”
    Her friend laughed. “Maybe I have you confused with someone else, but I could have sworn I’ve heard you say that you don’t believe in fortunes.”
    “I don’t.”
    “So what’s the big deal then? Read it to us.”
    “Fine,” she said with a resigned sigh. “But this is stupid.” She unfolded her fortune and read, “ Romance will soon ignite in your life. ” Below which were six lucky numbers.
    “Ignite!” Nanci repeated with a squeal of delight, drawing several looks their way.
    “Will you keep it down?” Kelsie said with a groan.
    “As in someone’s about to light your fire,” her friend added, thankfully lowering her voice for that announcement. “And who better to do that than a man who knows all about fires. A man like Cole Maxwell.”
    “That’s the perfect fortune for you,” her mother said with a smile.
    “ Anyone could have gotten this fortune cookie,” Kelsie told them. “It’s a random thing.”
    “No, it’s fate,” Nanci corrected. “And that particular fortune cookie was fated to be yours.”
    “It doesn’t mean anything,” Kelsie argued.
    Ignoring her, her mother continued with a pleased-as-punch smile , “I guess it’s a good thing we hit Victoria’s Secret. Sounds like those bra and panties are going to come in handy this weekend.”
    “Think about it, Kelsie ,” Nanci said as she reached for