Ways of Dying
an excerpt

“Good morning!” He greeted her.
“Hi. I’m just deciding what to have. You’ve eaten here before right?” Peter nodded and she continued. “I’m torn between the full lumberjack breakfast. Or I could be sensible and have waffles with fruit.” Kat was feeling giddy.
Peter noticed the change in her and was a little confused by the change in her demeanor. “You’re in a good mood today.” He said as he slipped into the booth across from her as the waitress approached and they both ordered breakfast.
“I am.” She smiled broadly.
“You’re not going to tell me why are you?” Peter said returning her smile.
“I may just do that.” She replied. They made some small talk while they waited for their food to arrive which didn’t take long. Kat focused on her waffle, the fluffy whipped cream hid the golden waffle below. Carefully spearing a strawberry she popped it into her mouth. She looked up and saw Peter looking at her. “What?” She mumbled with the strawberry sliding around her mouth.
“You look like you’re really enjoying that.” Peter was still bewildered about her strange mood. He had grown used to her conservative nature. The giddy woman sitting in front of him was not who he had been meeting with all these weeks.
“I am.” She put her fork down and reached into her purse and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “I have something for you.” She slid the paper across the table and watched Peter pick it up before she reached for her fork and continued eating.
Peter opened the piece of paper and saw in neat handwriting a last name, first name and a series of numbers. He looked up at Kat and asked. “What’s this?”
“That’s my name.”
He looked at the paper again, Leynham, Katherine. “Really?” Kat nodded in response. “What are the numbers?” He looked at them thinking they were some kind of reference number, maybe a case file.
“That is my birthday.” She watched him carefully as his eyes grew large.
Peter looked again not believing her.
5.14.1535
He didn’t know what to say to her and he just sat looking from the piece of paper to Kat’s face. He breathed out slowly. “Okay.” He finally said.
“I’m not quite sure where to start but I have no intention of having this conversation in public.” Kat said after watching Peter.
“I can see why. Where did you have in mind?” He was still looking at the paper.
“Your office.” She put her fork down and pushed her plate away. “I think I’ve given you enough to trust me. I don’t know how you can verify that, I don’t even know if you can.”
“I don’t think I can either. How about tomorrow?” Peter finally looked up at her. He would need to notify Greg and make sure he could have some privacy. He wasn’t even sure that he wanted to share Kat’s revelation yet but he knew he would have to in order for her to be able to enter the building.