Rose looked around her shop, her legs hurting her but satisfaction and joy settled deep in her heart. Even after the Jane fiasco, her shop was full; customers kept streaming in everyday, their numbers increasing as the days went by.
Thank you Rick. Thank you, Lord.
She sat down and just reveled in what was now her shop's everyday reality.
The bell jingled as a customer walked in.
She stood up, a welcoming smile on her face. "Good afternoon, oh, Kelvin, what's up?"
"Good afternoon." Kelvin made his way to the counter. "How's sales going?"
"Very well, thank you."
"Please is Bonnie here? Her shop was locked. I've been calling her but she is not answering her phone."
"No, Bonnie isn't here. She probably went to deliver some stuff to a customer."
"Oh, I didn't think of that. Thank you. Is it okay if I stayed here for a while?"
"Sure."
Few minutes later, Bonnie walked in. She gave her a quick hug, whispered a 'give me a few minutes', and went to join Kelvin. She watched the way Bonnie placed a kiss on Kelvin's cheek, certain a sappy smile was on her face. Where was Rick, by the way? He hasn't showed up in the shop since morning and she wondered why.
Just as she was about to start sulking, the door opened and a delivery man carrying a bouquet of flowers walked in, coming straight to her.
He smiled at her. "Good day ma."
"Good day sir."
"Please, I'm looking for a Miss Rose."
"I'm the one."
"These are for you." He handed her the flowers. "Please, sign here."
She dropped the flowers and scribbled on the slip.
"Have a good day."
"You too. Thank you." She lifted the flowers to her nose and inhaled deep. She took out the card and smiled at the words; so corny but so much Rick.
Violets are blue, roses are red. But it is a fact that your smile do light up every room, including my heart. I love you, Rosie. Rick.
She buried her face into the flowers.
"What do you have there?" Bonnie's voice jerked her head up.
"Rick sent me flowers."
"Awwn." Bonnie picked up the card, read it and laughed. "So corny and so..."
"Rick." She completed.
"So sweet." Bonnie dropped the card. "You know, when you told me about Rick's proposal, I was sure it was crazy and plain unrealistic and that Rick was only doing it out of fear, but I think, no I know I am completely convinced that he is crazy about it. This is more than a seventeen year old contract to him. Gosh, the guy practically shouts he loves you on the mountain top for all to hear."
She bit her lower lip. "I know. He has made me fall in love with him."
"Have you told him yet?"
She shook her head. "It never comes out."
Bonnie reached out and pinched her nose. "Because you never make it to. I feel like shaking you till you have the winds knocked out of you."
"Violence never amounts to anything, Bonnie."
"Oh, this will." Bonnie leaned her hip on the counter. "When next you see him, Rose, make sure he knows."
"I think he knows."
"How will he know when you have not told him, even in a whisper? Don't assume, Rose. State it out. I'm serious."
She nodded and tugged at her hair. "I know you are serious. How can't I? With your squeezed up face?"
Bonnie whacked her .
"Where is Kelvin?"
"He left when your face was buried in Rick's flowers."
"So..."
"So what?"
"You and Kelvin."
"We are good."
"You both dating yet?"
"Nope."
"Why?"
"Cause he hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend yet."
"He's taking too long."
Bonnie raised her brows. "It has only been two weeks."
"Two weeks and a half."
"All the same. He is taking it slow and it is okay with me."
She narrowed her eyes.
"I still don't get why you are so keen on this."
"I am keen on this so that we can both get married on the same day, just as we dreamed when we were fifteen."
Bonnie chuckled. "How hold are you again?"
"Twelve, I think twelve."
******
She tucked the receiver between her shoulder and her ear, and sat on the couch. "I loved the flowers, but I missed your face."
"Yeah, I am sorry I could not come today."
"Can I ask why?"
"Of course. Two days ago, I met Eric, a guy I met during one of my posting. We got talking, I told him about what happened at Afghanistan then he asked me to see him today."
"So that was where you were."
"Yup. How did sales go?"
"Very well, better than yesterday's."
"Did Bonnie come over?"
"Yeah and Kelvin."
"And Kelvin. Of course. Think they are getting closer."
"Uh huh, Bonnie says they are taking things slow though."
"What do you think?"
"I think they are really into each other so no matter how slow they want to go, they are still going to go fast."
He chuckled. "Absolutely."
"Rick."
"Yeah, babe."
"You know what this Friday is?"
"Uh huh."
"What are you planning to do on that day?"
"Visit mom and dad's graves for a while, spend some alone time in church then take you out to the park."
"You have got it all planned out."
"Yeah, it's been on my mind since the beginning of the week. Tell me spectacular about your day."
"Apart from me receiving a bouquet of flowers and a cornily sweet note from this amazing guy I met when I was eight."
He chuckled. "Yeah, apart from that."
"Well..." She told him everything about her day; she told him about sweet Dorcas walking out of the shop without her order without noticing it until she got to her work place; she told him about the two friends that bickered over the last sticky buns; she told him about the sweet old man who told her of his great grandfather sugar plantation before the civil war and of his granddaughter who was just learning how to ride a bike and told him about the fat change he had left for her to keep.
She yawned. "Then there were these two teenagers who came because their friends told them my pastries were really delicious. I am growing pretty famous, Rick."
"And you are growing pretty sleepy. We will talk tomorrow, go to bed. Sleep tight, sweet dreams I love you."
"I love you too."
Silence met her response.
"Rick? You still there?"
"Yeah, I'm still here. Just had to be sure I heard right."
She half chuckled, half moaned. "Rick, come on!"
"You have never said it to me before."
"Well, there's always a first for everything."
"I wish we were face to face so I can see your face."
"You can imagine it."
"And how should I imagine it, my fair one?"
"Imagine it full of love and affection for you, imagine my eyes revealing the depths of my heart, revealing how much you mean to me. Cause you have won my heart, Rick, and it is yours."
"I..I am completely speechless." She could bet he was running his hand through his hair. "I don't know what to say."
"Say you love me too and goodnight plus a see you tomorrow."
He chuckled. "I love you too, Rosie Ann, to the moon and back. Goodnight. Can't wait to see you tomorrow."
"Me too, honey drop."