Say Yes – 1

Love Is Magic.

***

The low whispery sigh of wistfulness from the opposite end of the bed caused Eve to roll her eyes and to arduously bite back a snort. Lindy was a hopeless romantic, and like all hopeless romantics, she believed in fairy-tales, prince charming and happily ever after’s. And romantic fiction novels were her love bible.

“Let me guess, the hero—some tall, dark and handsome, completely irresistible man—just kissed the heroine. A wide-eyed, never-been-kissed-before tender-hearted woman who’s been waiting for love all her life.”

Lindy, after another sigh, one of exasperation this time, raised her eyes from her novel. “Actually, this heroine is a tough-assed lawyer and she doesn’t believe in love. The hero? He’s just an ordinary, somewhat overweight, school teacher.”

“The tough-assed lawyer and the slightly overweight school teacher, how very realistic.” Eve smirked at her pointed stare. “Hmm, I see they’re getting better at ensnaring you quixotic minds.”

“We are not quixotic. Love does exist, Eve. One day, you are going to meet your hero and you’d be shocked at how quick you’ll fall flat on your face.”

“Lindy, I am likely to ride off in a space jet than fall in love.” Eve rolled off her bed, sliding the biography novel on Malala into her handbag as she did so. “I’m heading home.”

“You can’t go. It’s going to rain. Heard the weather forecast this morning and it’s been a little breezy the last couple of minutes.”

“Weather forecasts are like your romantic fiction writers, Lindy, they thrive on hypothesis and imagery.” She bent to buckle her sandal straps. “It’s the beginning of the raining season, so a little drizzle here, a little shower there is expected and so they predict it.”

“They said it is likely to be a heavy downpour.” Lindy retorted.

“Not with that shallow breeze it won’t and you can take that to the bank.” She slung her handbag over her right shoulder. “Don’t bother standing up. I know you can’t wait to go back to your overweight school teacher and tough-assed lawyer. I’ll see you tomorrow at work.”

“It’s going to rain, Eve. You are going to be caught in traffic or worse, stranded in the rain.”

“I didn’t bring a change of clothes and no way am I wearing today’s clothes back to work tomorrow. Not happening.”

“You can borrow one of my dresses. We wear same size.”

“I want to sleep on my own bed tonight, Lindy.” She was already at the door. “See you tomorrow. If our shift closes early again, I might do a sleepover tomorrow.”

“Fine.” There was a sigh of acceptance from Lindy. “See you tomorrow. Be safe.”

“Definitely plan to be.” Eve dug out her phone even as she went through the door.

She dialled her mother’s number and said once she’s picked up. “Hey, mum. I’m just leaving Lindy’s. Be home one hour tops.”

“It’s going to rain, shouldn’t you stay over there?”

“No, I’m not staying, mum. And I don’t think it will rain. Not heavily, at least.”

“The weather forecast this morning said it would and it’s breezy outside.”

“It was breezy yesterday, mum, and it didn’t drop a tear.” Eve waved a bye to Lindy’s TV-addict younger brother and went through the front door. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Okay. And oh, you won’t believe who’s getting married.”

And here we go. “Who?”

“Bianca. Can you believe it?” Her mother sounded thoroughly delighted. “He proposed this afternoon during their lunch date and she said yes.”

“Well, that is the expected answer to a marriage proposal. He says: will you marry me? And she cries a delighted: yes. And then they begin the sweet, loving journey of ever after.” It was quite breezy. Breezier than she’d thought. Eve stepped out on the curb and scanned the highway for a cab. “Congratulations to Bianca then. She must be ecstatic.”

“She is and I wish you wouldn’t be so cynical.” Her mother reproved. “Marriage is a beautiful thing, especially for two people in love. And whether you believe it or not, all it takes is a single yes to make magic.”

“Magic?” Her mother was another hopeless romantic. Her ailment had rejected every life’s realistic cure. “Would that be another word for marriage?” Where were taxis when you desperately needed one?

“Magic is what happens when two people are in love and they freely acknowledge that love, silly girl. Love is magic and yes is the wand that sets it off.”

“That wouldn’t be some quote from movie or novel, would it?” Trite nonsense like that only came from such places. “I just caught a glimpse of a cab, mum. So, later.”

“Someone’s going to teach you a lesson in love one of these days.”

Eve rolled her eyes, cut the call and dumped the phone back in her bag. Then she flung out her hand to flag down the cab. It pulled up right beside her and she got in the backseat.

“I’m going downtown.” She said, called out her address and settled back into the seat.

But the car wasn’t kicked back to life. Instead the cab driver angled his head over one shoulder and said to her. “Say yes.”

“What?”

Eve stared at him, roaming her eyes from his face to… well, just his face. The cut-off front seats didn’t allow for full-length scrutiny. He was amazingly good looking for a cab driver and his eyes didn’t look crazy. They were dark, calm and steady on hers.

“What did you say?” She might not have heard right.

“Say yes.”

She did hear right. It was her deduction of the sanity of his mind that hadn’t been right. She narrowed her eyes even more and gave him a closer and thorough study. Then her brows drew together in a concentrated frown because she couldn’t still make out any visible sign insanity.