Love?
Was it love I felt for Samir?
Immediately, I went back to Saturday night, to how wonderful it’d been. To how happy Ella had been.
Yeah. Maybe it was love. Or something like it, anyway. It was too soon for love after all, wasn’t it?
“Thanks, Lilian. You’ve helped loads.” I kissed her cheek and made to get up.
“Hang on,” she said and grabbed my hand. “Here. Take this. Wear it until your head is clear.”
She placed an amethyst necklace in my hand and closed my fingers around it. I felt its jagged edges dig into my palm and tickle me.
“Do you just carry these around with you for emergencies?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Of course, darling. What kind of a witch would I be if I didn’t have emergency supplies?” She smirked, and I let out a loud laugh.
I kissed her again, kissed Ella’s forehead, and made my way down the stairs. When I got to the bottom, I put it on and let it do its thing.
I would have asked her what it’s supposed to do, but everyone knew amethyst was the crystal for peace and tranquility. And of course it was what I needed. Peace of mind and to set my feelings straight.
Before I walked out the door, I sent Samir a reply.
Cole: Hey. I’d love to, but I’ve just been called in to help at the Grill. Maybe tomorrow?
He didn’t reply.
But when I arrived at Carson’s Grill, Samir was there, standing outside. He smiled when he saw me.
“What… what are you doing here?”
Samir took my hand and gave it a squeeze.
“What does it look like? I came to help.”
I stopped breathing on the spot. I stopped breathing, looked into at him, and felt the warmth of his touch despite the freezing cold. I looked into his eyes, all the way into his soul, and my heart skipped a beat.
Maybe Lilian was right. Maybe that was my heart making space for him. Would that be so bad?
No. No, I didn’t think so.
22.Samir
“That was adorable!” I announced to everyone in the car, and Cole set off.
Ella blushed, and with a shy smile, asked, “Leally?” I couldn’t take her adorableness, which was only complimented by the felt and sequin costume she had on that swallowed her entire body except for her face.
“Yes, really, Ella. You were fantastic.” I turned to Cole, who nodded in agreement and looked at his daughter through the rearview mirror. “You were the best Christmas tree I’ve ever seen.”
Ella’s cheeks changed to an ever darker red and she dipped her head, as much as her stiff pine-green felt costume allowed.
“I agree. Perfect casting. You played the best Christmas tree I’ve ever seen. How about you, Samir?”
I bit down a chuckle and sang Ella’s praises, unable to help myself laughing at the absurdity of our words. I didn’t even know why a nativity play had a Christmas tree, or why it required a kid to stand in a corner “playing” it, but it was cutenonetheless. Especially when Ella kept waving at us and dancing to herself to a tune no one else could hear.
To say I’d been surprised that Cole had invited me to the preschool play was an understatement. I didn’t even know there was a play until yesterday when we hung out after the Grill quietened down and we were no longer needed.
Gosh, what a crazy day yesterday was. I’d never worked in a restaurant before, and after the experience at the Grill, I was glad not to have that kind of job on my résumé. People were so demanding, so high maintenance, and the rhythms were so fast I got so stressed during the impromptu shift. But every time Cole came to my aid, to help me clear a table or carry the tray with dirty glasses, or open the door for me to take the empty plates to the kitchen porter, it made everything okay.
