“Nope,” I said, popping thepon the word.
“Oh,” she said, her voice indicating she knew what that meant. “That sucks.”
“It’s…” I almost said it was okay. But I couldn’t. “Yeah, it does,” I finished with instead.
“Would you hate me if I sent you on some work errands? We’re busier than normal tonight and completely out of potatoes. Can you grab some at the store?”
“Seriously? We can’t seem to get the quantity right on those.”
“I know.”
“Yes, of course I’ll grab some. I’ll be there in thirty.”
“Thanks, you’re a lifesaver.”
While I was at the store, she texted me several more things they needed, and I ended up taking longer than I anticipated. It was close to eight o’clock by the time I got there, and the windows looked dark as I walked up. Did the potato shortage force them to close early? I couldn’t imagine that would be the case, but my mind wasn’t supplying any other explanation for what my eyes were seeing. I pulled out my keys, expecting the door to be locked, but when I turned the key in the lock, it met zero resistance. I opened the door. The lights suddenly flipped on, and a restaurant full of people yelled, “Surprise!”
The tables had been moved into a big line in the center of the room, the chairs missing, most likely stacked out back to provide more floor space. I recognized some of the people in the room, but most I didn’t.
Raya walked forward.
“Our one-year anniversary celebration?” I asked, remembering this was what she wanted to do to commemorate it. But then I noticed something—painted branches climbing upthe walls and onto the now sky-blue ceiling. And leaves. But the leaves weren’t painted. They seemed three-dimensional. Photographs. They were pictures forming the shape of leaves. As my eyes followed the branches, looking for a trunk, I saw that they all led to the back patio door.
“Good surprise or bad surprise?” Raya asked, hooking her arm into mine. “I would normally run big decisions like this by you but… do you like it?”
I nodded, slowly realizing what this meant. “It’s amazing.”
I walked toward the back door, wanting to see the rest of the design. Knowing there was more. I was right. The ceiling of the covered patio was dark, like a night sky dotted with lights that made it seem like stars were shining through. And the painted branches continued all the way to the actual tree in the center. Hanging from that tree were more photos. But these photos were of people, customers sitting at our tables, enjoying our food. A centerpiece that would draw people to it. A water feature now bubbled to the right of the tree. And down the walls of the restaurant were more photos that looked like leaves.
“I was here two days ago… how?” I asked.
“It’s impressive, right?” Raya said.
“Where is he?” Everything in me needed to know this. I wanted to be in his arms, against his skin, in his life. I hoped this meant I could do all three of these things. I hoped this was some grand gesture and not some guilt-induced goodbye.
“Now this is something to brag about,” a man stepped in front of me whom I immediately recognized as the viral reviewer of the restaurant.
“Oh, right,” Raya said. “I invited Samuel back.”
“I’m glad she did,” he said.
My brain was slow, taking moments to process everything,still searching out the patio for Elijah. But I had enough sense to put my hand out. “Thank you for coming. For giving us another chance.”
“Second chances are my favorite,” he said.
“I hope they’re about to be mine too,” I said. “Please excuse me.” I rushed back toward the door leading inside when I realized that Elijah was there, standing in front of it. He had an uncertain look on his face. I came to a halt five feet before reaching him, also uncertain. Not about how I felt but about why he had done all this.
“Hi,” I said. “You’re here.”
“I’m here.”
“This is amazing. I can’t believe you did this in two days.”
“I had a lot of help. You like it?”
“I love it.”
His shoulders relaxed, dropping a couple inches. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer your text. I was trying to surprise you, and it’s not as impactful if I tell you over text.”
