Christmas Spirit

For the next seven days Anja relaxed, saw friends and generally enjoyed her time off. Often she would contemplate the silver frame that still sat on her coffee table where she could see it. Every now and again she considered putting a photo in it but each time she looked at it she saw Sacha’s image. His face seemed to be burnt on her brain as she could recall every feature with ease. So the thought of filling the space with a different image did not feel right and in the end she resolved to leave it empty.

 All too soon it was time to open the shop again. Anja felt rested but the time had passed so fast it seemed like only the night before that she had closed up on Christmas Eve. However she loved her shop and as she got down to the job of removing the Christmas decorations and redoing the displays, in between serving customers, Anja was filled with renewed enthusiasm for her work.

It was late in the afternoon, almost closing time when the handsome face that had been filling her mind every time she looked at the silver frame on her coffee table walked back into her shop. For a moment Anja was so shocked to see him that she forgot to greet him.

“I hope I’m not too late again” he said with a smile.

Pulling herself together, Anja returned his smile and said “no, you’re fine.”

His smile widened and leaning on the counter he said “I just wanted to tell you that my mother loved her present.”

“I’m glad” Anja said. She was pleased that her suggestion had worked out. “Thank you for coming in to tell me.”

“Well that’s not the only reason I came in” he said with a cheeky grin.

“Oh, did you need another gift?” Anja said.

“No” he said “I didn’t come to shop.”

Confused Anja frowned at him.

“I have spent the last week thinking about you and waiting for you to reopen” he said. “Is there any chance that you would have a drink with me?”

“Oh” Anja said as warm colour seeped into her face. She was more shocked now than when she had seen him walk in a few minutes before. Never in a million years did she ever think that a man like him would ask her out.

“You can say no” he said when she did not respond further.

“No” she said still trying to get her head around what was happening. She was too stunned to even smile.

“Right” he said as his smile faded “no worries.”

“No” Anja hurried to say “I meant no I don’t want to say no.”

His frowned “no you don’t want to say no?” he said.

“Yes” she said.

“So you’re saying yes?” he said sounding confused.

“Yes I want to say yes” she said.

He grinned “does that mean that two no’s make a yes?” he teased.

Anja laughed “in this case I guess they do.”