Christmas Spirit

But remembering that he was a customer and not a prospective date, Anja dragged her eyes away. “Okay something for your mother” she said getting back to the task at hand. “What sort of woman is she?”

“Intelligent, independent, active. She’s a barrister.”

“Right” Anja said thinking hard about what might be suitable. Most of her stock was on the shabby chic side rather than classic which is what she thought a woman like the mother he had described might like. “Ummm…” she continued beginning to feel dismayed before inspiration hit. Turning to face him she said “how about a photo frame?” She had remembering some sliver frames that she had in stock that were plain enough to fit into just about any setting.

“That could work” he said “I could print off a photo of me to go in it.” He winced as he finished speaking however and added “that sounded conceited didn’t it? I didn’t mean it like that but she’s my mother, you know what they’re like.”

Surprised and happy with his explanation and thinking that any woman, mother or not, would be happy with a photo of this man she smiled and said “I’m sure she’ll love that.”

He smiled again and for a second Anja forgot what she should be doing. He really was an amazing looking man. In the end it was he who broke the connection and Anja let her breath out on a sigh as he turned away. Averting her face so that he could not see the colour seeping into her cheeks again if he looked back at her she said “just over here.” She moved as she spoke and led the way to the back of the store where she had placed the frames on display.

“Have a look around” she said having regained some composure. She was not as desperate to rush him out now. “There are a number of frames scattered throughout these shelves. Take your time and I’ll start packing up while you decide.”

“Thanks” he said throwing her another killer smile.

 Anja returned it with a small one of her own but looked away before she could become lost in his eyes again and moving behind the counter she began her closing up procedures.

Christmas Spirit

Anja was frustrated with herself for being won over by a pretty face because she knew that she was a probably sucker for giving in. She was certain that he was about to tell her that he needed to buy a present for his girlfriend. Men like him always had girlfriends and even though he had had all year to shop for her he had waited until the last minute. That meant that she was putting herself out so that some other woman could enjoy their Christmas, great.

“Thank you so much” he said in a deep voice that seemed almost touchable. It was how he imagined that black velvet must sound, if indeed its soft, sumptuous qualities could be transposed into something audible.  “I’m sorry to hold you up” he said as she locked the door again. “I meant to come out earlier but I was tied up.”

 “No problem” she said but without any real affability in her voice. She was tired and hungry having not had time to stop for lunch, and she wanted to go home so that she could begin enjoying the festive season like everyone else was doing. “What can I help you with?” she added hoping that he knew what he wanted and would not stand there thinking for the next half an hour. If he procrastinated, no matter how good looking he was, she would be tempted to just shut the shop up with him in it and he could remain there until after January second when she reopened.

“I need a gift for a woman” he said. “Can you suggest something?”

So she was right Anja thought with a sigh, the gift was for his girlfriend. Well she hoped that the lady in question did not mind a last minute gift. “Thirty something female?” Anja said as she turned away and tucked some hair behind her ear. Biting her bottom lip she considered the best options. “Let me see.”

“No” he said “sixty five.”

Surprised Anja turned back and stared at him. “Your girlfriend is sixty five?” she said without thinking and inadvertently revealing her own musings.

The man laughed. “No, the gift is for my mother” he said.

Embarrassed that she had let her thoughts lead her astray Anja blushed right up to her hair line. “Sorry” she said turning away. “I just assumed. It’s a bad habit.”

“No worries” he said and she could hear the smile in his voice. “I hope if I had a girlfriend” he said “I would have put more thought into her gift.”

Anya did not know what to make of his comment. On the one hand she was pleased to hear that he would have given a gift for a partner more consideration and it had to be said that she was pleased to hear that he didn’t have a girlfriend. But the fact that his mother did not seem to warrant a comparative amount of thought, she found a little disconcerting.

As if answering her unspoken thoughts he said “my mother flew in today at the last minute to surprise me.” He was talking as he inspected the goods on the shelves. “I was supposed to see her in the new-year” he continued “so I was going to buy a present later when I had more time. However as things stand, it can’t wait. But then I got held up at work and now I’m forced to hold you up.”

As he finished speaking he looked up and met her gaze.

Anja liked that he had not left the gift purchase to the last minute on purpose and she smiled. He was nothing like she had imagined when she had first seen him and she was glad of that.

He returned the smile and for a long moment their gaze was locked together.

Christmas Spirit

Anja Weatley had just served her last customer and with a sigh she finally managed to close the doors. It was well after six in the evening on Christmas Eve and she was exhausted. She had been on her feet since eight that morning without a break. It had been a busy day of trading in her gift shop which pleased her but it also wore her out. At the age of thirty six a busy day would not normally cause such fatigue but it had been three weeks of such days and now it was over for another year and it had not happened too soon for Anja. For a second she leaned her back on the door, allowing it to take her weight as she closed her lovely green eyes.

Anja’s reprieve did not last long however. Before she could move away from the door she was startled by a knock on the glass. Her eyes flew open and by instinct, her head snapped around and she inspected the handsome male face that was looking down at her with a pleading expression.

At just one hundred and fifty seven centimetres tall most people looked down at Anja. It was something that she had long since come to accept. One consolation was that her height was at least in proportion to her slender build.

“I’m closed” she called through the glass tucking some loose strands of brown hair behind her ear. Her long hair had been neat when she started out that day but it had got more untidy as the day wore on. Now at well past her closing time she longed to just let it loose.

“Please” he said gazing at her with beseeching eyes that would not have been out of place on a puppy.

For a second Anja stared at the attractive male face on the other side of the glass. He was tall and lean and looked to be thirty something. With short dark hair and light blue eyes surrounded by long black lashes he really was very good looking. Anja could not help the feeling of power that she got from realising that in that moment, she had complete control over the fortunes of one of nature’s beautiful people. She could turn him away empty handed, which she had a perfect right to do or she could help him out. But as quickly as that thought occurred to her she felt a measure of disgust with herself for enjoying herself at his expense and she moved to unlock the door.