Christmas Spirit

Sacha laughed too. “I’m just happy there was a yes in there somewhere. And now we have that established, are you free tonight?”

“Tonight” Anja said a little thrown by his haste.

“If you’re busy….” he said.

“No” she interrupted “sorry I’m just a bit surprised I guess. I don’t have plans tonight.”

His stunning smile flashed out. “Wonderful” he said “would you like to meet somewhere or will I pick you up?”

“I’ll need to go home first” she said looking down at her jeans and t-shirt. “So I think I’ll meet you somewhere.” Anja was also not ready to have him know her address just yet. He may profess to be a good son and a thoughtful partner but she knew very little about him as yet. It could all be an act.

“Do you know the bar Red?”

“I’ve heard of it” she said remembering a girlfriend talking about the city night spot.

“Seven o’clock?” he said.

“Okay” she said thinking about all that she needed to do before that time.

“I’m looking forward to it” he said smiling at her once more.

Anja nodded and returned his smile “same here.”

“Well I’ll let you get back to work. See you soon Anja.”

“Bye Sacha” she said.

His smile turned into a grin and he said “nice to know that you remembered my name.”

Anja blushed a little as he raised a hand and left her shop. If only he knew that she remembered everything about him. Once he was out of sight a huge grin spread across her face. She could not believe that he had come back to ask her out.

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.”

Christmas Spirit

Anja stood immobile for a minute as she watched him get in his car and drive away. But realising that she had her shop door open she stepped back inside and locked the door again before anyone else could take advantage of her good nature.

Back inside her shop Anja was finally free to go home and enjoy the festive season. It had got off to a good start too with her receipt of her first Christmas present, an unexpected gift from a gorgeous looking man. If she never saw him again she would always have the frame to remember him by. It seemed the saying that no good deed goes unrewarded might have some truth in it. With a smile on her face Anja picked up her hand bag and the frame, she turned off the lights, set the alarm and locked up before letting herself out the back door. Her car sat in her designated spot in the back lane next to the door so in seconds she was heading home.

With no family in town and knowing that she would be tired after a busy week Anja had planned to spend Christmas Eve at home by herself. She had been invited to a friend’s place for Christmas lunch the next day and by then she would be ready for company. But for that evening she would put on something comfortable, turn on Carols by Candlelight and pour herself a glass of wine. Just being able to sit down for a while and relax would be celebrating enough her Anja.

Even though she lived by herself and for most of the time leading up to Christmas she was too busy to enjoy it, Anja had invested in a small real Christmas tree and had decorated it with a sting of lights and some cheap glittery balls. She loved the smell of pine every time she entered the apartment and she knew that now, when she was able to sit down she would be glad that she had made the effort and she was. The smell reminded her of home and her family miles away.

Too tired to bother cooking, Anja had eaten a couple of pieces of toast before pouring her wine and now that most of her needs were satisfied she sat and sipped her drink as she considered the silver frame that she had stood on the coffee table. It was a beautiful frame and when she had ordered it she had been hoping that it would go unsold so that she would have an excuse to keep it herself. The fact that Sacha, an attractive single man had bought it for her was even better and a turn of events that she could not have foreseen. As her eyes rested on the frame she pictured his face contained within the shiny border. She could not help but wish that she not only had a photo of him to put in it, but also that she had the sort of relationship with him that gave her the right to do so.