ELIXIRS OF THE HEART

A Day of Surprises

The birds were too chatty that morning, Alex noticed as she climbed down from her bed, tossing her flower-printed blanket aside. The birds must have realized what a great day it would be for her and were happy for the big change ahead of her. She entered the bathroom to do her morning routine. She checked the little clock and realized she was going to be late to the bakery. "Bloody Mary," she cussed out loud. Today was not going in her favour again. Sighing, she tried to tame the demon on her head, which she believed was supposed to be her hair. She heard a snap and realized she had just broken her comb, deciding to pack her hair into a bun instead. Thank God she had already laid out a pink gown for today when she got back yesterday; she jumped into it. As she turned to the door, her eyes caught a shiny object on her dresser. "How did she miss it earlier?" she wondered. Moving closer to it, she realized it was the Good Luck potion from the previous day, which she had hoped was a dream. "Was drinking it a good idea?" Chewing her lips, she contemplated what to do next. She was late already; a good dose of Good Luck potion would do her good, and that's if it was going to work. She gulped it in one go and rushed out of her little cottage. She was met by a drizzle and mist; she barely saw where she was heading, but she was happy anyway, and there was this slight bounce as she marched to the centre of the busy street, even when she knew there was a high chance of her getting fired. The Magic shop was not open as she walked past it. Soon, she found herself in front of the bakery. Mrs. Gragsberry's little BMW was already parked under the little shed right beside the bakery; she pushed open the door, and the bell's jingle announced her entry. "My dear, is everything okay? I was beginning to worry," Mrs. Gragsberry said, standing at the coffee machine, which she still found difficult to use even after several years. That was not even what made her stay at the door, gaping like a fish; Mrs. Gragsberry had never been nice to her. If she was a minute late, she was in for a long, lasting tongue-lashing and a cut in her salary. Now, she didn't know what to do with this new Mrs. Gragsberry. Maybe this was a prank or something; she wondered. She decided to play along. "Allow me," she moved to help Mrs. Gragsberry with the coffee machine. "Bless you, dear," she returned with a smile, a smile she had never seen on her face. She didn't even know she had a perfect set of teeth; so, she knew how to smile. The sun shone so bright as soon as the rain stopped. It was as if it couldn't wait for the rain to shut its mouth. It illuminated the bakery and floral designs on the walls; the wallpaper and table mat matched the brightness of the sun. She was seeing the bakery shop in a new light; she never knew it was this beautiful. Customers welcomed her like an old friend; Mrs. Gragsberry passed her frequent smiles of encouragement. The only thing that bothered her more than the unusual happenings around her was the scorching gaze that followed her as she took orders from customers. The man sat at the farthest corner of the shop, where all views were accessible to him, both in and outside the bakery. He must be new in town; all the locals knew themselves. He was just sitting alone, sipping the coffee Mrs. Gragsberry had delivered to him a while ago. His cheesecake was left untouched; he flipped the book he was reading to the next page, seeming to prefer it to the cheesecake. As she moved to deliver orders, she would pass a glance towards his direction; his face was still buried deep in the book. She was able to get the title of the book this time around - Pride and Prejudice, her favourite book by Jane Austen. So, Mr. Mysterious was a romantic after all. Maybe she should add Dark and Handsome to the list of adjectives she had on her mind. The stubbles on his cheeks, which clearly stated he didn't shave before leaving his house, accentuated his perfect jaw; his eyes were so chocolatey that she felt they were looking right through her, through her defences, her lies that everything was okay, her truth that deep down, she was lonely. His lips moved as he swallowed the coffee, and he had a good one. The man was too handsome for his good. The desperate girls of Greenroot town would soon catch him in their wicked nets.That was how they operated here; all of them only had eyes for perfect gentlemen - rich, of high status, and well-to-do. That would take care of their needs while they sipped teas at gatherings or crossed their legs at home with their huge ball dresses and celebrity makeup. "That poor boy at the corner wants a refill of his coffee; would you care to do it for him?" Mrs. Gragsberry asked with a smile. "Why? I...um..." Not that man, she pleaded in her mind. Not waiting for her response, Mrs. Gragsberry turned to leave. She carried the coffee jug towards his direction and prayed she didn't fall flat on her face and embarrass herself. At proximity, she found out she must have been wrong after all. His eyes were not dark but chocolate, a melted one. Those lashes should not be found on a man; it should be illegal. He placed the book on the table and looked straight at her. Her hand shook as she poured him the coffee, only God knew how she didn't make a mess on the table. "Thank you," he said almost in a whisper that she barely caught the words. It was a soothing sound that she took a deep breath of relief that she didn't know she had been holding. The rest of the day went well; more customers trooped in, but that didn't stop her from noticing the man when he was leaving the shop. His gait was that of someone who knew what he was doing and what he wanted, and God help anyone who tried to stop him. She shook her head to clear her mind of the dirty thoughts that flooded her mind. What the fudge was happening today? She thought in astonishment. The day had been good so far - a perfect gentleman smiles from Mrs Gragsberry and over-enthusiastic customers. "You are looking more radiant today, darling," Mrs Gragsberry danced towards her, holding her cheeks. "You should go home, my dear; you have done a good job today, and the weather looks perfect for a date." She stared at Mrs. Gragsberry in awe, as if she had grown two heads. "Um...Mrs. Gragsberry, I..." she was interrupted by Mrs. Gragsberry. "Call me Sophia." What? She wanted to scream it out but cautioned herself. She had been working with Mrs. Gragsberry for three years and now learned her first name was Sophia. Maybe she needed to go home; maybe this was all a dream or some kind of hallucination. There must be some kind of explanation for it. As if sensing her conclusion, Sophia threw her yet another weird smile. "See you on Monday, dear."