Lucky in Love?

by Briggs, Laura

  A glint of something shiny the rubble by the steps caught her eye. A piece of cellophane protruding from beneath melted plastic and metal. A fortune cookie package.

  Stooping, she tried to pry it from beneath. The plastic was melded to the pavement, apparently, trapping the package underneath. She tugged persistently, tearing the corner off the cellophane. Her nails dug at the site, scratching the surface as black soot coated them.

  What am I doing? She froze, staring at her blackened fingertips. A crazy girl, digging in the ruins of the building as if her life depended on a slip of fortune cookie paper.

  She sank down on the steps, burying her face in her hand. The last few days were a string of bizarre events–but were they so-called bad karma, or a connection her imagination dreamed up after a coincidence? She was running her life based on lucky charms and vague predictions of the future.

  A tear rolled slowly down her cheek, brushed aside automatically by her sooty fingers before she could think. Feeling frightened and ashamed at the same time as she crouched there, shivering in the cool temperature of dawn.

  “That’s enough,” she whispered to herself. “From now on, I’m going to pretend that luck doesn’t exist. No matter what the cosmos say about it.”

  *****

  Myri’s alarm clock buzzed at seven-thirty the next morning. Opening her eyes, she reached over and shut it off, glancing around as if half-expecting to see karma waiting for her somewhere in her apartment.

  Never mind that, she reminded herself. Nothing but work, charm, and talent from now on. As she slid from beneath the covers and reached for an eyelet dress thrown over the back of a chair.

  This was the weekend of Liline's monthly brunch, an informal gathering for the staff to mingle and work while surrounded by food. Lis called it “casual business”, a way of encouraging ideas and creative thought without the hectic atmosphere of the office.

  Myri had been dreading this event since the dire horoscope predictions entered her life. A thought she did her best to suppress as she pinned a silk white flower in her hair. Smiling at her reflection as a friend as she double-checked her makeup.

  The bus was sparsely-populated with people en route to Sunday services or weekend play time. She took a window seat next to a man perusing the paper as he sipped a cup of coffee. The pages fell open to the entertainment section, a large zodiac symbol next to a list of horoscopes.

  Sagittarius should use caution when approaching important decisions; Gemini open to love and luck today ... Myri averted her eyes, staring at the scenery out the window instead.

  The bus stopped only a few yards from the office, where the brunch was catered by chefs from Buscali’s Restaurant. As Myri hopped down from the steps, she noticed the cracked sidewalk beneath her feet. The ladder suspended against the side of the building, covering most of the walkway below with its shadow as two men adjusted the automatic grates that covered the windows of the shop next door each night. Forcing a smile to her face, she ducked underneath and made her way towards the lobby.

  The main office was empty when she entered and laid her shawl on her desk. The breeze from the open window rustled the pages of the calendar on the lamp.

  Don’t pressure yourself to reach for big things ... Reaching over, she snatched it from the lamp and tossed it into the waste basket. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her skirts and entered the photography studio.

  Tables spread with bagels and cream cheese, raisin muffins, whole-grain coffee cake and fresh fruit. Pitchers of green tea shakes and fresh-squeezed orange juice, a pot of herbal tea instead of coffee. Clearly Lis’s theme for the month was health food.

  The designer herself was engaged in deep discussion with a handful of interns who had nabbed an opportunity to talk to the office legend. Myri helped herself to a muffin, glancing around the room to see if Gabe was here. No sign of him among the photographers lounging near the window, the models arguing over the calorie contents of fruit vs. bran.

  “There you are, Myri.” Lis slid her arm through her design assistant’s and steered her away from the table. “I’ve been meaning to speak to you since yesterday afternoon. About the shoot.”

  “I know I should have given the dress more thought,” Myri said. “I apologize for my mistake–”

  “No, no, that’s not it at all,” said Lis. “Yes, most of the photos were atrocious, but nevertheless you tried something bold. That’s what I’m looking for in a designer, you know. Boldness.”

  The emphasis in her final words made Myri stop cold. “Are you saying–” she began.

  “Welcome to the team, Myri.” With an inscrutable smile, Lis slid away to greet a friend who just entered the door.

  Heart pounding, Myri held onto the nearby beverage table for support. She– a fashion designer? Equal in status to Johann and the others whose sketches became fashion reality under Lis’s supervision? It seemed too good to be true. Even if she didn’t believe the caution predicted in that glimpse of the horoscope on the bus.

  “Congratulations.” Bette moved in beside her to squeeze her arm. “I just heard. Lis told Johann about your promotion, and he’s practically maroon with jealousy. As if it matters to his career,” she snorted.

  “Thanks,” blushed Myri. “For everything, I mean. Like trying to talk to me the other night when I was being so stubborn.”

  Bette shrugged. “That’s what friends do,” she said. “Are you okay, though?” Her eyes searched Myri’s face as if looking for traces of crazy ideas. “Shawn wants you to call her, you know. She’s convinced you’re losing your mind and turning into me.”

  “I’ll talk to her, I promise,” said Myri. “But there’s something I have to do first.” She made her way towards the group of photographers, hoping at least one of them had become friends with the design firm’s newest member.

  *****

  When Myri stepped off the bus and strode towards the park entrance, she saw its appeal immediately. Butterflies surrounded the flowers like a cloud of color and movement. Some resting on blossoms along the fence, others flitting along the pathway lined with bold shades of orange and pink.

  She recognized Gabe’s blue shirt amidst the handful of patrons. His shirt sleeves rolled to his elbow as he steadied the camera, snapping photos of the insects in flight.

  Moving closer, she waited as he was absorbed patiently in snapping one of a large swallowtail resting on a cluster of delicate pink blossoms. She cleared her throat as the dark shape flitted away.

  “Gabe,” she said. He turned around, his surprise mixed with confusion.

  “Oh, hi,” he said. Lowering the camera, his gaze training itself on a nearby bed of flowers.

  “I noticed you weren’t at the brunch this morning,” she said. “I should’ve guessed. I mean, a park a block away, a photographer who loves the outdoors...” She trailed off, biting her lip as she waited for him to reply.

  “Yeah, I guess it was easy to figure out,” he said. “I’m just not sure why you wanted to know.” Turning towards the brightly-colored wings moving among the flowers as he snapped a telescopic lens from his pocket onto the camera.

  “About the other night,” she began. “It wasn’t because I’m not attracted to you– or because I hadn’t thought a lot about us–about you,” she stammered. “Because I do. I think I’ve fallen–” Instead of finishing her statement, she moved in front of him, cupping his face with her hands as she kissed him.

  He froze as she touched him, his hands fumbling with his camera as she pressed close to him. After a split second, she felt him return her kiss. His arm sliding around her, drawing her closer.

  She drew back after a moment, raising her eyes to meet his. “Understand now?” she asked.

  His mouth widened into a grin. “I think so,” he answered. His fingers touched her face, tenderly cupping one side. “I think this was a better place to talk than that techno-beat palace from last night.”

  He leaned closer as she wrapped her arms around his neck, le
tting him sweep her off her feet. One of the park’s visitors was staring at them as they kissed; she closed her eyes, ignoring them as her fingers intertwined with Gabe’s soft curls.

  The electricity of their touch passed through her, erasing thoughts of good and bad luck with a single flash. A perfect moment born out of a bold decision, despite the most dire predictions of the cosmos. The spark between them more powerful than any bolt of lightning hurled at her by fate this last week.

  This was the only real magic, she decided. As her cheek rested against Gabe’s.

  *****

  “So, where do you want to go this weekend?” Gabe asked. “See a movie, maybe an art show?” He flipped through the paper as he sat cross-legged on the floor of her apartment.

  Myri paused in mid-sketch of her latest creation for Leline’s, a yellow gown with long, flowing sleeves and delicate black stripes traveling towards the neckline. “How about a jazz trio concert?” she asked. “Shawn saw them perform a couple of nights ago and said they were great.”

  “I like jazz, but I like rock better,” he answered, flipping through the paper towards the entertainment section. “Give me the Stones any day.”

  He paused on the page across from the comics, scanning the movie ads before his eye fell on the column above them.

  “Big things on the horizon for you,” he read aloud. “Expect a dramatic event to change your life for the better.” He glanced at Myri, a teasing smile on his face. “Sounds like the stars think I should consider some life changes.”

  Reaching across, Myri drew the paper from his hands. “I think we don’t need the stars to predict our future,” she answered. “Let’s just leave it to ourselves, okay?”

  He smiled. “You got it.” As he leaned closer to kiss her, she slipped the entertainment section from the pages. Bouncing the predictions of her future across the room in a paper ball.

  An All-New 2011Holiday Release

  from the Author of The Wedding Caper

  Excerpt from Parade Banter

  “Hold the smile guys. Keep holding it. Just a few more seconds…”

  Rae resisted the urge to jerk her hand free from Simon’s strong grasp. The camera man was taking his sweet time with the newspaper photo and her fake smile wore thinner by the second. Simon kept his face angled away from hers, but she could swear she saw a glint of sarcasm in his hazel eyes.

  All around them, the Silver Star Theater Auditorium had been transformed into a winter wonderland. Styrofoam candy canes and lollipops formed a path to a giant North Pole sign fashioned from gum drops. An old-fashioned sleigh waited on stage for the commercial shoot–another nightmare in the making–and various crew members strolled around in snowmen and reindeer costumes.

  Snap! The camera flashed twice and left Rae blinking against a blur of yellow light. Yanking her hand free, she pulled away from Simon’s body, only to stumble smack into a candy cane decoration.

  “Whoa, slow down there,” Simon remarked sarcastically. “You’ll wreck the North Pole.”

  She glared at him as she stuffed the decoration back into a phony pile of snow. “You would enjoy that, I bet. Seeing me humiliated in front of all these cameras.”

  “I’m pretty sure that kind of talk is banned in Christmas town.” He studied her with raised eyebrows and a resigned expression. “Why don’t you loosen up? We still have a commercial to shoot and it’s not easy getting in the holiday spirit when you’re co-host looks like she wants to strangle you. ”

  “Let’s hope you’re a good actor, then.” She smoothed her winter wonderland outfit, a white prom dress from the cheap rack complete with boots and a shawl. Her curls were pinned back with sparkly star-shaped barrettes that pricked her scalp.

  Simon, of course, looked dapper and carefree in a winter suit, a brilliant red scarf tossed casually over his broad shoulders. So unfair. The fact that he seemed so nonchalant about the whole event left her squirming with envy. He should be the one writhing with discomfort, given the circumstances that ended their partnership.

  “I can’t believe the mayor thought this was a good idea,” Rae said, tying her shawl closed in an effort to hide the hideous costume. “I mean, Christmas parades are about celebrating love and peace. There’s no way the two of us can pull that off.”

  An amused smile crept across Simon’s face. “Same old Rae. Afraid of a challenge, afraid of losing.”

  Seriously? You as a challenge? She wrapped her hands around the candy cane, imaging it was his neck. “Just what is that supposed to mean, Mr. Morning Coffee? Do they even bother with a script for that show, or does your meaningless banter come naturally? That would be a miracle, considering what we had to go through on the morning show.”

  “Oh, please.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ve heard your new co-host a few times. You could get a stuffed bear to sit in for that kind of commentary.”

  “That’s it.” She hitched her skirt and turned to leave. “Have a nice time hosting the parade alone.” Let his perky TV hostess take this kind of abuse for the holiday season.

  “Hey, wait a second.” Simon caught her elbow. The coolness in his dark eyes melted a little. “This is no picnic for either of us. But if we just put aside our mutual hatred for a couple of hours it’ll be over. Remember, we’re doing this for a good cause. ”

  She bit her lip and looked away. There was no arguing with his point: the proceeds from the parade tickets were slated to go to the local children’s hospital. The previous year had been the nursing home, and the animal shelter the year before that.

  “You’re right.” She glanced up from her snow boots and forced her lips into a tight smile. “We are two grown people after all. Perfectly capable of working together for a worthy cause.”

  “Glad to hear it.” He patted her shoulder. “So no more drama queen stuff, right?”

  Drama queen? She opened her mouth to fire back, but a crewmember interrupted, armed with a clipboard. “Let’s climb into the sleigh, guys. The director wants to see a read through for the commercial.”

  A nervous tingle invaded her mouth and she stole a glance in Simon’s direction. Probably the hotshot TV anchorman wasn’t tense at all at the thought of a lens trained on him like a giant staring eye. Her only consolation was that he didn’t look any happier than she felt. Maybe they had more in common than she realized.

  Climbing into the sleigh was no easy task with the gauzy outer layer of her skirt snagging on a jingle bell and every possible sharp corner. Simon extended a hand but she pretended not to notice. If he thought those remarks about her fear of confrontation were water under the bridge, he had another thing coming. She managed to cram herself into the seat, where Simon tucked the flannel blanket over her knees.

  A cocky smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Close quarters, huh?”

  “Too close.” She turned her face away, afraid he would see the slight flush in her cheeks. And interpret it as something other than a simple case of stage fright.

  “Just like old times, Rae.” His voice was quiet with an unexpected note of bitterness. “That radio booth was always too small for us. I guess this parade is too.”

  She kept silent as she flipped open her script. “Let’s just get this over with.”