《The First Twelve》


 Flowers For You

    She began noticing the frequency of his visits the week he came in more often and it got her curious. Their interactions were brief and it usually consisted of basic pleasantries with thank yous and your welcomes and he would vanish into the afternoon never to be seen again until the next day. It was none of her business but she supposed that whoever he was giving the flowers to was a lucky person, though she did find it a bit odd as bad as it sounds. Perhaps some people just haven''t lost any hope in love, she thought.


    Jane, her name was Jane Starlin and she was in her mid-forties with a flower shop and a steady bank account. She didn''t need to be loved, the flower shop was her life and it was difficult to manage a business and juggle it with love but she was happy with how things turned out although at times it was a little lonely, especially after a hard day''s work.


    She sighed, after arranging the flowers in place for anyone to pick them up but when she looked up, there he was, hovering above her. To be sure he had green eyes and short silver hair but he looked sharp in his suit and she noticed how chiseled his jaw was.


    "Hello." He greeted her with what looked like a smile she could almost decipher from the side of his lips.


    "Hello there," Jane replied standing up from where she was arranging the flowers. "Have you found anything you like?" she asked.


    "Just these tulips."


    "Alright, follow me."


    He followed her to where the cash register was while she entered the counter.


    "That''ll be fifty dollars." She announced and he handed her the full amount. "Thanks for paying the exact amount!" She exclaimed with a smile, making eye contact.


    "And these..." He said, presenting to her the bouquet of tulips, "are for you." He added and her jaw almost dropped but the scene only made her conscious. The man noticed this and she could tell just as she was turning red.


    "Thank you," Jane could only say, still blushing, "but whatever for?"


    "I don''t like secrets," He began, as to where this was going she could not say, "but I wanted to see you since the first time I saw you from the sidewalk propping up the flowers." He added, "I''m Richard, people just call me Rich when they''re not mad at me."


    Jane laughed and accepted the flowers with her free hand.


    "I''m Jane, Jane Starlin." She introduced herself. "Do you have a last name by any chance?"


    "It''s Russell."


    "Richard Russell," Jane said. "It''s an easy name to remember."


    "So is yours, Jane Starlin."


    Silence came over the shop, and Jane had put down the bouquet of flowers to give him her full attention as he did hers. Her day certainly went the other way around but she did like it, and while things seemingly went well she wasn''t going to fantasize over some random man who gave her flowers no matter how attracted she was to him. No, she didn''t roll like that. She was going to be an adult.


    "Would you like to meet up for a cup of coffee sometime?" Jane asked, breaking the silence and not knowing what else to say while visibly trying not to shake out of the nerves acting up.


    "I would like that," Richard replied and fished out his phone while Jane took out a piece of paper and started scribbling her phone number.


    Jane hands him the piece of paper with her number.


    "Thank you." He said, not exactly knowing what to say other than that.


    Jane smiled, not knowing what else to do. It was only because she hadn''t been seeing anyone in a long while and he was the first one and he was sharply dressed and tall that it only made her wonder what he did for a living. Not that money mattered to her, she was well-off enough herself.


    "I''ll see you."


    "I''ll see you too."


    The reply made her wonder what part of her he''d see. Was it the age part? They were both adults and around the same age so he was mature enough as far as she could make out with the conversation they''d had no matter how short.


    Richard smiled and turned to leave, the bell from above the door rang as he got outside. It wasn''t as bad as he thought it could have gone, at least he could comfort himself with that and she was mature, he thought. They both were despite the whole thing being too formal.


    With the date set, Jane could not pick out what to wear instead she opted out for skinny jeans and a red tank top with a leather jacket, she''d read that when a woman wears red on a date the man was likely to spend a lot on her but this was far from what she was trying to do. She was only wearing red simply because it was her favorite color, nothing more.


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    They''d met at the entrance of Adam''s Coffee Shop near Samson Boulevard where Harris University overlooked the place, so for the most part Adam''s was filled with students from the university either just chatting, studying, or drinking coffee it was a local hangout for the young ones. At first, Jane was skeptical as to his choice of a first meeting but it was her fault that she agreed to it or so she thought, am I desperate? She asked herself.


    She found herself in the present again and studied their surroundings; she noticed that most of the pictures hanging on the wall of the coffee shop were mainly sports-related and some of them go way back into the 1950s, realizing how old the establishment was.


    "What may I get you?" asked the waiter who showed up before them. He was a young man who was likely a part-time student too.


    "A latte please," Jane replied immediately.


    "I''ll have an Americano," Richard said.


    "Alright," the young man said not even bothering to note down their coffee order, "I''ll have your coffee in less than five minutes, doctor." Added the waiter.


    "Wait, you''re a doctor?" she blurted out unexpectedly and he could only chuckle.


    "He''s the Dean of the aeronautical engineering department up at the university." Said the waiter who knew too much than he should have but before Jane could reply, he left them on their own at the corner table where they had some privacy.


    "I should have said since I know you own the flower shop," Richard said, sitting straight and folding his hands on the table.


    "And how do you know that I don''t just work there?" There was a little defensiveness in the way she said it as if he had betrayed what he just said the day before about not liking secrets.


    "I''m part of the board of directors of the university and we''re looking to expand to your area," Richard said casually that Jane had to hold off all the scenarios as to where this was going.


    "I hope this isn''t why you''re meeting with me." She said with a hint of disappointment in her voice and how could he if that were the case? Jane already knew of the news from all the articles in The Harrisburg Times, even the Dark Harbor Daily had been reporting the plans to build a branch of the university in Ralston Avenue.


    "No, Jane." He replied.


    "I''m sorry," Jane said apologetically. "I shouldn''t make this conversation all about me."


    "You didn''t, you were upset that I was looking you up for weeks and you thought it was about a university expansion."


    She looked like she was about to cry but Jane knew how to be an adult still so she didn''t push the conversation any further. Jane studied Richard now instead of her surroundings and caught his eyes looking back at her.


    "You shouldn''t apologize, Jane." He said and the way he said her name came across as sweet to her. "I''ll make it up to you; I''ll answer any questions you have about me."


    "Are you married?" She blurted out, not thinking of her question.


    "I don''t think I''d show up here if I were." He replied, "I''m divorced."


    "Any kids?"


    "Just one," He said, "he''s an engineer in one of the space stations out on Mars."


    "Impressive." She said with honesty. "Is there anything you''d like to ask me in return? I think we''re being too formal with each other, to be honest."


    "I feel exactly the same."


    The waiter returned and served them their coffee and left.


    "Is it true you only bought those flowers to see me?" Jane asked, she knew it was a personal question but she didn''t want to put him on the spot either.


    "I did."


    "It''s weird but sweet," Jane said smiling at him. "I wasn''t expecting it from someone like you."


    "Thank you," he said shyly. "I try, believe it or not."


    "A man who doesn''t like secrets but has many secrets of his own." She said and then asked. "How did you know I like tulips?"


    "I didn''t, but you remind me of tulips."


    "Wow, was that your move?" Jane asked, surprising even herself.


    "What move?" He asked looking baffled. "I don''t have a move."


    " ''Oh you remind me of tulips''," Jane said in jest, and he only sighed trying not to laugh.


    "Tulips are simple to look at but they''re elegant."


    "So I''m simple to look at?" Jane said, teasingly.


    "I didn''t mean it that way," Richard remarked and took a sip of his coffee.


    "I know, I was only teasing." She smiled cheekily and tucked her loose hair behind her ear.


    It was a strange experience being with him but she surprised herself even more about how open she was with him, and in return, he didn''t seem to mind. Richard looked gruff but a part of her thought it was only a fa?ade or the way he was meant to look but she liked it. There was a moment in the conversation when she told herself''oh no, I like him!''but she kept it to herself. The younger people in the coffee shop minded their own business of course but she couldn''t help but see some of them chuckling.


    "Doctor Russell?" A young man appeared before them, backpack half-open. "On a date?"


    But before Richard could shoo away the student and tell him to mind his own business the young man introduced himself to her.


    "I''m Jack, one of Dr. Russell''s students." He said with no sense of etiquette other than introducing himself. "He hasn''t told you about me has he?" Jane nodded sideways indicating that he hasn''t but looking over at Richard for some way to handle the situation.


    "Jack, do you mind?" asked Richard, "what did we talk about when it comes to personal space?"


    "That I shouldn''t bother other people when they look like they don''t want to be bothered?" Jack asked innocently.


    "Yes."


    With that Jack turned and left them, saying nothing else.


    "One of your strange ones?" Jane asked looking like she was about to laugh.


    "You laugh but you should be glad he hasn''t done that chin rub he does on your shoulder."


    She laughed for real this time but she liked to laugh and she hasn''t done this in a long time, especially on a first meeting. Jane noticed Richard looking at her with a wide smile on his face, he was like a worried dad who was also smooth at times which was a strange combination but she liked it.


    "I suspect that some of my strange ones are about to pop up while we do this," he began. "Would you like to go somewhere else? It''s getting a little crowded."


    "No, I''d like to meet another one of your strange ones." She said, covering her laughter and pointing at him.


    Richard sighed, and he began to laugh.


    "Oh, you''ll meet them all at one point if we continue this."


    He stood up from the booth and held out his hand for her, it was not a big romantic gesture but it was all she wanted and for a long time she felt appreciated due to the flowers from the day before. When they got to his car she was surprised by the number of flowers inside it, and all of them were still fresh from what she could tell. It dawned on her that these were the flowers he''d bought weeks ago but how he managed to keep them fresh she had no idea but the gesture was simple yet grand at the same time, it utterly surprised her.


    "Thank you." It was all that she could say.

 Mojito For Here

    The door creaked open and the rays of light entered the floorboards, finding their way to the walled shadows that have been there since the night before. A silhouette formed among the shadows that walled it and stood there was a man. Neat and tall, he was; the stranger entered the establishment, feeling the unfamiliar eyes that followed him as he strode over to the bar. The bartender on the other side of the counter prepared the first shot of whiskey, but the man only waved him off and sat on one of the round chairs that surrounded the counter.


    ¡°What can I get you, sir?¡± asked the bartender, mustache, apron and all, his eyes droopy.


    ¡°A Mojito.¡±


    Without a reply, the bartender left, leaving the stranger alone in peace. He fishes out his phone, checking if he missed any new messages. No new messages, it said across the screen. Placing the phone on the counter, he sighed. The stranger shifts in his seat, and brushed his hair with his free hand, then started tapping his foot. It was not all for the drink but something, someone else. Checking his watch, it was only half-past seven in the morning, but he was in the mood for a drink if only to calm his nerves from last night.


    ¡°Here you go sir?¡± said the bartender, placing the Mojito before the stranger and left.


    The stranger shook his head at the quickness of the bartender, but with a smile, taking a sip of the drink before him he relaxed and the nerves started fading away. He stopped tapping his foot too if that was anything to go by. Checking his phone one last time with no updates; he places it back in his pocket.


    Bored from staring at the different mixes of drinks on the shelf of the bar, the stranger shifted his attention to the people occupying the tables; they were scattered, and some inched for the corners while others slapped themselves in the center of the bar with not a care in the world. Cigarettes, it filled the air with smoke and the smell of late-night whiskey, but no one cared. That was the purpose of the establishment, and while he himself didn¡¯t smoke, but he was glad there were places like this to just relax.


    The man finished his drink, sipping uninterrupted by neither the smoke nor the murmurs of the patrons that slept in for the night before. Calling the bartender, he pays for his drink. Keep the change, he said and he went off into the morning heat that struck the patrons blind once more.


    Closing the door behind him, he found himself struck by the warmth of the sun as if it stripped him naked of his clothes; the heat was all over him just as sweat trickled down on the nape of his neck. He takes out his handkerchief and wipes his neck with it. Desperately he searched for a nearby shade that would shield him from the sun and luckily a tree nearby with a log beneath it catches his eye. He approaches. He was not dressed for the heat he wagered as this part of the town was down below; it was still part of Harper¡¯s End but this was where all the fishermen had made their mark. There were no carriages here, only boats and the stench of fish that stung him.


    ¡°Are you lost, mister?¡± sitting on the log, he heard a small voice; turning his attention to the speaker and taken aback there stood a squad of children before him; little boys and girls from around the ages of seven to ten. ¡°Cause if you are, we can show you around the place.¡± He knew this mode of operation; kids gather around and try to show you around the area in return for money.


    ¡°It¡¯s a little too hot for a morning tour.¡±


    One child furrowed her brows as if the words were unfamiliar to her. They don¡¯t take rejection very well; he thought but took out his own wallet and fished out ten dollars, giving it to the self-appointed leader of the children just so they could leave him alone.


    ¡°Thank you, mister!¡± the children said in unison and removed themselves from his presence. Muffled excitement followed the squad until he could hear no more.


    It was only minutes later when he got up from the log and started for the inner part of the town where the stores were all stacked up side by side. There were even more stores here than there are people it looked, and the most crowded area was the fish market where all the fishermen had gathered all the fish they caught for the day. The smell of it stung his nose again. He wasn¡¯t used to it.


    ¡°Hello stranger!¡± a woman greeted enthusiastically, tipping her oversized hat at him.


    He nodded with a small smile, sighing as he loosened his tie.


    The man soon found out that it was the only greeting he received during the day, as watchful eyes bore into him wherever he went. It didn¡¯t help that he was more well-dressed than everyone else. More than anything, he wanted out of the town but this was the deal. Their deal, though she hasn¡¯t shown up yet.


    Everywhere he went he was met with suspicious eyes, and as tall as he was, it made him shrink in size. Checking his watch it was early still, not more than half an hour since when he left the bar then checked his phone to see if there were any new messages; none.


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    ¡°Watch out!¡± He heard someone cry as he saw an oncoming baseball in his direction; he stretched out an arm and catches the ball. Tossing it up in the air as he catches it again with his hand, two younger men no older than seventeen stopped before him, amazed at the older man¡¯s prowess they just witnessed. ¡°Great catch, mister!¡±


    ¡°Just be careful next time.¡± The man advised and started walking away.


    ¡°Wait, why don¡¯t you teach us how to do that?¡± asked the second young man.


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for someone.¡± The man replied, pulling back and forth the urge to walk away that was tugging at him.


    ¡°We¡¯ll wait with you.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t winning, but at least the boys were eager to learn and it was better than any greeting he had received as neither of them looked or stared at him suspiciously or watchfully as the rest had done since he¡¯d gotten here.


    He tosses the ball back to the younger man who had been eager to learn his ways, and the younger man catches it with the glove he¡¯d had on. They did this for a while even though the flow of people had almost started traffic. There were onlookers, and they watched the older man toss the ball with ease while the younger man was too stiff in his catch.


    ¡°Relax a little.¡± Said the stranger who had everyone¡¯s attention on him. Unwanted as it was, it was a lot better than earlier.


    They do this a few times and the younger man started improving with his catch, graceful and relaxed, just as he had taught him. The second younger man wasn¡¯t any different, but decided that batting was more in line with his skills.


    ¡°Had enough?¡± The man asked, as the younger man with brownish hair with a glove on his hand and a ball on the other stopped throwing. Out of breath, he approached the man once more.


    The two young men said their goodbyes to him, but not before thanking him for his time and lessons.


    Deep in thought, the man smiled and nodded in disbelief at his day, this time the watchful eyes were gone and he was left to his own business. He placed one foot forward and followed it with the other one doing the same but he knew nothing of the place where he was headed for.


    The man looks up from his feet and sees a huge sign; EARL¡¯S. Losing no time, he grabbed the handle of the door and entered the building. The patrons in sight were nearly all asleep, but the bar was running despite the heat scorching anything it could latch onto. Making his way to the bar, he walked over lazily, the counter catching him just as he nearly tripped over.


    ¡°A Mojito.¡± He said without being asked.


    ¡°Give me a minute.¡± The bartender said, cleaning a fresh glass.


    He¡¯d turned his attention to the other patrons, who were half-asleep. There were none he wanted to talk to, but he wasn¡¯t there to talk. He placed an arm on the counter and tapped it, looking for anything to catch his attention. It¡¯s too darn boring here, he thought as he started tapping his foot as well.


    ¡°Here you are.¡± The bartender said, placing the Mojitos before him, dripping with cold sweat from the ice.


    The stranger takes a sip, a small one to take his time with the drink. Cool and minty, it was a mix of sour and sweet as well; it made the heat more bearable.


    The door opened; its creak loud enough to wake the ones asleep and the rays of the sun blinded the patrons once again. He glanced up, covering his eyes with his free hand. There she stood; her eyes searching the bar for a familiar face that he knew was his.


    He sees her approach him immediately, just as the door behind her closes. Jane. He thought. She paused on her tracks before him while he felt eyes watching them.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late.¡± She apologized, looking at the drink before him she sat on the seat next to him. ¡°I see you¡¯ve started without me.¡± Jane smiled, her eyes playfully glancing at him.


    ¡°My nerves were all over the place earlier,¡± he began, ¡°and you can¡¯t go wrong with Mojito.¡±


    She was all smiles, and so was he. Early as it was, she sat and called for the bartender, ordering a glass of Bailey¡¯s Irish Cream.


    ¡°Rich?¡± she started, turning her attention to him, her eyes settling on his. ¡°You didn¡¯t mind about earlier?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he replied; bearing his eyes unto hers, drink in hand inching closer to his lips, ¡°no, I didn¡¯t mind.¡±