Page 55 of It Started With a Scarf

"Did you use the right names and number of years and everything?"

"Yes, oh, yes. Jacob and Rachel? He waited seven years for her. It didn't quite work out for him even then, but yes, he waited for her. Why?"

"I don't know. You do that all the time—quote the Bible."

"Is it a bad thing?"

"No. I love it. I think it's incredibly hot."

"Hot?" I asked laughing. "Bible stuff?" I added making a face at him.

"The fact that you know that stuff, yes. Seriously, Marley. Who told you to be so good?"

"Nessa told me to read it every day, and I do."

"Is that why you can go through life assuming the best of everyone?"

"Yes, it is. That's the only reason. It's definitely the key to life." I was certain and easy with my answer and Dominic leaned in and kissed me.

"How much sooner than Jacob do I have to wait?"

"For what, for me to move into the house? Marriage, I guess. I don't take your offer lightly, though, Dominic. I've been to your house, and I know what an amazing offer you're making me right now. I love you for that, I really do. But I'll be happy at the gym. I won't feel stuck. I'll take a class or something so I have to leave campus. And, of course, I'll be hanging out with you and at your place. I love you for asking." I reached up and put a kiss on his cheek—a soft caring one.

"How soon can we get married?"

He was speaking quietly to me, and the lady who walked up didn't hear our conversation when she butted in. People knew Dominic's face and they interrupted us regularly when we were in public, especially in Chicago. This time, we were in Milwaukee, and this time it was for me.

"Hello, excuse me, but did you get that scarf here? And if so, was there another one? That thing's amazing. If you decide not to buy it, I'd like to take a look at it."

"Oh, no, I'm sorry, this is already mine. I came in with it. I just had it up here with these clothes because I—did you need to get over here?" I asked, taking the clothes and my scarf off of the rack where I had set them down.

"No, I came over here for the scarf. Would you be interested in selling it?" she asked. "I am here thrifting, after all."

"Oh, no, I appreciate the offer, but I've had it since I was a little kid, and there's a whole host of unlikely stories that go with it. I wouldn't part with it for anything in the world. I'm glad you like it. Thank you for asking about it."

I thought she would walk away, but she just stood there, staring at me.

"In that case, I'd like to talk to you about something else. How interesting are the stories?"

I shrugged at her question. "It's my life, so I'm bias, but I think it's pretty interesting. A famous lady made it, and then other stuff happened. Why?" I smiled at the lady. She was regarding me with an appraising smile. It seemed like she liked me as a person and was checking out my style.

"I have a podcast, and I interview people with interesting stories. The one that went live yesterday featured an interview with the woman who had her baby at the Pick 'n Save last month," she said.

"I heard about that," Dom said.

The lady smiled but kept her eyes trained on me. "Let me give you my card. My name's Naomi Prince. If it seems like something you'd be interested in doing, I can have my assistant email you with details."

"Sure," I said. "And I'm Marley."

"Nice to meet you, Marley. Sure, you'll do it?"

I smiled. "Sure, you can email me," I said, smiling and being lighthearted with her. "But I might do it too."

"I hope so." She smiled as she pulled out a card and handed it to me. "I said that about my assistant emailing you so that you'll know I'm a big deal," she said with a deadpan expression.

She was funny.

"I already thought you were a big deal when you said you had business cards."

---