Page 77 of Heartstruck at Dawn
“Wow! Nice shot,” Gary said. “Do you want this wrapped or just a big bow on it?”
“Um, both?” I wanted Nathan to unwrap it without knowing what it was. Gary suggested wrapping it in brown paper with a navy-blue bow made of silk-like ribbon.
“It’s gonna take me about fifteen minutes. There’s a waiting area on the mezzanine, or feel free to take a look around. I won’t take long.”
Caleb followed me as I walked around the place, looking at different papers, ribbons, and bows. It was a lovely shop.
“Who took that photograph of you? Am I getting one too for my birthday?” Caleb laughed. “I know exactly where to hang it.”
I nudged his arm with my shoulder playfully and said, “Nope. I already bought your birthday present.” His birthday wasn’t until March, but when I saw it, I bought it.
He looked surprised, but I don’t know why when he knew how much I cared about him.
“And I shot my own portrait using a tripod. Nolan insisted on taking it for me, but I thought it would be more special if I did it myself. I had to go back and forth a few times until I got the lighting right.”
“I don’t think it’s fair that you have a portrait of me, and I don’t have yours,” Caleb said, drumming his fingers against a glass counter, acting as if he were outraged about it.
That was true.
I did have Caleb’s portrait, the one I took at school in Paris. And it was a beautiful one. Looking at it made me sigh every time. He looked so handsome. I had a 4” by 6” printed out and stored it inside my Paris memorabilia box, where I kept many other photographs.
“Well, life isn’t always fair,” I replied with a chuckle. “But nice try.” I looked in Gary’s direction, and he hadn’t even started wrapping the portrait. I suggested going upstairs to the mezzanine to wait for Gary to be done.
I sat on one of the sofas, and Caleb stood behind me with his bodyguard stance. I looked up at him and said, “Can’t you sit for a minute?”
“When have I ever sat with you, Miss Murphy?” he asked playfully. He was in a fabulous mood. He’d been in a great mood for a while, and I was here for it.
“I can remember a few times. At theBassin Octagonal? Remember? Our last day in Paris.”
“I was making an exception,” he replied. “It was your birthday.”
“And that other time after school when I’d had a terrible day. It was your first week on the job. You sat with me and talked before we left.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s right.” His gaze drifted away into thought. “I sure as hell remember that day. You were crying. I couldn’t allow that. Not on my watch.”
“I know.” I smiled. He’d been so gentle with me that day. It was our first conversation. For a second there, we stared at each other, remembering, I guess. But I looked away first and said, “Oh, come on, sit. It’s just for a few minutes.” I tapped the seat beside me twice. “Although you might want to check the old lady by the ribbons. Looks shady.”
He laughed but took a quick look at the poor lady before sitting next to me.Geez.
Caleb remembered a story about one of the chefs carrying a big cake for an event and how he fell on his butt, ruining the cake, of course. He recreated the chef’s gestures, and I couldn’t stop laughing. “Karma’s a bitch,” I said in between laughs. “You’re so mean.”
My phone buzzed.
“Hey, you,” I said with a chuckle. Caleb made that chef’s face again, and I guffawed.
“What’s so funny?” Nathan asked with a weak laugh. I stood up and walked away from Caleb so I could concentrate on the call. He also jumped up from his seat.
“I’m sorry. Caleb’s making me laugh. Ready for tonight?” I was excited to celebrate his birthday and even more excited to give him his gift.
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Where are you, by the way?” He sounded gloomy.
“Just running a few errands. What is it you wanted to tell me?”
“I’m stuck at the office. There’s a bloody inconvenience we need to get fixed right away, and I cannot leave until it’s dealt with. I won’t be able to make it on time for that early dinner with Lily and Joel. I’ve already let them know. But I’ll see you for sure as soon as I’m out. I don’t care how late it is. I want to be with you at midnight.”
“You promise? I want to be the first to say happy birthday to you.”
“I swear I’ll do my best to leave as soon as possible. I’m so sorry, Murph.” He was upset about it, I could tell.
