During my browsing, I continued to run across the fifteen-dollar delivery option. After realizing how long a grocery store run would take, I dug a little deeper to find out exactly how delivery worked. In less than thirty minutes, I’d put in a full order and would have everything I was missing within two hours. It wasn’t much. My fridge and cabinets were stocked, but there were a few things that I couldn’t substitute – like fresh broccoli and fresh lobster.
ELEVEN
“Hi, baby. How was school?”I smiled in the camera at an obviously exhausted Essence.
“Good,” she told me as she yawned.
“Where’s your sister?” Emorey was too quiet.
“She’s sleeping.”
“Already?”
“Yes. She said she didn’t take a nap at school, so she’s tired.”
“Sounds accurate. You seem tired, too.”
“I am tired,” she admitted.
“Then just call me tomorrow, Es. I just wanted to see your face. I’m pulling up to the house now.”
“OK.”
Before I could get another word out, Essence ended the call. I winced at the internal infliction of her move. I’d never felt so neglected by my children in my life. In all honesty, I wanted them begging and crying to come home so that I could rush to get them, but they weren’t thinking about me. I figured they’d needed the break as much as I did.
After the call ended, I decided to take a minute for myself. We’d had such a busy Tuesday at work, and my feet were killing me. I opened the Instagram app on my phone to see if Luca had accepted my request and to my surprise, he had. He’d also made his way to my notifications. Under the one photo that I’d posted, he had written‘seven’, which was the time he was due at our doorstep.
My cheeks burned as they rose to form a smile. Instead of replying to the comment directly, I chose to message him instead. But before I hit the message tab, I checked out his profile. It wasn’t lost upon me that it was empty, much like Laike’s. He only had one photo, too. It was of a beautiful rottweiler with saggy cheeks and wet lips.
Rest easy, Major, a caption beneath it read. It was short and straight to the point. The picture was dated back four years prior, which only could have meant that his pet had died when he was in prison, and he wasn’t the one who’d made the post.
Seven it is. I’m really looking forward to our time together. - Ever.
I sent the message and shut down my app completely. Knowing Luca, there wouldn’t be a response. I’d see him when I saw him.
With Essence back at the forefront of my head, along with a heavy heart, I shut off my engine and grabbed my purse from the passenger seat. I locked my doors and headed up the driveway. When I made it near the door, I noticed the short, stubby man in white ringing our doorbell.
“Can I help you?” I asked as I got closer and closer.
“Yeah. I’m looking for Ever. Ever Sinclair?”
“That’s me,” I admitted, wondering who he was and what his presence meant.
“I have a delivery for you from Mr. Luca Einsenberg. If you’d do me a favor and sign for it, I can get out of your hair.”
“Uh. Yeah. Uh. Sure.” Baffled, I responded, still trying to figure out what was going on as he handed me the white box.
I held it in one hand as he handed me a pen and placed a notepad in front of me. I scribbled my name across the paper and seconds later, he vanished into thin air. He didn’t give me much of a chance to ask any questions, but I figured I’d discover whatever answers I had once I opened the box he’d handed me.
I stumbled inside of the house, excited and nervous about opening the package at the same time. It was five o’clock, and I’d be seeing Luca in about two hours, so I didn’t understand why the gift couldn’t have waited. I assumed it was directly connected to the night we’d be having.
As I rushed past Lyric’s room, I saw she was knee deep in her computer screen. She barely looked at me as she waved in my direction. I took the hint and continued down the hallway then up the stairs. When I made it to my bedroom, I slammed the door behind me with my foot and laid the box on the bed carefully, being that I wasn’t sure what was inside of it. Whatever it was wasn’t heavy at all.
I removed the tape from the sides and opened the flap in the front. The flood of emotions that followed the discovery of what was inside left my knees weak and my eyes moist. My heart swelled in my chest, beating slower and with so much more purpose.
A thoughtful man was one I’d always seen myself with. One that took the time to make life more meaningful, down to the last second of your day. One that didn’t need to be told what youwere into, loved, or wanted to tap into because they paid close enough attention. One that was out for your heart when it came to gifts, birthdays, holidays, and special occasions because it was their time to show just how much you meant to them. It was only day one and Luca had nailed the test.
I pulled out the chef’s hat with Ever embroidered across the top in brown. I pulled it on my head and over my low bun. It was a perfect fit. Next, I pulled out the white coat to match. It, too, had Ever written on it with a three-tier cake above it. I brought it to my chest and wrapped my arms around my body for a hug. Even more than the diamond bracelets that he’d purchased for me, I loved this gift.
