Sunday morning, sunny and fresh. After days hiding in the shadow, the sun deigned to show up to remind that summer was not made by rain only but also by intense heat and sweat. It was the most fickle and capricious season of the year, to tell the truth, at least Benny thought so when leaving the liquor store. He put on his expensive sunglasses and let out a long sigh; the atmosphere was humid and suffocating, nothing compared to the air conditioner inside the store which felt like heaven. Despite the sudden changes of weather that summer brought with it, Benny still enjoyed it.
With a paper bag in hand, Benny checked both sides of the street in an attempt to get a chance to cross it. He was not in a hurry. It was lazy Sunday and the plan consisted on spending it on his own, drinking quietly on his apartment, maybe watching a football match or a movie.
His cellphone started ringing inside his khaki jeans as he walked through the lane. Without really watching, he took it out, but it wasn't until he reached the sidewalk when he stopped to check the screen. A smile came to illuminate his entire face when he read the caller name.
"Hello, beautiful." He greeted in a deep voice. Frida giggled in the other side of the line. He could clearly imagine her cheeks turning red.
"Hello, you. Do I interrupt?"
Benny continued his way to his car with the cellphone stuck to his ear. "Not at all. I just came to buy a pack of beers for this hellish heat."
"Sounds good."
"Yeah, I deserve it. Fancy one?"
"No thanks. Beer is not my thing."
"Woman, woman!" An old lady passing by his side looked at him confused, Benny shook his head and pointed to the cellphone to make clear he was on a call. "We need to get to work and educate your palate. Why don't you come to my apartment? We'd start right away?"
"Well, actually," she paused a moment and Benny slowed down the pace. "I was wondering if you were unoccupied, so we could meet. What do you say? As long as you don't have any plan, of course! I'd understand if you do. It's Sunday anyway."
Benny stopped dead, people continued passing by him but he just stood there with a growing smile on the face. "Really? Sure. Yeah, sure!"
"Yes? Great." The relief was evident in her voice.
"Where are you?"
"I'm on my way out to Ikea. I need to buy some supplies for my garden."
"I'll join you there then."
"Yeah, that's what I've thought."
Benny grinned. "It's you and me and the same brain cell." He reached his car and opened the back door to place the bag on the seat. "Send me your location and I'll join you soon."
—
Frida pushed the cart through the hall where various paining a of different sizes and colores were displayed for sales. Some of them were really good. But not as good as the ones hanging in the gallery, she thought with a grin. As if I were an expert, she added. She continued her way admiring the rest of decorative furniture in an attempt to kill time while Benny arrived.
This morning, she woke up to find an empty house. Not that she was used to have Henry in the house all day, but knowing he wasn't sleeping under the same roof as her was different. He was on a express business trip, and even though it was odd to admite, she left lighter with him gone. Yesterday afternoon she dedicated herself in body and soul to take care of her so dearly garden. She cleaned the pots, replaced soil, watered the lawn, cut some flowers... it was the ideal therapy. Being among nature was something that brought joy and peace to her persona, and watching her colorful creation filled her with satisfaction and a big sense of belonging. She adored her flowers, her plants and even the little birds that would land on the trees to sing during the early morning. It was precisely yesterday that she rescued a pair of seeds she kept for later plant, for that it'd be needed new pots and some other supplies, so she suddenly had a plan for sunday.
