Little Steps of Faith

AFTERWARDS

"It was really nice seeing you again.
- Lawrence."
We didn't say when we could call or text so I sent this under two minutes after the cab rode of. Not leaving anything to chance. And I wasn't lying; it was great seeing her and she's not boring.
In my education and field I have met a lot of people and am still learning not to judge, especially the packaging. The smartest ones don't come with it written on their faces. Same goes for the other side. Assume anything and you could be in for a disappointment. Occasionally though, I try to read people and when it turns out I'm right, I pat myself on the back.
Well Isabella, she seems okay. I mean, I've only known her two days.
But she seems to me like a healed bird caged in who's ready to fly away. Don't know if I'm right, but it'll be exciting to find out. And if I'm right perhaps I could let her out and help her fly again, assuming she ever did before.
I lived around so I was walking home. Mulling over her and I heard my phone beep. It was her.
"This is cheating, I'm not even home yet." I could imagine her pouting like she did earlier today and I chuckled.
"We didn't exactly set time, sweet. I can't be wrong."
"Sulking", she sent.
"With a pout, I guess."
Then "hikihiki."
"What's that?" I ask.
"Laughter", she replied.
"Lmao", since I was actually laughing out. "That's the first time I'm seeing someone laugh like that."
"Yeah, down here we improvise a lot. You haven't been away long enough to forget that, have you?"
"Well..."
No response.
Maybe she decided that was enough. No problem we could continue the next day.
Then just as I was settled in bed, "G'night, Lawrence."
"Good night, Isabella."

* * *
5am on Monday morning and my alarm burst my head. But I thought I turned off the alarm... or did I?
I reached for my phone to turn it off and no, it wasn't the alarm; it was a call from my mum reminding me to pick her up from the airport at 8am. A few seconds after it rang again; this time it was the alarm, which I'd set for 5:10am.
Barely five minutes back under the covers and the phone rang again.
Yes, this time it was Isabella. But I really didn't want to talk this early, even if it was just a good morning so I ignored it; I would call her later. Besides whether I picked or not, she called and she'd won that bet; she got to choose where next we met and I got to choose when. Fair.

# # #

Monday at work and Nessa won't leave me alone until she had the whole Friday night story. As if the weekend with my sister wasn't enough. Well, it was a good experience, a nice memory, so I had no qualms with retelling. In fact, it felt good talking about Friday night, especially since Lawrence showed (the alternative I didn't dare think about).

We'd been texting all weekend without a call. I decided to call him Monday morning; after texting first he could at least allow me make the call, I hoped. Thank goodness he didn't beat me to it. Figured 5:30am was fair. It was close to 6am and not too early to rise.

He didn't pick up and I'm not gonna rush and conclude he was still sleeping. But it was nearly lunchtime and not a comma from him; not that I was too concerned. But he must have seen my call by now. Should I send him a text? Nessa said not to; I had initiated contact that day and he had to continue from this point, and seeing as she had more experience in these stuff than I did I decided to go with that.

# # #

My mum is a serious business woman. She has a lot of money and could retire and live in comfort the rest of her life. But she's also very active. Which is why she loves to go to court; she's an attorney. She also believes that with enough money anything is possible. I'm yet to win an argument with her but that doesn't stop me from trying.
As a mum she's wonderful. In fact she is a nice person so long as it isn't business. Even as old as my sisters and I are, she never comes home without presents. I stopped protesting a long time ago; I understand that it's her way of holding on to her children who are grown and taking care of themselves, especially since our dad passed away.
She's also very bossy. She's yet to catch on that gifts from every trip she makes doesn't make her the decision-maker in our lives.
Sometimes I call her by name, Adelaide, to tease her. She pretends not to like it but we both know she does.

So anyway when I picked her up from the airport that morning she couldn't stay still; too hyper. I sensed something had happened but I waited until we were in the car and on our way home, after the welcome, to ask her. She had news and she wanted to tell all her children together. I had the honour of assembling us all and wondering what on earth she had to say and why she couldn't tell me first. Needless to say, Isabella was the last thing on my mind, if even there.
But when I did remember her it was with the urgency of a missed job interview that I called her around three or four pm. No answer. So I sent a text. No big deal. Right?

# # #

I didn't intentionally not pick his call; I missed it. I was gonna call back after about 30 minutes but then the text came in:
"Isabella... I'm truly sorry that I wasn't able return your call until now. Hope you're not mad at me. I'll call you later tonight and we can make nice."
Well. Not bad.
He did call, though and we made nice.
Did I mention Lawrence was a funny guy? He had a talent for drawing out laughter, only I didn't know if it was just me or everyone else. He has a lovely voice over distance, I told him that, a comment he saw as funny because of my choice of word: lovely. Said it was a lovely way to to describe his voice and thanked me.
I did note that the compliment was not reciprocated.
Well. Poor me.

Next Up: MAKING MEMORIES