Winter Hearts

Siana Bumps Into Two

Siana opened the door to the the shop and went in. Today she would organise the stuff her mother had sent and make as many deliveries as she could.

The items were mostly personal orders made to her mum from people who knew her here. They were housewives on a budget who wanted cheap crafting supplies but couldn't use the internet for lack of access or knowledge. Her mum bought the items for them because she wanted to help them, not really for a profit. She had already sent by post a large box of knitting wools and needles, just enough to stock a small shelf in their shop, but little enough not to garner any attention from customs. That package would arrive soon, and Siana would be letting the ladies know to come see. Her dad considered it to be akin to a garage sale, and in any case, they were doing a lot of the ladies a favour.

Jenny had packed the four or five individual orders separately, and Siana loaded these into a large tote bag that would fit on the back of her bike. The rest of the stuff were plastic and fake leather bag handles, jewellery-making tools, wires and an assortment of colourful beads, glue sticks for glue guns, and packets of embroidery needles and sewing machine needles of unusual sizes.

Siana took these out to the front where a lone bookshelf stood in the empty space. The shop space was located too close to the main road to have it make sense. The only view was the row of apartments opposite. There were bakeries and sundry shops nearby, so it made no sense to have something with a large front like it did. There weren't enough pedestrians wanting to shop to walk past it, and it didn't have a view or pretty atmosphere to be a cafe. It used to be a hair salon, but that closed years ago.

She really didn't even have to put the stuff in here because they took up so little space, but she didn't want to have people come upstairs to her place for them either. She put the items out neatly and grabbed the tote bag, slinging it over her shoulder. Because it was warmer now, she had left her jacket at home, going out in just her tee and a skinny sweater. She felt that it would probably get even warmer and if there was no chill wind, she could walk around in a single layer.

She locked up and went out to get the bike. She tied the tote bag to the small rack affixed to the back wheel which also acted as the pillion rider's painful seat. She got on the bike and pedalled out towards the centre of town.

By now the vendors had completely cleared the market place and the streets were empty save for a few pedestrians. She rode towards the main church, where smaller roads led to some of the customers. She rang doorbells and was let in with a buzz. She dropped off the packages one by one, greeting people she had last seen the year before. Most had stews bubbling on the stove, or were cleaning vegetables. She smelled olive oil, garlic and wild thyme, and would be offered a taste or a coffee or sweet. She only stayed long enough to be polite and begged off with the excuse that she had more deliveries to make. Some of them passed her foodstuffs and personal items to ferry to the next person, since she was on the way anyway.

Siana left each house feeling more and more satisfied that she was being of help. Some of the ladies had grown children who had left the home, and rare visits by strangers were always welcome. Others were stressed by the racket their kids were making, and enjoyed a few minutes of peace while Siana played with their kids in the hallway.

She reminded all of them that she was teaching at the studio again and managed to come up with a tentative schedule that accommodated the ladies' routines.

Finally, Siana was done, and she got on the bike to take the long way home. She had ended up across the other side of town, so she decided to ride along the waterfront from the marina where she was at, past the main jetty, and onwards beyond Miami to her house.

By now most of the town was settling into that peaceful quiet afternoon siesta time. Many shops and businesses still closed after lunch until late afternoon, which seemed to her to accommodate a people who enjoyed their late nights socialising, but loved being early risers. A lack of sleep coupled with the food coma that came after lunch, made an afternoon nap the order of the day.

Some of the older periptera, the tiny shacks stationed at almost every corner which sold cigarettes, candies, newspapers and ice creams, would shut for the afternoon too, although some of the newer, younger owners catered to the rare tourist or local who liked to wander the town in the quiet.

She pedalled at a steady pace, letting the soft breeze lift her hair off her face, and feeling it press her sweater against her body. At the main jetty she stopped at the periptero that was open and peered into the small window behind which a young woman was sitting listening to a radio. She bought chikhla, the local chewing gum made from the gummy sap of a tree, just because she wanted to taste that bittery, powdery slightly sweet but bland taste. She didn't enjoy it much because it became hard too soon, but it was an old familiar taste she wanted to revisit.

She pushed off again, wanting to pedal out onto the jetty.

As she turned the corner, she rode straight into the path of Hongbin and Leo who were walking from the jetty to the main road.

She braked and hopped off her seat at the last moment to stop herself from riding through them. She felt rather than saw Hongbin's arm catch her around the waist. At the same time her eyes locked with Leo, who was directly in the path of the bike. He stopped the bike bodily, using his long arms to grab the handlebar and putting the force of his weight against the bike.

Hongbin grabbed her arm with his other hand to keep her from going off balance. Siana gasped as she and Leo came face to face. She stepped back. He looked so pissed.

"Are you alright?" Hongbin asked.

"Are you alright?" She asked Leo, who looked as if she had actually run him over. "I'm sorry! Are you hurt?"

Leo's frown turned to Hongbin, who had one hand around her waist, and another on her arm as he pulled her upright. Hongbin looked back at Leo, a momentary frown on his face too. He raised his chin as if to say, "Answer the lady!"

Leo glared at him, then turned to Siana to say he was fine. Hongbin rolled his eyes. Leo spoke as if he wanted to strangle her. Hongbin peered closely at her.

"Are you okay? You almost fell."

Siana seemed to register he was talking to her, and realised he was holding her upright. She nodded, pulling away.

"Thank you. I'm sorry, I didn't see you."

"It's alright, we are fine. Right, hyung?" Hongbin stepped to Leo's side, nudging him surreptitiously. Leo nodded absently as he grabbed and squeezed Hongbin's arm from behind, hidden from Siana. For a moment they stood in awkward silence. Siana looked out to the lighthouse at the end of the jetty.

"Did you see the lighthouse?" They nodded politely.

"It's very pretty here," smiled Hongbin. He felt like he could smack Leo right now for being so absurdly quiet. Unfortunately, his arm was locked in position by Leo.

A thought occurred to him.

"Ah, Miss Siana, Leo wants to try the Greek coffee at home. Where can we get some? Can you show us how to make it?"

Hongbin felt a sharp pain in his arm as Leo slowly tightened his death grip on him. Siana responded to his warm eyes and voice with a smile of her own.

"I can show you," she said. Then in excitement she remembered something. Her eyes lit up as she spoke happily to Hongbin.

"Shall we go get some now?" She turned her smiling eyes to Leo, thinking he was going to love what she had in mind.

His eyes, seeming so disdainful, held hers as she willed herself to keep smiling. She wasn't going to let Hongbin's warm politeness seep away under Leo's frown.

Against her better judgment, she looked down at his lips, which had a hard set to them. He seemed so cold all of a sudden. Where was the gentle giant that stood at her back in the lift as they laughed at themselves? He had been so close, she had felt the warmth of his breath on her skin.

Siana felt a heat rise in her cheeks in an instant, and a tiny breath escaped her lips. She looked back up at Leo to find him still staring at her. She smiled quickly, nervously, breaking their gaze and stepping away from her bike to begin walking.

They hadn't even said they wanted to, but she heard them turn to follow her anyway.