A Break Apart

CHAPTER 40. Love Birds

The couple followed me to the fabric section, still clutching each other's arms the way they came in.

The woman's jaw dropped when we entered the room, with dazzled eyes flickering at every corner. Her reaction was satisfying to watch. And her husband looked happy to please her.

"Wow. You just made this harder, my dear," she said to me and I chuckled.

"And I can make up for that. Just tell me what colour and material you're interested in and I'll help you with the best."

"Hmm. Great service," the man chipped in, and his wife quickly turned to him.

"I know right," she agreed, while I blushed over their compliment.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you, ma'am," I said to each one of them with a little bow of my head, smiling. They looked so much in love. The woman's hair was a mixture of black and gray, which was styled exquisitely and held in place with clips. The man was bald, but he had a beard, all gray, finely carved and trimmed. They aged beautifully, and healthy. Their voices were solid, and none of them was putting on medical eyes. Plus, they smelled of wealth.

They both smiled back.

"I would love a gold lace," the woman said.

"Excellent choice. I'll-" my loud ringtone disrupted the sale. "Forgive me," I cringed as I pulled out my phone from the back pocket of my jeans, and I couldn't help the smile that lit up my face on seeing the name of the caller as I silenced the call and put the phone back in my pocket.

"I'm so-"

"That must be the one," the woman pointed in the direction of my phone, cutting off my apology and giving me a mini amused shock over her statement that I hadn't expected.

"Of course. She had the same look you had when I asked you to marry me," the man said to her, and she chuckled radiantly, while I blushed, again.

"How many years anniversary are we celebrating?" I striked a conversation, going with the flow of the smooth customer-salesclerk relationship that they had propelled.

"Fifty years, my dear," the woman said cheerfully.

"Wow." My eyes widened. "I have a long way to go. My parents aren't even close," I said, with a light chuckle.

"You'll get there," the man said. "Marriage is a beautiful thing. Although it has its ups and downs. But that makes it more meaningful."

I smiled, as someone came to mind. His words also made me curious about their love story, how many children they had, and possibly grandchildren-but I figured I shouldn't be too nosy.

"Speaking of which," the woman removed her head that laid lovingly on her husband's arm while he spoke, "let's not waste her time. That call must be important," she said suggestively, and her husband laughed, leaving me at the mercy of my merciless emotions.

"We also have ready-made dresses you might want to check out," I quickly suggested.

"Yes, please!" the woman said without a second thought.

"This way." I motioned a hand as I led them out. They followed me, and we arrived the next section in a couple of seconds.

"And we're here." I spread my arms. "Take all the time you need," I added, then thinking they had lost me on the way because I didn't get a reply, I turned around, and there they were, standing before a mannequin, fascinated. The woman especially looked as though she had just found the second love of her life.

I smiled, walking closer to them. "I can tell you've found the dress."

"It's perfect, darling," the man said to his wife, rubbing her arm with the hand he had around her shoulder.