by Simone Evans
It had to be classy, not too flashy, and unique. Everything Naiva was.
I found it at the third shop I entered and purchased it without looking at the price tag.
Now I was carrying a picnic basket with a rolled blanket and a single purple flower that reminded me of the ones on the Aisley B&B sign. I debated on roses but didn’t think Naiva would like them as much as the simple summer flower.
When I arrived at the boathouse, I laid out the blanket in the shade of it, I set out a few of the items but figured it would be better to wait for Naiva to arrive before unpacking the lunch I’d brought.
“I hope she hasn’t eaten yet,” I muttered as I reached into the basket and extracted the leather-bound journal I dug out of my trunk in my room at the house.
I’d debated on how to win Naiva over and came to the conclusion I would need to prove to her that my infatuation with her wasn’t something new or short-lived. It was something I’d felt for so many years that her memory had taken on a life of its own.
Time ticked by and I pulled out my cell to check the time. Naiva should have been here by now. I stood up and paced back and forth in front of the blanket.
“I’m a dumbass,” I groaned.
Most likely Naiva had to work. I hadn’t even taken into consideration that she wouldn’t be able to drop everything to meet me.
Rushing to pack everything back up, I hefted the basket and jogged down the beach toward the Aisley Bed and Breakfast. I approached the patio where Naiva had found me the night before.
Manners had me juggling the basket as I held the door for a few customers to exit. Once the two older ladies moved off while giggling about something with their heads close together, I moved inside of the cafe and looked behind the counter to see Naiva helping an older gentleman select a pastry.
She mesmerized me with both her patience and her knowledge as she explained what was in each of the pastries the man asked about.
“I just don’t know. I have it narrowed down to either the lemon tart or the strawberry-rhubarb streusel. The lemon is probably higher in sugar…” The soft voice of the older man was soothing as he drummed his fingers against the glass of the case.
“Oh, yes. The lemon is mostly sugar,” Naiva chuckled and reached for a box and quickly placed one of each of the pastries in the box. “Here you are, Mr. Lomas, that’ll be four dollars even.”
The man lifted his chin and gave her a huge smile as he fished out his wallet and pulled forth a five-dollar bill – “Here you are, Naiva. Keep the change.”
She exchanged the box for the money and gave the man a huge smile.
“Oh my, thank you, Mr. Lomas. You have a great day and give your wife my best.”
Standing off to the side, Naiva didn’t see me until after Mr. Lomas had exited and she turned to offer her assistance.
“What can I get –” Her voice trailed off and something crossed her features.
I felt as if a knife sliced through my heart.
“Naiva?” I whispered as I approached. Something told me I wasn’t going to like what I felt coming.
“Good morning, Mr. Noch, what would you like?” she asked without any warmness.
“Naiva… why didn’t you meet me?” There was no point beating around the bush. Better to rip off the bandage and get it over with.
“Mr. Noch –”
“Jack. My name is Jack to you,” I corrected.
“Look, Mr. Noch, last night was fun and all… but I’m at work and if you’re not here to purchase something… then, have a nice day.” Each trembling word stabbed into my heart. My heart which broke when she turned on her heel and went to the kitchen.
My throat began to close up and I staggered back a step.
“No…” I gasped and pushed away the fear and loss. “I’m not giving up.”
Rounding the counter, I followed Naiva’s path into the kitchen. I found her once again chopping vegetables. Flashbacks to the night before solidified my determination and I walked up to her and set the basket on the work table.
“What happened?” I asked.
Naiva continued to chop and ignored me.
“Damn it, Naiva, talk to me.” I stabbed my hand into my hair in agitation. “Please, talk to me,” I amended.
“I told you… it was fun,” she whispered. “Why can’t you just let it go?”
“Because I love you!” I snapped and reached out to take the knife from her so I could grip her by the shoulders and turn her to face me. “Last night wasn’t a one-night thing. I gave you my heart.”
A sob passed her lips and she dropped her chin so that she could hide her gaze. Reaching for her chin, I tipped it up and she briefly met my eyes before squeezing her eyes shut.
“You and I… we’re from different worlds…” The pain in her tone almost broke me.
“Naiva, don’t you understand? You are my world.” I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to each of her eyelids and then to her mouth.
“Please, Jack…” she rasped through her tears.
“Look, I brought something to show you. To prove to you that my feelings are real and that I’ve had them for a long time.” I released Naiva and turned to the basket, I dug inside and pulled out the journal.
Gulping down my nerves, I handed the leather-bound volume to her.
Naiva took her reluctantly and stared at the cover for several minutes before inhaling and flipping it open. I watched her eyes move across the first few pages before she looked up at me.
“This is your diary,” she gasped.
“Yes. From when I visited during those summers when I was a teenager,” I agreed.
Naiva continued to scan the pages and then she stopped with a soft gasp. I looked down at the pages at a drawing I’d done of her. It was from the last time I saw her. She’d been sitting on the beach, staring off at the distant horizon. I’d been able to sit on a rock at a good angle and had drawn her in an attempt to memorize her.
“It’s not very good,” I admitted. “But that’s the last day I’d seen you. The next day I went back to the city and then left for college.” That’s the image that stuck with me. The woman I saw emerging was the one I measured every other against and all of them had come up lacking.”
Naiva ran her fingers over the slightly faded penciled lines.
“It’s… It’s… amazing,” she rasped and looked up at me. “You stalked me,” she chuckled.
“Maybe a bit,” I grinned. “But I was a horny young boy at the time. Insecure and positive that you wouldn’t have reciprocated my attraction. It was easier to document what I saw and keep it as a memory than to demolish the illusion.”
“Yeah, I get that,” she sighed. “But, Jack… your family won’t accept me. They’ll see me as some uneducated gold digger.”
Nothing could have kept me from pulling her into my arms. I wrapped her in my embrace and caressed her cheek. “Even if that was true, I wouldn’t care. I know what I want and it’s you.”
“Jack,” she huffed and glared up at me. “I’m being serious. I can’t come between you and your family. I heard these girls talking and your mom wants someone… appropriate for you.”
Laughter burst forth and it took me a moment to calm enough to speak.
“Oh, Naiva. My mom knows. She gave me her blessing. Her exact words were… ‘Harrison, she’s too good for you.’ Then she told me I better not mess this up because she wanted me happy and wanted grandchildren before she died.” I chuckled at Naiva’s expression.
Deciding that I didn’t care about perfect moments or locations, I kneeled at Naiva’s feet and reached into my pants pocket for the velvet box I’d picked up that morning.
Snapping open the box, I presented it to her and said two words…
“Marry me?”
Naiva gasped and looked down at the box in my hand. Reaching out her fingers hovered just above the ring I’d selected for her.
“Naiva?” I grinned and watched as her eyes slowly lifted from the silve
r ring nestled into the velvet cushion.
“Yes,” she whispered huskily.
“Is that your answer?” I grinned up at her and she nodded before falling into me and wrapping her arms around my neck.
Tears flowed down her cheeks as she pressed kisses to my face. My heart swelled and laughter rolled through me as I surged up to my feet. I swooped Naiva up with me and swung her around the kitchen.
Then I allowed her to slip down my body until I could reach her mouth. Taking her mouth in a passionate kiss, I didn’t notice anything except for the warmth and perfection of my new fiancé. At least not until the clapping registered.
Glancing up, Naiva’s parents and a man I recognized from the restaurant part of the B&B, stood in the doorway and whooped and clapped.
“I love you, Naiva Aisley. Always have and always will.”
“I love you, too, Jack.”
Then I sealed our engagement with a second kiss that soon had my body reacting in a way very inappropriate for mixed company.
Naiva broke away and laughed. Her joy filling me and completing in only the way she could.
Two Years Later
Constant activity swirled around me as I slid the last tray of pastries into the case. Today was our grand opening and everything needed to be perfect. With that thought in mind, I took one last look around. The tables were set so that they allowed a decent distance for walking and privacy between patrons. I had always hated places that shoved as many tables as possible into the available space and your neighbors were practically sitting on top of you.
I loved how each table had a can light that shone down softly to provide a bit more light. We’d gone with decorative tables that had a beautiful inlay on the tops and we had stations on each side of the space with anything a customer might need to doctor their drinks or eat their pastries. It was better than taking up much-needed space on the tables with containers of condiments that someone might need and a vase with a flower to add color.
“Mrs. Noch?” Molly called from behind the counter. “We have ten minutes…”
Molly was fidgeting with her apron and glancing around frantically. She was a hard worker and had a penchant for being a people pleaser. I knew she was going to be an amazing employee, now if I could just help her gain some confidence and I’d be able to promote her to manager.
“What’s wrong, Molly?” I asked and braced myself for bad news.
“Nothing… I’m just worried I forgot something,” she mumbled and straightened the printed menus we’d had printed for today.
“Calm…” I began to reassure her when I heard a knock on the door behind me.
Turning, I found my other employee standing on the other side with a box in his arms. Lucas grinned at me and nodded down at his full hands. I quickly opened the door and ushered him so I could lock the door behind him.
“Did you have any trouble?” I asked.
“Nope,” he said and grinned at me and Molly.
“Lucas, can I help you?” Molly asked and rushed forward.
“It’s not heavy, just awkward,” Lucas assured her.
“I hope the order arrives tomorrow,” I grumbled.
“Jason assured me that he would personally drop it off as soon as it arrives at their place,” Lucas addressed my comment.
“Good. We can’t sell pastries without bags and boxes to put them in.” My mind wandered for a few moments as I ran through my mental checklist.
“Will Mr. Noch be coming down this morning?” Molly pulled me from my thoughts.
“Molly, we’ve told you multiple times, call us Naiva and Jack,” I instructed as I moved up beside her and patted her arm.
“Oh, no, I couldn’t do –”
“Yes, you can. We’ve asked you to, so you can,” I interrupted and smiled at her.
“Okay, Mrs. … um… Naiva.”
“It’s time,” Lucas called out as he walked to the front door.
“Oh. My. Gawd.” Molly pointed at the front of the shop. “Mrs. … Naiva, they’re already lining up,” she gushed.
Looking out at the small gathering of people at the door, I smiled.
“Jack must have given them an incentive to come down here,” I laughed. Every one of his employees was lined up and jostling each other to get inside.
“Naiva!” Jack’s assistant, Clark, called out as he pushed his way in first. “Coffee. Stat.”
I laughed and quickly fixed Clark’s latte and snatched him a chocolate croissant. When I handed him the drink and pastry, I also made sure to stuff a menu in his hand as well.
“What are you trying to hand me?” I looked down at the ten-dollar bill Clark was sliding over the counter. “Your money's no good here.”
“Naiva, you won’t be a success if you give all of your friends free drinks,” Clark lectured and left the ten on the counter while he snatched up his coffee and pastry. “I was first, suckers!” he crowed as he walked out the door.
“What was that about?” I mumbled as I turned to find Galvin, one of Jack’s programmers.
“Jack said he’d give the first person to purchase something a day of paid vacation,” Galvin grumbled and looked at the menu. “Can I get a black coffee and a piece of the coffee cake?” he asked.
Of course,” I replied with a smile.
My husband was going to get an earful when I talked to him.
My employees had reported back throughout the day on how busy the first day had been at the cafe. I’d sent Clark down for my order because I didn’t want to crowd my wife. She needed to focus on her new cafe.
It had been hard for her when the sale of the B&B was finalized. When she’d closed the B&B cafe for the last time I could tell how important the cafe part of the business had been to her. So, when Naiva had announced she was pregnant, I’d given her the gift of a paid lease for a shop in the same building as my software company. Might be strange to some, why would I give my pregnant wife a business? Well, because it would make her happy.
My Naiva wasn’t the type to sit and do nothing and once things were running smoothly, she’d be able to take normal days off and spend the time with our son and me. Which is why I’d given everyone in the office a ten-dollar bill and sent them down to the shop that morning. The free day of paid vacation was a huge incentive, too.
I laughed at how Clark had breezed into my office and demanded that I give Manuel the day of PTO. Manuel was the new website designer we’d just brought on board. His wife was due to have their first child and the man didn’t have any accrued time as of yet. Clark wanted the man to be able to take a few days off when the baby arrived.
Clark’s generosity was so touching and I guess I was in a good mood because I gave Manuel a week’s worth of PTO instead of the single day Clark had earned by being Naiva’s first paid customer.
“Alright, little man. Let’s go and see if we can pry mommy away from her new baby.” Noah jabbered at me as I scooped him up into my arms and slipped him into the carrier I’d already put on.
I loved carrying our six-month-old son in the carrier. It put his head directly beneath my nose where I was able to inhale his pure baby scent. Kissing his head, I ran my hand over his head to smooth down the small amount of red hair that covered the top of his head. Noah Harrison Noch had arrived about a year after I married Naiva. I’d thought I couldn’t be happier or more content, and then Naiva had given me Noah. The two of them were everything to me and I would do anything to make them happy.
Grabbing Noah’s bag, I walked out of my office and we headed down to the lobby area of the building. The cafe was located by the front doors and was in a perfect location for all of the morning and lunchtime traffic. It was sure to be a huge success, especially with Naiva running things.
We slipped in quietly and I found a space that allowed me to lean against a wall and watch my wife as she served customers. Naiva was a quiet person by nature but she seemed to open up when she was cooking, baking, and serving people the fruits of her labor. I was a
lways impressed by the difference in her personality when she was behind a counter versus the times she’d had to talk to people otherwise.
Time ticked by as I stood contentedly by the wall while Noah took a nap.
“Hey, Jack,” Lucas inched in beside me on the wall. “Today’s been amazing. I’m sure it will only get better and better as word of mouth spreads.”
“Yeah. Has she been like this all day?” I nodded at Naiva as she balanced a tray of cookies above her head as she maneuvered past Molly. She was laughing with a customer as she slid the tray into the case and proceeded to take several of the cookies off the tray and place them in a box. Naiva was a force of nature – almost as wild and untamed as the shoreline where she’d grown up in her family’s bed and breakfast.
Lucas chuckled and pushed off the wall. “Yeah, it takes everything I got to get her to let me help,” the man replied to my question as he slipped away.
The love I had for my wife had only grown with each passing day as I got to know her and all of her habits, flaws, and quirks. She was extremely independent and a whole hell of a lot stubborn. So, I was pretty sure, Lucas wasn’t exaggerating his difficulty to get Naiva to accept help.
My eyes were on Naiva as Lucas came up beside her and whispered something in her ear as he nodded in my direction.
‘Traitor,’ I mouthed at him as I chuckled.
Naiva looked up and she stole my breath. Her golden eyes were twinkling as she smiled and waved. Lucas took over talking to the customer who Naiva had been helping and she slowly walked over to where I’d been standing.
She remained silent until she pressed a kiss to Noah’s head and nuzzled his cheek.
“I’ve missed him so much,” she sighed.
“You could always hire a few more people and let Molly manage the shop,” I offered with a grin. I knew she wouldn’t accept the offer.
“Not yet…” Naiva glanced over at the young woman. “She needs to find her backbone first.”
“She is a bit accommodating and sweet,” I agreed.
“So, what brings you down? Run out of employees to bribe?” Naiva chuckled.