Mark watched from the rooftop. "That's my girl. Keep smiling, and it will all be fine."
* * *
"Good morning," Rhiannon said as she stepped off the elevator.
Mark watched over her and cheered her on.
The office hushed as she walked the familiar path to her door. Heads turned as she paused to greet everyone on the way with, "Good morning," or "Happy Friday."
"Is she okay?" Jorge asked Tia.
"Don't be like that. It's great," Tia replied. "Good morning, Mrs. Ochoa. Here are your Friday appointments, and the files are on your desk."
"It is a good morning, isn't it," Rhiannon said. "And please call me Rhiannon. We're all friends here." She took her stack of messages and went into her office and began working — with the door open to all.
Tia and Jorge stood with open mouths. Tia slapped his arm, and they got back to work.
Rhiannon picked up her phone and called Maria. "I'm sorry I was so sour yesterday. I just wanted to say that you were right. I do like apples." She and Maria shared a laugh, and Victor, another partner in the law firm knocked on her door frame. "I'll talk to you later. Let me know how your tapas date goes," she said then hung up.
"Come on in," she said.
"Good morning." Victor rubbed his nervous hands on his slacks. "It's been a while since we talked, and I was wondering if maybe you'd like to have lunch with me today?"
Mark fluttered back and forth between them, muttering, "Did I go too far? Oh, please say no, Rhiannon."
"Oh, Victor, that is very sweet, thank you. But I think I'm going to work through lunch and leave a little early. I have a dinner date with my son tonight."
"Ah. Sure. That's great," he stammered. "But anytime, just let me know, okay?"
Rhiannon's smile stayed with her all day, and the pressures on her heart, built up for over five years, lightened even more as the day went on.
Chapter 6- Rhiannon's Choice
I followed Simon all day, hoping for a chance to whisper sweet nothings in his ear and fan that spark him kept burning for Rhiannon. At lunch time, Simon went into the teachers' lounge and looked in the mirror. He turned his face one way, then another.
"She wouldn't. She deserves a handsome man, not a plain, nothing-face like me."
I put my mouth very close to Simon's ear and whispered, "Love is blind."
Simon scratched his ear and looked in the mirror again. "She's rich, too. I'm just a poor teacher."
"There is no treasure as precious as love," I whispered in his other ear.
He scratched his other ear. "Humph. I'm not a bad catch, though." He straightened his tie and tucked his shirt in tight. "And I can dream, can't I?" He smiled at himself which made him smile even more. "What in the world am I smiling for? It's Friday, but it's not that good of a Friday."
He burst out laughing as another teacher walked in and looked at him with amused concern. "Everything okay?"
"I'm fine. Feeling Friday fine." Simon grinned and went back to class with a lighter, hopeful heart.
I clapped my hands together. "Yes!" I said, and flew off to Rhiannon's house.
* * *
That night, I waited at Rhiannon's place for any opportunity to push this project ahead.
"Mom, you seem different tonight." Tristan sucked up a spaghetti noodle and licked the sauce from his mouth.
"I think I realized how much I've missed spending time with you."
"I've missed you too." He slurped some more spaghetti.
I had a fabulous idea and swooped into the dining room and whispered in Tristan's ear.
Tristan took a drink of his milk and scratched his ear. "Hey, Mom?"
Rhiannon put her wine glass down and looked at him. "I know that tone of voice," she laughed. "What do you want?"
"Nothing. I mean, not like I want to get anything. I was wondering if tomorrow we could spend more time together, not just tonight."
"I'd love that. What should we do?"
"Well, maybe go for a walk first? You should see the flowers in old man Gonzalez's yard."
"Okay, that's what we'll do."
Tristan grinned. "Awesome!" He slurped his spaghetti with even more gusto and had to use his napkin to wipe the sauce from his face.
"Love you Mom."
"Love you too, little man."
Mark flew in, and I waved him down. "Sshhh. It's almost perfect," I said. "I've got a plan."
We high-fived each other and flew off to leave Rhiannon and her son to enjoy each other's company.
Chapter 7 : Cupid's Aim
"Come on, Mom! Get up; let's go." Tristan jumped on his mother's bed and woke her.
"What time is it?" She rubbed her eyes and stretched.
"Eight o'clock. Let's go!" He bounced to jiggle her out of bed.
"Okay, okay, let me get up and," she grabbed Tristan and tickled him, "took a shower and grabed some breakfast. Aren't you even hungry?"
"I forgot about breakfast," he laughed.
Outside, Mark and I waited to see if my whisper to Tristan had taken hold.
"Of course he thinks it's his idea, but it was mine," I said. "I know if we can get Simon and Rhiannon in the same place at the same time, I can get a clear shot."
Mark nodded. "Here they come."
Rhiannon and Tristan stepped out of their house and walked down the sidewalk to the street.
"This way!" Tristan pulled his mom to the left.
"All right, slow down there. We're supposed to be enjoying the scenery." Rhiannon straightened her shorts and tightened her laces. "Now we can go." She smiled, and they began walking the brick-paved road.
A few minutes later, Tristan ran ahead and pointed at a house. "That's Simon's house. I'm going to see if he's home."
Rhiannon froze, and her breath came faster. Tristan ran to the door, and Rhiannon walked slowly, smoothing her hair down and checking to make sure her clothing was neat and straight.
"Tristan, good to see you. Are we meeting today?" Simon stepped outside his door and faced the boy with a smile.
"No, sir. My mom and I were walking, and I thought we'd stop and say hello." Tristan's grin flashed from one face to the other as his mother walked up to the door.
"Hi, uh, Simon. It's, um, really nice to see you again." Rhiannon stumbled over her words, and her cheeks blushed with beautiful roses.
"Oh! Yes. Ah, yes. I'm glad you stopped by."
Mark and I hugged each other. "This is the sweetest thing I've seen in so long," I said, and pulled out my bow.
"Not yet," Mark said.
"I know. You can't blame me for wanting to be prepared, though, can you?" I flew toward the door, and Mark followed.
"Well, why don't you all come inside?" Simon waved them into his living room.
"Yes, let's!" Tristan nearly giggled his way into the house with the other members of the group, even the ones with wings.
* * *
"Thanks, Simon," Tristan said, and received the glass of tea Simon offered.
"You, too?" Simon asked Rhiannon.
"Yes. Please, thank you." She blushed again, and they both smiled.
"I've got a puzzle that I'm working on in the kitchen; why don't you go help me with it?" Simon pointed Tristan to the breakfast table with puzzle pieces scattered around on it.
Tristan skipped into the other room and sat down, examining the colors and shapes to fit them together.
In the living room, Simon and Rhiannon sat on the couch and sipped their tea, and an awkward silence slipped into the room.
"Come on," I begged. "Say something!"
Rhiannon broke the ice first. "How, uh, how is Tristan doing in school?"
"Great, really great."
"This silence is going to kill me!" I groaned.
"Give them a chance. They've got to get there before we get involved," Mark said.
"I know, I know." I sat and pouted for a few moments until Simon spoke up.
"You have a great son," said Simon.
&
nbsp; "I'm really proud of him," said Rhiannon, "and he speaks very highly of you."
"I'm glad, thanks."
"I think you're a great teacher, too," she said. "You are very sensitive to the needs of your students."
"And you're a great mother," Simon blushed, "or so Tristan says." He drank a long swig of his tea. "I've enjoyed our meetings at school, and I guess I would have to agree with him."
It was Rhiannon's turn to blush.
"Now!" Mark whispered loudly.
I raised my bow and aimed. I let fly a flaming arrow that pierced Rhiannon's heart right through. My next shot landed a bull's-eye through Simon. Their blushing faces turned up toward each other, and neither one looked away.
"Rhiannon, I was wondering," Simon paused and drew a breath, "if you'd like to have dinner with me tonight?"
"Yes, I'd like that very much," Rhiannon said with a sweet smile.
They talked for hours, and the flaming arrows did their work as the tiny embers in their hearts rose into flames of passion.
Tristan had finished the puzzle long ago and stood at the kitchen doorway watching the two people who meant the most to him in the world become best friends, and then... He smiled and leaned his head against the door frame.
Mark and I cheered and hugged each other tightly.
"You did it!" Mark congratulated me with a pat on the back.
"We did it. Thank you." I patted my friend on his back, too.
"Want to come back for the wedding? That's always a good time for target practice."
"Maybe," I said. "Or maybe I'll be in Japan. I always wanted to try my aim under the cherry blossoms."
"Oh, wait for it," Mark said. He pointed at the couple on the couch.
Their eyes saw only each other, and they leaned in, wanting to both give and receive the love they both deserved. As their lips met for the first time, Mark and I flew off to find the next lonely couple waiting for Cupid to strike.
* * *
Ping!
When I heard the sound “ Ping!” , I looked at my palm. Now a golden coin was in my hand . It was mean that I accomplish this job, I passed for this task. Cheers! I was success
"So, here I am on the Puento Viejo where this story first started. And that was how I evened my score in Ronda. I still have some time before I have to stand before the royal thrones and give an accounting of my successes as a Cupid. Maybe I'll come to your town next!"
Love in the mist (A Cupid Series Novel Book 2) Page 2