a call.”
I take the business card so as not to be rude, even though I know I will be sorting it out as soon as I get home. This is more what I’m used to though, women making over to ask me out, so I never have to worry about anything. This is why it’s weird for me that when everyone seems so immune to my charms and I just don’t get it when I have put more effort in to Aisha than anyone else but she still keeps a distance from me.
Then again, perhaps this will show how much I care, this will make a difference and she will understand that I’m not just a playboy, but someone who is genuinely interested in her. Once she realizes that I’m serious, I think she might say yes to this date after all. Now wouldn’t that be perfect? A great way for us to start our relationship. We both together at Christmas. I really like the idea of that. Doesn’t have to be too stressful either because we live so close together, just a perfect way for neither of us to be alone, and for the both of us to finally find happiness together.
At least, that’s what I think is going to happen when we finally get together.
Once I head out of the school, I don’t go to the office like I have just suggested to the school Dean, instead I go to the greetings card shop to get a Christmas card for Aisha. I don’t want to blast in to her life and act like I am the hero by telling her that I have saved the day and paid for her son’s education, but I do need her to know so she will get Travis back in school. I think a Christmas card with the receipt inside is the perfect way to do it.
No, I just have to hope that she takes it well. I hope that she doesn’t freak out and kick my ass.
I don’t think she’s going to kick my ass, I really think she’s going to be over the moon about this. I smile to myself as I imagine what her face is going to look like.
Inside the greetings card store, I found myself a little baffled. For some reason, picking up the perfect card is harder than paying off the school fees for Aisha. I need to get the tone right, I need to seem not too pushy, not too romantic, nice and friendly, well also trying to let Aisha know that I had done something particular for her.
“Would you like a hand?” the girl behind the counter asks me. “I can help you if you’re trying to pick out a Christmas card for someone special.”
I do want her help really, I don’t know how I can do this on my own, but after what happened with the Dean of the school I don’t know if I can handle another woman flirting with me. I’m not in the mood to push people away or give any kind of rejection.
“I’m okay, thank you.” I force a smile on my face. “I will pick something in a second.”
She has put the pressure on me now, which may well be a good thing because I end up picking up a card much quicker than I probably would have done otherwise. I pay for it rapidly and head outside to find a wall to lean on so I can write it. I need to get this written and gift it to Aisha instantly, so Travis knows he can get back to school. I know from our conversation that he is missing it terribly, and I’m sure that Aisha is struggling to juggle everything. I can’t even begin to imagine how stressful her life is.
“What the hell do I write in it?” I murmur to myself. “How do I express my feelings?”
In the end, I write a very basic message. To Aisha and Travis, I hope you have an amazing Christmas and I hope this helps you. From Marc. It doesn’t feel like enough, but I don’t see what else I can do. Anyway, if I end up worrying too much, I will end up talking myself out of handing over this card and my next-door neighbors both need to see it.
“Right, come on,” I whisper to myself. “Let’s go and do this.”
Nerves do capture me as I walk towards Aisha’s home, I start to wonder if it’s going to