Miracle
I thought about Becca as I quickly weaved through the hustle of people making their way to work in the city. She was priceless.
I cut across the small park beside another city café, nearly half running in anticipation at seeing BJ. My new low-cut ankle boots were slowing me down as the high heels caught momentarily in the grass.
Becca had also decided to wear her similar low-cut ankle boots today, but in a dark red shade, with black tights and matching scarlet tunic. She complimented her outfit perfectly, being adorned with the latest blue and purple twist ‘n’ shine necklace, from the new range of color-blend accessories in store, the sparkling colors highlighting her dark blue eyes, and smooth, brunette, shoulder length hair. We were often in sync about our clothing choices, turning up to work with similar outfits, much to our amusement when she first started to work at Exquizit, sometimes bursting out in laughter at first sight.
Becca always complimented the latest fashion trends and fads with her own personal twist and style to her outfits, and her professionalism and maturity was really starting to shine through at only eighteen, nearly nineteen years old.
She reminded me of myself starting out in the fashion industry, and I could see so much promising potential that she quickly became my new store manager in under a year. Her warm rapport with the customers, natural current fashion style always perfectly reflecting the image of the company, and her enthusiasm in really wanting to learn more and achieve set goals made her fit in perfectly at Exquizit.
There was also another girl I had on staff so far, Rosey, who came in to work at weekends to manage the shop. She was a shy, nice girl, who enjoyed the part time hours and work experience while she studied at college.
I passed a little magazine kiosk by the street corner, only a few shops away from Exquizit. One gossip magazine poster in particular, caught my attention. I stared briefly at a photo of myself out in LA, alongside other celebrities, on the cover. I ignored the headline and didn’t bother picking up the magazine to see what the article would have to say. I kept walking, quickly shrugging it off.
As I began weaving through more people walking on the street I reached into my way oversized handbag, to find my way too small cell phone, to send BJ a reply text. I had to concentrate as it felt as if I was walking up a one-way street of people urgently walking in the opposite direction. I started typing in on my way when my phone began ringing. Glancing at the screen before answering, my first reaction was concern. The most heartwarming and gracious smiling face was dancing on the screen, Alezmé.
“Hi Momma.” She giggled as I answered the video call with a grin now replacing the concern on my face.
“Hey, aren’t you in class?” I replied, thinking of the time.
“We’re at recess. Hey, Ruby asked me if I can go to her place for a PJ party on Friday…can I go instead of staying at Nan and Poppa’s?”
“That’s cool, Honey. Nan will take you. See you after school. And remember to turn your phone off in class, ’kay? Mwah.”
“Okay, see ya. Mwah!” She air-kissed back and ended the call.
I flipped my phone shut and felt my heart stretching and pulling with love and despair at the same time, aching as it did — every time I heard her call me Momma.
She didn’t know the full truth yet, but I’m sure she has partly figured it out by the way she sometimes glances between Reemée and myself, sensing the same love but a different connection.
I laughed out loud, catching the stares from others walking towards me as I remembered this morning’s incident. I had been so engrossed in thinking about last night’s dream while preparing Alezmé’s breakfast, that I had poured orange juice instead of milk into her cereal.
“The milk is orange!” she had cried out, wide-eyed, as she watched in fascination. I looked down at the cereal horrified when I realized what I was doing, but we then both let out a giggle and had laughed at the situation.
“Oh sorry, sweetheart, Mommy wasn’t thinking about what she was doing.”
“That’s okay.” She had grinned back, raising one eyebrow. “Ha ha, bet Uncle Asher can’t wait to hear about this one.”
Oh yes, I thought, grimacing. It wouldn’t be long before this would become another entertaining story for the family to tease me about, of course.
I looked up at the surrounding buildings to check I was still going in the right direction after being distracted by the call. Yes, still on track, I thought, as I passed the front entrance to one of the largest centers for lawyers, governors and high-profile business owners who gathered in the same office building.
I started to glance forward again but something odd caught my eye. I looked back up at the building as I passed it. It was very tall with pristine, rich-black colored walls and shimmering glass windows. To the edge of the high point of the building, I was sure I had seen a fog-like dark shadow crawl up and then fly down the left side of the building, but now it was gone. I squinted at the sun reflecting off the surrounding buildings, and still pressing through the dark storm-like clouds that seemed to be closing in lower now.
Frowning, I focused ahead and quickened my pace again, my stomach feeling queasy as I hurried closer to where I knew BJ would be.
Ha! Dark shadows creeping on buildings in broad daylight? I must be seeing things, but my imagination was eerily similar to what I saw in my dreams at night. I turned the next corner and relief washed over me in an instant as I hoped seeing him may enlighten my strange morning.
***
“Hey there Kitty Kat!” I heard a familiar voice hollering behind me, recognising the nickname only a few close family and friends called me by. BJ’s voice boomed out as I spun around to see him leaning on the café counter right behind me. “I was hoping you would be here…what a great morning!”
Benja Summers, who preferred to be called BJ, or JJ, his other nickname Alezmé had made for him, was grinning at me from ear to ear. He always bubbled with enthusiasm, radiating life everywhere he was, but this
