LINDA AND THE LITTLE BLACK NOTEBOOK

The cold air kissed Linda’s face. On the street snow was melting. It had been a cold winter, but she enjoyed this type of weather. She could not take away the thought that she could be losing the precious art store she had worked so hard to conjure. Linda had managed to pay most of the amount owed on the building, but she still had to pay 20,000 more in order to be the owner. The problem was that she only had one more week to pay. The memories of the art classes she had taught there, the people that she had met, and especially the memory of that handsome man who walked into the store a week ago… just made her heart sink.

Linda could still vividly remember the first time he came into the store. She had been setting up shelves for the pottery sale to be taking place that week. She was completely focused on placing ceramic mugs on the shelves but as soon as his voice reached her ears, she startled, dropping some of the mugs. Shattered in pieces on the wooden floor.

He bent down to help her and their hands touched each other. The electric energy that she felt through her body was unexplainable. The moment felt like it froze in time and their eyes met. Clear blue eyes met with her dark brown. Like water and earth had come together. Hurrying up to hide the sudden feelings, she stood up. Before she could speak, he sputtered:

“I am so sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you, I can pay for all of this”

" Not at all, this was my fault not yours,”

‘’That is not happening, I like to take responsibility for my actions”

Linda had never heard such dignified words before. Her ex-husband had left her without money, in care of their two children. Her history with men was abandonment.

“But it was not your fault...” She replied tucking her long black hair behind her ears.

“I am not leaving until I pay. Besides, I need to buy one more gift: Christmas is coming and I need to buy a gift for a very special person.”

Linda’s heart started beating really fast, and her dark brown eyes could not help but to look at his left hand. No ring she thought, with a sigh of relief. She could not help to ask the question that was troubling her heart.

“A gift for your girlfriend?” she asked.

He laughed. “No, I don’t have a girlfriend, I did at one time but that’s a long story.” “That special person is my sister. She loves art and this is the perfect place to find her a gift. You see, I am new to this city; I came to work for a business corporation that is relocating here, and while looking for a place to stay, my company found the hotel down the street. It seemed like the perfect location since there is a coffee shop in front of the hotel, a pizza place next to it and many businesses close by, but Most importantly, now, a little shop that sells amazing stuff.”

Linda’s face turned from a glowing tan color to a vibrant red realizing that he was talking about her store.

But before he could see the blush on her face, she turned away and went to a shelf to show him some of the coffee mugs that she had for sale.

“I love the one that you have on your hands,'' he replied,” and hurried to the counter to pay for it.

Linda almost felt like he was running away from her like her ex-husband had done. Silly me she thought, he is probably in a hurry to do other errands. But when she got to the counter, she saw him writing something in a little black notebook while looking at his cellphone.

“How much is it?” he asked.

“It’s 88 dollars which include the other mugs that you insisted to pay.”

He handed her the money. “Please keep the change”

“I can’t do that, you have offered too much money.”

"Please” he insisted.

As much as Linda wanted to say NO, she knew that she needed to earn money to pay the 20,000 that she still owed on the store building. She realized that it was a crazy thought, but wanted to keep her positivity until the last day. “Ok, Fine” … “You know, I am busy with the pottery sale we are having this week but let me buy you a coffee sometime next week to somehow repay you for your generosity.”

“I am a gentleman; I cannot let you do that, how about I pay for coffee and you honor me with your presence?”

But before she could say anything he asked “Does Monday work for you?... I can come here and then walk with you to the coffee shop.”

Linda could not believe it. The thought of seeing him again made her heart beat even faster than before.

“No.” “I mean, I don’t want to cause any trouble, besides I need to do some stuff Monday.” Deep down in her heart she knew that she wanted to spend as much time as possible with him, but she could not jump into the conclusion that he had felt the same feeling at the moment their hands touched.

“How about I meet you there at 9:00 a.m.?” she asked.

“That’s perfect” he replied, and headed to the door.

“wait, you are forgetting this small black notebook”

He turned around as fast as he could and came back for it.

“What have you been writing on this little black notebook?”

His face turned red, and started muttering.

“I am so sorry for being so intrusive but I’m a very curious person.”

“I can see that,” he replied letting out a nervous giggle. He took the small little black notebook and hurried out the store, but before the door closed, he told her. “Maybe one day you will Know.”

Linda suddenly felt the ground moved. She had been so concentrated in remembering what had happened the week before that she slipped, but as soon as her body was stumbling to hit the concrete sidewalk, somebody grabbed her.

“I have you,” a familiar voice replied.

As soon as Linda looked up, she was delighted to see the same blue eyes that she had encountered at the store. She had not paid attention before, but he was a very strong man as she could tell by the way he grabbed her.

“I would like to drink a cup of coffee at the coffee shop and not at the Hospital you know” and he let out a loud laugh.

“Very funny” replied Linda while cleaning the snow off her boots.

“Is this yours?” Linda picked up the little black notebook, and she tried to open it to see if it had suffered any damage but as soon as her hand was moving to open the notebook, he snatched off her hands.

“This small black notebook will be fine,” he replied, giving a worried look. “Let’s go inside and order something,"

Linda sat down, while looking at him ordering their coffee. She could not help but keep looking at the mysterious black notebook that was nestled in his jacket’s pocket. Her curiosity was growing and she was determined to find what was written in that secret place.

“This is your coffee” he mentioned while sitting down. “ I don’t know anything about yourself except that you like coffee.”

“Very funny again!” “My name Is Linda, and I own the little store where we met...well maybe not anymore”

“What do you mean by ‘not anymore’?”

Surrendering to a long sigh, Linda replied. “At the end of this week I will have to empty the building if I don’t pay the rest of the money that I owe the owners”

“How much money do you owe them”

Pausing for a few minutes, Linda replied “20,000 dollars: In other words, only a miracle can save me from losing my store. The place I have worked so hard for.”

“Is there somebody that could help you, like a boyfriend?”

Linda could tell that he had shifted a bit nervously while asking this question.

“I don’t have a boyfriend, but I do have two beautiful boys from a previous marriage.” Linda tried to make it clear how important her sons were to her, but she also wanted him to know that she was not in a relationship. Deep down in her heart she was hoping that he was feeling the same thing she was feeling.

“I love kids,” he replied while giving a big smile.

Could this mean that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her as well? Linda thought. Every minute, every second, she was more enchanted with this gracious man.

“It’s your turn to tell me your name” said Linda with a shy smile.

“My name is John”

Before Linda could say anything her phone rang. “I am so sorry but I have to go”

“It is completely fine. This is my number,” he handed her his card and she tore herself away.

It was the next day and Linda could not believe the call she had received.

John’s cell phone rang

“John, you are not going to believe this but somebody paid the 20,000 dollars that I owed. I am the owner now!”

“I am so happy for you, can I come to your shop to celebrate?”

“Sure, you can John!” replied Linda with excitement.

The door opened and Linda impulsively ran to his arms and gave him a grand hug. “I cannot believe it John! Somebody paid the money, they did not want to tell me who it was but I does not matter anymore”

John suppressed a smile, and suddenly felt the urge to kiss her, but decided he should not take advantage of the moment.

“May I use your restroom?”

“Sure you can, John,” replied Linda with excitement still flowing through her body.

Suddenly, Linda was left alone with the little black notebook that was laying on the floor. Her hug had caused it to drop from John’s jacket.

Adrenaline rushed through her veins as she opened the little black notebook.

Today, December 12, 2019 at 11:35 a.m. I have met the love of my life......My blood is boiling; I have not felt this way before. When she touched my hands, I felt like my heart wanted to come out of my chest. Her black hair, her brown eyes and her petite stature are perfect.... I did not see a ring on her finger so I am praying to God she is not married.

December 20, 2019

I cannot believe we are going to get coffee in a few days. I cannot wait to see her again!!

December 23,

I could not go to sleep last night just imagining her in my life.

December 23,

Today was perfect, but I cannot let her lose her store. I want to see her every day, and if she leaves, I will not see her anymore.

December 24,

I could not go to sleep last night, just imagining Linda’s face when she finds out the building has been paid for.

“Are you finished” a voice asked.

Linda dropped the little notebook, “It was you”, “you paid for the building!” said Linda, giving him her most serious gaze.

“Yes, it was me, I could not bear the thought of losing you and not seeing you again,” “I had made a promise to myself that I would carry this small black notebook and would not start writing until I found the love of my life, and I have found it”

“I Love you,” said John while giving Linda a kiss.

“I love you too John,”...