The Covenant - Chapter Twenty-Six

Walking into the large chain bookstore after wiping her wet boots on the welcome mat, Annie quickly aims for the rows of novels with special highlighted red tags discounted at a lower price.  The large mahogany bookcases are filled with many literature treasures. The books are bound in a variety of hard cardboard, leather, flimsy  bendable paper, some with embossed covers or sketches of a likely scene of the story within.  Some carry titles of "how to ...", others with gorgeous landscapes,  a few with a tempting review on the back cover, but all with a plethora of fonts trying to attract buyers.

In turn, Annie glances over each one recalling a series of adventures, mysteries, and love stories that she has enjoyed in the past.  Glancing through the stacks, she wrinkles her nose at a book that reminds her of a less than satisfying plot line, while most of the others rekindle of warm glow of time well spent reading.   As she tediously peruses the shelves,  Annie pauses over some new releases as the aroma of fresh ground coffee and hot bakery items fill the aisles.  Hearing an unexpected growl  in response to her senses, she considers perhaps a snack might be in order and heads towards the in-store cafe area.  She grabs a book that challenges her interest and finds a comfortable seat to indulge her imagination.

After buying her latte and lemon cake, she moves about comfortably in the sofa in the corner of the cafe and opens up to the forward to read who the book happened to be dedicated to.  She always finds this interesting and wonders who the person is and what they did in the author's life to inspire them to dedicate a piece of their creative soul to them.  Often it is a parent, a spouse, an editor, perhaps a best friend, but there is usually generally someone that the author is reminding them of this gift of their heart.    She wonders how much the story is based on truth versus the author's own imagination or wishful thinking.  Annie smiles to herself and continues reading.

Without looking around her, Annie smells a familiar cologne lodging itself not too far from her.   While staring down at her novel, she finds herself blushing remembering the owner of such a wonderful scent.  She shuffles in her seat again and returns to her story from her temporary break of concentration. 

In spite of her reading reverie,  she hears a man next to her politely clear his throat.  Without glancing up, she begrudgingly shuffles more to her left away from him expecting that he needed some more room to sit down than she was offering in her comfort.  Breathing deeply in annoyance, she slightly tilts her back towards him and tries to locate her last sentence in the chapter again.

A few seconds later, she hears a pin drop at her feet and roll across the tile flooring.  She considers for a moment whether she will be polite and help it to pick it up, or let the owner scavenger across the room to capture his loss.  She decides to be helpful.  Bending down, she claims the errant pin and raises her head just in time to knock against the chin of the competition claiming to find the lone pen.

"Oeww" she hears him moan next to her, as Annie hovers her hand over the pain now increasing on her  own temple too.  She closes her eyes hoping that somehow darkness will attempt to make a speedier recovery.  "I'm sorry"  Annie whispers in her agony without opening her eyes  "I was just trying to help".

"It's okay" she hears a familiar voice respond while rubbing his chin "I was trying to surprise you. I've been trying to get your attention, I guess that I got it now even if my jaw is hurting a bit.  I hope you are okay too."

"What?" asks Annie looking up into the face of a well-known friend "I didn't know you were in town!" 

"Yes, just got in a few hours ago" Rick responds still cuddling a red spot on his chin "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing well!  I didn't know you were coming here!" gushes Annie blushing in excitement in seeing him again.

"I'm glad you found my pen" offers Rick holding his hand out to her as Annie is nervously flipping it back and forth in her hand  "I've been dropping it all over the place and you didn't even notice.  I finally had to kick it over your way.  I wasn't even sure you were going to pick up then."

"Yeah, it took a moment to consider whether I wanted to interrupt my story or not to help a stranger" giggles Annie very pleased to see him again "We've got a lot to catch up on!"

Moving closer to her on the sofa, Rick appears to be just as delighted to see her again, "So, how is the visit going with your family?  Are you having a good time?"

"Ummm ... that is rather debatable depending on the day.  But things have gone much better than I expected.  I have a few friends in town which have made things a lot better too" explains Annie taking a sip of her hot coffee.

"I hoped that we would run into each other.  I know that this is one of your favorite places no matter what the city and that you are staying just around the corner.  So I took a chance and thought I might run into you here" offers Rick smiling into her eyes "It's really good to see you again."

Annie blushes but then remembers one annoying fact, "So, when are you getting married?  I haven't heard a date yet?"

"What?" shocked asks Rick "I guess eventually, most people do. Once you find the person you want to be with, you make that happen as long as both are willing."

"Yes, it appears that time has come" agrees Annie feeling a big dejected that he is already attached and there is no longer hope "It's always important to find the right one and not settle."

"I agree completely.  It's good to have a friend to marry but you need someone whom you are attracted to as well and share many things in common with especially core values too" continuing the conversation adds Rick unsure where Annie is leading them.

"You'll make a wonderful husband.  You're a good listener and caring.  You're smart and wise. Anyone would be happy to spend their life with you" suggests Annie wanting to support him in his decision and feeling that Lauren doesn't quite measure up to him.

"Well thank you.  I hadn't really considered those qualities in myself before and I'm flattered that you noticed" gushes Rick quite taken with all the sincere compliments. "You could say the same for yourself too."

"Yes, I guess so.  At least I hope to make someone happy one day" humbly states Annie wishes that he was that 'someone' rather than an unknown figure in the future.

"So you still didn't answer my question, when are you getting married?" impatiently asks Annie not wanting to delay the horrible answer too much longer.

"Uhhh.." begins Rick not sure what he is suppose to answer "I don't know.  I hope soon."

"Oh" deeply sighs Annie feeling that a relationship between them is truly hopeless "Well, I hope she ends up deserving you."

"Who?" confused asks Rick realizing perhaps they might not be communicating on the same subject.

"Who?  What do you mean 'who'?  You know.  Stop teasing me" remarks Annie slightly annoyed that he won't bring up Lauren's name and acting like he doesn't know who she is.

Feeling that Annie is playing a game knowing that it is her that he actually is thinking about marrying even though he has not admitted it to anyone states confidently with a smile "Oh, I see what you're doing. I think you know" moving a bit closer to her to see how her eyes are responding.

In response to his closeness, she tilts her head a little further back wondering why he is putting a move on her at this moment in the cafe while talking about his fiance, "Okay, I guess you're not going to tell me and I'll just have to guess."

"This sounds like fun" agrees Rick not sure what she is doing but thinking the game of sharing their feelings is rather entertaining.  He places his arm behind her on the sofa and is charmed by the whole conversation.

"Are you getting married next month or six months from now?"  politely asks Annie wondering how long she has to find a dress to attend his wedding.

"Let's see.  I think three months is actually a good time.  It's long enough to get things together and merge two lives.  What do you think?" smiling at her, Rick takes another sip of his coffee waiting for her response.

"It's the time I would have chosen too" sighs Annie despondent that he cannot even see how much even in little things they share in common with each other  "I'm sure you'll be very happy."

"I'm sure too" confidently states Rick too tickled that they are discussing their future life together in such an odd manner without even a formal proposal. "I think when two people love each other many wonderful things can happen quickly."

"Yes, quickly ..." Annie can almost feel a tear forming and wonders why Rick cannot see how much she loves him  "I'm sure you and Lauren will be very happy together."

Acting as if he has just been slapped, Rick moves a foot away from her, "Lauren?  What do you mean, Lauren?  I'm not marrying Lauren.  Ben Wick is marrying Lauren." And then looking into her eyes and seeing the forming tears, reads Annie entirely wrong, "Are you upset that Ben Wick is marrying Lauren?  I knew you liked him this summer, but I thought you would be over him by now."

Scrunching her nose, Annie responds, "No, I don't care about Ben Wick.  I'm incredibly happy to hear Lauren and Ben Wick are getting married!  I had no clue!  When did they get together?"

"You didn't know?" puzzled asks Rick completely surprised that the gossip had not reached her yet.

"No, I didn't even know they were interested in each other" truthfully admits Annie recalling that Ben Wick didn't seem all that impressed with Lauren's shallowness in a few conversations with him.

"They got together within the few hours I was flying back to the states with you.  By the time I returned to Peru, they were already settled as a couple.  Didn't your sister tell you?"  bluntly asks Rick.

"No, she gave me the impression you were very much still with Lauren and that you were going to be engaged soon" honestly replies Annie confused by her sister's deception.

"She was there.  She saw Lauren and Ben Wick together.  I don't understand why she didn't tell you" angrily confirms Rick "Did she give you the box I sent home with her for you?"

"No, I didn't get anything except for the occasional post cards you sent me" replies Annie "I enjoyed them very much.  Thank you for sending then to me.  I didn't wonder why you didn't really mention Lauren in them, but it was nice to hear from you."

Rick sits silently for a moment trying to digest what he has just been told and realizing that Annie may not fully be aware of his feelings for her yet again.

"I wondered why I didn't hear from you too often.  You mentioned that you had run into Elliot again. Do you see him very often?" tentatively asks Rick unsure how Annie feels about him.

"Yes, we see each other a lot" informs Annie but seeing that Rick appears not too happy with this as he sulks back into the sofa adds "But we're just friends.  I think Beth and Ariel Gray are more in a competition for his attention."

"I was wondering if you were going to Sunday Evening at the Temple tomorrow?" asks Rick hoping to set a time to see her again.

"Yes, I'll be there!  We can meet and sit together if it's all right with you" offers Annie "They are having Captains Will and Liz Darcy as the special musical guests."

"It would be really good to see them again" agrees Rick "I'll look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.  What are your plans for tonight?  Would you like to have dinner?"

"That would be lovely!" blushes Annie excited to spend more time with him when she hears a voice calling out from across the bookstore.

"Annie!  Hey, Beth and Ariel are waiting outside for you.  Remember, we're going to the play tonight?" rushes up Elliot looking Rick critically up and down as Rick glares at him.

"Oh .." sighs Annie looking apologetically at Rick "I forgot".

"I already bought your ticket" firmly states Elliot not giving her any leeway to change her mind.

 Looking over to Rick and smiling in a very hopeful manner, "Umm ... I will definitely take a rain check on dinner.  We have to go soon!"

"That would be great!" politely states Rick hating for his afternoon surprise to be interrupted.

As Annie grabs her coat and begins to walk away as Elliot is leading her by the elbow, she breaks free for a moment and returns back to the table and leans up to give Rick a peck on the cheek.  "It was really good seeing you again.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow night!"

Rick smiles back at her but throws silent daggers at Elliot impatiently waiting behind her.