Thirty-Eight Days (31 page)

“Tomorrow,” he whispered in her ear as he straightened his legs, winked at the grinning Josie, and walked towards the front door.

A date with Clara Lawrence; this should either be life changing or a train wreck.

As Noel stood on the almost-black concrete footpath of Little Collins Street, he realised just how much he needed their date to happen, how perfect it needed to be. As he walked back to the car, he paused and took out his phone.

“This needs to be the best date she’s ever had. I have to make sure I give her that,” Noel said to himself as he unlocked the Mustang.

C
lara stared at the phone in her left hand while she held the mascara wand in her right. She looked at the message again to make sure she was reading it right.

Danny: Hi, Clara. I need you to stop by the bakery tonight and give those recipes a glance and approval for tomorrow. You have a key. I need them first thing tomorrow morning for the printers.

She sighed and glanced at the small clock on her dresser. It was just after six, and if she drove to the bakery before the restaurant, she'd be late. She didn’t factor in surprise work text messages when she was getting ready.

Clara: Sure, Danny. I’ll stop by the bakery now.

She got a reply instantly.

Danny: That's why you're my favourite employee. Sorry to rain on your HOT date!

Clara: Josie?

Danny: Josie!

She sighed. Ever since Noel asked her out at the bakery, it seemed everyone knew, Stevie and Annie especially. When Clara called to let them know the developments, there was no real surprise in either one of their voices. It seemed the day had dragged; she woke up alone, and it was unfamiliar. For the past five nights, she’d wrapped herself around Noel, and to wake up without him left her feeling empty inside.

Clara glanced at herself in the mirror. Had she known a month beforehand that she would be going on a date with Nolan Parker, she'd laugh and tell the universe it was dreaming. The hell that was happening! But here she was. As she waved the mascara wand over her lashes, she realised that she didn't want to laugh; she wanted the universe to play nice. Clara wanted this date to be perfect.

They both came so far that the thought of how they wound up together caused her head to hurt. She still doubted it. Clara knew that was in the back of Noel's mind as well; she saw it every time they'd lie in bed together. His eyes feared that she would change her mind, when in reality it was the opposite. It was the idea that Noel would run back to Valerie that scared her most about them. But she gave them one chance; if they blew it, there was nothing left in their stars.

The traffic into the city on a Saturday night was horrible. A ten minute drive took double, the suburbs coming out to the city to play happened every weekend. Clara stood beside her Lexus and thought about walking; she’d have to go through Fitzroy Gardens and through China Town. Walking alone at such an hour wasn’t ideal. No matter how much of a local she was, being alone in the Melbourne night made her feel like a stranger in her own town. Clara pressed the button on her keys and unlocked her car. She’d rather be late than be attacked, and she was sure Noel would agree, too.

It didn’t take her long until she turned off the main road and onto Little Collins Street. To her surprise there was parking in front of the bakery. Clara was sure there wouldn’t be any. But as she cut the engine, she looked to see all the bistros and restaurants on the other side of the street packed and busy. Clara was thankful that the bakery closed at six-thirty p.m. every night and didn’t have to deal with the city folk that late; during the daylight was enough.

Clara sat in the driver’s seat and looked out the windshield. She needed to get it together, and she knew it. This date scared the life out of her. And she was scared of the consequences of tonight if it went horribly wrong. But then again, she was excited; this was something that felt so real that it started to hurt her. Every kiss and touch of Noel’s drove her crazy with need; it was addictive, and the fact that she called him
hers
for the night sent her heart on a rampage. Only he seemed to affect her so badly, and it was confusing. As hard as she tried to ignore the feelings, they seemed to explode through her body, demanding to be felt.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed a couple holding hands, walking as they spoke to each other, and even laughing. She couldn’t help but think maybe that could be them, but she knew it wouldn’t be like that. Clara wasn’t sure where their date would take her, but she had to face it head-on, because if she blinked too fast, she’d miss it all. Clara smiled at the silhouette of the couple walking away and reached over to grab her handbag from the passenger seat.

Clara nodded to herself and breathed in to calm her nerves. She’d go into the bakery, grab the recipes from Danny’s office, and drive to the restaurant. Cutler & Co. was closer to her apartment than the bakery, and it annoyed her that she would be making such a trip. Clara took out her phone, opened the car door, and stepped out, dialling Noel's number. It only took three rings before he answered.

"Hey," Clara greeted as she rested the phone between her ear and shoulder and she fished out her keys from her handbag.

"I'm here, Clara. Don't tell me you’re bailing." The disappointment in his voice was clear, and she knew he was there waiting for her. She breathed in as she fumbled with her keys until she found the one that opened the front door.

"Of course not, Noel. I would never."

"Then what's this phone call for?"

“I'm just outside the bakery. Danny needs some recipes signed off first thing tomorrow morning, and I've got to get them now before our dinner. I hope you don’t mind if I'm a little late?"

She stopped short of the bakery's front door; she would have gone through the back, but the boom gates would have slowed her down. Placing the key in the lock, she waited for Noel’s reply.

"Noel?" she asked as she turned the key and heard the
click
of it unlocking. The bakery was awfully dark, which was odd. Normally they had the small light above the counter on to deter thieves. Josie must have forgotten. Clara wasn’t going to be the one to tell Danny; he’d rip Josie to shreds for being unreliable.

"So you're at the bakery now?" he asked. He was either really curious, or he was impatient for her company, the latter making her smile.

"Yes, I’ll just grab the recipes, and I’ll be there in a second."

Removing the key from the lock, she pushed the door open. Her hand searched the wall to her left for the light switch. When she found the switch, Clara placed her fingers over it and flicked it, but the bakery remained dark. Suddenly lights appeared out of the darkness and momentarily took her breath with it.

"What the?" she said into the speaker, startled at the brightness that engulfed the room.

"So, what do you think?" His voice pulled her out from her thoughts.

"What?" she breathed out.

She removed her gaze from the fairy lights that filled the store and saw Noel standing in the middle of the bakery. He stood in a pair of black dress pants and a light green, button-down shirt; she realised she loved him in green. He was breathtakingly beautiful and the lights that wrapped around the rafters highlighted his emerald eyes.

She was in awe. The bakery was empty of its usual tables and chairs. But in the middle sat just one table and two chairs. The table was draped with a light grey tablecloth, plates, and an empty vase. The windowsills were lined with unlit candles and fairy lights, shimmering against the moonlight that shone through. Clara was speechless and incredibly moved. She watched as Noel held his phone tighter to his ear and began to speak. Those beautiful green eyes were laced with concern and skepticism.

"Clara, are you going to say something? Because you’re beginning to scare the shit out of me!"

It was in that moment she knew. She couldn't help it anymore. She couldn't fight it anymore. She couldn't deny it anymore. She just knew.

"You did this all for me?"

"Only you, Clara. Only
ever
you." The genuine smile displayed across his face melted her heart.

Hanging up the phone, she didn’t take her eyes off him. The feelings in her were demanding to be set free. She ran up to him, throwing her arms around his neck and letting her lips crash into his. Hot, breathtaking, and heart stealing. His lips were firm and strong against hers. A soft gasp escaped her once his hands found her waist, holding her tight against his solid body.

“Clara, we won't be able to have this date if you keep that up!" Noel’s lips left hers and she couldn’t help the frustration she felt.

"Me? I don't see you refusing!"

"I am now," Noel clarified with a complacent smile.

"Yeah, now!" she laughed. Noel untangled himself from her and said, “I’ll be back in a second,” before turning for the kitchen, leaving Clara alone on the shop floor.

Looking around, she saw the beauty of what he did. She wondered where the rest of the tables and the bakery went to. He had to have had help, and she couldn’t help but think who helped him. Clara walked over to the table and ran her fingers across it. Her heart quickened its beat. It was perfect, and her heart constricted at the effort he went to for her. It was the most romantic notion anyone had ever done for her.

"Here, these are for you," Noel said, entering the shop floor with a bouquet of flowers. She looked down to see purple tulips. Her heart clenched at the sight of them.

"How did you know my favourite flower are tulips?" Clara asked as she saw a pleased smile plastered on his face.
"Wait! Did you ask me questions while I was drunk? What the hell did you ask me, Noel?"

“No, I didn’t ask. I just knew,” he answered as he handed Clara the flowers. She looked at them and smiled; not a lot of people knew she loved tulips, and that’s when she remembered why.

“You were the first person to ever give me a tulip,” she breathed out. Looking at Noel through her lashes, he seemed like her remembered, too.

“I remember my parents had a party at our place. You and Alex were there, your parents, too. The other kids didn’t want to play with you, so you just sat on your dad’s lap. The next minute I watched you get off his lap and start running to the edge of the garden. You were four, I think. I saw you fall and scrape your knee, and I ran after you. You cried and told me you hated me. I wiped your tears away before I ripped out one of my mother’s purple tulips and gave it to you. I think that was the day you liked me… for an afternoon. I forgot about that.” Noel tilted his head and breathed out at their childhood memory.

“So you’re the reason why I like tulips and the colour purple, hey?” Clara brought the bouquet to her nose and smelt them, fresh and sweet. Closing her eyes, she remembered that moment as clear as day. The first boy to ever give her a flower was also the same boy who held her hand and watch toucans with her.

“Come, let’s eat.” He took her hand in his. The callousness of his hands didn’t deter her. In fact, she liked that his hands weren't softer than hers. Noel took the tulips out of Clara’s hand and walked her to the table, placing the blooms in the vase. Noel pulled the chair out for her; her knees started to shake. She looked up to thank him when she saw the sadness in Noel’s eyes. The sadness painfully pierced her heart. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, but Noel quickly left her side.