He Stood in Her Sunlight

It had never been a good idea for her to do the balance sheets at this time of the day.

On the one hand, neither sides of her brain would speak to the other. On the other hand, she's become slightly lethargic after inhaling a chicken roti for lunch. The second one of the week, thanks to the other half.

It had been a crazy morning with two unexpected bulk deliveries and no space immediately available to store them. The news the boss was back on the island, seemed to have sent everyone pushing their panic buttons to the on mode. Suddenly, this needed to be done, and that needed to be completed and it all should have been done by yesterday. Sara had been in the office for three months but had only spoken with the Big Boss on the phone. Him being away at the head office in the United States the entire time.

She recounted the receipts.

Once more, double-checked the amounts on the receipts matched with the figures on her sheet. Finally, she was satisfied and began crunching the numbers through the calculator. Her concentration now broken by the ringing of her desk phone. The caller had the wrong company, so she quickly returned to her paperwork. But another telephone was ringing and had been for a little while in the back office next door to hers. She was sure she had heard laughter coming from there just a few moments ago. She'd cry, but she is all cried out with her womanising other half.

Yes, the one that brought the chicken roti for lunch.

She gets up to answer the incessant ringing of the phone in the next-door office and is greeted by two ladies having a chinwag. One of whom manages the said back office. Slightly frustrated, Sara apologises for interrupting what could only be classed as 'the joyous mouth bashing' of another lady's love life.

'Ladies,' she said without averting eyes. 'Can we kindly answer the phone or forward the line to my desk please.' Then turned on her heels and left. An act she had no doubt would be fraught with repercussions. And no sooner had she walked out of the door than one of the ladies hushed.. 'Ahh, did you hear what her man...'

In an effort to protect her peace, Sara continued in her stride back to her desk. Because what those two gossip-mongering women heard or thought they heard about her or her and her man was not an update that held her interest.

More importantly, there was a balance sheet that needed balancing.

At this time of day, the afternoon sunlight rides in like a white horse from the right side of the open double doors onto her front office desk. The balance book is moved into the sunlight and once again the calculations start. Unawares, a shadow falls across her pages. Who dares stand in my sunlight, she thought. She stops. Collects her thoughts before noting some figures down. But before she could lookup, a voice said..

You should avoid reading in the sunlight like that, it's not good for your eyes.

Thoughts definitely needed collecting then. For that was the silkiest West Indian to have ever glazed her ears. Slowly she lifted her head. Eyes gave his five-foot, 11-inch frame a twice over. From his grade one haircut to his combat shorts and military boots back to his loose but slightly defining of the muscles, t-shirt. And then their eyes clicked and locked like the door on a Stockinger safe.

Ooh breathe-breathe-breathe. Sarah breathe.

Tall and dark with a military physique and absolutely handsome. To say anything less would have been short-changing this beautiful figure who just stood in her sunlight.

I'm here to see Paul, is he in?

Now there's only one Paul in the entire building but goodness she had to keep him talking.

What's Paul's surname? Asking knowingly.

She sensed, he sensed she was toying with him but politely answered either way. Balance sheets forgotten, smile as big as the Orinoco, she picks up the phone and dials Paul.

Whom should I tell Paul is asking for him?

Its Cohen Broderick he said.

It rolled off his tongue. Smooth, silky and caramel condensed milk sweet.

He'll know who I am.

She puts the phone down. ''Gosh, that is an unusual name for this little island' she said. And to herself, a sexy one too!

My parents saw it somewhere and liked it.

She rolls back the chair from behind the desk. Stands and straightens her belted purple playsuit. For the first time that day, she regretted not wearing the pair of heels her mother brought her from the UK. The matching purple flats that did nothing for her legs would simply have to do. She could at least be grateful the playsuit shows off her bum well and more legs than any other work attire would professionally allow. She walks towards the front of the desk where he remains standing in the sunlight. An act that provides her the opportunity to stand face to face with his handsomeness.

Then she noticed the fragrance he wore.

Goodness, not only does he speak well. But looks hot and smells great!

She offered to take him to see Paul and lead the way.

I have not seen you here before. He said

She looked back at him. Smiled.

Neither have I. She said poking fun at him.

The conversation easy, Sara willingly volunteered she's covering maternity leave. They'd now made it to the door at the end of the hallway which Sara was about to open. But he instead, reached forward, opened the door and gestured for her to enter. To say she was taken aback would not entirely cover it.

At five-feet, four inches tall, she had to look up to see into his eyes. As she did so, she smiled and said.

It would appear chivalry is not at all dead.

And he smiled back. 'Nope. Not at all.'

Bounding out the door at very moment in his usual excitable strides, was Paul. As a matter of fact, Paul's entire being seems to be that of a bolt of excitement. 'Hey Seyrah, I was just about to come see you!

While everyone else is happy to call her Sara, Paul, in his usual enthused self calls her Seyrah.

Then it seems we've just saved each other a job.

And swung back to Cohen.

He now noticed Cohen standing behind her. Not sure how he would have missed him. They greeted each other like only good old friends do and Sara was soon forgotten. She closed the door behind her and leaned back onto it.

Ooh, he can stand in my sunlight any day.

Before pushing herself off the door. Back at desk, sat with her legs tightly crossed. Took the deepest breath. The kind that sends shiver down ones spine. She needed a cold drink, but getting up would be a misjudgement. For one, neither sides of her brain spoke to the other, that is, if they were speaking at all. She really needed someone to hold down her heartbeats because they were beginning to take on a pace she was unsure she could manage. And her knees definitely would not have supported her legs if she stood again. She remembered the bottle of Ting she'd placed in her desk drawer after lunch. It was slightly warm now, but it'll have to do.

Lid popped, she wiped the mouth of the bottle and drank straight from it. Decided the books she tried so desperately to balance earlier may be best done first thing the next day.

Once again, the message light on her phone was flashing again. She went through the messages. One of which was from the boss. Questioning why there was no one to answer the phone. She quickly called him back only to discover that what he wanted was to find out whether or not his favourite brand of coffee was in his office.

She'd been returning from the back office where she went to pass on one of the phone messages and too check on the boss's coffee, when Paul bounded in from outside. The same one Cohen had walked through earlier. With bated breath, she waited for a second figure to follow, but it was just Paul. He noticed her slight.

He's left. Paul said. He wanted to say goodbye but we didn't know where you went.

Oh.

Was all Sara could muster. Looking away from Paul to the open double doors.

He did ask about you, Paul chimed on.

Sara quickly glanced back at Paul. Eyes enthused.

Yeah.

I told him you are in a relationship though, Paul continued. You are, in a relationship, right?

Aha.

The only thing she could muster and even then she almost choked saying it. Life temporarily left her body. She glanced back at the balance books on the desks. Pulled them towards her. Something to do. Numb that disappointment.

---

Did you enjoy this short story? Would you like another? Join Captain Joshua and his other half, Lemara Heisen in their 'All The Highs' Club.

Or join Olivia and her lawyer husband David as they chase down the coveted spots in the Christmas play for their daughters in When The Rythm Changes.