The Twenty-Second

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According to my journal, it all started June 22, 2001. I was fresh out of college and starting a new career. Business was slow so I was journaling about how much this fellow had control over my thoughts. I found myself doubling his name. While my boss was giving me the rundown of my duties for the day and I couldn’t help but anticipate my date with Tim. He said he was going to show me the town. I was so curious as to what that meant. I hoped it meant taking long walks and talking. He was sort of mysterious so I wanted to get to know this guy.

I secretly wished I would find out something about him that frightened me so he wouldn’t outright possess my soul. This was our first date after days and days of talking. It hadn’t even been two weeks since I trusted him as a ride home. We had a nine-hour conversation on my front porch that night. No guy had ever made me feel that way.

Anyway, while working my daily tasks he walked in with a white rose. I was mush. Just seeing him walk through the door with that single rose made my heart skip at few beats. Then he started to sing as he walked over to my desk, “You are so beautiful to me.” I couldn’t let this guy know that his magic was working miracles in my heart. I wanted to say thank you, but my smart mouth betrayed me.

I found myself saying, “If only it was an orchid.” Still, this guy wasn’t going to let those words deter him. His reply was, “I know your favorite flowers are orchids and lilies, but underneath all the sassiness I see a sweetness and innocence in you that has me in reverence of you. Therefore, I wanted the first flower I gave you to be a white rose, representing that innocence in you.” Little did this guy know he had stolen my heart.

I wanted to hide the fact that I was blushing and it took strength not to pucker up and give him a little kiss. Therefore, I said I wanted to put the flower it in water. I grabbed a cup off my desk and ran to the restroom. I remember smelling that flower and feeling overwhelmed with this strong desire to be next to him. To mask these feelings I started to count backward from 10…5, 4, 3, 2, 1. However, it wasn’t working. I couldn’t believe it! This technique had stopped me from saying and doing plenty of questionable things like this. However, that feeling was just not leaving. So in a panic, I started doing jumping jacks. By the time I got to twelve, I smiled as I looked at myself in the mirror doing jumping-jacks in the middle of the restroom. 

I got myself together, put water and the flower in the cup, and headed back toward my desk. Tim was nowhere in site. On my desk was a beautiful bouquet of cream and pink lilles and white roses with a card that read, “Until 5 p.m. enjoy these beautiful flowers.” I was so happy he was not around because on my face was the biggest blushing smile ever and soft pink cheeks. I was surely smitten.

I looked at and smelled those flowers throughout the day. At 4:58 p.m. Tim walked in with a post card with orchids. Although it was yet another sweet gesture that stole my heart again, I instantly became nervous because the feelings I had for this guy where more powerful that I had ever had and it was happening way too fast. I placed the card in my desk and said, “I think I have to watch my nephew tonight.” Which wasn’t a lie because my sister called earlier and asked if I could watch my nephew Sean. I told her  that I had plans but if no one else could then I would.

Although he tried to mask his disappointment with a smile, I saw it. Therefore, when I called my sister to see if she had found someone and when she said yes so I was happy. I shared the good news with Tim and he hugged me with excitement. I can tell it was a reflex, but it was our first hug and it felt absolutely – cloud-like experience – I mean, great. He had jazz playing in the car while driving me home. I caught myself staring at him so I turned my attention away to enjoy how beautiful it looked outside.

It seems as if the sky was bluer, the sun shined brighter, and the grass was even greener. Tim walked me to the front door and he said he would return in an hour. Then he bent slightly down toward my lips and kissed me on my forehead. “What?” I thought to myself. My mom took one look at me as I entered and said, “I guess I have a son-in-law. I smiled and ran upstairs looking for something to wear. I struggled with this decision for nearly 45 minutes.

I ended up in what my sister Debora called the safe outfit. khaki capris, a white tank-top and plaid khano, with a white button up shirt having all the buttons undone to compliment my white sneakers. When he rang the door bell, I looked out the window to see he was dressed similar. When I opened the door he smiled and said that I looked beautiful and I replied that he dressed down well. You have to keep in mind, I was used to seeing this man in suits and ties up until this point.

He opened the door as I sat in the passenger’s seat. Just before he started the car he looked over at me and apologized for kissing me. He said he couldn’t wait until the end of the date. Then, as the engines starts, he softly said, “I hope I earn another one.” I smiled and said, “We will see.” We ate at a beautiful waterfront restaurant overlooking the Rock river. We walked hand-in-hand along the beautiful pathways and talked. Once the sun had set, we drove through the city and enjoyed the music and talked some more.

By the time we pulled up to my house I knew I was in love. The stories he shared with me that night I imagined telling our children. When he walked me up to the front door he said that he didn’t want to be presumptuous, but “Did I earn another kiss.” I replied, “You surely did,” but I wanted to save it for another day. He grabbed my hand and kissed it and said, “I guess I will have to steal one.”

When I turned to walk into the house he said, “Wait a minute.” He turned as he ran to his trunk and pulled out what must’ve been a beautiful orchid. After a long evening driving in the trunk, it was a sad plant. However, I couldn’t help but smile. When he gave me the plant he explained that it didn’t come that way. I smiled, placed the vase on the window seal, and said, “I think I’m ready for that second kiss.” He wrapped his arms around my waist as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. He leaned over and before he was able to kiss me, my nervousness took over and gave him a butterfly kiss.

That’s when you rub noses together. He smiled looking at me and said that he will take it. I told him it’s going to take a lot to live up to after tonight. He said he was more than ready for the challenge. That was 200 months ago and every month on the twenty-second, Tim has given me flowers. Although I know they are coming, my heart melts and I fall in love with him a little more every time.

What is your favorite flower? How does it make you feel to get or give flowers? Have you gotten flowers that made your day? Please share in the comments below. I really would love to know.

Until next time, shine amongst the stars!

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