Hope Against Hope

Marcel just had to say it. 

“Mommy, maybe it won’t snow for our birthdays this year!”

It was just like her child to be optimistic.  Michelle forced a smile and kissed her prince on his forehead before he ran to the silent beckoning of his toys.

The sun beams were flowing in through her sheer grommet curtains.  She stood still for a quick sun bath on her bronze skin.  She imagined a warm breeze sweeping across her face, leading her to an oceans edge.

A sigh escaped her. A snow free February would be a very welcomed gift for Michelle; she wouldn’t have to cancel any birthday plans.

But that was a gift they’d have to wait on.  The weatherman just informed of a storm to hit her area that would dump out 8-10 inches of snow on Friday.  Tomorrow.  The beginning of their birthday wee…well…Marcel’s birthday weekend.  Her birthday was four days later.  The school district had already closed schools in anticipation of the big drop.

Michelle couldn’t help but laugh to herself.  The image of a young Jaden Smith from The Karate Kid popped into her head as she watched as a lone snow flake fell into the window pane.

I hate it here, she thought

The next morning, Michelle woke up to the sounds of snow blowers and shovels scraping their way across the pavement. She checked her phone; it was 7 am. She slept in since she didn’t have to take Marcel to school, but she still wanted to clear the snow.  Since most of it had come overnight, it would be easier just to walk over the remaining inch or two.

“You want to help me shovel the snow?” she asked, kissing Marcel on his forehead.
“No, I’m going to sit this one out,” he beamed.
“Good choice.”

As she began to suit up at the front door, she heard noises from her porch, which sounded a little too close.

Peeking through the view hole, she saw a man at her doorstep, shoveling. He had already done the sidewalk and walk way leading to her door.  “Hey!” she quickly opened the door. “I got that, sir. I don’t have cash on me to pay for this.”

“No problem,” he said, taking off his hood. “I wasn’t asking for money anyway.”

“Wait,” she pressed her forehead to the glass, getting a closer look.  She recognized his eyes right away..  He wasn’t as bundled up as the last time she saw him so she was able to get a better look at him.  He had the smoothest brown skin she had seen in a while.  “You’re the security guy.”

“Yeah, lieutenant actually.” He flashed that smile again, “You said ‘Next time'”.

“What?”

“Last time it snowed.  Remember?”

“Huh?” she said, giving herself enough time to refocus.  Just like the last time, his smile was distracting.  It was something about nice teeth inside of the smile of a beautiful black man.  “Wait, what? You remember that?” she glared, suddenly questioning his very presence on her porch.  Sure he was good looking, but she found it odd that someone would show up almost three months later to help a perfect stranger shovel snow.

He chuckled to himself, as if reading her thoughts.  “I”m not crazy.”

“That’s what crazy people say.”

He let out a laugh that startled her at first.  Michelle clutched invisible pearls as he recovered and smiled again.  “Ma’am, I promise I’m not crazy.  I just have a habit of remembering the things that I agree to do.  My mom always taught me to be a man of my word.  I agreed, so I’m here.”

“Oh.”

That’s it. That’s all she allowed herself to say.  Years of being single left her with only a handful of words to say a man, especially one who was trying to be helpful because, well, it didn’t happen often.  It never stopped her from praying for help though!  ‘Oh’ was all she had right now.  This attractive stranger was proof that God has odd ways of answering.

“I’m Officer Thomas.  Demetrius. Pleasure to meet you.”

“Chelle,” she corrected herself, “I’m Michelle” He nodded and smiled again. She wished he would stop doing that. It’s not often that Michelle was at a loss for words.  As a counselor, she always had solutions, or even words of encouragement, ready to go for anyone she encountered, but right now she couldn’t figure out why she was so tongue tied.  She gave a weak smile and shifted in her stance before stuttering out, “Thank you! This is an unexpected birthday gift.”

His face lit up with excitement. “It’s your birthday?”

Michelle scrunched up her face realizing that her thoughts were spoken.  She wanted to shut the door right then.  This kindness, this conversation, as innocent as it seemed, was making her uncomfortable.  After a deep inhale, she resolved that honesty was just her best bet but she’d make it a point to watch what she says the next time.

Wait…next time??

“No, my birthday is on the 16th, but my son’s is tomorrow.”  Demetrius rested his hands on the top of his shovel, perking up at the potential of a conversation. His smile was disarming so she added, “But by the looks of it, I’ll have to push his party to another day.”

“Aww, that sucks,” he sympathized. “What are you going to do for your birthday?”

Michelle shrugged. “I haven’t done anything for the last six years.  This one will be no different.”  She made the mistake of letting go of a soft chuckled and when she looked up she found herself staring into his light brown eyes, captivated by his intense gaze.  As if he was studying her face. Marcel’s rustling in the living room gave her a reason to look away.

Mr. Mike, the mailman, was the only man who come on her porch.  Of course the occasional delivery driver, too.  That’s what living alone and away from family gets you.  But this?  This was new.

“I really appreciate you doing this, Officer Thomas.”

“Oh yeah,” he cleared his throat. He looked caught off guard, “My pleasure, and please, call me Meech.”

Michelle pretended to search her pockets, “I’ll have to figure out how I can repay you.”

“We’ll figure that out,” he laughed, “But go ahead and hang out with your little man. Take care.”  He turned to get back to work and Michelle quickly closed her door, not wanting to stand there watching him. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it was something about him, something magnetic.

Hours later, after Mario Kart, The Incredibles, lunch, a big snowman in the backyard, dinner, and The Incredibles 2, Michelle went to take out the trash.  While some of her neighbors worked to shovel the heavy, wet snow she stood grateful for the work Officer Thomas had done for her.  She turned to find a small lime green gift bag hanging on her door knob. Inside were two cards. One addressed Michelle and the other Little Man.
She opened hers first:

After calculating the total work done on your property today, your smile was more than enough payment. Go do something for YOU. Happy Birthday Gorgeous! P.S. I don’t know if you like flowers so to be safe, I drew you some first. –Meech

Michelle erupted in laughter, quickly covering her mouth.  There was a pitiful bouquet of  three roses that he had drawn in blue ink. She could tell that he was nowhere near an artist but the gesture had plastered a smile on her face.

As she opened Marcel’s card, there was a note written on the inside fold of the envelop.

Because I sense you’re a great mom, I know you’d find this first 🙂 252-337-2274

The audacity!  The thoughtfulness! How dare he make a move and force a decision on her part!  SHE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HIM!!!  But she knew that he felt different.  It was something she couldn’t explain.  As she dabbed away the evidence of her outburst from the corner of her eyes, all she could do was thank God for the gift.

She was never a girl who liked real flowers.