“Y–yes,” Rachel answered a little nervously.
“No than-,” Shauna was about to say when Nandani pinched her to stop and said with an admiring smile, “Thank you.”
“Great,” the attractive stranger said with a casual smile and just that touch of charm, “You ladies have an enjoyable time.”
He went back to his table with his friends, signalling to the waiter, and Nandani exclaimed, “Wow, where did he come from?”
“I don’t know,” Rachel gushed, “But he seems to have it all, in looks, body, and charm.”

They both looked at Shauna who hadn’t said anything, always the cautious one.
“Say something, girl,” Rachel urged her, “I’m sure you think he’s hot.”
“Oh yeah,” she responded, “He’s undeniably attractive, like a Bollywood hunk.”
“Is that you talking?” Nandani laughed, “Or is it the cocktail?”
“I don’t know,” Shauna said, “I’m feeling kinda lightheaded.”

Rachel laughed, playfully nudging her friend, “Girl, you need to get out more,” and lifting her glass, she said, “Here’s a cheer to a truly great night.”
The good looking stranger glanced their way a few times, and Nandani said, “I think he’s interested in one of us.”
“Well since you’re always going crazy over the hot Indian movie stars,” Rachel said to her, “There is one for you.”
“What makes you think it’s me?”

“Well, maybe because he’s Indian-American, and you’re Indo-Guyanese, I think it’s a perfect match.”
“I’ll cheer to that,” Shauna said, lifting her glass.
“That would be wonderful,” Nandani expressed, “If he is actually looking at me.”
She looked at Shauna and said, “He’s looking at you, Shauna.”

“What?!” Shauna exclaimed, spilling a little of her drink.
She turned to look at him, sure Nandani was mistaken, but she was not because he smiled and raised his glass to her. Shauna looked away and expressed doubtfully, “No, that can’t be, I’m just a simple girl, not a fashion diva.”
“But you’re beautiful, in a simple way,” Nandani stated.

“Yes, but a struggling single mother with twin babies,” Shauna reminded her, “I am not such a lucky girl.”
“Seems as though your luck has changed,” Rachel said to her.
A short while later, he came over to talk to them, “Are you ladies okay?”
“Great,” Rachel answered, “We are about to leave, and thanks for everything.”

He nodded with an approving smile, and looking at Shauna, he said, “Good night.”
The look in his eyes that told her in simple words, ‘I like you,’ touched something in her, and for a fleeting moment, she was at a loss for words, then she said quietly, “Good night.”

Shauna awoke late the next morning, with a headache that eased after a long, cool shower and a tall glass of water. Her mother had taken the boys to church, so she got a much-needed chance to rest and reenergize after the ladies’ night out.
“What a night!” she sighed, lying down on the sofa and closing her eyes.

A moment later she opened her eyes and sat up a little abruptly, remembering the attractive stranger from last night. “I wonder who he is,” she questioned silently.
He hadn’t introduced himself, but he was a foreigner and seemed well-to-do with a refined personality.
“Why would he be interested in me?” she questioned again. She just couldn’t wrap her mind around the thought that his interest was real, “Maybe it’s just a normal attraction and nothing else.”
Her thoughts were interrupted by little feet running up the stairs and squeals of, “Mommy, mommy!”

She opened the door and hugged her sons as they threw themselves in her arms.
“You miss me that much?” she laughed.
“Yes!” they said in unison, kissing her on both cheeks.
As they settled down to play with their toys, she said ‘thanks’ to her mother, who had been such a great help to her since the boys were born.
“So how was your night?” her mother asked.

“It was fun,” Shauna said with a pleased smile, “I haven’t had such a good time in a long while.”
“That’s good, you needed that little break.”
After her mother took her leave, Shauna spent the rest of the day with her sons, playing board games, guiding them in colouring their pictures, and watched a cartoon movie. Not often she was afforded enough time to spend with time, because of her job. She often wondered what life would be like for them as they grew older without a father figure. The idea of someone else playing that role in their lives was not appealing to her, added to the fact was her ex-husband’s betrayal that had destroyed her trust.

“Will I be able to love again?”
A question she had no answer for, at least not yet.
The week began with her working the day shift and, on Saturday, coming off duty in the afternoon, she hurried home because she had promised the boys to take them for ice cream. They were so thrilled, clapping their hands and laughing happily as she dressed them.
“Are you taking the bus?” Alvin asked.

“No, we’ll take a taxi today.”
“You need your own car, mommy,” Alex said.
“Oh yes, mommy knows that. One day maybe.”
The food court at Giftland Mall was filled, but the ice cream line, thankfully was not long. After the ice cream, they went for a walk through the mall and as she stopped to look at the fabulous dresses on display in the store window of Classy Styles, a voice greeted her, “Hey there.”
Shauna froze, for she recognized the smooth voice with the foreign accent.

“Oh my gosh, it’s him,” she said to herself.
She turned around slowly and managed to smile a little, “Hi.”
“Nice seeing you again,” he said.
He was standing there casually with a warm smile and she inhaled slowly, saying to herself, “Gosh, this is real, stay calm.”
She didn’t know what to say and it was at that moment he introduced himself.

“I’m Naren, a businessman from Long Island, New York, visiting the home country after a long time.”
“That’s great,” she said, “I’m Shauna, a nurse.”
“A caregiver? That’s interesting,” he said with an appreciative smile, and looking at the two little children, he asked, “Who are these little dudes?”
“My sons.”
The reaction she had expected didn’t happen because the appreciative smile on his face did not change.
To be continued…