Frigga (Valentines Sweethearts)

Chapter 10

The next morning, I kept to my normal routine, my energy a little less than usual. I added an extra teaspoon of coffee powder to my drink and walked into the museum to start my day. Thinking about my little brother had left me feeling drained, but then I saw Sam had spent all night placing each artifact in its uniquely lit display case in the exhibit. It was so stunning it brought a tear to my eye as Mr Wallace walked in.

“Miss Smith, I am impressed. The exhibit is beautiful. You and Sam work well together.”

“Thank you, Mr Wallace. Does that mean I can count on a good reference from you?” I chew my lip.

“Of course. But I rather had something else in mind,” he muttered. I frowned.

“I’m sorry I don’t understand”.

“You will.” With that, he walked away, leaving me frowning in his wake.

I spun around like a child, taking everything in at once, the beauty of the exhibit astounded me, the colours swarmed like thousands of glow bugs dancing in my spinning vision. I did it. I really did it.

Smiling, I stopped spinning and took a moment to center myself again. Alright Frigga, get it together, you have a lot to tick off before opening tomorrow. I pulled out the list I’d had written this morning and began checking each section of the display in turn, making sure the children's puzzle pieces were disturbed enough to look inviting yet not messy, checking the display cabinets were free of smears and that the carpets were hoovered and ruffled so their colours shone through better. Everything had to be perfect.

At lunch time, I stopped for a coffee and noticed the little Thor cupcakes with fondant hammers I ordered, were only to be met by the most exquisite of flavours - strawberries. My mind reeled, reliving the scent I was so fond of and stirring up others it too enjoyed. One being Sam’s cologne, his musty warmth. My heart grew wings, threatening to fly away on a cloud of masculine scent it adored so as Jessy wheeled over to my table, her frizzy red hair dishevelled as always.

“Hi sweetie, those cupcakes look good.”

“Mmm, they are, you should have one.”

“I'd rather know what's going on with you and Sam these days. You two seem so distant yet there are times I catch you both glancing at each other when you pass for shift changes and I can see the attraction in your eyes. So what's holding you back? Why don’t you say anything? Him I can understand, he's always been quite standoffish but you seem so confident, so sure of yourself. Why don’t you ask him out?”

“I-”

“I know, I know,” she held her hands up in a placating gesture, “It's none of my business but, in my opinion, you two are perfect for each other.”

“I’m planning on asking him out.”

“Oh yay!” she giggled like a child. “When?”

“Valentines, after the opening.” Her eyes sparkled.

“Oh, that's so romantic. Hey, if you guys hit it off and get married then we can call our Norse exhibit one of those life changing enchantments. Mr Wallace would like that I-”

“Wow, wow no. Slow down, I said nothing about marriage or even a second date. Besides, he’ll probably say no. He is still angry with me about the age thing.” She raised an eyebrow.

“The age thing?”

“I might have said a few things I regret.”

“Oh no, sweetie.” She grasped my hand from across the table, squeezing it gently. “He’s a good man, I'm sure he’ll forgive you.”

“I'm nervous just the same.” I felt the truth flutter around my stomach with lazy wings. “I don’t know if I can go through with it.”

“You'll know when the time is right, have faith. Besides, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. There's a thousand people asking ‘will you go out with me’. More than half of them will be rejected.”

“I'm not sure that’s a comforting thought, Jessy.”

“Oh no, sweetie, I mean that you're not alone and you'll be one of the lucky ones I'm sure.”

“Maybe.” I stood, pushing my chair back with a deafening squeak that had Jessy screw up her eyes as she cringed. “I have to get back to work now.”

“I thought you were all done?”

“I am but I just want to make one-hundred percent sure everything is as it should be. What time are the preppers arriving?”

“For the grand unveiling and Mr Wallace’s cutting of the ribbon with the Thor character at eleven.”

“Brilliant, I'll make sure I'm here plenty early then to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

“Wonderful.” Jessy grinned as I wandered back to check the artifact lighting was spot on. Even after my fourth check of the exhibit my nerves still fluttered around my stomach like food poisoning. I kept trying to tell myself this was my first design job and I’ve done great. I kept up my mantra as I waved goodbye to Jessy some hours later and boarded the bus home. But the pressure at what the public the papers would think was overwhelming, bringing tears to my eyes when I finally sat down. I did this, without using my family’s name. I studied hard, got the job and pulled off the exhibit. But for tonight, I would allow myself to feel relief in every tear that dripped down my face, for tomorrow I would feel ecstatic.