Chapter 23 A: In which she has the time of her life.

"How often have you gone sightseeing?" Nate asked me as he parked his car in Central Avenue.
"Never," I answered truthfully. "I moved here to get a job, failed five times before I got to meet you and since then it's been work, work, work!"
"Pity," he pouted those sensuous lips of his, making me want to bite them. The temptation was so bad that I almost missed what he was saying. "...failed five interviews?"
"Yeah...they wanted experienced candidates with real college degrees." I guessed that was what he had asked.
And I guessed right! "Oh well! Their loss, my gain." He winked at me and got out of the car and came to my side.
"What are we doing here?" I asked as he helped me out.
"Having fun, of course!" He pulled me away from the car and set the locked it.
"But where are we-WOW!"
"I told you we're gonna have fun." Nate whispered in my ear as I stared ahead, spellbound.
I had often heard from people at the office and from Nikki that the fair at Bellevue was really awesome, but this is the first time I've ever seen it in all its glory. There were hundreds of people here, from tourists to regulars, kids to people over 100, from the looks of it. But the main attractions were the stalls set up all over the ground in a semi circle, with a huge fountain right at the center.
The stalls consisted of all homemade products, as far as I've heard. Fruits, vegetables, flowers, all fresh and bright enough to make my mouth water even after breakfast. But that wasn't all, several people also sold homemade pottery and clothes, hand-woven blankets, shawls, carpets, even curtain and bedcovers! Their colours varying from bright and trendy to dark and elegant. The stitch work was rumored to be exquisite! I've never seen such beautiful craftsmanship before. Then there were, of course, the food stalls, from Italian to Chinese to Indian to Mexican, their smell enough to tell me that those, are something that I must have. Apart from those, there were magicians whose performance brought out a roar of squeals from the young ones; painters who made portraits of couples and sometimes families. And of course, the clowns and performers that flocked around the central fountain, which I saw was called, "True Wishers Fortune."
Nate and I came to a stop right in front of the fountain and I finally had a clear view of the intricate details of the carved white stone. The outer perimeter was a circle of what looked to be about 15 meters in diameter. At the center of the fountain was the statute of two little children, of about 5-6years of age, kneeling down, their arms folded and head bowed in prayer, their innocent faces peaceful, while standing on the North, South, East and West directions were four Angels, their wings positioned for flight, each with a jug held with both hands, pouring water on the body of the two children.
"Why is it called the True Wishers Fortune?" I asked Nate as he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me closer to his side.
"I don't know for sure but there's this saying that this fountain doesn't just grant every Tom, Dick and Harry, whatever they wish for, but it only grants the wishes of those who wish truly from the heart." Nate explained and then pointed to the water in the fountain. "See those coins that are floating on the water? Those are the ones who's wishes will never come true, but you see the ones at the bottom, they are fewer in number but those are the wishes that will or already have come true. That's why they are never removed from the bottom, even during cleaning."
"Really? And you believe that?" I asked incredulously. "If that's true then this place should be flooded by coins by now! And how are the coins floating anyway? According to science, every one of them should be at the bottom."
"Hey, I didn't say I invented this whole theory, it's a local saying and not many people know about it and several of them don't believe in it either." He told me. "As for the coins, they sell special ones here. My theory is that they are made of different materials. Since they are all the same colour, it’s pure luck what material we get. And since we're already here..."
He went and bought two coins from a counter and came back before handing one coin to me while he took the other. "Okay.” I took the coin from him, feeling the weight of it on my palm. “No harm in trying I guess. But you go first."
"Alright then!" Nate held the coin between his forefinger and thumb and brought it near his lips. Then he closed his eyes and prayed. After a minute, he kissed the coin and threw it into the water without opening his eyes.
The coin made a dull thumb as it hit the water, swished around a bit....and then stayed afloat.
"Awww, really?" he pouted as I showed him where the coin landed. "I guess it wasn't heartfelt enough. Anyways, you want coffee?"
"My poor baby. Don't be upset, you can always try another time." But when his expression remained gloomy, I simply ordered him to get me a masala tea instead.
Now it was my turn.
I looked at the position of Nate's coin and sighed. I mimicked his movements and brought the coin up to my lips and said in my mind.
I don't know which God this fountain belongs to, but if anyone is listening, please make whatever Nathan wished for, come true. I want nothing for myself but for this.
Then kissed the coin and threw, at what I guessed was the direction Nate's coin was at. I opened my eyes as I heard that dull noise, but this time when I looked at the place, I saw something weird happen.
My coin had landed far enough away from Nate's coin so that even the ripples wouldn't touch his coin, but as soon as the water settled down after the ripples, both mine and Nate's coin sank to the bottom as if pulled by some invisible force.
Too bad I didn't get much time to ponder since Nate came back with my tea and we were off to enjoying the rest of the day at the fair. Was it even our coin that sank or someone else’s? I guess it could’ve been since there were so many. I must be mistaken.
*
*
"So why are we going to this town anyway?" Nate asked as he drove according to my instructions.
"It's a special place," I said, my head half out the passenger side window as I felt the breeze in my hair.
"Looks like we just reached your special....a graveyard?" He asked me, to make sure we're on the right place.
"Yup," I got out as soon as he shut off the engine and went to the driver's side to drag him out. "Come on, there's someone I'd like you to meet!"
"Role reverse," he said smugly, as he locked the car and followed me. "I like it."
The iron gates were still open, unlike the last time I was here, thankfully. Otherwise, climbing that gate in such a short dress, that too in front of Nate, would've been a tiny tad bit awkward. And before I knew it, we were standing in front of my mother's grave.
"Samantha Tresscot. Is she...your mother?" Nate asked, looking up from mom's headstone and back at me.
"Yup! So don't worry about the messy meeting-her-parents day." I joked.
"I'm sorry-"
"Hey..." I held one of Nate's hand with both of mine and looked at mom's grave stone. "I'm okay. It's been more than 15 years now."
"Doesn’t make it any less painful.” I knew he was talking about his own family when he said that.
“And time will make it better slowly,” I reassured him. "But what matters is that I'm introducing you to her right now. So, Nathan Synclair, meet my mom, Samantha Tresscot. And you don't have to wonder too much on how she looked, just picture me in my late 30's. And mom, meet my boyfriend. You remember the one I used to complain to you about in high school? One of my bullies? Time sure changes everything, huh?"
"Yeah, I need to apologize for that," Nate didn't think my talking to a grave was weird, but now he was doing the same. "I'm sorry ma'am, I promise I'll never do that again. In fact, I plan to stick around for a while, so be prepared, 'cause in a few years you'll be wishing you could send me away."
My heart skipped a beat.
Few years? I didn't hear anything wrong did I? Nathan Synclair just told my mother that he'll be with me for years! Oh God, please let it be true!
I hadn't realized I was crying until Nate wiped away the tear with his thumb. His smile gentle but his eyes fierce. Nate could be ruthless, he can be intimidating even, but he was never a liar. And right now, in his eyes, I saw nothing but the truth.
It was only a few hours, but it felt like forever when his lips finally touched mine. Gentle at first, but soon enough, we couldn't get more of each other.
"You know a motel or something around here? Because as happy as I am that you introduced me to your mother, I can't handle the two hour ride back home. " Nate said as we parted for breath.
I nodded my head. "Come on, I'll take you