Paisley

Paisley Emma Greyson-Davis

Sunday, 7th March

Feeling the cool breeze hit her face, Paisley sat on the stoops of her New York apartment with her long flowy dress paired with her denim jacket waiting for her boyfriend to arrive. Clutching onto her denim jacket tighter, she watched as the kids played on the sidewalk. Chasing each other, she smiled at her neighbour who blew soap bubbles to entertain her baby. Using her hands, she covered her face, opening them up saying “Peek-a-boo!” hearing the baby giggle, her smile spread wider.

“Boyfriend?” her neighbour asked, nodding her head as she continued playing Peek-a-boo with the toddler from afar.

“What’s her name?” Paisley asked, for months she avoided asking the question. Worried that she would confuse the baby’s gender and it would upset the mother, today the baby had a pink bow on her head. Feeling safe to ask today, she took her opportunity.

“Olly” the proud mother beamed, taking a seat beside her. “We wanted a unisex name, something that could leave people guessing”. Smiling, she played with the baby, touching her tiny hands all she wanted to do was squish them. It was tempting but she held herself back, not wanting to frighten the poor baby.

“Well, Olly is a beautiful name, to suit a beautiful baby” Paisley complimented, doing a baby voice as the baby began to giggle.

“Do you want to hold her?” the mother asked

“Can I?” she asked, surprised. Nodding her head, the mother passed her baby carefully to Paisley. Instantly she could feel the weight of the baby, bouncing Olly on her lap, Olly giggled with her hands in her mouth. Drooling all over herself.

“I’m Catherine, by the way,” the mother introduced. Keeping her eyes on Olly, she introduced herself “I’m Paisley”

“You’re good with her, she doesn’t like people much” Catherine complimented. Smiling, she said, “thank you”.

From the corner of her eyes, she spotted his car. Ferrari 330 GTS. Bouncing Olly on her lap one last time, she watched as Olly burst into a fit of giggles. Giggling along with her, truly the baby’s laughter was contagious.

Passing Olly back to Catherine, she quickly said her goodbyes, wishing them well and hoping to see them again soon. Getting off the stoops, Paisley grabbed her small rattan bag, slugging it over her shoulder as she made her way over to his red convertible.

Feeling the cold metal in her hands, she opened the door. Smiling widely at her boyfriend of four years, happy that he moved to New York to be with her. “Sweetie” she greeted, kissing his cheeks.

“My love” he smiled, peeking over her shoulder he gave a polite wave to her neighbour. Pulling the safety belt over her, she secured it as the car started to drive.

“Where are we going?” she asked

“I was thinking we could go to the seafood place we tried a few weeks ago? Been craving for their lobster tail” he suggested, nodding her head she agreed. Feeling his hand on her thigh, she smiled, placing her hand over his.

Watching the buildings go by, all the high rises and the people walking on the sidewalk. Kids playing on the sidewalk, thanking God every day she had a better outcome compared to her other foster siblings. Being able to live in the Upper West Side of New York was something she could only dream of as a child, now overcoming obstacles she would consider her story a success.

The car stopped, parking on the sidewalk. Paisley realised she spaced out, realising they had arrived at the restaurant, the valet opened the door for her, offering her a hand. Taking it, she quickly thanked the valet as she got out of the car.

“Have I told you how beautiful you look?” Noah whispered in her ear. Feeling his hand guiding the small of her back, she smiled. Shaking her head from left to right, she stared at him blushing.

“Well, you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met. My other half” he flirted. That was one of the things she loved about Noah, although they’ve been together for four years, he never ceases to amaze her.

Walking alongside her, the waiter guided them to their table. Pulling out a chair for her, still amazed by his chivalry. Taking a seat across from her, she opened the menu that was placed in front of her. Scanning through the menu, she knew what she wanted and could already imagine it being in her mouth.

“What do you want to order my love?” Noah asked, closing his menu and placing it on the table.

“I want the lobster tail risotto” she informed, nodding his head Noah signalled for the waiter. Watching as he ordered, she knew he was about to overorder. Chuckling lightly, Paisley folded her napkin.

“What?” he asked, completely unaware of his habits

“We both know that you’re not going to finish it. Then it’s going to be your lunch the following day” she joked. Shaking his head dismissively, he laughed.

“Fair point” he answered. “So tell me, what did you do today?” he asked, taking a sip of his white wine.

“I went to the farmer’s market, then when I got home Stella’s boyfriend was over so I pretty much kept to myself in my room” she sighed. She wasn’t a big fan of her friend Stella’s boyfriend Hunter. She felt that he was creepy and often caught him staring at other women’s breasts.

“Have you tried talking to Stella yet?” Noah asked

“I’ve tried bringing the subject up but when I do she would brush it off. Always defending him claiming- boys will be boys” she sighed. Hunter always made her feel uncomfortable, she never understood why Stella chose to stay with him. “Anyway, how was your day?” she asked, shifting the topic away from her

“I had a little girl come in today, a single mother too preoccupied to realise that her daughter’s appendix had ruptured. We rushed her into the OR” shaking his head disapprovingly at the memory. She watched him fold his sleeves up to his elbow getting ready to dig into the food placed in front of them. Taking a huge whiff of her food, instantly her stomach growled in hunger.

Noah was Dr Noah Harris. A paediatrician practising in a clinic just 20 minutes from her apartment. They met while she was still studying at Tulane University, New Orleans. He was doing his final year of residency in his hometown; they met when she went to the ER, splitting her thumb open on a can of soup. After helping to stitch her wound, he ignored the rules and asked her out.

After a few months of casually dating, they realised they had a lot of similarities. Big dreams, goals in life, and even their faith in God aligned. It was as if fate brought them together. As cheesy as it sounds, Paisley did not believe in fate or destiny. She believed that God was the only higher power and that everything had been planned with a purpose. Nothing was by chance. Everything was God’s will.

Wiping her lips, she was stuffed. “Remember I told you about my best friend, Reyes ?” he asked

“Yeah, the celebrity lawyer right?” she recalled

“Yeah, well I’m the best man for his wedding. So I was thinking” he trailed off as he wiped his lips. “Would you be my plus 1? You get to finally meet all my friends and I would love to introduce you to everyone”

“Of course” pausing, “I thought the wedding will be in New York? Is everyone coming here?”

“Yeah, Reyes and Iris are having it here. Her family insisted that it would be here, and Reyes doesn’t have much on his list so it made sense for everyone to just meet here” Noah explained. Nodding her head, she remembered Reyes. Having never met him, she has heard plenty of stories about him.

“Okay,” she replied. Conversations were always easy between them, that was why she fell in love with Noah. After the dinner, Noah brought her back to his place. It was just a few blocks away from hers. His apartment was posh, with a doorman it placed a simple walk-up apartment to shame.

Opening the door, it was the first time she’s been to his place when it was fully furnished. Only shifting in over a week ago, she allowed him to get settled in. Switching on the lights, she noticed that everything was in place. Plopping on his grey sofa, she ran her hands over the fabric.

“It’s nice sweetie” she commented, turning around she noticed he had disappeared. Probably to clean up, she gathered. She noticed the pictures on the table, there were pictures of her and his parents. All sprawled out, she wondered what he planned to do with them.

“Noah,” she called, as she went through the pile of photos. They were mostly hers. Spotting him from the corner of her eyes, she noticed he was shirtless. Eyes glazing over his dark skin, she bit her lips. Shaking her head, she cleared her throat, “what are all these pictures doing here?”

“Well, I wanted to frame them and bring maybe one or two to the office” he responded, kneeling beside her, taking two of her photos. “I want this and this to be in my office,” he said, showing it to her, nodding her head she smiled widely. She remembered exactly where both photos were taken, blushing at the second photo.

“The first one is fine, it’s just us. The second one shouldn’t be in a paediatrician’s office” she commented

“No one is going to know,” he insisted, cupping her cheek. Slowly getting up, her eyes followed his actions. Pulling her up, he kissed her lips softly. “No one is going to know the context of the photo. It is just you, a candid moment” he convinced. Nodding her head, she agreed. It was a candid moment. It was the first time they slept together, it was in fact after the fact. With her hair pushed to the side, she looked down smiling, a towel wrapped around her body. It was just a simple photo.

Feeling his lips on hers again, she smiled. Loved the feeling, his arm wrapped around her, while the other held her head. Her hands ran up and down his muscular arms, always amazed that he found the time to workout despite his busy schedule.

“I want to show you something” he whispered, as their breaths mixed. Grabbing her hand, he led her to his room. The room had grey wallpaper with emerald green finishings, she noted that the interior designer did a great job decorating the place.

Standing in front of his wardrobe, he eyed her. Confused, she raised her eyebrow at his antics. “Open it” he instructed. Without hesitating, she did. Realising that the entire section of the wardrobe was empty, confused still she stared at him, waiting for him to explain.

“Move in with me, my love”