Chapter5
Heather was due to take a shift on the reception desk of the Emergency Unit in City Hospital so had her alarm set but it wasn't her alarm that woke her on Saturday morning, it was the sound of the intercom buzzing through to the living room to let her know someone downstairs for her.
She woke with the fuzzy head of someone who had had a lot to drink and then she remembered her evening with Yuri. She smiled; the feeling of warmth, which Yuri seemed to generate when he touched her was still with her. The scent of his cologne from when he held her close was still playing with her senses.
She shook the images of her and Yuri lying naked in her bed from her mind when the buzzing came again. Leaping up out of bed and then through to the adjoining living room, she held down the button.
“Yes?” she croaked.
“We got a delivery for Heather Nicholls.”
“That's me. Come on up. Second floor.”
She rushed to put on a robe and tried to straighten out her hair before the knock on her door. She opened up and saw a line up of three couriers all with both arms piled high with boxes.
“I just need for you to sign here.” The first courier placed his boxes down; they seemed heavy. He pulled the electronic device out of his back pocket and held it under Heather's nose for her to sign.
“Are all of these for me?” Heather asked, peering past him as the two other couriers put their boxes down and shook out their arms.
“Yes, all of them are for you; from different places, I believe, but they’re all for you.”
“Do you know who it's from?” she asked, still looking at the boxes.
“We just deliver, miss.” He held the device closer to her so Heather signed it and thanked the couriers. “I should tip you.”
“No need, we were given a forward tip by the sender so we can't accept another penny because of our contract. You want us to carry them in?”
“Would you?”
“No problem.” The men loaded up and put all nine boxes next to Heather's sofa. “Enjoy your birthday,” the first courier said. “Oh there was one more thing.” He handed her an envelope.
The rest of the couriers all wished her a happy birthday and Heather did not correct them. She only smiled, closed the door after them and couldn't wait to see what was in the boxes. She had checked as they put them down that they did in fact belong to her.
She opened the envelope first. There was a hand written note inside.
Dear Heather,
As you know, I take my running very seriously and I know that bad footwear not only can ruin your feet, but your posture, joints and muscles too. I hope you can make use of one or all of these. I also took the liberty of sending a few other items. I got carried away, as you can see. But when it comes to you, I don't think I can stop myself.
Of course, this doesn't mean you have to accompany me every time I run but it would do wonders for my will power to have you beside me. You never know, you might even get to enjoy it as much as I do.
Because it is you and because I couldn't stop thinking about our conversation, I took the liberty of adding things I hoped you'd enjoy. If I got it wrong, we'll do an exchange or return but I beg you not to refuse anything.
All you can see came from no other place than the heart and you would honor me greatly if you accept them.
See you tomorrow.
Yuri
On one of the boxes Heather noticed the Nike sports logo and started ripping open the packaging. Yuri had asked for her shoe size, she remembered. Finally getting into the packaging of one of the boxes, she found three pairs of size nine running shoes and three in nine and a half in different colors. Unwrapping further, Heather found packages of running clothes, all about her size, as well as other running accessories, like a timer, heart rate monitor, and water bottle. You name it; it was there.
Heather was amazed. She loved it all. The colors he had chosen she would naturally have chosen herself. It was on opening the other boxes that Heather staggered and held her chest; half thinking she couldn't possibly accept any more. Yuri had enclosed clothes for what seemed like all occasions, from casual day wear to two evening gowns, all with matching accessories. Again, his choices were all those she would have made for herself.
Heather looked at the time. She needed to be at work, otherwise she would have been tempted to try on everything. With a cup of strong coffee in hand, Heather sat cross legged on the sofa looking at what was now about to replace her entire wardrobe of baggy sweatpants, frayed jeans and worn out t-shirts.
She dialed Yuri's number.
“Please tell me I got the sizes right,” were the first words out of his mouth.
“Yuri, you are a wonderful person. You got everything right, from what I can see. I've got to go into work now and I look forward to our run in Central Park. Now I have to think of some way to thank you for all your kind gifts.”
“Only way to do that is for me to see you tomorrow. And the next day, and the next and the day after that.”
“I'm speechless. Thank you again. I'm sorry...I have to go.”
“Until Sunday?”
“Until Sunday.”