First Class Male
When Jenna got locked out of her house, would the handsome postman come to the rescue?
Jenna added a coat of lipstick the colour of pomegranate and looked out of her bedroom window. She could see the postman walking down her neighbour’s drive.
Good. By the time she got downstairs she should have timed it perfectly.
Reaching the bottom stair, she heard the door. Glancing in the mirror she saw the flush on her cheeks, and the excitement in her eyes.
“Hi.” He passed her a couple of letters and a small package that she’d known she’d ordered.
“Thanks. It’s nice to see the sun today.”
He gave her a friendly smile. “Yeah. You take care.”
“You too.”
She watched him stride up the drive before shutting the door.
Why couldn’t she tell him she liked him?
Biting her lip, she knew why. She’d made the first move on someone before, and been rejected. She was wary of doing it again.
It had all started a few months back when the postie had asked if she could take in a parcel for her neighbour.
“I’m new to this job. Hope you don’t mind,” he’d said with a cheeky grin.
“Sure.” She’d grinned back, gazing into his cornflower blue eyes and feeling her heart leap.
“Thanks.” As their hands had brushed, her heart had leaped again.
After that whenever she’d seen him, he’d stop to exchange a few words.
She’d missed him when another post person started delivering. Was he OK? Sick? What if he’d changed rounds and she’d never see him again?
Feeling relieved to see him back the following week she’d asked, and he’d given her a self-deprecating smile.
“Just had a touch of man flu, but I’m all right now.”
“I’m glad. I missed seeing you.” The words popped unintentionally out of her mouth and she held her breath.
However, all he said was. “That’s nice to hear.” And whistled jauntily as he walked off.
Then the silliest thing happened. Popping out with some rubbish, the door slammed shut behind her.
Stuck in her old comfy sweats and Bugs Bunny slippers, Jenna stared mournfully at the door.
Now what?
Hearing a cheery whistle, she saw his familiar figure approaching.
“You OK?”
Jenna made a face.
“I’ve locked myself out. What an idiot, huh?”
His face creased in concern. “Not at all. My wife used to do that. Is there a spare key out here?”
A wife. Great. Some way to find out. Feeling her heart nose-dive even further, Jenna shook her head.
“No… I mean… yes. Well, my neighbour has a spare, but she’s gone away for a few days.”
“Hmm.” He looked thoughtful. “Don’t suppose you’ve left a window open?”
Hope bubbled up inside.
“I think I left the side window open on the first floor but…” Then her face fell. “The ladder is in the garage.”
“No problem. I’m just finishing my shift so I’ll pick one up on the way back. Won’t be long. By the way, I’m Ben.”
“Jenna.”
He grinned and said, “I know. I deliver your post!”
“Hey. Being locked out does things to a girl’s memory,” she quipped, grinning back.
Waiting on her front step, Jenna pursed her lips. It seemed like she had the answer to her question as to whether he was taken or not, but what a way to find out.
True to his word, Ben soon appeared with a ladder.
“Borrowed it from my friend. Where’s the window?”
Showing him round the side Jenna pointed, watching him rest the ladder against the wall, and climb up.
Pushing the window open he nimbly jumped in, turning to look down at her.
“See you out front, then.”
Running as fast as her bunny slippers would allow, she gave him a grateful smile as he opened the door.
“You’re my hero, seriously, thank you.”
“No worries. I could hardly have left you stuck with no way to get in.”
“The least I can do is offer you a coffee.
“Or is your wife expecting you back, and concerned you’ve gone off to play white knight to a damsel in distress?”
“Actually, I’m divorced now and live on my own, so… a coffee would be great, actually. Thanks.”
Sitting in the kitchen with two cups of coffee, and a man who now looked very much at home, Jenna couldn’t quite believe her luck.
Being a dance teacher, she’d always been supple. OK, she was now in her forties, but she liked to think she still had the moves.
She’d probably have been able to clamber up to the window by jumping on the side wall and levering herself up using the trellis.
It wouldn’t have been easy, but it was doable.
But seeing Ben appear, it had seemed almost like Fate.
Apparently, he liked her but was shy too.
Maybe destiny now used the postal service to sort out love lives? Whatever. It looked like her love life had been delivered first class!
