“Sorry for not making it to your birthday, Dave,” said Victor, downing a shot of whiskey. “I hit a kid on the road that day. I was working at a new construction site and had just gotten into my car when, out of nowhere, this kid appeared on my hood.
Can you imagine? Thank goodness I wasn’t going fast. I jumped out of the car and saw the boy was okay. I asked him how he was, and he said everything was fine. He was just a little redhead, no more than six years old.
‘Where are your parents?’ I asked.
‘Mum’s at home,’ he replied. ‘She’s making dinner.’
‘Well, let’s head to your mum,’ I said. ‘We need to sort this out.’
He led me to his apartment building and pointed to the door before hiding behind me. I knocked, and a woman answered. She was beautiful, unlike anyone I’d ever seen, but she seemed kind of worn out. Her eyes didn’t have that spark, you know?
‘I’m so sorry,’ I said. ‘I didn’t mean to alarm you, but I accidentally bumped your son with my car. He’s fine, here he is,’ I said, pulling the boy out from behind me. ‘But maybe you’d like to call the police?’
‘No need for the police,’ she said softly. ‘It’s the fifth time he’s done this.’
‘Sorry?’
‘Mark, go to your room,’ she said sternly to her son. ‘And you, come to the kitchen. Would you like some tea? Or coffee?’
By the way, the tea was quite nice, had herbs in it.
‘We apologize for the trouble,’ said Iris, which was her name. ‘A few days ago, Mark overheard me telling my friend how tough it was without a husband, and he decided this was how he’d find a dad for us. You’re at least the fifth man he’s tried to jump in front of. Nearly gave two of them heart attacks. I keep telling him he’s all I need, but he’s as stubborn as his grandad. Get an idea in his head, and that’s it. Did he scratch your car badly? I could pay for repairs, if you want. No? Well, alright then.’
And I sat there, looking at her, realizing I was in love. You won’t believe it, Dave, but it was the first time I felt that a woman was meant for me. She was tired, in a housecoat, with no makeup. Yet, I knew if I let her go, I might as well jump off a roof.
‘I know how absurd this sounds,’ I said, ‘but would you let me take you and Mark to the cinema as compensation?’
‘You really shouldn’t,’ she replied. ‘You know Mark will just get ideas in his head again.’
‘So, you don’t like me then?’ I asked.
‘It’s not that. It’s just… In other circumstances… This just makes it seem like I was using my son to find a husband. It feels shameful.’
‘Right. And I’m the villain taking advantage of a woman in a tough spot,’ I joked. ‘Destined to burn in hell with you then. But since we’re in it together, maybe we could burn at the same stake?’
I don’t remember what else I said, but the next day, I picked them up for a cinema trip to see ‘Transformers’. Afterward, we went to a restaurant, then…
Anyway, Dave, that’s why I’m here. We’re getting married in June. We need a photographer. Can you handle it? Look how photogenic they are.’ Victor pulled out his phone and showed a picture of the laughing red-haired beauty and the cheeky little boy next to her.
Now, I’m certain Cupid doesn’t have wings. But he does have loads of ginger freckles and is missing two front teeth. His name is Mark. As for the surname, well, soon enough he’ll take mine. No doubt about it.”
