But there it was. Glorious. Simple. A reminder of what once was. A taste of the older Fairfax.
They both saw it. And without saying a word approached it.
He made a comment about the importance of preservation of stands like that one. She agreed.
Had it been four months earlier she may have been surprised by his uncanny way of saying things exactly how she would have said them. But now it was the norm. She expected it. She liked it.
So many magazines. Fashion. Cooking. Sex. One right after another.
They laughed and criticized. It was a harbor for provoked thoughts and opinions. Others passed quickly but they lingered. Slowly moving from one side of the stand to the other.
He kept his hand close to hers. Not possessively. Just letting her know he was there.
She acted as if she didn't notice. She noticed. She liked it.
She read an obnoxious title out loud. Anticipating a laugh she locked eyes with the cover of the magazine. But she felt his eyes on the side of her face.
He did that sometimes. Just stared. She liked it.
And then he hugged her. The embrace lasted a few seconds and then was over. Leaving any onlooker's life unaffected. Or so they thought.
The old women approached from the left. She moved slow and steady. Life had taken it's toll on her strides.
She trudged. Focused. Paying no attention to anyone. Just her and the pavement. As she passed behind them they stepped forward to make room. She, however, stopped.
She looked at them and smiled.
"Well, somebody likes somebody!"
And that was it. She continued on her way. And they turned back to the stand.
He looked at her. They said nothing. But they didn't need to.
That woman, so full of wisdom and life. She'd said it all. In the simplest terms. Somebody really did like somebody.
It was clear.
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