Seize the day

She’d spent so long dreaming, it seemed impossible things could work out the way she’d hoped

- Kerry Nicel

On a freezing January morning, the man I’d been ogling from afar for the best part of six months suddenly stopped jogging along the park’s footpath, and strode towards me. He crouched in front of 18-month-old Jay and three-year-old Amelia while I stood looking on, completely flabbergasted by this turn of events.

‘Is this yours?’ he asked.

Jay beamed. ‘Penguin!’ His chubby little hand seized the soft toy’s tummy and he giggled when the penguin peeped.

The man pointed. ‘He was by that tree, taking a nap by the lake.’

I sank into the man’s chocolate-brown eyes, grinning insanely at him, unable to conjure up even a word to say.

He was the same age as me, or thereabouts, and his legs were solid and muscular.

He waited for me to speak. His smile revealed an endearing crooked front tooth. I was hot and sweaty, like it was me who was working out and not him.

‘Thanks… so much,’ I stammered. ‘Penguin goes everywhere with Jay, and without it…’

‘You’d have no peace?’

Before I could say anything else, Jay tottered off towards the lake.

‘Ducks, ducks.’

Amelia and I dashed off to rescue Jay. Despite his chubby legs, Jay moved pretty quickly.

‘It looks like you’ve got your hands full,’ the guy called, sprinting off into the woods.

‘They aren’t that full,’ I’d wanted to add, but he was gone before the words could form on my tongue. I cursed my shyness for not allowing me to speak up, to seize the day, as Mum was always telling me.

Sharp-eyed Amelia stooped to pick up something. ‘Look what I’ve found!’ Jay grabbed at Amelia’s hand.

‘Mine,’ he said.