Nessya grinned full of larks as she looked over the delicious smelling options of food and treats that were on display in the indoor market. The timing could not have been more perfect as not many people were about yet, or if there had been it was during the morning rush. Their morning had understandably been occupied with their news and visit to the healer.
"Anything take ya fancy, love? Go ahead and pick anything, may as well since we are somewhat celebrating."
Nessya of course wasted no time. She eyed everything with a small lick to her lips; everything looked good, it was hard to choose.
Across the opposite end of the room a man with graying whiskers and equally graying dark hair held out a wide-armed flat crate full of wares, flexing his fingers to control the heavy load as he waited for another man, a buyer, to accept it. The buyer took his time and this caused the carrier to get frustrated.
"Here, man.."
"Can I have a full cake?" Nessya asked, not entirely serious.
"If you want a full cake, get a full cake."
Rick rolled his eyes at the man who was managing the food produce table, with humor. The man didn't return any of his looks and was at all times stone faced and crass, at least till he was certain they'd be buying something. Only then was he all smiles and politeness. Miserable curr. His manner wouldn't ruin his happiness today!
Nessya chuckled, but her eyes gleamed with a cheerfulness as she brushes her shoulder against his in a subtle, loving gesture. "Thank you Rick.."
The man holding the crate was in the middle of handing over to the buyer, finally, when his head turned sharply, so quickly it was a wonder his neck did not crack and pop the muscle from strain. He very nearly dropped the tray crate but the buyer was quick to steady it. Now there was a name he had not heard in a long time.
Rick gave Nessya and mocking look that oozed 'Oh you fat cow', as she finally pointed to one of the fully baked cakes in the corner, topped with half-cut strawberries and smothered with fresh clotted cream.
The man behind them shook his head and returned to his business, entering into discussion with the buyer who now, finally, had his goods and who had whacked his arm to get his attention.
Nessya jabbed his side playfully at the look he gave her and snorted, retorting back to him, "Oh please, like you're not eatin' this cake as much as me, Rickstan"
The man behind them's eyes go wide now and he turned around fully, his hand gripping the pouch of coins he had just received for his work. He stands there frozen, all color leaving his already paled and worn face.
"I will eat but three quatre's, you can have the whole entirety of the remainder."
It was during the back and forth banter between them that Nessya noticed the man out the corner of her eye, looking their way like a wide mouthed fish, or was he looking behind them? She turned her head to check but no, he was looking directly at them. Rick had failed to notice. "Wha'..?" she'd asked sharply.
The man was unable to see this "Rickstan" chap as his back was turned and a beam that supported the roof of the building partly shielded his body. He did see, however, the woman in his company looking back at him and he quickly turned, still pale. This was noticed by the buyer, who he was, after all that business with the carry-crate, acquainted very well with him.
"What is the matter with you Ali? You look like you've seen a ghost."
The man looked up.
"I think I have..."
Rick took some coins from his pocket but he felt a single cake would not be enough. What the heck! He was in a cheerful mood, Averick was full of larks as always. Thumb pressed to his lips in deliberation, he proceeded to ask for more random things. Current Buns, Tarts, Boiled Sweet. Whatever his greedy hands could carry in one bulk.
The outrageous order finally brought out a chuckle from Nessya and she shook her head, she could tell he was happy and it was infectious.
"Are you the pregnant one here, or me? Man after m'own heart, you are."
The man with the buyer, without warning, walked behind the stall, where really he shouldn't be going and stood side by side with him. He partly hid himself behind some tall stacked boxes and tried to get a good view of the man and the woman, mostly the man. His neck craned and bent, his eyes squinted till they ached. "It can't be him."
The buyer looked at him oddly, baffled at his uncharacteristic behavior to the point he never questioned him standing in his stall among his produce and even ignored possible customers.
"Ali, who are you talking about?"
"My.." he shook his head, disbelieving. "It can't be..-Try and get a look at his face will you. I can't see."
Rick really should have though better; the plan of buying so much good food. He thought he could carry it all but in the process of gathering it all up, he couldn't. The man running the stall of food had the presidencies of mind to think smartly for him and motioned to the bunch of baskets nearby, "Take one of those baskets, mate." This man had just spent a fortune on his goods, it was natural he was not chipper enough to call him "mate".
The man, who was now named as "Ali", watched as Rick moved away. Ali is joined, in his spying, by his friend, the buyer, and another friend, the buyers assistant, who for some reason duck down with him, even though they had no reason to; This was their stall after all. Ali gave them a brief explanation and it was very apparent that they knew what he was speaking about from prior knowledge. What is said went unheard, till the buyer spoke up, clearly.
"Ali, are you sure?"
"How many lads do you hear by that name, ey? It was specific, my ma and..her ..da.."
"It could just be a coincidence. How could he come here and not be recognized....A name like that?"
"We are talking ten.thirt-years ago! People forget. This must be him, my boy."
"But he's not ya boy, you said that yourself. His mo-"
"He's still my boy. I brought him up, blood or not. Till he ran-...Either I'm going mad and this is a horrid coincidence, or this is a ghost."
He watched both Rick and his female companion leave with their basket of treats.
