C31 Chapter 31

RICK

I think of my parents a lot these days. They were both unfaithful to one another. I don’t know who was unfaithful first but it doesn’t really matter. They divorced and I spent my weekends with one or the other until I graduated and left for university. I watched them with different partners and came to believe that the institution of marriage is nothing but a lie. Why tie yourself to one person legally? I didn’t know what caused more damage, their infidelity or fighting in the divorce. Never mind the fact that they both tried to use me as a bargaining chip in the process.

After my experience, I realized how many of my friends were in the same situation. It was then that I decided to become a divorce lawyer.

They say if you become a doctor or a teacher, you’ll always have work. People will always get sick and there will always be education, right? Well, you can add being a divorce lawyer to that as well. People will always get married and divorced. As a divorce lawyer, I will always have work.

I’ve always had relationships on the basis of what I saw in my parents. My father never remarried but only had one-night stands. My mother married the guy she cheated on my father with. Their marriage didn’t last either. Hit and run. That’s always been my policy.

But my policy is beginning to change, I think.

After I run into Viola I’m wracked with guilt. I can’t stop thinking about her and it makes my guilt worse. I lie awake at night looking at Christine. Her long beautiful hair spreads out on the pillow around her face and she looks so peaceful. I know how hard she works and the things she does for us. I’d be a fool to let her go.

I try to make an effort to push Viola out of my thoughts and decide it’s time for me to commit.

The next day I visit a jeweler and pick out a ring. It’s expensive but she deserves it. It’s classy. The diamond is not too big.

I book dinner for us at the Inn of the Seventh Ray. It’s considered the most romantic restaurant in Los Angeles and I think it’s perfect.

I tell Christine that I have booked dinner for us but she says she can’t make it so I reschedule for the next evening at seven. I tell her to wear something nice but not too formal. When I pick her up, she’s ready and waiting for me. She’s full of questions about what the occasion is and where we are going. I know she’ll know the restaurant immediately considering she’s a wedding planner so I don’t tell her.

As we pull into the restaurant, Christine looks at me in surprise.

“I’m impressed, Rick. You found the most romantic restaurant in Los Angeles.”

“Is it?” I ask feigning ignorance. “A friend suggested it. They said it’s a good place for a great meal as a couple.”

“Well, your friends have excellent taste,” Christine says falling for my explanation.

“I’ll tell them you said so,” I smile. I get out and open the door for her. She steps out of the car. She’s looking more beautiful than ever tonight. She wears white strap sandals with heels and a body-hugging spaghetti strap dress. Her hair is braided and pinned up on her head revealing her soft neck. All I want to do is kiss it. I take her hand and lead her inside. We are shown to our table which is outside under the stars. It’s a perfect evening and we can see some stars despite the glow of the city below us. Our table is beside a stream and it trickles and giggles over rocks beside us adding to the calm and peace of our dinner.

We enjoy our dinner and when we finish the main course, I excuse myself and go to the men’s room. When I return I sneak up on her from behind and then softly place my hands on her shoulders. She jumps and then relaxes.

“I’ve got a surprise for you,” I whisper in her ear.

“What is it?” she asks.

“A necklace. I just couldn’t resist getting it for you. Shall I put it on?”

“Yes,” she smiles.

“Close your eyes,” I whisper. She closes them and I take out the necklace. I’ve threaded the ring onto it and I place it around her neck. I make sure it fastened and then I kneel beside her.

“Open your eyes,” I whisper.

Christine opens her eyes and looks down at the necklace. She doesn’t see it at first as she takes the chain of the necklace between her fingers. Then she realizes something is hanging on it and she takes it in her hand. She realizes it’s a ring and she covers her mouth with her hand.

“It’s beautiful!” she exclaims.

I smile. “Will you marry me?” I ask.

She studies the ring a few moments longer and I almost get the idea that she’s considering her answer. Then she smiles and looks into my eyes. She throws her arms around my neck. “Yes!” she says.

I hug her tightly and when we finally end our embrace, I undo the necklace, remove the ring and place it on her finger. She can’t stop looking at it.

We order dessert and another bottle of wine. We enjoy the rest of the evening before we finally head home.

Christine is quiet as I drive and I simply assume that she’s so happy and surprised, she doesn’t know what to say. I place my hand on her thigh and she takes it with hers as she looks at me and smiles.

We get home and after we get undressed we get into bed. Christine is still looking at her ring as I kiss her cheek. I run my hands over her naked body softly under the sheets and finally, she turns to me. She looks into my eyes and whispers, “Thank you.”

We kiss again and again. Our kisses get longer and deeper the more we kiss until we seem to become one. We explore each other’s bodies slowly, taking pleasure in simply touching and feeling each other’s reaction. We learn new things that the other enjoys and we laugh softly at our discoveries before we finally make love slowly and passionately.

After we finish making love, we lie next to each other in silence as she looks at her ring again.

I can’t help but feel as if Christine is distracted but she seems happy and responds to me when I say something. Maybe she’s just over the moon with happiness. I know she’s happy and she’s said yes to me. That’s what matters, isn’t it?

“You seem distracted,” I say eventually.

She pauses, then smiles and looks from her ring to me. “I’m happy. I’m thinking that we should ask Lara to be our wedding planner.”

“Don’t you want to do it yourself?” I ask thinking she’d prefer to have control over everything.

“No, baby,” she smiles. “I can’t be the planner if I’m going to be the bride. I won’t be able to stay out of the procedures on our wedding day if I arrange it. It’ll ruin everything. I trust Lara. I know she’ll do a great job.”

“Okay,” I say. It makes sense.

“Why don’t you arrange it with Lara?” she asks. “You can plan everything and surprise me on my wedding day. That would be really romantic. The only things I’ll sort out are my wedding dress and the maid of honor.”

“That sounds like a great idea,” I say. We cuddle a while before she falls asleep beside me. I lie awake next to her promising myself I’ll be better than my parents. I’ll make her happy. The moonlight pours through the bedroom window and Christine’s ring breaks the moonbeams into a small rainbow on the white bedsheet.

I finally fall asleep, happy that Christine said yes and afraid that despite everything, I will fail.