Chapter 30


    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 be a divorcewyer.


    They say if you be 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 divorcewyer to that as well. People


    will always get married and divorced. As a divorcewyer, I will always have work.


    I’ve always had rtionships on the basis that my parents had after the divorce. Never stick around. Hit


    and run.


    But my perceptions are beginning to change, I think.


    After I run into Vi I’m wracked with guilt. I can’t stop thinking about her and it makes my guilt worse. I


    lie awake at nights 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 Vi out of my thoughts and decide it’s time for me tomit.


    The next day I visit a jeweller and pick out a ring. It’s expensive but she deserves it. It’s ssy. The


    diamond is not too big.


    I book dinner for us at the Inn of the Seventh Ray. It’s considered as 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 asion is and where we are going. I


    know she’ll know the restaurant immediately considering she’s a wedding nner so I don’t tell her.


    As we pull in to 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 ce for a great meal as a


    couple.”


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


    “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, I think. 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 ce my hands on her shoulders. She


    jumps and then rxes.


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


    “What is it?” she asks.


    “A ne. 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 ne. I’ve threaded the ring onto it


    and I ce 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 ne. She doesn’t see it at first as she takes the


    chain of the ne between her fingers. Then she realizes there’s something 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 exims.


    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 in 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 ne, remove the ring and ce


    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 ce 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 be


    one. We explore each other’s body slowly, taking pleasure in simply touching and feeling each other’s


    reaction. We learn new things that the other enjoys and weugh 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 nner.”


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


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    “No, baby,” she smiles. “I can’t be the nner 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 n 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.