Few minutes later, Karen texted him the address and dropped her phone to focus on the movie. They watched attentively until they completed the entire season. They were grinning from ear to ear at the end of the series. After many challenges, their lead couples had finally ended up together.
“I feel like crying.” Ciara stated dramatically. Karen pulled her into a hug, patting her back.
“You have my shoulders to cry on.”
“Thank you, but no.” Ciara replied with a short laugh. “oops.. it’s time to prepare for your date.” she spoke after checking the time on the huge clock that hung on the wall.
“It isn’t a date, Ciara!” Karen warned.
“Bleh! So, what does a guy and a lady go to a fancy restaurant for, if not a date?”
“To work. Who knows, they may be chefs working at the restaurant.” Karen replied, forcing herself not to laugh at her reply. Ciara slapped her forehead dramatically, making her laugh.
They spent the next half and an hour fixing Karen up. She wore her dinner gowns and after dressing up, Ciara had forced her to sit in front of the mirror where she did her make up and styled her, making her look even more beautiful.
“What if he thinks I did all these to look beautiful for him.” Karen expressed her fear, looking at her beautiful reflection in the mirror.
“Tsk Tsk Tsk. You think too much, baby girl. It’s not healthy. ” Ciara advised.
“I’m serious.” Karen argued. “You have no idea what Damian is capable of thinking, or doing.” Ciara ignored her emotional statements, and when realized that it was slowly turning into a monologue, she decided to keep quiet.
“Do you need me to accompany you?” Ciara asked, standing by the door where she was to see her off.
“There is no need for that. It’s a date.” she replied, placing an invisible quotation sign on the last part of her statement.
“Alright. Keep me updated every twenty minutes. Remember, two hours at max. If he’s still talking after two hours, shove a plate inside his mouth and walk out.” Ciara admonished, speaking like she was advising a teenager who just started experiencing puberty.
“Noted.”
“I will be here when you’re back. Get me a plate of ice cream on your way back, I’ll order pizza when you’re on your way home.”
“All noted.”
“Now, run along.”
Elsewhere, Damian drove into the premises of the fancy restaurant and found a spot to park his car. He stepped out, dusting invisible dirt from his tuxedo for the eleventh time that night. He looked at his watch and nodded. He still had about 10 minutes until time. He walked towards the restaurant building, smiled at the security as he walked past the electronic door. He found an empty table near the window where he could see everybody entering the restaurant and took a seat. A waiter rushed to him to take his order and he ordered a bottle of white wine and water. He really needed the water to calm his nervousness.
He was dressed in a posh black tuxedo and matching jewellery. He had spent over twenty minutes trying to make a choice before finally settling on the black tux. He used a generous quantity of perfume, and the smell could be traced from a distance.
He drank from his bottle of water as he operated his phone, trying to while away time. It was five minutes past seven pm, and Karen was yet to arrive. Judging that she would arrive anytime soon, he placed an order for two plates of what he thought was her favourite pastry. She arrived five minutes later and walked in, dressed in a killer gown. Her baby bump was visible but it still looked sexy. It was easy for him to see her as she stepped in so he waved her over. She took graceful steps and he watched, enthralled by her poise and beauty as she walked up to him.
“I’m sorry for being late. The traffic was a bit hectic.” her small pouty lips moved from side to side as she apologized. He didn’t care about the apology. To hell with that. The most beautiful lady he had ever seen was seated right in front of him.
“Thank you for showing up.” he tried to remain calm as he drank from the bottle of water emptying it. The waiter stepped forward with the pastries and dropped it on the table before going back in.
“Ordered your favorite pastry.” he stated “I guess it was best to start the night with this.”
“Many times changed, but I guess my favorite pastry didn’t.” She shrugged, picking up her fork. They chatted over the plate of pastry and a glass of wine as he informed her about life in New York and the reason for his return.
“So, you went to New York when you left?” She asked.
“Yes,” he replied. “I got a job there.”
Her mind was unsettled as she listened to him continue speaking. She had met her dad in New York, and apparently, he had been living there. Did that mean that they have met before? She kicked against the urge to ask if he knew her dad, after all, New York was a big city and he would probably not know him.
Their food arrived and they started eating in silence. Only the low clinking sound of the cutlery against their plates could be heard. They finished eating and their table was cleared.
“I don’t wanna sound like I am pressurizing you, but is there, maybe a chance for us?” Damian’s question broke the silence .
She groaned internally and mentally slapped her forehead. She knew she would have to deal with this. “You know I’m pregnant right?”
“Yes, it’s obvious,” he replied.
“And you know that I am in contact with my baby daddy and we could just start dating again anytime?”
He frowned visibly at the question. He had considered the possibilities and had thought against it. “I promise to love you with all my heart, and take the baby as mine.”
She scoffed at his profession. “You don’t get it, Dam. This wasn’t four years ago. We’ve all grown up now.”
“Ya. Right. I guess I was the only one living in the past.” he replied, drowning his entire cup of wine.
Karen checked the time, it was an hour and twenty minutes since she arrived. “Thank you for understanding.” She replied.
He forced a small smile her way. Heck! He didn’t understand and wasn’t planning on it. He just knew that there was one person responsible for all of these. -Jack Antonio.
***
Alexa had spent two hours crying non stop and when she finally found a will to stop, he had lost her voice. Her tears left dried patches on her face, destroying her makeup. Her hair was scattered and disheveled, giving her a perfect representation of someone that has been mourning. She took a quick shower and changed into another cloth before returning to the sitting room where she sat quietly, unable to utter a word. She knew this was going to happen. She saw every sign, but why was his death hurting so badly?
“I’ve called mom. She’s flying in late at night or early tomorrow morning.” Jack spoke to her, after over an hour. He had a bottle of whiskey in front of him and had already drunk half. Too bad she wasn’t a fan of drinking, else she would have joined him.
It was getting late into the night when she announced that she wanted to go eat out. Eating had always helped her through sorrowful times. She knew a meal from her favourite restaurant would definitely help her cope. Harry had gone home a few hours ago and promised to return before they went to bed. Jack checked his watch, it was a few minutes past eight. He was dressed in a black hoodie and sweatpants. He just wanted to drink and sleep, but his sister wanted to go to the restaurant so he had to take her.
His car pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, a bit close to the entrance. He killed the engine and turned to his sister “Go get whatever you wanna get, I’ll remain in the car.”
Few minutes later, his eyes caught a familiar figure walking out of the restaurant. He had been with her less than twenty four hours ago so he was sure to recognize her anywhere. He wanted to get out of the car and go meet her when a man walked out behind her.
He stared in anger as he clutched his steering wheel tightly. What was Karen doing here with a man?