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She'd always known she would say yes
'Adam' She would turn around, be still, deep asleep in bed, in her car, literally anywhere and that would still be in the name in her mind and heart.
Two years 14 days.
***********
He was just nothing but the many snobbish business partners she had encountered in her six years of business branding she had given her entire life for finally paying off she had opened one of her own. 27 employees and among the top ten leading business all over the country, she had done good.
That night, the night of yearly business associates all over the country had changed everything for her.
She would rather have choosen to spend her night like any other, on her couch, her laptop and hot coffee with her and Zane, her three year old German shepherd beside her but then she had gotten home, cleaned up, dressed up and fixed her long brown braids which matched her skin tone into a ponytail and then she had driven for twenty five minutes to the Jansens Hotels and Co, the place where the event had been clarified to be held.
An hour, two and then three as everyone mingled, she had said her 'hello' where it mattered, made small talks and walked on and then she saw them.
'Why don't you use your eyes to work, I mean that'd be great. You wouldn't be bringing me half the wine!' His voice was stern not cold just flat.
'I-I didn't mean it Mr Adam.' The server had trembled.
'Lyn, are you alright?' She didn't know her but she had read her name tag. Being an employer or once employed she had learnt an important lesson, always call people by their names, they would in turn feel respected and seen.
'N-I mean yes.' They still didn't face her.
'Get me another drink!' Adam had shouted almost drawing attention his side.
'I'll take it, I love red wine.' She had just taken the glass from the tray and offered them her best smile and she had instantly locked eyes with him, grey eyes, they had so much light in them, pale white skin, beautiful brown short curls and a blue suit and his mouth half wide opened.
'It's not okay to talk to people as if you own them.' That's all she'd said.
'M-my apologies waiter, I mean Lyn.' He had spoken much softer and kinder.
'I'll bring you another drink Mr Adam.' Lyn had said quietly.
'Hey, go get some fresh air,' She had offered.
'His drink ma'am?'
'I'll take care of it Lyn.' She had offered her a soft smile and watched her leave.
'Why?' Adam had shot his gaze at her once Lyn was out of sight.
'You need it.' She had said back.
'No, I mean. She is just a waiter so why did you protect her from me?'
'Why did you apologise?' She had asked instead and smiled leading him to the bar.
***********
"Ali, Als-" Her thoughts by Cathy, her friend since kindergarten and also her managerial assistant, the one person she would trust in the storms. She was dark brown, an inch shorter than her and loved long dresses and skirts.
"Huh?" Ali shot her eyes at her best friend as she sat on the office chair up front.
"I was in my head again, wasn't I?"
"Yap," Cathy took a pen from the table.
"You nervous about tonight?"
"Why would I be?" Ali snorted making Cathy laugh.
"One year bestie, it's you anniversary."
"And?"
"It's different today." Cathy exclaimed.
"It is?"
"You are more in love, you love this love, him, this life."
"Of course it is Cathy."
"I was there as you drowned in pain after that jerk Bob left five years ago, you swayed off men to be happy... What am trying to say is Adam makes you really happy, this love you two share makes the two of you happy, that's what it should always be." Cathy explained softly.
"It does Caths, we didn't rush did we?"
"No goodness, no. You took a whole six months to let him in even as a friend, that man changed because of you."
"I hate it when you all say that."
"But you did in a good way, I am never wrong about things you know am not so be sure that I am all in with you two."
"Thank you Caths." Ali sighed softly.
"So stop fussing and go or you'll be late." Cathy stood up. "Stop being nervous, when love's right. It's sure, just, true and real Ali, don't forget that."
"I won't."
And as she nervously played with her pinky finger, she looked around to the still restaurant, friends, couples dining and drinking, that was what Saturday nights were most full of.
This was hers and Adam's favourite restaurant, they had been here all Saturdays since she had agreed to dinner with him, she had said yes to being his right in the sit she was at an year ago.
"8.25PM." She mumbled eyeing from the table. It was all set beautifully, her eyes would drift to the door and her heart skipped, blue checked shirt, dark jeans. He wasn't official, a large bouquet of red roses in his hands and that beautiful smile he wore as he stood beside her.
"Am sorry am late." He handed her the flowers carefully planting a soft kiss on her lips.
"Happy 1 year Love." He smiled taking his sit.
"Happy one year." She said back.
"I had to get my car to the service, that's why I am late."
"You don't have to explain Love, you know that."
"Then the uber was quite slow may I say." He frowned.
"How was your day?" Ali asked him and he gave her that soft smile, getting lost in it was truly an understatement.
"Eventful. I couldn't wait to see you." He answered simply.
"Did you have a good day?"
"I did, thanks."
"Ten minutes then we'll order, okay?"
"No problem."
"Two years and 14 days ago you asked me why I had apologized to Lyn, remember?"
"Yeah?" Ali furrowed her eyebrow.
"It was because of you."
"Me?"
"You had just stood up for someone, a waiter may I add. You ordered a drink for me that night and as we engaged back and forth I knew you that night and you knew me too and yet a week later you didn't even want to see me." He laughed.
"My Nona told me if I was serious I shouldn't have the nerve to give up and then six months later you let me in. You changed me the next four months, the rude, rich brat that I was grew to be this considerate loving person I was once all because of you Ali."
"You are welcome."
"I had the best day ever on our first date right here, and as I sipped my red wine looking into your eyes, I saw everything I've ever wanted in life, a future. Since then I've wanted more with you, not just your company baby girl, but love, a present and future with you, a home, I want everything with you in my every waking breath." He took in a deep breath.
"Adam-." She called out his name.
"I'll forget my lines love," He smiled genuinely as he walked to her and knelt taking her left hand.
"People are staring." She mumbled.
"I don't care, loving you isn't secret. We've been able to withstand so many seasons through this year as a couple, lovers and friends but they've all made me understand what we have is for us both and I love it. I want to spend the rest of my life being with you, having to get lost in you, your kindness, the way you love, the way you carry yourself with grace, I want to experience it all with you and if one day God gives us a chance to experience this all with children, I want it to be with you, if I am to be called someone's husband, I want to be yours. Ali you don't realise it much but you are a true epitome of not only beauty but love altogether, I want the rest of my life to remind you that." He paused taking a red box from his pockets and opening it, he sighed and then smiled at her.
"I love you Ali, I love you in a way I don't think I would ever love anyone and thank you for allowing me to do that. I promise to make you smile everyday, I promise to lend a listening ear no matter what, I promise to lay my walls down for you forever, I promise to be there for you always, I promise to love you forever so Ali my beautiful lady, will you do me the honours of being my wife?" His asked, his eyes intent on her as he waited, he saw a tear on his cheek and wiped it with his left thumb.
"Caths said when love's right, it's sure, true and just." Ali smiled at him.
"Wise woman that is."
"Yeah, everyone thinks I changed you but you changed me so much Adam, thank you for that. This past few months....What am trying to say is I've always known I would say yes, if you asked."
"Okay? Wait-you mean?"
"Yes, I will marry you." His stunned face was enough for them both, he nervously slide the diamond ring in her ring finger, perfect match and stood up.
"I love you," He said as he helped her to her feet, gazing into each others eyes, they let the moment linger for a few seconds as round of applauses run all around he cupped her cheeks, leaned in and kissed her, savouring that moment they both usually got lost into.
"I love you too." She broke it for a few seconds saying in between breaths and kissing him again, her friend was right because right there all eyes on them they both felt it, their unwavering love for each other, it was right, it always would be.
© Carolyne C
Two years 14 days.
***********
He was just nothing but the many snobbish business partners she had encountered in her six years of business branding she had given her entire life for finally paying off she had opened one of her own. 27 employees and among the top ten leading business all over the country, she had done good.
That night, the night of yearly business associates all over the country had changed everything for her.
She would rather have choosen to spend her night like any other, on her couch, her laptop and hot coffee with her and Zane, her three year old German shepherd beside her but then she had gotten home, cleaned up, dressed up and fixed her long brown braids which matched her skin tone into a ponytail and then she had driven for twenty five minutes to the Jansens Hotels and Co, the place where the event had been clarified to be held.
An hour, two and then three as everyone mingled, she had said her 'hello' where it mattered, made small talks and walked on and then she saw them.
'Why don't you use your eyes to work, I mean that'd be great. You wouldn't be bringing me half the wine!' His voice was stern not cold just flat.
'I-I didn't mean it Mr Adam.' The server had trembled.
'Lyn, are you alright?' She didn't know her but she had read her name tag. Being an employer or once employed she had learnt an important lesson, always call people by their names, they would in turn feel respected and seen.
'N-I mean yes.' They still didn't face her.
'Get me another drink!' Adam had shouted almost drawing attention his side.
'I'll take it, I love red wine.' She had just taken the glass from the tray and offered them her best smile and she had instantly locked eyes with him, grey eyes, they had so much light in them, pale white skin, beautiful brown short curls and a blue suit and his mouth half wide opened.
'It's not okay to talk to people as if you own them.' That's all she'd said.
'M-my apologies waiter, I mean Lyn.' He had spoken much softer and kinder.
'I'll bring you another drink Mr Adam.' Lyn had said quietly.
'Hey, go get some fresh air,' She had offered.
'His drink ma'am?'
'I'll take care of it Lyn.' She had offered her a soft smile and watched her leave.
'Why?' Adam had shot his gaze at her once Lyn was out of sight.
'You need it.' She had said back.
'No, I mean. She is just a waiter so why did you protect her from me?'
'Why did you apologise?' She had asked instead and smiled leading him to the bar.
***********
"Ali, Als-" Her thoughts by Cathy, her friend since kindergarten and also her managerial assistant, the one person she would trust in the storms. She was dark brown, an inch shorter than her and loved long dresses and skirts.
"Huh?" Ali shot her eyes at her best friend as she sat on the office chair up front.
"I was in my head again, wasn't I?"
"Yap," Cathy took a pen from the table.
"You nervous about tonight?"
"Why would I be?" Ali snorted making Cathy laugh.
"One year bestie, it's you anniversary."
"And?"
"It's different today." Cathy exclaimed.
"It is?"
"You are more in love, you love this love, him, this life."
"Of course it is Cathy."
"I was there as you drowned in pain after that jerk Bob left five years ago, you swayed off men to be happy... What am trying to say is Adam makes you really happy, this love you two share makes the two of you happy, that's what it should always be." Cathy explained softly.
"It does Caths, we didn't rush did we?"
"No goodness, no. You took a whole six months to let him in even as a friend, that man changed because of you."
"I hate it when you all say that."
"But you did in a good way, I am never wrong about things you know am not so be sure that I am all in with you two."
"Thank you Caths." Ali sighed softly.
"So stop fussing and go or you'll be late." Cathy stood up. "Stop being nervous, when love's right. It's sure, just, true and real Ali, don't forget that."
"I won't."
And as she nervously played with her pinky finger, she looked around to the still restaurant, friends, couples dining and drinking, that was what Saturday nights were most full of.
This was hers and Adam's favourite restaurant, they had been here all Saturdays since she had agreed to dinner with him, she had said yes to being his right in the sit she was at an year ago.
"8.25PM." She mumbled eyeing from the table. It was all set beautifully, her eyes would drift to the door and her heart skipped, blue checked shirt, dark jeans. He wasn't official, a large bouquet of red roses in his hands and that beautiful smile he wore as he stood beside her.
"Am sorry am late." He handed her the flowers carefully planting a soft kiss on her lips.
"Happy 1 year Love." He smiled taking his sit.
"Happy one year." She said back.
"I had to get my car to the service, that's why I am late."
"You don't have to explain Love, you know that."
"Then the uber was quite slow may I say." He frowned.
"How was your day?" Ali asked him and he gave her that soft smile, getting lost in it was truly an understatement.
"Eventful. I couldn't wait to see you." He answered simply.
"Did you have a good day?"
"I did, thanks."
"Ten minutes then we'll order, okay?"
"No problem."
"Two years and 14 days ago you asked me why I had apologized to Lyn, remember?"
"Yeah?" Ali furrowed her eyebrow.
"It was because of you."
"Me?"
"You had just stood up for someone, a waiter may I add. You ordered a drink for me that night and as we engaged back and forth I knew you that night and you knew me too and yet a week later you didn't even want to see me." He laughed.
"My Nona told me if I was serious I shouldn't have the nerve to give up and then six months later you let me in. You changed me the next four months, the rude, rich brat that I was grew to be this considerate loving person I was once all because of you Ali."
"You are welcome."
"I had the best day ever on our first date right here, and as I sipped my red wine looking into your eyes, I saw everything I've ever wanted in life, a future. Since then I've wanted more with you, not just your company baby girl, but love, a present and future with you, a home, I want everything with you in my every waking breath." He took in a deep breath.
"Adam-." She called out his name.
"I'll forget my lines love," He smiled genuinely as he walked to her and knelt taking her left hand.
"People are staring." She mumbled.
"I don't care, loving you isn't secret. We've been able to withstand so many seasons through this year as a couple, lovers and friends but they've all made me understand what we have is for us both and I love it. I want to spend the rest of my life being with you, having to get lost in you, your kindness, the way you love, the way you carry yourself with grace, I want to experience it all with you and if one day God gives us a chance to experience this all with children, I want it to be with you, if I am to be called someone's husband, I want to be yours. Ali you don't realise it much but you are a true epitome of not only beauty but love altogether, I want the rest of my life to remind you that." He paused taking a red box from his pockets and opening it, he sighed and then smiled at her.
"I love you Ali, I love you in a way I don't think I would ever love anyone and thank you for allowing me to do that. I promise to make you smile everyday, I promise to lend a listening ear no matter what, I promise to lay my walls down for you forever, I promise to be there for you always, I promise to love you forever so Ali my beautiful lady, will you do me the honours of being my wife?" His asked, his eyes intent on her as he waited, he saw a tear on his cheek and wiped it with his left thumb.
"Caths said when love's right, it's sure, true and just." Ali smiled at him.
"Wise woman that is."
"Yeah, everyone thinks I changed you but you changed me so much Adam, thank you for that. This past few months....What am trying to say is I've always known I would say yes, if you asked."
"Okay? Wait-you mean?"
"Yes, I will marry you." His stunned face was enough for them both, he nervously slide the diamond ring in her ring finger, perfect match and stood up.
"I love you," He said as he helped her to her feet, gazing into each others eyes, they let the moment linger for a few seconds as round of applauses run all around he cupped her cheeks, leaned in and kissed her, savouring that moment they both usually got lost into.
"I love you too." She broke it for a few seconds saying in between breaths and kissing him again, her friend was right because right there all eyes on them they both felt it, their unwavering love for each other, it was right, it always would be.
© Carolyne C
