Chapter 24: Spending Time

It was her day off and the part she was looking forward to most was a date with Arthur. She wanted to knock his socks off, so she booked a hair and nail salon appointment, and a spa day. If she had access to her parents’ wealth, the cost of these pampering and self-care treats would have been less than a drop in the bucket. On her bakery pay, it represented almost two weeks’ wages.

She took the inter-city bus and set off on her adventure in search of transforming into a beauty. All three appointments would take up six hours, but she really wanted to make a big impression on him.

On the way home, she decided on her wardrobe: a diaphanous dress of gold from the boutique in Clovelly.

She applied her makeup with care and then waited for his knock and his shock at her total preparation for a date with him.

Then, at six on the dot, he arrived.

“Rachel,” he spoke as though his breath was being taken away, “You are so gorgeous! Wow.”

“Thank you Arthur. You look quite handsome yourself. Aren’t we a pair?”

Gone were the hoodie, jeans, and sneakers he wore for a night out with Jane.

“Yes we are,” he replied then responded with a kiss on each of her soft, powdered cheeks. “I have something for you. Give me your hand, please.”

He kissed her hand and then clasped a corsage around her wrist.

She kissed him with a quick peck on his mouth in gratitude.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes sir.”

“Then prepare to be wowed—Clovelly style.”

She smiled and gave him her hand so they could start the date together with something as simple as walking down the stairs together.

He opened her car door and helped her in. When both were situated and seat-belted, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek again.

The corsage and the gentlemanly gesture of opening the car door for her were both nice touches to add to the reality of their pretend date. If she was truly being wooed, this would have been a wonderful start to the date.

“In case I forget to tell you later, I had a wonderful time, Arthur.”

“And in case I forget to tell you later, this is the best day I have had in a long time...maybe ever, Rachel.”

With that exchange of pre-date gratitudes, they took off, on their way to align themselves with destiny. They started their date with the anxieties of a new couple on their first date, but quickly transitioned to the joy and familiarity of a lifelong, seasoned couple renewing their promises to love one another forever and always to keep the romance alive.
# # #

He was right; it was a hole in the wall, but it was the place to be. Younger people around their age were enjoying food and fun. There was also live music. After a short wait for the table, once they were seated Rachel reached across the table and squeezed Arthur’s hand.

Each table had candles and fresh flowers. “The glow of the candlelight flatters you, Rachel.”

“Awww...you are so sweet. Thank you.”

The two of them discovered each other through words and flirtatious touches above and beneath the table. When the food came, they took turns feeding each other so they could sample the other’s dish. If he did not have her attraction at the corsage or the meal, the dessert definitely sealed the deal. Chocolate was her passion and one of the desserts on the tray was chocolate mousse pie. He was scoring bonus points all over the place with this date. Every action seemed honest and true; so much so that the lines between real and pretend were becoming blurred in Rachel’s eyes.

They were so busy having fun in each other’s company, that when they looked up at the end of their meal after their third cup of coffee, they realized that the band stopped playing and the house lights were on. It was midnight and they had shut the restaurant down, but nobody forced them out. There was no longer an audience to perform for. What kept them there after the restaurant had closed? None of this was necessary, but they were enjoying playing in the land of make-believe, and completely caught up in the ruse.

They didn’t have to say it in the midst of all of the pretending, but they were really falling in love.

When they reached the car, Arthur said, “I know it’s after midnight, but is there anyplace Cinderella has to be tonight?”

“I missed the last pumpkin coach headed for home in Clovelly. Could you please give me a ride?”

“Princess, you got it!”

# # #

Forever was what their time felt like, and neither one wanted the evening to end. However, there was something each of them was holding back. For her, it was her vast wealth and engagement; and Arthur’s mercurial temperament. For him, it was wanting to stay in the village, pursue his goals as a solo global legal practitioner, and take care of his grandma until she passed away, returning the care she showed him when he needed it most. He also needed to know more about Rachel’s background. Was she hiding something? For both of them their private commitments to family seemed decades away. Time was all they had and needed, but it was a gift of grace, not a limit for them that night when everything seemed new and delightful as young love can be.

They were focused on the passion of the present moment. Right there. Right then. Right now. They stayed in his car exchanging a lifetime of experiences through endless conversation, discovering in the other more than a best friend or a casual lover, and more like a partner.

A few tender moments were their refuge from the imminent reality full of duties and obligations that would send him back to the library and her to the bakery in mere moments. But comfort for the two came in stages, delivering an unspoken yet undefined blessing, easily translated from the new day’s sunshine into their smiles and afterglow of sensuality before they were separated. It was so perfect. But... was this all real or just “to keep up appearances”?