Authors: Dorothy Phaire
They crossed the threshold that separated Washington’s swarming nightlife from an exotic haven of diffused, romantic lighting, soft music, and tantalizing aromas of Asian-Pacific cuisine. A hostess dressed in a floor-length, embroidered, silk tunic greeted Deek as one of their frequent customers and led them to a semi-private dining area, secluded within an etched glass enclosure. Moments later a waiter brought the bottle of champagne that Deek had requested and poured their glasses. Against the backdrop of teak furniture, Asian silk and woven wall hangings, soothing instrumental music resonated pleasantly throughout the restaurant.
The waiter came over to take their order. Deek suggested they try the restaurant’s signature dish of Chinese-style smoked lobster with fried spinach. After the waiter left, Deek grasped Renee’s hand from across the table.
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry I wasn’t there when Odessa Dillon tried to kill you. Can you forgive me, Baby?”
“If you can forgive me for playing detective and almost getting myself killed.”
“Renee, promise me you’ll stop chasing down criminals by yourself. That’s my job, remember?”
“Yes, Darling. I promise.”
“Good. I know I can be a bit overprotective at times,” he said. “Even though I was born and raised in Chicago, my maternal grandparents immigrated from Martinique and brought my mother to the States when she was a girl. My grandparents kept their Martinican traditions, so I guess I inherited a touch of my grandfather’s West Indian male chauvinism.”
“I can tell. Just don’t get too macho on me. I’m not some helpless female type, you know.”
“I know and I’m glad you’re not,” he said. “Anyway, not to worry. I like strong, assertive women. I just want you to be careful, Baby, when I’m not there, okay?”
“I understand, Darling. And the next time I decide to go chasing criminals, I’ll tell you first,” she smiled and winked.
“I can see I’m going to have a difficult woman on my hands. Maybe, I should just talk to Chief Frye about assigning you a piece and a shield.”
“I don’t need that to be a PI,” she said teasingly.
“I hope you’re joking, Renee.”
“Of course, I’m joking, Honey. You know very well, I’m not interested in becoming a private investigator … at least, not now,” she said. “All I want is to be a good mother to Katia, help my patients, and keep you in my life.”
Deek closed his eyes and leaned forward across the table to kiss her gently and accepted her return kiss. They ignored the stares of other diners.
“The last time I remember being this adored by someone was with my first boyfriend when I was only sixteen years old. I forgot what it felt like to be cherished,” said Renee. She grew silent for a moment when thinking about the time she fell in love for the first time and got pregnant at sixteen.
“I intend to spend my entire life reminding you,” he said.
It didn’t take long for the waiter to return with their meal, served on pale yellow china plates. They pressed their hands in the steaming moist, terry hand towels that the waiter provided. The dish looked too good to destroy its artistic presentation by eating it, but neither had eaten all day and they were both starved. So after a few moments of admiring the chef’s arrangement, they enjoyed the perfect blend of seasoned flavors. After the meal, the waiter returned to refilled their champagne glasses. Deek motioned for him and whispered something in his ear before the waiter removed the dishes.
“Sweetie, do you remember when I was in the hospital this summer and you broke up with me …”
Renee started to argue but he held up his hand.
“No. Honey, I’m not blaming you. What I’m saying is, I thought our love had died. And when you reconciled with Bill, I figured it was over between us for good.”
Renee interrupted him and tried to explain. “Deek, as terrible as that experience was when you got shot trying to save me, I wasn’t ready to accept the truth about how deeply I felt about you until I thought you were dying.”
He smiled, exposing his dimples. “Like my Grann Katia used to say, sometimes love must die so it can live again. Now I think I understand what she meant. True love always reveals itself in time.”
Just then the hostess returned. Renee covered her mouth in surprise when she saw her carrying an armful of a dozen, long-stemmed, red roses wrapped in shimmering, gold tissue. She held the flowers out to Renee as a few onlookers gaped at them. Renee sniffed their perfumed fragrance and raised her eyes to Deek.
“Compliments of the gentleman,” said the smiling hostess and bowed.
“Deek, these flowers are lovely, Darling. They’re from you?” she said, removing the card.
He nodded while Renee read the card that simply said
‘Yours for Eternity, Deek.’
The hostess pulled up a vacant chair and gently placed the bouquet down next to her.
“The stems have a little vial of water so your flowers will be fine until you get home, Madam. I’ll send over your waiter with our dessert menu,” she said then quietly slipped away.
“Tell me now, Deek, are there any more surprises you plan to spring on me? Because I’m already quite overwhelmed and don’t know if my heart can take it.”
“As a matter of fact, I think I do have one more,” he said and reached into his pants pocket.
Deek placed a small, black velvet box on the white clothed table.
“Wh-what’s this?”
“I’m getting tired of holding onto this thing, Sweetheart. Why don’t you do me a favor and wear it for me?” he said in a playful tone and slid the box towards her.
Renee held her breath as she slowly flipped open the lid. A two-carat, emerald-cut diamond engagement ring in an antique platinum setting perched brilliantly inside the box. Renee sat speechless, unable to remove her eyes from the enormous ring.
“It’s a family heirloom that my grandmother gave me before she died three years ago. I never could figure out why I inherited it instead of Luke since he’s older than I am. My mother told me once that Grann Katia said I was the serious, patient one and she believed I’d cherish it more.”
“Your grandmother was right,” said Renee, “You’re certainly one of the most serious and patient men I know.”
“Mom told me that Grann Katia knew I wouldn’t just give it away frivolously to some girl I was merely infatuated with. But I’d wait until I fell in love and give it to the woman I wanted to spend my life with.”
“What are you saying?” She looked at him without moving a muscle.
“Renee, will you do me the honor of marrying me?” he asked, staring at her with sincere eyes.
Tears dribbled down her cheek. She was afraid to speak, afraid her voice would quiver. She touched his arm instead. Deek held her hands and caressed them within both of his.
“You don’t have to say anything now if you’re not ready to give me an answer yet.”
He picked up the cloth napkin and dabbed her tears away.
“Deek, I love you and of course, I want to marry you. I know now this is how it’s supposed to feel when two people really love each other.”
“I love you too, Sweetheart. I’ve never wanted to be with anyone as much as I want you. And don’t feel like you’re stuck with my grandmother’s ring as your engagement ring if you don’t like it. It’s merely a symbol of how I feel about you. When you’re ready, you can pick out exactly what you want.”
“Deek, this
is
exactly what I want. It’s beautiful. I don’t deserve to be so lucky—to find someone like you.”
“I’m the one who’s lucky, Renee. I thank God for bringing you into my life.”
Suddenly, she looked worried. “My divorce won’t be final for another year. Even with a no-fault, uncontested divorce, the waiting period in D. C is one year.”
“I’m well aware of the District’s statutes, but Baby, I'll wait for you no matter how long it takes.”
“You heard Bill this afternoon. Deek, I don’t think he’s accepted that it’s over between us. I don’t want to hurt him. He’s really a good man.”
“Don’t worry, Sweetheart, we’ll be sensitive to his feelings to a certain extent. But I’m not going to let him take advantage of your kind heart. Hopefully, he’ll realize that he can’t own someone like you own an automobile. I’m not going to let Bill or anyone else hurt you,” he said. “All I know is, a year from now I want to be your husband and Katia’s father.”
“I’m not worried about him hurting me. I don’t think he would intentionally do that,” she said, “I’m frightened of what he could do to you. I don’t think he’s behaving rationally these days. He’s had a lot of disappointments and a year is a long time.”
Deek stroked her cheek. “Sweetie, I can take care of myself and you too. Let’s not talk about him anymore.”
The waiter returned with the dessert menu. “Would you like to try one of our signature desserts with your coffee?” the waiter asked.
Deek gave Renee a questioning look to find out what she wanted. Without answering, she opened her small, black evening bag and removed a single gold key.
He frowned, looking somewhat puzzled. “What’s that for?”
Renee’s eyes met his before answering. “It’s the key to my new house,” she said with an enticingly smile, “We can have our own signature dessert at home, if you prefer.”
Deek turned to the waiter, still standing by with the menus in his hand. “Check please.”
THE END