“Hello everyone,” I say with a curt nod.
“You just get here?” Peter asks.
“Yeah,” I answer.
“Hope you don’t mind but I invited Marie, she gave a sizeable donation to the charity.”
I’m sure I’m supposed to believe he just invited her out of the gratitude of his heart. I give him a stiff smile.
“Not at all. Thank you Marie,” I say turning to Marie. She looks uncomfortable I’m not sure what she thought it would be like here. other than me, peter and Zara she doesn’t know anyone here. And, she’s not a woman who’ll get dressed up the way she is and go anywhere by herself.
“I thought I would come to show my support,” Marie answers.
“Wonderful.” Now that I’ve seen Peter, I think I’ll make a move and blend in with everyone else until Rachel gets here. “Well it was nice seeing you all, have a great night.”
Zara narrows her eyes at me. It’s unlike me to say anything like that at an event like this. we’d all normally hang out together. She must think though that I’m dismissing myself because of Marie.
“Dante,” Marie says quickly taking hold of my elbow as I take a step to leave.
“Yeah?”
“Can I have a quick word. Just talk to you.”
“Yes, sure.” I try not to show my disdain. I don’t want to talk to Marie about anything more than we have. I don’t want to encourage anything more between us and give her hope where there is none.
I almost think she’s going to ask if we can stay friends then I see that desperate look in her eyes when she leads me out to the water fountain. It’s away from everyone and private enough to talk.
“What is it Marie?” I ask.
She brings her hands together. “Dante, I meant what I said the other night. I know you’re in a relationship so I have no right to cross the line but I can’t just give up like that. You asked me to marry you. That has to count for something. You wanted me to be your wife and I messed up big time. I can’t just accept that you no longer love me, not when I never stopped loving you.”
I try my best to think tactful here. this is the worse night for her to come to me with this plea. I understand her and I don’t want to be rude in anyway and hurt her unnecessarily but what am I left to do?
I already told her I’m in a relationship, so she expects me to jump ship and be with her?
“Marie, I gave you my answer. I already told you I moved on. Please don’t make this harder, or awkward.”
“Do you love her?” she asks and I find myself caught in silence.
I do love Rachel but I want to tell Rachel that. I don’t want to tell Marie first.
A shimmer catches my eye as I contemplate my answer.
I gaze on over her shoulder and see Rachel standing on the top of the wide steps leading back up to the hall.
She’s seen me and she’s seen Marie. I’m standing about fifteen feet away from her but I can see the recognition form in her pretty face. Then doubt.
I’m so lost in her beauty though that I can’t look away. She’s wearing a long sleeveless gold evening dress that flows elegantly down her body. Her hair is up, pulled back away from her face to show off her high cheek bones.
She’s beautiful and as she gazes on at me and I’m watching her, Marie turns to face her properly and looks from me to her.
Recognition dawns on her face too, and sadness brims in her eyes. I know, that she knows just from this silent moment all that I feel for Rachel.
As Rachel turns away to go back the way she comes, I’m sure it will become evident to Marie that I would only be going after Rachel if we’re involved.
It would be evident too that Rachel could only look as upset as she did from seeing me with Marie if we were more than what people think we are.
Tonight seems be proving to be everything except for the hopeful night I wanted it to be.