“You know I am not patient enough to wait for surprises! I want to know now!” She begged jokingly with him, hoping he would crack with enough pleading and prodding. Derrick was locked down like a vault though and not planning on telling her anything.
“Oh and wear a jacket, it might get a little chilly. Love you, babe, gotta go.” Derrick finished and then hung up the call. He had just peaked her interest and she immediately got up to go searching through her closet for the perfect outfit for tonight. She had no idea what they were planning on doing but she was excited to have something positive to focus on for the day.
~~~~
Kate was putting in her earrings and doing the final touches to her makeup in the mirror when her phone buzzed indicating a new message. She smiled as she saw Derrick’s name light up her phone’s screen. She looked in the mirror a final time and smoothed her dress down, then pulled on a loose fitting cardigan to keep her warm. She wanted to feel sexy tonight so she had chosen a dark, forest green wrap dress that tied around her side and fell to right above her knees. Her sister, Annie, always joked around calling this her “easy-access” dress because of how quickly it could come off.
She tapped her phone to read Derrick’s message and furrowed her brow in confusion but also smiling as she read a text message from him telling her to come downstairs. Eagerly she grabbed her clutch and shoved her driver’s license and some cash inside, then tousled the fur of her cat stretched out on the bed as she headed out the door. She pulled on her little black stiletto heels at the front door and then walked out, locking it carefully behind her.
She began to head down the hallway but then went back to double check that she had indeed locked the door. She knew that she had and she felt silly for checking but there was still that nagging in her brain. She wanted the attack to be behind her but in moments like this, it somehow still snuck in and took control of her thoughts and actions.
She shook her head and took a deep breath, doing her best to put everything related to that horrible day out of her mind. She was going out on a date with the love of her life, in fact it would be their very first date since everything happened. They were starting a new life together and there was no better way to do that than to start dating each other again. Kate wanted to date Derrick every day for the rest of her life.
She hurried down the stairs and towards the apartment lobby, excitedly pushing through the front doors and standing out on the front steps. She stopped in her tracks as she realized what she was looking at. There was Derrick standing on the sidewalk holding open the door of a very long, black limousine and grinning at her with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning. She smiled at him and sauntered slowly down the steps towards him.
“What’s all this?” She asked him coyly.
“Every princess deserves a royal carriage.” He teased her and made a slight attempt at a bow. She laughed and leaned in to kiss him which he more than happily obliged.
“Well then, Prince Charming, let’s go to the ball.” She giggled and slipped into the back seat of the limousine. She had never ridden in one before and was feeling quite privileged to be doing so now. Derrick climbed in after her and made a motion to the driver to go. The driver just nodded and then pressed a button that raised the divider between them, leaving the two of them in total privacy.
“Care for a drink, my princess?” Derrick pulled open what looked like a wall panel at first but turned out to be a mini fridge instead. He lifted out a beautiful bottle of fine champagne and opened another panel for some glasses. He handed her a glass and expertly opened the bottle without even a popping sound. The movies always make it seem like you are supposed to shoot the champagne cork across the room and take out someone’s eye in the process but the truth is that a real sommelier who works with wines and champagnes daily will tell you the exact opposite.
“Thank you! Champagne means we have to toast, you know.” She told him in a matter of fact way, daring him to be put on the spot. He wasn’t easily intimidated and just smiled, raising his glass in the air.
“To a beauty that never tarnishes, no matter the hardships she faces and to a love that never ends, no matter the mistakes he has made.” He said softly, gently touching the edge of his glass to hers. Kate’s eyes swelled up slightly as she felt her heart almost throbbing with emotion at how beautiful and sincere his sentiment was. She knew that trying to talk would only lead to choking up so she gulped down her champagne instead.