NAIJHEL
Iglanced at my watch for the ninth time in twenty minutes. Next, I pulled out my phone and checked the tracker. Two more minutes. I was generally a patient man, but I was a little nervous tonight. I hated when I was operating out of my element, but I often felt that way when it came to Delaney. If I screwed something up, I couldn’t handle it the way that I would with anyone else.
She was like fine china that had to be handled delicately. She was strong and could endure pressure despite her seemingly delicate nature. I paced the length of the room, back and forth, until I saw the black Jeep Grand Wagoneer pulling up the long driveway. A smile tilted my lips, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
I prayed that she was in a forgiving mood, and if she weren’t, maybe what I had to offer would put her in one. I had won half the battle just by having her show up. Although she had called me last night, I hadn’t been able to take her call. I wasn’t sure if she was calling to break things off or make up, which had me nervous. I returned her call briefly this morning and told her that we needed to talk in person.
The only thing I told her was that Shane would be there to pick her up and some delivery people were coming by to prepareher for our meeting. She asked what that meant, and I told her that she would see. She called me when they showed up, but I refused to answer. I knew she would try to send them away if I did answer.
I walked to the door of the old mansion that had been turned into a museum. The antebellum home was once a plantation home that was sold to a former slave after the Civil War ended. The same family of that former slave still held the museum.
I walked down the stairs and to the car before Shane could get the car parked. I opened the door and looked into her beautiful smiling face.
“Hey,” she greeted softly and shyly as I extended my hand to take hers.
“Hi, back at ya. I wasn’t sure that you would come.”
“How could I not when you sent a whole team to my house to make me over? You didn’t need to send stylists to do my hair, clothing, and makeup. Honestly, if I was going to come, I was going to come, and if not, then I wasn’t. I had already reached out to you, but seeing all that overwhelmed me.”
“Why?” I asked as she stepped out of the car.
“Because it felt like you were trying to buy my forgiveness.”
“I would never do that. Tonight was about seeing you in a way that I would like to see you, a dress that I handpicked, makeup that I wanted to see you in, and with your hair pulled up high and off your neck.”
She dipped her head and tried to hide her smile. I reached out and grabbed her chin with my index finger and thumb to tilt her head back up. “Don’t hide your smile, gorgeous. It’s one of the things that makes my day go from good to great.”
She rolled her eyes but kept smiling.
“Come on. We’ll let Shane go so that we can start our date.”
“What is this place, Naijhel? It’s so beautiful,” she whispered. Her voice was so low like she was afraid that if she spoke too loudly, it would break the reality and beauty of the moment.
I explained to her exactly what the French Colonial home used to be.
“It’s so beautiful and has been well maintained through the years. I love the symmetrical façade of French Colonial homes,” she declared, taking in the massive columns as we stepped up onto the wraparound porch. “Look, there’s even a gabled roof, a cupola, and balconies.”
I laughed. “I thought that you might appreciate the beauty of this place,” I admitted, stepping into the large foyer with its high ceilings. I led her to the grand staircase where an older gentleman awaited.
“This is Jordan, our tour guide. He’ll be giving us a tour of the place,” I explained.
She looked at me, and her eyes watered. I laughed as she widened her eyes and opened her mouth at the same time to wipe the tears forming in her eyes. “Why do women do that?” I asked.
“What?”
“Stretch your mouths open when you get something in your eye.”
“I don’t know. It’s a natural habit,” she replied, shrugging.
I looked at Jordan, who declared, “Don’t look at me. Man, I gave up trying to figure women out a long time ago. I’ve been married for sixteen years, and I still haven’t figured my wife out. Just love her.”
He winked at me as I stated, “I do.”
He gave us a tour of the house, and he finished in the formal ballroom where he left us.
“There’s something that I have to give you.” I led her to one of the tables in the ballroom and presented her with the gift wrapped box.
“What is this?”
