Cafe Romance (46 page)

“Baby, I know I told you I had moved but there are some things I have been meaning to tell you but the timing wasn't right.” Then as an afterthought, he added, "Did you just say you would let me move in with you?"

"Of course I would. I mean, you
are
my man," she smiled. "You've been there for me so why shouldn't I be there for you? Besides, if you act up I can always kick you to the curb. I'm just kidding, honey!" she chuckled, then more seriously, "Kurt, I don't know what I would do without you in my life."

“And I don’t know how I got this far in life without you,” he replied, tapping his knee lightly to the jazzy and romantic tune playing.

The two sank back in the plush interior of the limousine, holding hands, and enjoying the ride and the marvelous view. It had been some time since either had cruised about the town, and the first time in a limousine together.

"God, this is quite an affluent neighborhood," she commented, unaware that they had just entered into Kurt's neck of the woods. "Ever since my days as a teenager I dreamed of buying into an area like this. Give me six years and I’ll be moving into an area just like this."

Kurt gave her a generous smile but said nothing. In a few minutes she would know the whole story. And if she wanted to, she could be moving into this area in less than six days, he thought.

Rounding the corner, the limousine turned onto a wide brick driveway. "Wow! Who lives here?" Yvette said, with great curiosity after she had caught a glimpse of
Moonbeam
along the side of the house. The dwelling probably belonged to an affluent friend of his, a friend with palatial taste, she reasoned. She didn’t rule out his brother either, the Senator. Most politicians have extravagant vacation homes in Florida, she reasoned. Yes, it had to belong to the Senator. But why were they stopping here first, she pondered. And why was
Moonbeam
parked here?

Leaning forward, just inches away from her lovely face, and in a soft tone Kurt said, "We’re here! This is home. My home. And once you give me the green light, honey, I'll be able to say, this is
our
home."

Yvette's lips parted in surprise. "You're kidding, aren't you?" she said incredulously, trying her best to absorb his words, the beautiful estate grounds and landscaping, all with one rotation of her head.

"No, I'm not," he assured her, gazing into her animated eyes, with an unassuming gaze.

"I don't understand, Kurt," she said awkwardly. “I know I’ve suggested before that you go out and get a place but this isn’t exactly want I had in mind. Man, this home is like, Bel-Air beautiful! It’s like something out of Hollywood. This must have cost you a fortune?”

"I'll explain it all as we head over to the house," he promised her.

Emerging from the limousine, the two walked, hand in hand, towards the house as Kurt began his extraordinary revelation. Nearing the dwelling she could not help but gaze about the vast two-acre property in awe, with its lavish floral arrangements, fishponds and fountains. The sweet fragrance of honeysuckle and roses permeated the air around them. A beautifully crafted screened-in gazebo was off to the left. Placing a protective arm around her delicate shoulders he gazed down into her eyes. "Lovely, isn't it?" he asked. "Indeed it is!" she beamed. "I feel like I'm in the Garden of Eden. Did you win the lottery or something?" she jested. Kurt smiled warmly and continued his revelation, "Actually, I did, Yvette.”

“You won the lottery!” she exclaimed, as the shock of discover hit her full force. Barely able to lift her voice above a whisper, she asked, “What lottery?”

With eyes that melted into hers, Kurt said, “A nine state mega-lottery. My ticket was purchased in Philadelphia.”

For a second she studied his face unhurriedly, feature by feature. Still unable to get her voice above a whisper, she managed to ask, “When and for how much, baby?  One million?  Five million? What are we talking here?”

“Well, months before we met, and I moved down here to Florida, was when I won. The jackpot was $100 million dollars. It was split between me and one other person."

"$100 million dollars! You have got to be kidding me," Yvette exclaimed, blissfully happy.

"No, it is all for real," he answered.

“Philadelphia,” she murmured, as her fingers stroked his arm sensuously.

“Yes, Philadelphia,” he echoed softly."          

"So you are the one," she mouthed, as though in a trance. "I remember hearing about that historic jackpot."

"Yes, I am the one," he replied with a broad smile.

"That's incredible, Kurt!" she burbled happily as her lips formed a question. “Why are you just telling me this now?  Why didn’t you tell me before?”

Tilting his head, he leveled his eyes on her and said, “Baby, I tried to tell you on several occasions but you seemed to always hit me with that Bob Gates ‘
rich man
’ diatribe before I could open my mouth.”

“Ooops! I see your point,” she uttered after pondering his statement. “Especially after I had put down rich people. I’m sorry, baby. I take it all back.”

“Forget it. It’s nothing.”

“Okay,” she replied, forming a broader smile across her face. “Did it hit you all at once or did it sink in over time, that you had struck it rich?”

"It took a while."

“God, I just can’t believe this!” she said, as she exchanged another gaze with him. “Knowing the good person that you are, I bet you helped out a lot of people.”

“Yes, I’ve done that,” he replied, taking a deep, unsteady breath. “But there is just so much you can fix with money when it comes to people’s person problems.”

"I know what you mean," she said, then paused, looking thoughtful. "I have never known anyone as unselfish as you before. You certainly have the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met. You're definitely one of a kind."

"Thank you!" Kurt chuckled. "You give me too much credit. But I’ll gladly help anyone who wants to help him or herself. That's the way grandma brought me up. You know, I really wished you could have met her, Yvette. She would have loved you."

“I’m sure I would have loved her, too,” Yvette said thoughtfully, as she stood in awe of this wonderful human being, this unique and wonderful man. The thought moved her to the point of tears.

Seeing this, Kurt drew her into his embrace and comforted her. And when he kissed her, streams of her salty tears mingled joyously with his wet kisses. 

“Listen, just because I helped a few people along the way doesn’t mean that I’m perfect.  Now, why are you crying?”

“I’m just so overwhelmed, I imagine,” she cried, as she buried her face against his warm neck.

“Hey, you’re never going to stop crying if you continue on like this. Come on, let’s go for a swim.” 

At that moment Yvette’s cell phone rang. Retrieving the unit from her purse, she placed it to her ear to answer. It was a very loud and excited Juanita. “Yvette, you won’t believe this but I saw this magazine article at the doctor’s office. Kurt! Your Kurt is in there! There’s a whole damn article about him in there! Girlfriend, the man is rich! I’m telling you, the man is filthy rich!”

“Yvette grinned. “I know, I know,” she said. “I just found out.”

“Look girlfriend, remember that I am here for you if you ever need help spending that money at Burdines,” Juanita teased. ”Look, I’ve got to run now. The doctor is ready to see me.  Give me a call when you get the chance, okay?”

“Will do, sweetheart.”

“Who was that?” Kurt asked. “Juanita?”

“Yes. She just read an old magazine article at the doctor’s office about you winning the lottery.”

“I’m surprise that particular issue is still in circulation,” said Kurt, embracing Yvette one more time.

The two kissed, both feeling blissfully happy, fully alive. Deep down inside, they knew they shared the biggest jackpot of all and that was love.

At the entrance of his manor, he had her sit down on a padded patio chair as he got down on one knee and took her hand into his.

Looking up, he swept his eyes appreciatively over her face.

"Kurt, is this a proposal?" she asked, her lips parting into a smile.

"I imagine it is," he smiled, his heart racing wildly. "How about it? Will you marry me?  Will you spend a lifetime with me?"

Yvette senses swam. The limo ride, the flowers, the romantic music, his tantalizing fragrance, the unexpected proposal, and the warm emotional vibes that engulfed her, everything was happening so fast. A woman needed a little time to digest all of this. But here he was in the flesh, her
Knight in Shiny Armor
. A man who carried himself with a commanding air of self-confidence. A man who had just proposed to her and was awaiting her answer.

He had expected a yes or no, but never silence.

“Well, Yvette?” he murmured, his voice less confident than before.

“My answer is yes, Kurt. Until death do we part,” she breathed, her eyes belying her longing for him.

“Are you sure?” he probed with a lump in his throat, his heart throbbing wildly. “Perhaps you better see my place first to be sure. You can never tell about us city boys and how we live. You know, I just may have to take up your offer to move in with you."

Yvette brought her hand up to stifle a giggle, then cupped his chin with her other hand. His handsome dark gaze and magnetism and humor captivated her as always. “Honey, I am sure beyond expressed words. I just don’t want you to think I want to be with you because of your wealth.”

“So
that
was your concern,” he said, breathing a sigh of relief. This had explained her long pause. “Look, I have only one question to ask of you.”

“Yes,” she murmured, drinking up his gaze.

“Are you in love with me?”

“Deeply, Kurt.Far beyond two hearts beating as one.”

Now that’s as deep as love’s gonna get, he thought. “And if I had asked you to marry me before you ever found out that I was wealthy, what would have been your response?”

“Yes.”

“That settles it then,” he said, reaching out to bring her into his embrace and almost out of the patio chair. They kissed long and hungrily with closed eyes.

When she came up for air, she said. "I was just thinking. Who is going to marry us?  I am not a church regular, as much as I should be, and it's hard for me to envision a
Justice of the Peace
, a complete total stranger administering our wedding vows. And I’m not sure what religious affiliations you have. Do you have someone in mind?"

"My brother up in Washington, DC would love to marry us," he answered.

"You mean the Senator?"

"Yes, Arthur," he replied mildly.

“Is he really your brother?" she asked, wide-eyed. "Or is he just a friend who is like a brother to you?”

“He’s my half-brother, Yvette. We have the same father.”

“I see."

"Anyway, I imagine a Senator should have the authority to wed people. After all, most of them are lawyers and if they’re not out doing fundraisers, they’re writing laws day in and day out. You know, I should have asked him that a couple of months ago when he came down for a visit."

"You mean he was here, in Tampa?  Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Arthur's visit was during the period we had very little contact with each other. Before that, I just never gave it any thought. Anyway, I knew you'd find out sooner or later by virtue of being around me.

“Look, I'll give him a call first thing tomorrow morning, introduce you to him, and let you two talk, okay? That is, if I can catch up with him. My brother stays on the go. Sometimes he's in D.C and other times he's in the Philadelphia area."

"I would love to meet Arthur."

"Oh, by the way, I'm Methodist, my religion, that is." he added straightforwardly.

"And I'm Baptist," she replied.

In the morning Kurt rose up early to treat his special, and still surprised, guest to a hearty country cooked breakfast. A breakfast he prepared. Once their meal settled, he phoned Washington, DC. After several attempts, he caught up with the Senator, and introduced him to Yvette. The two chatted briefly. Before hanging up Arthur confided to him, "My brother, it sounds like you’ve got yourself a winner. My best wishes to the both of you. Talk to you soon." 

An hour later, Kurt was seated in his captain’s chair going over a map of Florida’s state parks. Turning the ignition switch, he revved up the RV. Reaching up, he turned on the 19” inch television and activated the satellite system. He tuned into the Weather Channel. As he plotted his course, he munched on a chicken salad sandwich she had made for him. He felt good having a woman who saw herself as his lover, comforter, and road companion when they traveled. He saw himself as her personal travel agent and personal chauffeur. His task was to take her to places she had only dreamed of traveling to before.

Yvette had gone back into the house to collect a box of tissues. When she returned she boarded
Moonbeam
and the two drove off to enjoy another weekend of outdoor fun and adventure. That night, under a moonlit sky and sitting before a crackling bonfire, a bonfire they had built with three other RV couples, they shared roasted marshmallows and chilled wine.

Kneeling on one knee, he presented Yvette with her engagement ring. With tears of joy glossing her eyes, she lit up brighter than the bonfire before them. This was one proposal she was not about to refuse.

C
hapter 27

W
eeks later, Kurt lifted an eyebrow as he took one last look around his office. It was a poignant moment for him. But it was a different direction he was heading in now. With the moment burned into his memory, he flipped the lights off and closed the door. True to his word, he had resigned from his position at the job service center. He would be going into business with his soon-to-be wife and do some of the things they had wanted to do all of their lives apart, but now together as one. But before he could truly move on, he knew he had to distance himself from Roxanne, as well.