Drive and Determination (28 page)

Chapter 27

            Elyssa worked with a new joy and determination for the remainder of the week, looking with much anticipation to Friday. There were, unfortunately, a few more problems, but instead of causing her frustration, the mere expectation of her date with Will eased her troubled mind. In the midst of receiving a problematic phone call or encountering an unexpected delay, she was able to keep a smile on her face and a skip to her stride.
            Elyssa left work early on Friday to get ready for her evening out with Will. Each time she thought of it, she would shamelessly giggle.
            Her aunt joined her in her bedroom as she put on the finishing touches to her makeup and she took Elyssa’s hand. “Your uncle and I are so happy for you! We both feel that he is a very good man!”
            Elyssa laughed. “You don’t have to worry about how I feel about him anymore, Maddy. I’ve changed. My opinion of him has changed.” She turned and gave her aunt a smile. “And I think
he
has changed.”
            “Good. Now just relax and enjoy yourself, tonight.”
            “If I can just get rid of these first-date jitters. I’m too old for this!”
            “You never felt nervous around him before, did you?” her aunt asked.
            “No,” Elyssa couldn’t repress a nervous chuckle. “I was too angry at him most of the time and making sure he felt every ounce of blame I directed at him!” As she gave her hair a final brushing, she said, “A mere two months ago he was truly the last man in the world that I would ever have wanted to go out with!”
            As the time drew nearer to seven, Elyssa grew more and more nervous, pacing back and forth and checking the clock.
            “Seven o’clock will be here when seven o’clock comes,” her uncle teased. “Not any sooner and not any later.”
            “Do I look OK?” she asked for the umpteenth time.
            “Elyssa, you look beautiful. Besides, you really don’t have to worry about how you look tonight,” Edward stated emphatically, a teasing glint in his eye.
            Elyssa directed her eyes at him. “Why do you say that?”
            Edward laughed. “Because if he was willing to ask you out despite the way you looked at the house on Wednesday, he can have no objection to your appearance tonight!”
            “Oh!” Elyssa pounded her fists to her side. “Don’t remind me how terrible I looked that day!”
            A car’s headlights shining into the window gave everyone an early announcement of Will’s arrival.
            Elyssa stood up and began to walk to the back of the house. “I’ll be doing some last minute touch-ups. You may announce me in a minute or two,” Elyssa gave a dipping curtsey and then scurried off.
            Edward and Maddy glanced at each other with raised eyebrows. Their niece certainly had it bad and if William Denton was willing to overlook the way Elyssa treated him, he certainly was not one to let get away. They eagerly anticipated having a few moments with the man all to themselves.
            Edward answered the door when Will knocked and gave him a cheerful greeting. “Well, my good man, it is a pleasure to see you again!”
            “Thank you, Sir. It’s a pleasure to see you.”
            Will stepped in and Edward ushered him into the living room. “Come, have a seat. Elyssa will be ready in a minute.”
            As he walked in, Maddy could not suppress the smile on her face. He looked almost as nervous as Elyssa had. “Good evening, Will.”
            “Hello, Mrs. Garner.”
            “Call me Maddy; everyone does.”
            Will nodded as he sat down. He brought his hands together and tapped the edges of his fingers against each other. Looking about him, he said, “You have a nice home here. This is a very pleasant area.”
            “Thank you. We like it.” Maddy smiled as she considered their house was probably much smaller than what he was used to. She supposed he had a grand house north of Chicago, probably along the lake, where most of the exclusive mansions were located.
            “We’ve really enjoyed exploring the different parks and lakes around here,” Edward said. “If the weather holds up, we are all going to have a picnic tomorrow. It’s supposed to be one of the last pleasant days before the cool days of autumn come upon us. I hope to find a lake and do some fishing.”
            “Can’t think of anything that sounds nicer,” Will said, his hands now clasped together tightly.
            “Would you care to tag along?” Edward asked. “You did say you could show me some good fishing spots around here.”
            “I did, didn’t I?” responded Will with a smile.
            “If you aren’t too busy,” Maddy added, “we would love to have you join us.”
            Will nodded his head. “I think I would like that. I could suggest a few places if you like.” He looked over at Edward. “I know of a few lakes that are very well-stocked, in fact.”
            Edward leaned back and clasped his hands together. “Wonderful!”
            “Can I bring anything?” Will looked to Maddy.
            “No, no,” Maddy waved her hand in the air. “Just bring yourself. Why don’t you come by a little before eleven. We thought we would leave before noon to give us time to find a nice place to have lunch.”
            As Will thought about this, he couldn’t think of a better time to tell Elyssa about the house. He didn’t want to tell her tonight. He wanted to have at least one whole evening with her without there being anything that would ruin it. He was fairly certain that she was beginning to enjoy his company. The picnic tomorrow might provide the perfect opportunity to tell her -- at least when the picnic was over and he had some time with her by herself. Maybe afterwards, he would take her over to the house and tell her there.
            Maddy stood up. “Let me tell Elyssa you’re here.”
            As she started to walk out, Elyssa stepped into the hallway. An exchanged look between aunt and niece let each other know everything was just fine.
            Will turned and saw Elyssa step into view. As she walked toward him with a smile directed specifically at him, his heart leapt. “Hello, Elyssa. You look very nice.”
            “Thank you. Let me get my coat.”
            Will told the Garners he would have Elyssa home by about one or two. Elyssa thought that was sweet of him and Edward responded as if he expected nothing less.
            “We appreciate that, Will.” Edward gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. “Not that we are over-protective of her or anything, but our niece is very dear to us and it is good to know when to expect her home.”
            Elyssa grabbed her coat and they walked to the door.
            “Here, let me help you with that,” Will offered. “It’s getting chilly out there.”
            Once she had her coat on, they walked out and the Garners offered their wishes for a good evening.

*~*~*

            A very congenial atmosphere surrounded the two as they left the home. Elyssa was happily surprised, after just a few minutes, to find that her jitters had ceased. She realized with a start that there was little more she could do to disappoint him. No more than two months ago, she had done everything within her power to push him away. She had accused and abused him and yet he still had been willing to ask her out on a date!
            He had seen the very worst of her. No, she had no reason to be nervous. She chuckled as she also considered that the plush interior and smooth riding of his small luxury car helped relax her immeasurably.
            Will asked Elyssa if she liked Mediterranean food. When she replied in the affirmative, he suggested they eat at a place fairly close by, rather than drive all the way into Chicago. He claimed that it had some of the best food around.
            As they walked in, she found herself admiring the décor. It had a very intimate and welcoming ambiance. Will was greeted by name and they were taken to a table back in the corner.
            Will described his favorite entrees to Elyssa, and trusting his judgment, she asked him to order for her. He ordered two different meals and when they came, they ended up splitting each in half and shared.
            Over the course of the meal, they talked about the picnic the following day and how he was looking forward to it. Will updated her on the progress of the memorials. Elyssa asked him about Gina and how she was enjoying her first semester at college.
            “She says she enjoys it. It’s been a little lonely not having her around. I wonder whether she misses me as much as I do her.”
            Elyssa looked down as she suddenly thought about how much she missed Janet. Tears didn’t begin to spill, but she did take in a steadying breath.
            Will extended his hand and placed it over hers. “I’m sorry. I just wasn’t thinking.”
            “No, it’s OK, really.” She felt strengthened by the touch of his hand. “It’s only natural for you to miss her. So how often have you gone out to visit her?”
            Will looked at her. “What do you mean?”
            Elyssa shook her head playfully. “She told me that you planned to come out every other weekend to make sure she was studying instead of out partying.”
            Will narrowed his eyes at Elyssa as he watched her try to wipe the smile from her face. “She didn’t really tell you that, did she?”
            Elyssa laughed. “Oh, yes! She said you were quite overprotective and she was looking forward to finally being out from under your strict control.”
            Will glanced down with a grimace and then back up, only to see Elyssa laughing. “I’m teasing, Will. She actually told me you would probably visit her just to make sure she was getting out and not locking herself in her room studying all the time.”
            “You had me worried, Elyssa. I wondered whether I even knew my own sister.”
            When they had finished their meal, Will reached over for Elyssa’s hand. “After the picnic tomorrow, would you have some time to go somewhere with me? I have something I want to show you.”
            Elyssa saw a hint of apprehension cloud his eyes, but she quickly dismissed it. “I don’t have any plans tomorrow other than the picnic, Will. I would love to. What is it?”
            Giving her hand a squeeze, a hesitant smile touched his lips. “You’ll see.”
            Elyssa smiled. “The last time you were this secretive, it was an afternoon of bumper cars.”
            “Not this time,” Will replied somberly.
            After dinner, they drove into Chicago and Elyssa found Will easy to talk with. He was never inclined to dominate the conversation, but always had intelligent comments or wise insights to contribute. He was also always eager to discover Elyssa’s views on things.
            As they made their way into Chicago, Elyssa was quite surprised how quickly the time passed despite the distance and traffic. When they came into Old Town, Will easily maneuvered into a parking garage and they set out to walk
.
           
They ambled down streets filled with eclectic shops and restaurants, peeking in windows and commenting to one another on the window displays. When they reached a home decorating store, Elyssa insisted they go in.
            Filled with everything from antiques to classics to modern, Elyssa knew this was just the type of place to find that one thing that would add a special something to a room. As they walked in, they were welcomed in by the owner.
            “Are you looking for anything in particular?” he asked.
            “I’ll know it when I see it, “Elyssa responded.
            Will walked somewhat behind her as she closely inspected a few items. Her fingers trailed lightly over the wooden pieces and she opened drawers to see the quality of workmanship. As she walked through the store, Will’s eye settled on a collection of rare, collectable books in a beautiful antique bookcase. He pulled a book out and carefully opened it.
            He could easily see that the binding was in perfect condition and it seemed as though the pages, although fragile, were completely intact.
            The owner walked over. “This is a rare find, indeed. The gentleman who owned them died recently and his family sold them at an estate sale. We thought it would be nice to keep the books with the bookcase, so we’re selling them together. I know it’s a fairly high price. If we can’t sell them that way, we’ll have to begin to sell them individually.”
            Elyssa walked over and looked at the book in Will’s hand and the ones in the case.
            “Are they all in such excellent shape?” she asked.
            The owner nodded. “We wondered if they had ever been read!”
            “Hmmm!” Will said, glancing down at the price. “This is certainly something I’ll have to consider.”
            Elyssa didn’t say anything to Will, but she thought it would look great in the den of the house she was working on. Even though she wasn’t hired to finish that room -- yet -- she’d keep the books and bookcase in mind. She may even have to conspire to get it before Will did.
            By the time they left the store, Elyssa had made several mental notes of things there that she might like to come back out and buy for the house.
            Elyssa was really enjoying herself. The atmosphere and the variety of stores and the buildings that housed them did not cease to keep her interest. She was pleasantly surprised to discover that Will had very similar tastes to her own.
            The street became more and more crowded with people. Will reached out for Elyssa’s hand and as his fingers closed around hers, he smiled as he felt her fingers close gently around his.
            They walked for some time up one side of the street and down the other. When they were almost to the garage where his car was parked, he suggested they drive to the Film Center so they would get there more quickly. They returned to the car and were soon on their way to the theater.
            When they arrived, the title of the movie was spelled out on the marquee. Elyssa didn’t recognize the language, but felt reassured that it must be a good movie because of the number of people in line.
            When they walked past the people in line and toward the ticket taker, Elyssa looked at him curiously.
            “I already have the tickets,” he said, as he reached into his pocket.
            They walked in and he handed the tickets to the man at the door. They were directed to go the opposite direction that everyone else was going.
            “That’s odd,” Elyssa said. “Everyone else is going into
that
theater.”
            “Well, it does have two theaters. This one is smaller, I think.”
            Elyssa briefly raised her eyebrows in surprise and followed Will, still clinging to his hand.
            When they entered the theater, Elyssa was surprised to see that it was empty. “Oh, goodness! Are you sure we’re in the right place?”
            “Yes,” he said confidently. “Where would you prefer to sit?”
            “How about right in the center of the theater?”
            “Here?” Will asked as they came to a row that fit Elyssa’s description.
            “This looks great.”
            They walked toward the middle of the row and sat down. “Do you want some popcorn or a drink?”
            “No,” Elyssa answered as she looked around her again. “I’m fine.”
            Elyssa was just about to ask Will again if he was sure they were in the right theater when the lights dimmed. As the name of the movie appeared and the music played in the background, Elyssa gasped.
            “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg!” she exclaimed.
            “No, I believe that says,
Les Parapluies de Cherbourg.”
The French words flowed smoothly out of his mouth.
“Have you seen it before? If you have, we can leave.”
            “Yes, but no! I don’t want to leave,” she declared as she realized he probably could speak French as well as Spanish.
            She suddenly began digging in her purse.
            “What are you looking for?” Will asked.
            “A tissue! Oh, why can I never find one when I need one?”
            Will reached into his coat pocket for a handkerchief. “Here. Take my handkerchief, but do you really think you’ll need one?”
            “Most definitely!”
            Elyssa looked around her again. I can’t imagine why no one else wants to watch this movie! It’s wonderful!”
            “So you think it’s good?”
            Elyssa let out a big sigh. “Words can’t describe it. Just be prepared, Will. They sing throughout the whole movie. Look,” she said, as she pointed to the screen. “Even the mechanics in the garage sing their lines.”
            Will lifted his eyebrows to that, smiling to himself over Elyssa’s enthusiasm. He then reached over for her hand.
            Very quickly Elyssa forgot that they were the only ones in the theater. She was lost in the sights and sounds of this movie that she and Janet used to love to watch. It was one thing to watch it on TV, but on a full screen it was so much more enjoyable. She was also very much aware of her hand in his as occasionally he would stroke it with his thumb or give it a gentle squeeze.
            Will smiled when he’d catch Elyssa humming the tune to a familiar sounding song -- the song, “I Will Wait For You” that he heard her sing in Guatemala. The song and its words had haunted him, and he had wondered just how long he would have to wait for her. He felt a little more confident that things were going well, but he still had that major hurdle before him when he’d tell her the house was his. But not tonight. He cast a sideways glance at her and hoped that when he told her tomorrow, she would understand.
            The story of a young couple in love was very sentimental. Both struggled financially and made some decisions based on that.
            As it neared the end, Will realized it was not ending the way he would have wished and began to realize why Elyssa needed a tissue.
            As Elyssa wiped her eyes, Will fought back the swelling up of heartache that he began to feel for this couple. He couldn’t help but wonder if this would be his and Elyssa’s fate. He held on tightly to Elyssa’s hand as the movie came to an end.
            “Wasn’t that the most beautiful movie you’ve ever seen?”
            “I can think of some that end a little happier,” Will tried to joke.
            “I think that’s what makes it so special. It’s like real life. We have no guarantees.”
            “No, we don’t,” he answered a little somberly. He had no guarantee that his plan to bring Elyssa here would sit well with her once she was told the truth.
            They stepped out from their row of seats and again Elyssa looked about her. “People just don’t know what they’re missing!”
            When they came into the lobby, Elyssa excused herself to go to the ladies room. While inside, she touched up her makeup and brushed through her long, dark hair.
It has been fun,
 she thought with a smile as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
Who would ever have imagined this?
            As she walked out, she looked around for Will. Not seeing him, she began walking toward the front. A small sign caught her attention.
           
Theaters available for rental. See management.
            Her eyes widened and she let out an audible gasp. “Oh my goodness! That’s the only reasonable explanation why we sat in an empty theater!”
            She looked ahead and saw Will leaning with his back against a wall up ahead. As she walked toward him, she asked herself,
How did he know this is one of my favorite movies?
How did he know?
            “All set?” he asked as she came up to him.
            “Yes, I think so.”
            They returned to the car and drove a short distance before Will pulled over. “I know it’s late,” he said, “but it’s such a beautiful night. Would you like to walk along the river?”
            “I’d love to,” Elyssa answered.
            They walked along Michigan Avenue. As they looked down toward the river, the shimmering lights from the city danced across the water. Coming to the Michigan Avenue Bridge, they began to walk across it.
            “It’s beautiful here, Will.”
            “They have dinner cruises along here and architectural tours. I thought maybe we could come back and do that someday.”
            Elyssa stopped and looked out over the water. “I’d really like that.” Then she turned and leaned her back up against the rail, looking up at Will. “Thank you for a wonderful evening,” With a crooked smile and the raising of one eyebrow she added, “I don’t believe I’ve ever had anyone rent a theater for me before.”
            Will inhaled slowly at Elyssa’s acknowledgment and glanced toward the ground. Softly, he said, “I must confess that I’ve never rented a theater for anyone before tonight.” A gnawing at the back of his mind reminded him that there was something else he had done that he needed to tell her. Pushing it down so their evening together would end on a pleasant note, he said, “I’m glad you’ve enjoyed yourself.”
            He looked back up at Elyssa and despite the beauty of the city around them and the glistening water below, all he could see was her.
            He reached out and fingered a lock of Elyssa’s hair, running his fingers down its length. He seemed reluctant to release the curl as a ringlet at the end wound around his finger.