Chapter 57
It’s time to celebrate with the Four of Wands!
CAL
Iam fifteen minutes late meeting Danny for dinner because I couldn’t decide what to wear.
“Today is special. Your trial would have started today. Let’s celebrate. Dress up, go somewhere fabulous.”
We had spent every day and night together since my release from the hospital. Danny decided to retire, and he had months of vacation to take before his last day in early December. I took a leave of absence until the next semester started in January. I’m still not sure if I am going to return to teaching. I’m leaving my options open.
Danny sent a limousine for me. He said Biz needed help wrapping up a case and I should meet him at the restaurant, Moonstone. I don’t often eat at fancy restaurants but I’ve heard the lobster is divine, so I am game to try something different.
Hanging out with Danny at my cottage or his cabin is my idea of perfection. We cook together, clean up the kitchen, and then play games. Scrabble, cards, backgammon; neither of us cares who wins. We are planning a trip out west to Santa Fe and Taos later in the month but in the meantime, we are visiting little mountain towns along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I have never been so happy. I have never been with a man who is so happy to be with me.
I eschew my regular tee shirt and leggings for our fancy dinner. I choose a white silk blouse and black jeans and black stiletto heels. I apologize to the limo driver for making him wait. He is very gracious. “No worries, ma’am,” and he hands me a black velvet box. “From Mr. Danny, ma’am. He said to open it now.”
Nestled in the velvet box is a silver necklace with the letters C and D entwined. The C and D are set with diamonds. It goes beautifully with my outfit.
As I enter the restaurant, I see Danny sitting in close proximity to a stunning blonde at the bar, having a very intimate conversation. If that had been Paul, or any other man, I would have marched over to the bar, picked up the blonde’s drink, and tossed it in my date’s face.
I trust Danny with all my heart. He has proven a worthy keeper of my soul. So instead of marching, I glide toward the bar in my sexy blouse and heels.
I know the second I hit a knothole in the bar’s oak floors that 4-inch heels were the wrong choice. There is a reason leggings and sandals are my go-to.
My heel catches in the hole and my knee and ankle twist in a way that God never intended. I pitch forward into the blonde. She squeals as her drink drenches her chest and dress.
I picked myself up from the floor and offered an apology. “Oh sweetie, I am so sorry.” Danny is laughing so hard he can’t catch his breath. I look around. The rest of the bar is laughing, too. Except for Marci, who is rushing toward me, with a bouquet in her hand, for some reason.
“Are you OK?” Familiar faces surround me. Jim. Gwen. Laura. Biz. Several colleagues and friends from the college. A couple of guys in uniform, and a few more dressed in suits like Danny wears to work. I think I recognize Laura’s wife, Governor Parker.
“What’s going on?”
The blonde giggles. She is mopping her dress with a napkin.
“My dear, we are celebrating you not going to jail today.” Danny points to a sign over the bar. It is a four foot by six-foot replica of a Monopoly Get Out Of Jail Free card.
“Except getting out of jail wasn’t free!” Everybody laughs. Especially Laura. Laura has laughed all the way to the bank.
I limp over to a table. I’m not sure my knee will ever be the same.
“Cal, this is Darla, Biz’s daughter.” He gestures to the blonde.
She giggles again. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Way to make me feel old, honey.
Gwen examines my knee. We went to med school together. She continued with medicine and is now a urologist. She knows where all the body parts are supposed to be, though, and pronounces my knee twisted and my ankle sprained. She goes to get two ice packs from the bartender.
“Marci, why do you have a bouquet in your hand?”
Marci quickly tosses it on a leather banquet seat.
“What bouquet?”
I look at Danny. Who suddenly is on one knee.
“Caroline Cassidy, you are the most fascinating woman I’ve ever known. Let’s spend the rest of our lives together.”
He stands up and nods to the crowd. “Old knees. They can only take so much.”
He takes a black velvet box out of his pocket.
Crap. I hate that he’s doing this in public.