Chapter 10 - THE MAN WHO LEARNED TO ASK
Gabriel began courting me.
Not with diamonds.
Not with expensive vacations.
With small things.
He asked whether I'd like to have dinner with him.
He remembered my favorite bookstore.
He brought coffee when I worked late.
He learned to cook scrambled eggs because I once mentioned missing the breakfasts my father made when I was little.
One evening, he knocked on my bedroom door.
“Catherine?”
I opened it.
He stood holding two movie tickets.
I smiled.
“What are those?”
“A film.”
I laughed.
“I can see that.”
He looked embarrassed.
“I thought we could go.”
I stared.
“You're asking me on a date?”
He nodded.
“If you'd like.”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
We went to a small independent theater.
No security entourage inside.
No private screening.
Just two people sitting in the dark sharing popcorn.
Afterward, we walked along the lake.
The wind was cold.
Gabriel offered his coat.
I laughed.
“You'll freeze.”
He smiled.
“I'll survive.”
We stopped near the water.
Chicago glittered behind us.
Gabriel looked at me.
“Catherine.”
“Yes?”
“I think I'm falling in love with you.”
My heart stopped.
He continued.
“I know our marriage began for the wrong reasons.”
I swallowed.
“But I want to make it right.”
I looked at him.
Then whispered:
“I think I'm falling in love with you too.”
He smiled.
Then asked:
“May I kiss you?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
May you like
He kissed me beneath the city lights.
And for the first time, our marriage felt like a choice.
