Mahogany Haven

dedicated to lindaverji.

__________

Mahogany Haven

Cassandra looked down at Sean's fingers intertwined with hers. She gripped his hand tightly causing him to look away from the wheel and look down at her with a small smile on his handsome face. She blushed and looked straight ahead.

She kept herself calm and composed as her boyfriend, for over 8 months now, drove to the restaurant where he was taking her for their date but inside she was reeling with happiness.

He was finally home from his long 6-month work trip to New York and he had immediately called her to see if they could meet. She was ecstatic to hear his voice because while he had been gone, she had been questioning their relationship.

In the first few weeks he had been gone, they talked almost every day without fail. He'd tell her about his exciting work as an architect on a major company building and she'd tell him about her tedious job as a corporate lawyer and which businesses, or individuals, were suing who and they'd just talk for hours on end.

But suddenly, that all changed. He'd rarely answer her calls. Whenever they did speak he'd be guarded and irritant, when she inquired about his day, his answers would be short and vague. She had feared his interest in her was waning and it seemed like there was nothing she could do about it.

Cassandra heard the door on her side of the car open and saw Sean standing outside and holding her door wide, motioning for her to come out of the car.

"So chivalry isn't dead?' She asked teasingly as he escorted her into a rather classy looking restaurant. He just shrugged as a waiter guided them to a small table for two in the far corner of the room.

Sean sat on the seat opposite her and quietly looked through the menu.

Cassandra frowned as she realized he had hardly spoken all evening except to complement her crimson dress at the start of the night but she refused to let that deter what promised to be a great date.

She set her menu on the table and skimmed through the choices on the menu. "So what should we get? The lobster and crab soufflé? Or the roast chicken and parmesan..." She rambled, stretching her arms over to the opposite side where he was sitting, showing him her menu. She was trying to fill the awkward silence between them with her incessant noise.

He put her menu down slowly. "I didn't bring you here to eat."

Cassandra slapped his hand and laughed, "If we aren't going to eat then... Oh my gosh! "Her eyes widened and she squealed.

He was going to propose!

Cassandra was desperate to get married and settle down, but at 28, the clock was ticking. Weddings were almost a slight obsession with her as she had two wedding dresses and quite a few bouquets and she had never even been married.

"Yes." She blurted out before she could stop herself.

Sean's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What?"

Realizing she had embarrassed herself, She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Nothing. You were saying?"

He gave her a weird look before he let out a little sigh. "Cassandra..." He started as she gazed into his eyes expectantly.

"I've met someone else."

***

Kia slowly tip toed into her bedroom, her feet stepping softly on her carpet as she tried not to wake her sleeping husband.