THE ENGAGEMENT.

THE DINNER.

ROMAN...

We spent the time during our thirty minute drive to brainstorm important information about our lives. I got to learn that Eleanor is prediabetic, she bing watches the office everyday after work. She either does that or listening to podcasts. She loves cats and is not a fan of dogs. Her favorite food is anything Mexican or Italian. She is not particular about the type of music she listens to, it depends on her mood.

Finally we were at the Bynes residence. I drove up to the house where I stepped out of the car and opened the door for Eleanor. Her stepmother was the first to receive us running up to hug Eleanor.

"Sweetheart, you look remarkable.  I'm guessing some of the credit goes to the young man. Am I right?" she told Eleanor then she opened her arms inviting me for a hug too.

"I am a big hugger. I hope Eleanor warned you," she told me as we hugged and I only smiled.

"Mum, are you trying to say for a woman to look good, she has to have a man?" Eleanor asked her stepmother.

It was wierd that Eleanor openly called her stepmother mom but Bethany did not do the same for her stepfather.

"You know that's not what I mean. Now let's go in. Oh I have not gotten your name," she turned to me.

"I am Roman Jones,"

"Nice to meet you Roman. My name is Cisseria but call me Cissy. Follow me inside," and she led us into her dining, a large room with decorative mirrors on either side of the majestic granite dining table.

"Please take a seat. I'll go up and let my husband know you have arrived," and she walked away leaving Eleanor and I alone.

"You okay?" she gently squeezed my sweaty hands.

"Yeah. I just need a glass of water and I'll be perfect," I smiled at her.

"I'll go to the kitchen and get you that water," she smiled back before exiting the room.

As I sat waiting for her return, her father walked in to the room.

"You again," he spoke as soon as he laid his eyes on me. That's when I knew I was in for a long evening.

"Yes me," I stood up to greet him. "How are you sir?"

"Well and you?" and he took a seat at the front of the table.

"I am not doing bad myself," I responded. The butler came and set the table in a fast precision then left. Eleanor and Bethany both walked in at the same time. Eleanor handed me my glass of water and sat next to me.

"Beth," Mr. Bynes started. "You know this is a family dinner so why did you invite none family members,"

"Greg!" his wife's voice was filled with shock as she walked in and took her seat next to him.

"Dad, I invited him," Eleanor jumped in.

"Oh really? How do you know each other?"

"We're in a relationship, dad," Eleanor responded while holding my hand under the table.
Mr. Bynes kept quiet staring at me and Eleanor.

"Oh wow, this is wonderful news. Since when have you two been seeing each other?" Cissy asked.

"It's been two months now," I responded all too soon. We had agreed to say we had been together for a month but I went ahead and messed up the plan. Eleanor looked up at me then back at Cissy.

"I am genuinely happy for the both of you. You actually look good together. What took you so long to tell us?" Cissy continued.

"We just wanted to be sure that it was something serious worth telling family," Eleanor responded fast I think to prevent me from messing up again.

"All the same I'm happy. Greg, won't you say anything," Cissy turned to her husband who was still staring at me and Eleanor but mostly me.

"Let's dig in. The food is getting cold," Bethany saved us from the awkward tension.

Cissy served her husband first then served herself. Bethany served herself too then lastly Eleanor who served me first then served herself.

"So," Mr. Bynes finally spoke while we enjoyed the delicious meal. "What are your long term plans with my daughter?"

"Marriage," I responded.

"Marriage?" he scoffed.

"Yes sir, marriage. I love Eleanor. I met her during a tough time of my life. I had gotten involved in a car accident. Lost my memory. I was miserably trying to get back to my old life yet fate wanted me to start a new one. I then met Eleanor who showed me I didn't need to look for the past because it did not need me anymore but the future did need me. She guided me out of that dark place and there's nothing more that I want than to show her how special she is to me," I turned into a poet in one minute.

Everyone at the table was silent staring at me.

"So you plan to marry her just because you feel indebted to her? I mean that's all I got from your speech," oh! the man knew how to extinguish a flame.

"Dad!" Eleanor warned him.

"No Eleanor, you're my baby girl. I need to know what you're getting into,"

"Eleanor it's okay. He is right. Sir, I am not planning to marry her just to clear a debt," how ironic that statement was. "We all feel a little lonely at a certain point in our lives. I dont mean lonely like you don't have friends but lonely within your soul, that loneliness that makes you feel empty and you wish that you can find someone or something that can absorb you and make you forget that you were ever alone. Well Eleanor is that for me and I am not about to let her go without a fight," okay where was I getting all these words from. Had I been a romantic in my old life? I wondered.

"I hope I have made it clear to you sir, Eleanor is a very integral part of my being," I turned to face Eleanor then took her soft hands into mine. "I havent told you this but you made me. You molded me from the amnesia victim to this man ecxited for the future and who better to spend it with than you, my love," and tears rolled down her face. I didn't know if they were of pain or part of the act.

I grabbed my napkin and helped her wipe them off then I turned back to her father. He seemed to have bought our act. He didn't question me any further and we spent the rest of the evening talking about the weather, sports and food. After the meal, we moved to the living room where we chatted for a while before Eleanor told her parents that it was getting late and I had to go.

"It was nice to finally meet you Roman. Please do come over as often as you wish," Cissy told me as she walked me out of the house.

"I will inform you mom when he is next available. You know he is a CEO of a company. He is a busy man," Eleanor responded.

"And please forgive my husband for his attitude today. He was just not in the right mood. I am sorry he took it out on you,"

"Oh no, you don't have to apologize. It's all good. He is a father looking out for his daughter," and I smiled down at Eleanor who smiled right back at me.

"Young love, anyway have a safe drive," Cissy said to me and I hugged her.

Bethany joined us right after her mother left.

"Bravo you two," she spoke a little too loudly.

Eleanor and I both sshed her so that she could lower her voice.

"You two took the acting to the next level. Anyone could believe you actually love each other,"

I looked at Eleanor who was looking away from me in to space.
I bid both of them fair well and headed home. Finally the evening had ended. I was relieved to have gotten that out of the way, meeting the parents and informing them.

(Hey there, what did you think of this chapter? Let me know and don't forget to vote if you liked it.)