Decisions-- Part III

"Oh what am I going to wear?!" Emmalee wondered out loud to herself. Eventually calming down and turning back into an inside dialouge. "Every thing I have seems so drab... But I can't go out and get anything, I don't have the money! I need to look good tonight though. I have made up my mind to leave Kaleb unless he makes a drastic effort tonight. But I still want to look good, show him what he'll be missing."

And then when she turned around she saw it. Hung so carefully on the back of her chair as if someone had done it for her, and yet she couldn't remember putting it there either. She'd almost forgotten. The crimson silk halter dress that he'd bought for her two years ago. Would she still fit in it?

"I have to see if it still fits!" Picking up the dress she quickly slid it on over her slimming black shift. And it still fit like the day she got it. Like it was made for her. "How could I have forgotten it?" She wondered to herself, "If this doesn't get his attention nothing will."

Slowly biding her time she finished getting ready. Wanting to arrive fashionably late for once to keep him waiting. Carefully applying her make-up, putting on her jewelry and tights she felt better than she had about him in awhile. Then sliding on her shoes she grabbed her purse and headed out the door.

Unknown to her Nathan had been watching the whole time. After putting the dress on the chair for her he couldnt help but keep watching her. Completely forgetting all about his plan to stop Kaleb from going. But no matter, they'd soon find out Kaleb wouldn't show anyway....

Emmalee had chose this restaurant carefully with hidden memories in mind. It was where Kaleb and her had first met. She was a waitress at the time and he was there on a date with someone else. But attraction had won over and they were soon dating after that. It was hard to believe that the man she had fallen for then was so different now. She would never have thought it was possible.

She got there ten minutes late and went in, only to find out that Kaleb had not yet arrived either. After a long debate with herself she decided to wait on him. Settling into a private booth she sipped on her wine and ate a breadstick, when almost an hour later he still had now shown. Just about as she was getting up to leave her phone rang.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Baby it's me, the captain needed me to stay late. So I said-"

"Kaleb" she interrupted, "save your breath."

"What?"

" I said save your breath, I'm not going to listen to anymore of your bullshit excuses. I've waited here for over and hour, with no word from you. At the very least when you found out you'd have to stay over you could have called me then. If you love your job so much go back and make love to your fucking captain"

"Emma that isn't fair, I'm on my way now. He let me leave. And what the hell is all of that suppose to mean?"

"It means I'm done Kaleb, I can't do this anymore."

"You know I couldn't help it..."

"Yeah that's always your excuse right? Just forget it, I'm done. Consider yourself free of me, not that it will make much difference to you. Goodbye Kaleb."

Click.....

"Emma wait...!"

"I won't wait anymore" Emmalee thought to herself after she hung up the phone. "I'm done." Trembling she stood up to leave, and that's when Nathanial walked in. A big smile on his face and eyes only for her.

It was like a scene in a movie. He seemed too good, too perfect to be real. And yet Emmalee knew that Nathan really did only have eyes for her. There were a hundred other women in the restaurant and he walked right over to her. As if he had already known where she was sitting and what had just happened. There was definitely concern in his eyes when she looked into them.

Her heart was melting, at least that's how she described the feeling to herself. It was melting and mending all at the same time. She had just left her love of the past seven years and felt like she should be devestated, but all she could think about was Nathan walking towards her.

Once Nathan finally reached her two things happened all at once. He embraced her without a word, and Emma felt happier than she had in years. to her there were no words to describe how she felt. And then he whispered into her ear softly:

"It's okay love. I can sense what happened and what you did. But everything will be okay. Will you come away with me now, so that we can talk?"

After managing a faint nod on her part, he smiled and started walking towards the door.

"Wait Nathan I have to pay my bill." Then turning towards the hostess she began to get her money out. Descretely Nathan looked at the hostess who then quickly blurted out for Emmalee not to worry about it. "After all sweetheart you worked here for two years, and taught me what I know." And then shyly walked away.

"I wonder what that was about, I never go free stuff even when I did work here... Weird."

Puzzling to herself she turned and took Nathans extended arm as he quietly laughed to himself. In his mind thinking as they walked towards the door. "Oh my dearest Emmalee, you will find out soon enough. I swear I'll tell you everything..."