Chapter 9

At the Matildah Fancy Seafood restaurant, Steve sat nervously at one of the tables. He constantly wiped the sweat off his forehead with his hanky. Steve glanced at his wristwatch and breathed out through his mouth.

He poured himself glass after glass of wine to kill his nervousness but it didn't help. He pulled out a black tiny case and sighed at the sparkling source of his nervousness. Because the two of them had been dating for four years, Steve thought that it was high time they took their relationship to the next level.

He tucked the case away in his pocket and hoped to God that Asher would say yes and marry him.

Within minutes, Asher walked into the restaurant wearing a long red dress with black heels. Her short red hair was neatly combed back and hanging on her ears were pearl earrings that matched her pearl necklace.

She waved at Steve when she spotted him and walked to him swaying her hips from side to side like a runway model. All heads turned to her until she finally took her seat. No one could deny that Asher was quite the 'looker'.

She greeted Steve with a peck and with a smile, she said, "Oh, how I missed you love."

"I missed you too, Asher." Steve adjusted his neck tie. "I hope you don't mind but I ordered our food." he took out his hanky and wiped his forehead.

Asher furrowed at his anxiety. "Babe, are you okay? You seem a bit tense."

"I am alright. You need not worry." Steve quickly answered wiped the sweat off his forehead.

Both of them were silent as they watched the waiter serve them their two plates of crabs with salads on the side.

"So, how is work going for you?" Steve asked Asher after the waiter left.

"It is going great. I am going to be getting a movie role soon." Asher answered with so much excitement in her blue eyes.

"That's great, in which movie?" Steve took a swig of his wine.

"Lucy's Secret. I have to play a hooker that gets murdered by a drug lord. It's a small role but it's a start right?" Asher asked with the brightest of smiles.

"Yes it is. Um Asher, there is something important I need to tell you." Steve said and felt a cold sweat run down his neck.

"Yes Stevie?" Asher forked up lattice.

"I don't want to be your b-boyfriend anymore." Steve stammered.

Asher got up and narrowed her eyes appalled at him. At that point, people turned to look at them. "Oh my god Steve you are breaking up with me? How could you after all that we have been through? To think that I even dressed up for this date. Urgh men are so unbelievable."

"No, you got it all wrong. I am not breaking up with you." Steve anxiously said, and pulled her wrist down but she snatched her hand back annoyed. "Asher,"

"Then what are you doing?" She sternly asked him.

"I am asking you to marry me." Steve answered and Asher gasped. "I don't want to be your boyfriend because I want to be your husband."

Asher watched him pull out the ring case from his pocket, and she shrieked. Steve walked to her and got down on one knee. The people around smiled to each other in awe at the couple.

"Asher, will you marry me?" Steve asked her so lovingly.

Asher jumped up and down in her heels saying "Yes yes yes and a thousand times yes."

Steve slipped the ring down her finger and the two of them hugged. Everyone in the restaurant clapped for them and congratulated them heartily.

****

Rose drove to the cemetery where Whitney and Britney were buried. She got out of the car and took with her a bottle of wine, two glasses, a bouquet of red roses and a bouquet of white roses.

Rose placed the red roses on Whitney's side and put the white roses on Britney's side. She then proceeded to pour wine into a glass and put it on Whitney's side.

"It has been three weeks since you left me my love but it feels like yesterday. Who could have thought that you would leave me so early?" Rose poured herself some wine. "You would have turned 26 today. If you were here, you would have thrown yourself a grand party." Rose sighed and drank from her glass. "You both died so young especially you Britney. You were only 17. I guess God had a reason to take you both so early. I really miss you Whitney." Rose dropped tears. "Wherever you are, I hope that you are happier there than you were here."