Night By Night

Chapter 5

“I should be rewarded or something for all of this,” commented Sara. “How long have I been telling you to go and find that man?”

“I was afraid to. When you have been hurt before, it gets harder to let yourself fall so easily into someone else. I was just being cautious, that’s all,” replied Jennifer.

“Caution is for fools,” said Sara. “Whoever got anywhere by being cautious?”

“Easier said than done, and for different personalities, because sometimes I envy how you can throw caution to the wind just like that,” she said, and snapped her finger.

“You only live once. Anyway, fill me in,” she said, curling her feet under her and pulling a cushion between her legs. Her position caused Jennifer to laugh because she reminded her of an eager teenager.

“So, he has been awesome ever since he took me to that Japanese restaurant when I ran into him by accident. For the last two weeks…”

“Two weeks? You were holding out on me,” interrupted Sara.

“Sorry. I just didn’t think there was anything to report. I wanted to see if we were heading anywhere before I made an announcement. Anyway, as I was saying, I have seen him every day for the last two weeks. He has taken me to the movies, the beach, dinner, lunch, and he has even prepared the occasional breakfast. He has been a real treat and it makes me glad you did drag me out of the house that night.”

Sara sat looking at her with a smug look on her face. “Hmph,” was all she grunted as she sat there looking victorious. “So where are you going tonight?”

“I’m not sure, but I probably need to start getting ready. He has a thing for showing up before time,” she said and got up from the sofa then.

“Well, let me leave you to it. I need to stop by the salon anyway.” Sara walked over and hugged her friend and smooched her on the cheek. “Have a blast.”

“Thanks Sara,” Jennifer smiled. She walked her out and then began the annoying task of finding what to wear. She never knew where Adrian was taking her so she tried to wear something that would be suitable anywhere. This time she opted for a linen pants suit and hoped that would be appropriate. She got into and out of the shower in record time, hoping to be ready by the time he got there. She perfumed and dressed herself before standing in front of the mirror to add the finishing touches. She only wore light make-up, mostly liquid foundation, and then applied lip gloss to her lips. Her hair needed no combing; just a slight toss of her head and her curls fell into place. Approving of her appearance now, she checked the time and wandered into the living room and not a moment too soon. Just then she heard a slight knock on the door. She smiled and walked gingerly there, opening the door to a dashing Adrian. He scooped her up in his arms and kissed her in mid air.

“Hi there pretty,” he said when he released her.

“Hello to you too,” she replied, heart fluttering and head partially unstable. “So, where to tonight?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to go dinner and dancing,” he suggested. “Or we can go to the opera, or wherever. You choose,” he said.

“I’ve never actually gone to the opera before, and I am in no mind for dancing so how about that?” she suggested.

“Opera it is.” He looked at his watch. “It starts at eight, so we may need to go now so that we can probably get a sky box seat.”

She grabbed her wristlet from the sofa and tucked her hand into his already crooked one and headed out. The opera house was buzzing with activity and Jennifer had no idea it was such a well attended event. Adrian was able to procure sky box seats after all and they were issued what appeared to be binoculars.

“Will we really need these?” she asked.

“You decide. The performers are usually a little way off.”

They made their way up the single flight of stairs which brought them out to what seemed to be a balcony area. There were already many patrons filling up the seats but lucky for them the seats were all numbered. They were even luckier to get seats in the second row. Jennifer looked about her at the other members of the audience and realised she wasn’t over dressed for the occasion; if anything she perhaps should have worn her pearl accessories.

Adrian leaned over and took her hand in his, and his warmth transferred to her and ironically caused her to shiver. He showed her the pamphlet introducing the story for the opera. She was just poring over it when the lights dimmed and an elegant woman came to the centre of the stage. She poured out her heart in a beautiful rendition and received a rousing applause when she was done.

“These are the introductory ones,” Adrian leaned over and told her. “You are going to love the main event. It is a love story; a princess meets a blacksmith and the two fall in love and plan to get married. Right before they leave, they are confronted by her father who whisks her away and they imprison the man for an alleged crime. He remains in prison for five years and all this time the woman grieves because she was not allowed to see him. She turns away many suitors her father arranged for her, her heart belonging only to the poor blacksmith. Finally her father concedes because he realises only the blacksmith can make her happy and he arranges for his release. She runs into his arms on the day he is released, and they arrange for a wedding again. But before they do, he falls ill, having contracted a virus while in prison. They call for the doctor, but he dies before he arrives. Realising she will never have him again, she throws herself over the balcony so that she can be with him in the afterlife.”