Holmer drove smoothly but there was total silence between Mandy and him. Mandy felt as if her heart was placed in a bucket full of ice because of the rift that Holmer had created between them.
She kept quietly thinking to herself, I wonder why his mood has changed in just a flash. A while ago we were a happy and normal couple and I thought things had begun to change, but no, he seems to be the same. What has gone wrong with him all of a sudden huh...? If only I could read his mind and know what's running through his head. Maybe these are just my assumptions. Holmer drove straight to the biggest hotel in Ndola which was the Savoy hotel where he had booked reservations earlier that evening. It was his first time to take Mandy there.
He parked the car, at a parking lot and stopped the engine, he got out of the car and went to the passengers' side, opened the door for her to get off the car. Before Mandy got off, she closed her eyes and held her breath for some seconds then breathed out heavily, came out of the car and stood on the other side to wait for him as he locked the car doors.
They walked towards the hotel reception holding each other's hands, pretending to be a happy couple as they usually did, just to Keep up appearances in the eyes of the public. She hated the fact that Holmer never loved her the way she wanted. As they approached the doorway, a gentleman wearing a white and black outfit welcomed them with warm greetings while smiling he said politely to them.
"Good evening Ma'am," he said to Mandy.
''Good evening, thank you," she replied to the gentleman.
He looked at Holmer and repeated the same greetings to him, Holmer responded to his greetings cheerfully.
The gentleman said," This way please," as he led the way, they both said ,"Thank you" at the same time and followed the gentleman behind.
Mandy and Holmer were shown their table, which was romantically decorated with red roses close to a window that had an eye-catching view and had a number 9 tag on it. Mandy was amused by their table which was decorated different from the others, she scanned the whole place, afterwards ogled at the happy couples enviously who mingled as they chatted their night away, she enjoyed every single view and forgot about Holmer's gloomy mood.
She only got distracted from the staring when Holmer pulled a chair for her to sit first, before she sat down, Mandy stretched out the wrinkles from her dress on her bottom then she sat down with her legs crossed together as an elegant lady that she is. Holmer walked over to the other side and sat across.
When a waiter detected how Mandy's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and how happy and comfortable both were with their table which was reserved for them, he left.
After a few seconds, he brought with him food menu leaflets and handed them one each. He stood there waiting for them to order.
"Are you ready to place an order Hun? What are you taking ?" he asked,
"I will take Errr....." She failed to make an order because she was a bit disturbed with Holmer's actions of behaving formally with her which made her feel uncomfortable. Holmer was triggered to see how panicked she was, he cut in and said," Please don't be tense let me order for us both."
Later on, he turned to a Waiter and said, "Can we please have two plates of spaghetti with kidneys and mushrooms a plate of Greek salad, a plate of potato salad, a glass of lime water, and a bottle of champagne."
"Anything else Sir?" a Waiter asked,
"I guess a dessert after our meal will be fine, that's all thank you," Holmer said to a Waiter.
"What type of dessert, Sir?" a Waiter asked again,
"Vanilla ice cream will be fine" He responded.
Mandy sat quietly without speaking a word and watched him order, As she imagined to herself. That Holmer knew a lot about her. But with her, he was like a complete stranger, one minute he was happy, the other he was not and the next minute he functioned like a person who has woke on the wrong side of the bed.
Sometimes she felt like she had never known this person all her life.his mood swings shifted like a chameleon changing its colours. why is he like this? why?" She thought to herself.
"Your meal will be ready in half an hour, please excuse me," a Waiter said and left Mandy and Holmer's table. After a Waiter had left their spot, Holmer made a frown and narrowed his eyes then asked her," So how do like the place?"
"I'm....okay with the place, it's delightful and am enjoying the fresh breeze that a window is throwing in and....and the view is perfect." After giving him an answer, she became tight-lipped.
After thirty minutes as a Waiter had perceived, they saw a trolley being pushed towards their table," I think our meal is ready before the meal came it seemed like it took forever, thank God at last our meal is here now." Holmer said.
A waiter served them their meal graciously, when he was finished, and done away with the serving, he looked at them both and said," Dinner is served! Bon appetite." He excused himself, before he departed. They said thank you to him both, Holmer took out his wallet from one of his pockets and tipped him off. He said thank you and went to attend to some other hotel clients.
Then Holmer said to Mandy,". Let's eat before our meals gets cold I am already starved Hun."
"Alright sweetheart." she answered and took a napkin from her laps fastened it on her dress, got a knife and fork, then smiled at him and said," Let's eat honey." in a polite tone.
"Let's enjoy our meal and taste their cook." He replied, as they ate, there was silence again between them,
Mandy was troubled she couldn't hold back anymore, she decided to breake the ice by asking him a question," So how was work honey?"
"Err... work was fine, just a little tiring but anyways, I can't complain." He answered in a cold way than usual.
"Is there anything bothering you honey?" popped another question from Mandy.
"Nothing is bothering me, why do you ask Ummm.... are we going to start the evening with questions he answered.
"No! it's just that, this isn't you Honey and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Besides, you have been acting strange tonight..... you can tell me,....maybe I might be of help." Mandy replied in a soft but shaky voice.
Holmer rose in anger and yelled," Are you sure you want to help me solve my problem aahhh.....?! So now show me how t...to..solve this, my problem is you!!!!!" after saying this, he sat back on a chair in a wild way.
Mandy out of terror, dropped a fork and a knife on her plate in a manner that it made a noise, when she looked around she saw people staring at them.
"Honey;i-i guess I didn't hear you right please clarify, how am I your problem?" she asked, and why are you talking to me in such a raised tone, now look honey, people's eyes are upon us." She muttered.
"Mandy arrgh.....sweetheart I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude it's just that,ummm...He stood up and reached for his pocket and shackled out a crimson velvet box knelt on one knee while he looked straight into her eyes and popped a question," Ms Mandy Meyers will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"
Mandy gasped. Never in million years had she expected that. Holmes had told her many times that he never thought of settling down any time soon. Now hearing this from him? her heart turned over with joy, she couldn't believe what her eyes saw nor what her ears heard, she has been waiting to hear this for five years.
"My God, Holmer, you've taken me totally by surprise." Mandy admitted. She stretched out her hand without uttering out another word.
Holmer got scared in fear of being rejected by Mandy in front of the crowd, he asked her nervously," Is that a...a yes?!"
Mandy saw how nervous he was. She had never seen him in any way vulnerable before and she felt for him, so she leaned forward and kissed him gently on his lips while tears streamed down her face and whispered," YES! YES! I will of course, Mr Thompson! A million times yes!"
Holmer put a diamond ring on Mandy's tiny long finger then kissed all her fingers lingeringly and raised up with force and lifted her up in the air, and screamed out loud, listen everyone! She SAID YESssss!!! The moment he had said that, he gave Mandy a passionate kiss on her her lips, as they kissed Mandy tilted her head to the side and everyone in the hotel restaurant were astonished by their romantic engagement, they all cheered up and clapped for them and lifted their wine glasses in the air and said," To the newly engaged couple!" while others whispered," How adorable and sentimental."