Daniel was very quiet as they were driving back to Avery Hills. Alexandra joined his silence as he appeared mad and she didn't know what to say to him after hearing Sarah's statement when they were about to leave.
Alex was perplexed at how she saw the relationship of Daniel and Sarah. They have the strong familiarity of someone very close to one another but she also wondered in herself why these two don't just end up together if they really have to.
Quite honest, the only reason she consented to Daniel's peculiar request at his proposal to her is because she's tied up with that gratitude towards him for saving the company she's working for which she has no idea would have fallen if he didn't buy if from bankruptcy. She enjoyed a comfortable monthly paycheck from the company and she thoroughly enjoyed her job as a book illustrator at Juggle House. It's her first job and she's been with it for the past five years since she graduated at age twenty-one. Then, her mom jumping at the business opportunity that this man offered her is like saving her life twice on process.
Alex looked at the trees they were passing by. She noticed two cats, a black and a white pair running along the tree lane.
"Have you ever owned a cat in your life, Daniel?" asked Alex breaking the silence they've been observing for the past the fifteen minutes.
"Why do you ask that?"
"Just curious. We've been so quiet since we left Kale's Flower Shop."
"I've owned a black cat when I was six years old and Sarah used to own a white one, too."
"I've just seen a pair of black and white cats along the trees minutes ago."
"Our cats disappeared when we were ten years old. They must be dead by now. Cats don't live long, I guess."
"Don't they have nine lives?"
"Do you believe in that myth?" Daniel asked turning his head to her.
Alex was resting her head close to the window.
"I don't really care at all. I don't believe in myths anyway. And I've never looked after a cat to know how long they really live."
"Ditto."
They became silent again.
"Hey, Alex, do you think Sarah would ever feel jealous because of me?"
Alex slid a gaze at him briefly.
"I don't know. She doesn't appear affected nor surprise seeing me as your fiancée. Maybe she'll cry when I marry you for real."
Alex said oblivious to the thought.
"Have you never had any girlfriend aside from Sarah? Back when you were teenagers?"
"I was pretty much a geek to care. Sarah was never around my teenage years. My parents and I moved out from California to New York when I was thirteen years old and I only got to see her again when I was just starting my job. Our company was built across her flower shop which she just started to tend with her Aunt Isabel."
"How long has she been working in that flower shop of hers?"
"Four years, I guess."
"She moved to another city to be away from you."
Alexandra felt her eyes turning heavy. She closed her eyes and fell asleep as they were driving halfway back to Avery Hills.
--
Alex opened her eyes and found herself sleeping on her side on her bed. She felt her face grew warm. That guy should have just woken me up. He didn't have to carry me to my bed. She thought with irritation.
She went to the bathroom and took a quick shower to wake her up and changed to her pajamas. Suddenly, turning hungry she went down straight to the kitchen. It was lit up.
Once again she found Daniel sitting on his spot eating chocolate cake. She went to the fridge and took the whole tray out. Alex prepared a mug of chocolate, then considering that she's not alone in the kitchen, made another mug. She placed it to his side before settling down opposite him.
"I didn't ask for chocolate. I'm already eating a chocolate cake."
He said not looking at her. His attention is fixed on his laptop typing quietly but quickly.
"That's for carrying me into my bed."
Alex replied before starting on her cake. While chewing on her food, she said, "You could have woken me, you know. I can walk from the yard to my bedroom."
"You weren't waking up when I tried to wake you so I just carried you into your room unless you would have preferred to sleep in the car until night falls."
"You made a point, Dan. I could be nursing a sore neck by now."
She took another slice before calling it a night.
"Drink it up, St. Clair. I only make a mug of chocolate once in a while. Be thankful that I made one to you. I haven't even made one to my former boyfriend."
"Why not?" He asked though he wasn't looking at her.
"He's a coffee drinker." She said standing up then leaned close on the table sliding closer to him. Her elbows flexed and her overlapping hands supporting her head as she watched him work.
"I'll make another one if you like."
Daniel looked at her.
"Alexandra, stop distracting me."
"Hmmm…why?" she asked innocently.
"You smell of liquor, chocolate, vanilla and lavender."
"I've just taken a shower. You should clean yourself up, too," said Alex smiling faintly. "I'm feeling rather very sleepy."
Then, she looked at him mischievously.
"You should sleep with me."
After saying it to Daniel, Alexandra dropped on the surface of the table. Dead as the log, asleep.
Four days passed and Friday came in a stride. The Diaz House at Avery Hills First Street was unusually teeming with people before 5pm. Alex and Daniel agreed to announce their engagement during dinner.
Daniel's parents arrived in the morning. Alex mom and dad arrived before lunchtime to help out. Sabina came after lunch. Her gramps joined them by 5pm. Her sister Ava arrived by 5:30pm while their friends from work and Daniel's friends from game hub also came in before 6pm. The entire neighborhood of Avery Hills was also invited.
"Feels like were holding a real engagement, Daniel," said Alex under her breath while they were mingling with the neighborhood. Alex smiled as bright as the sun. She was drinking champagne.
Daniel who was standing close to Alex turned to her.
"Doesn't it?" he agreed immediately. "You look good in your black dress by the way."
He said eyeing her from the toe to the top. Alexandra was wearing a simple black dress with crescent neckline and showing half her back with a full skirt that opens like a flower in bloom reaching her knees and a pair of stylish black pointed shoes. Her hair is knotted in a fashionable twist. She's also wearing a simple gold necklace with three full circles overlapped each other from the biggest to the smallest where a single diamond hang by the top centre of the smallest circle.
Alexandra beamed at him.
"Thanks for the compliment, fiancé. You're not too bad yourself."
She said complimenting St. Clair on his black tux.
"You two are good enough for a funeral affair."
Ava appeared from the stairs. She was wearing an ivory white haltered top cut in the middle showing the curves of her breast paired with an ivory silk pants and cream sandals. Her soft brown hair was perfectly wavy, silky and looking immaculate, cascading past her shoulders and full cleavage. She was holding a half drunk flute on her right hand.
"You should have dressed up a little cheerfully, Alexandra. Red or gold for the night. Geez, this is your night, little sister."
"I like the black dress, Ava. It's elegant and classy. Plus, check my back. It's sexy, right?" she said showing her open back to her sister.
"Alexandra is beautiful in the black dress, Ava," Daniel chimed in. "And you look ravishing in that dress. Where's your date?"
Ava eyed him under her mascara and drank her champagne.
"Why thank you for the compliment. Brett is coming but I don't believe it that he is late again. He'll be here in a while. I'll introduce you both to him."
She gave her empty flute to Daniel.
" Would you mind getting us champagne, St. Claire?"
"Sure. No problem."
Daniel disappeared into the crowd.
"I seemed to have heard you two talking that this engagement feels like a real engagement," Ava started. "Or is it not?"
She asked sharply.
Alexandra flashed her perfect smile to her sister.
"How could you be so suspicious on my own engagement party, Ava?"
"Fishy. Don't go crying for me, Alexandra."
Daniel returned to them with a waiter behind him carrying three flutes full of champagne and a bottle of it.
Just then, the crowd simply parted as if it was opening a path to an unknown guest. Alex, Daniel and Ava looked over to see for themselves.
A young woman wearing a flowing simple long pale pink dress hiding simple strappy golden sandals was gliding through. Her long curly bright brown hair was tied in a high ponytail while a gold band was secured around her head. She was like a walking Aphrodite of the night.
And she was walking towards them carrying another bouquet of dozen pink tulips. She looked ethereal.
"Hello, Alex, Daniel. I hope I'm not yet late for the party," she said smiling at them. "I bought another bouquet for you Alexandra to honor the night."
"Thank you, Sarah. You look gorgeous tonight."
Alex said taking the bouquet of pink tulips in her arms. She looked at her sister then at Sarah.
"By the way, let me introduce you to my sister. Sarah, this is Ava Andrea Diaz. She works in real estate. Sister, Sarah Geneva Kale. She's a florist."
"Nice to meet you, Ava. You're looking very fabulous. And you're smashing hot tonight, Alex."
Sarah said raising her hand to shake Ava. Ava shook her hand and gave her peck on both cheeks.
"You made quite an entrance yourself, Sarah."
Ava drank her champagne in one gulp then whispered to Alex' ears while Daniel and Sarah were talking.
"I get it."
Alex turned to look at her.
"You don't make a very good liar. I'd love to know the details. Tell me sometime." With those statements she joined herself into the crowd carrying the bottle brought by the waiter earlier.
By seven o clock, the crowd was settled by their tables in the front yard lawn of the Diaz House. Before dinner was served, Daniel took Alex by the hands and they stood before the staircase patio. He took a microphone and made his announcement.
"Everyone, Alex and I thank you for coming over tonight to join us in our jovial affair. I'd like to formally announce to everyone that Alexandra Jane Diaz is my fiancée. She would soon be Mrs. Alexandra Jane Diaz-St. Claire."
He slid a ring on her finger. The crowd burst into applause. Daniel St. Claire's members of the game hub which included younger people in the crowd made a hot hooting sound. Some even cheered loudly for their boss.
"Way to go, boss!"
"Yeah! Way to go, St. Claire! Longer lives to you and Alex! Wohoo!"
Alex and Daniel just laughed at their crazy cheerers.
Daniel held the microphone again.
"And with that let's all enjoy our dinner."
The band that was hired for the night started playing their instruments and romantic melody serenaded the night.