Downstairs Contemplation


... high tide was at 4:18 today ...

What is he saying?

... low tide at 6:19 ...

Well, I don't care anyway. Let me just sit here and stare at this tv screen, listening to what this guy with the soporific voice has to say. But I'm not tired. Not at all! My heart is racing and my head is spinning.

... high tide tomorrow will be at 4:19, low tide at 6:20 ...

He proposed! He really proposed! I can't believe it! That dork had the guts to propose to Angela! He told me he wanted to propose a time share, how come he suddenly proposed a marriage?

... winds from the Northeast from 15 to 20 knots ...

Why didn't she refuse right away? She was angry with him when she came through that door, very angry. You don't want a man to propose when you're so angry at him, do you? I guess he had really screwed it up out there. No wonder, as clumsy as he is. If Mona was right and Angela had expected a marriage proposal but he had told her about his time share project instead, ... How can someone be so insensitive? Honestly, which man takes his date on a romantic getaway to the mountains and asks her to be his partner in a time share? She can't seriously be thinking of getting married to someone such as this, can she? Angela Wells? No way! That doesn't sound right!

... and some swells with wave heights up to six feet are expected ...

An impromptu wedding proposal! He went down on his knees and sang 'I Kiss Your Hand, Madame', ... Gee, Angela deserves better than that. To propose to a woman like Angela, you have to come up with something more sophisticated. A fancy dinner with a huge engagement ring in her glass of champagne maybe. Or a romantic sleigh ride and a proposal near a warming camp fire. Or a blimp! Yeah, that would be cool. I'd write it all over the Empire State Building if I wanted her to marry me.

... there's an upper level low pressure system developing which could lead to possible late afternoon precipitation ...

Geoffrey is a nice guy, but not the perfect match for Angela. Okay, he's smart, well-educated, and successful. She seems to like that in a man. Face it, Micelli, you're none of these things! Not dumb - granted, but certainly neither well-educated nor successful. He's kinda good-looking too; not very well-trained body, but handsome face. But she isn't truly in love with him. I mean, she had broken up with him already once, after his stupid accusations because of his demolished Porsche. As if his beloved car were more important than Angela. She took him back only because I talked her into it. I can't believe what an idiot I was! If I had kept my mouth shut at the time, just like Mona told me, we would've been spared this and Geoffrey would've left all of our lives for good a long time ago.

... late night fog...

Why did I ever let her dance with him on Paul and Isabelle's wedding in the first place? She had asked me whether I was okay with it. Why didn't I say, 'No, I want to dance with you! I'm the one who wants to hold you! You belong in my arms, not in his!'? Because it wouldn't have been right. She's my boss. She pays me. I clean her toilet. Who wants to dance with the guy who cleans your toilet? ... Well, Angela does. When we dance, we are totally in sync. She's not snobbish like so many people in this neighborhood. A bit uptight maybe, but not snobbish. She really cares for me, and for Sam. Oh dear, what will happen to us when she marries Geoffrey? We'll have to move out, I guess. No husband wants a male live-in housekeeper who's a good friend to his wife. Michael wanted us out, and Geoffrey will want us out, too.

... visibility reduced to one mile ...

I wonder whether they have already slept with each other. An inappropriate question for a housekeeper, I guess. It should be none of my business whom my boss sleeps with. Funny, I reasoned her out of sleeping with her boss the first night I spent in this house. She took my advice then, so maybe it is not so crazy that I think about it now too. Anyway, which man would date a woman like Angela for months and not want to sleep with her? Geoffrey seems to be a little awkward though when it comes to treating a woman perfectly. If he's in bed like he is out of it, then I bet it's a rather dull and uninspired matter. I doubt that he's able to fathom her needs. And if he thinks I'd help him out here once again, he's mistaken. I sure won't give him any advice on how to make love to Angela. She appears introvert and shy, but she's a complex, profound character. She is a strong and competent business woman one second, and a vulnerable little girl the very next. She tends to be so correct and prudish, eager to meet the social conventions, but I'm sure that's only her outward appearance. When it comes to true love, I assume she can be daring and passionate. And no normal guy can keep his desire in check looking at a body like hers. I mean, ey-oh oh-ey, the view I got when I walked in on her getting out of the tub in her birthday suit, ... womanly curves, milky skin, long legs, flat tommy, and ... er, ... firm breasts. Oh my, what is this dude saying about low temperatures? It's hot in here!

... tomorrow cloudy skies in the morning, followed by partial clearing ...

What if she's happy with marrying him? I want her to be happy. She deserves it. I can't talk her out of it just because I don't want to lose this comfortable and well-paid room-and-board-job. That would be selfish and unworthy of a good friend. But am I really doing her a favor with keeping my mouth shut? This woman is too rational at times. I bet she comes up with enough good reasons to marry him. Maybe she'll be even making a list! I need to appeal to her heart. She has to listen to her heart, then it will tell her that coming from similar backgrounds isn't necessarily all that counts in a relationship. You have to be crazy about the other, madly in love, unable to think of anything else but your lover, suffering from aching desire when the other one's not there. Angela's nothing like this with him. Maybe Geoffrey is, but not she! She likes him, enjoys being courted by him, has a nice little affair. Everyone needs some endearment once in a while. But 'until death do us part'? Seriously? Aarrgh!

... a 20 percent chance of rain at the weekend ...

I wonder what Angela was like when she had fallen in love with Michael. More ardent than in this lukewarm relationship, I suppose. When I saw them kiss, there was chemistry in the room, even though it was only a half-hearted last attempt to revive their marriage. But when she kisses Geoffrey, there's not much passion there. There was more passion when we kissed after that childish flour fight in the kitchen. And we were both drunk, didn't realize what we were doing. My kiss almost made her faint! That says it all! Okay, maybe it was mainly the alcohol that made her knees wobbly, but our kiss was fiery and daring. If I had let her drag me into her bed, our relationship would've been different from what it is today. But I resisted the temptation, which was tough enough; and I'm glad I did. It was too early. But now, ... If she asked me to stay the night now, I don't know what I'd be doing. The next morning I told her that I wanted her to remember it if we ever made love. Gee, that was a gutsy thing to say! Given the fact that I had only worked a few months for her at the time. But I meant every word I said! And the look in her eyes when she told me that I would remember it too, ... God, the air is dry in here! I could use a drink. But I can't get myself to move. I just keep on sitting here. Is this still the same guy on the screen?

... sunrise tomorrow at 7:13 ...

I bet she's upstairs picturing her future with Geoffrey. Or is she having doubts? She said she needed to think about it. Phew, was I relieved to hear her say that! I might have jumped up and screamed 'No!' had she said yes. But she didn't say yes right away. Marie said yes right away. She flung her arms around my neck and kissed me. Because she was crazy about me, and I was crazy about her. Isn't hesitation a sign of doubt?

... sunset at 5:59 ...

Oh, Angela, please don't do this to me! Don't marry Geoffrey with a G!

... wet weather continues across Pacific Northwest and New England ...

What?

... possible 3 inches of rain ...

Did I just say 'to me'?

... weather will remain unsettled...

Yes, Micelli! Admit it! You don't want to lose her. You're terribly fond of her. And when you told her that marrying your housekeeper was too silly to even think about it, it was out of self-protection only. Come on, be honest with yourself! You've been daydreaming about a different kind of relationship with Angela the moment you signed your contract. And you believe you've seen something in her eyes that makes you hang in.

... local thunderstorms are possible ...

Why didn't I talk to her just now, when she was sitting here beside me on the couch? I could've asked her if she's sure she wants to spend the rest of her life with him. She wanted to talk to me, I could read it in her eyes. Why am I always chickening out when it comes to a private conversation with her? I have feelings for her, so what? That's no crime! Why is it so difficult to let her know how I feel about her? I don't want our relationship to change, at least not in the way a marriage to Geoffrey would connote. I need her in my life, I can't let her walk out of it with some other man.

... too cold and wet for the season ...

Okay, I'll have to talk to her tomorrow. This marriage needs to be prevented! I can't let her do this! For her own good. And for mine. For us. Some day there will be an us! I know. I just know!

... Thank you for watching The Weather Channel. Stay tuned for an update on your local weather condition and tides.