Chapter 2- Married?
"I love little towns like this."
"So do I," Andrew began, "they are so peaceful. There's hardly ever any violence, and not much noise either."
"That's true, isn't it? That wasn't my reasoning for liking small towns like this, it was the people, they are usually so much happier in places like this. It is so much easier to get along with them that way."
"I can sure agree with that." He said, the center of the town was in plain sight by now as they had only been walking where houses were.
"Andrew, stop!" He stopped, and finally noticed that they were still holding hands, it had felt so natural to him.
"What is it?" He asked, a slight concern could be easily detected in his voice.
"How are we going to explain our relationship, you know, in small towns like this everyone knows each other."
"I hadn't thought of that I wish Tess would have told us what to do, any ideas?"
"No, we can't just tell them anything, if we were in the city it would be logical for two friends like us to just live together, but…"
"But here it isn't." Came a voice. Both of them were startled when Sam appeared.
"Sam, what are you doing here?"
"Monica, I have come to answer your question, it is simple. Tell them your married."
"Married?" They asked.
"Sure." He said, "There's no harm in it at all. I'll see you soon" He said, disappearing as quickly as he had appeared.
"I can live with that." Andrew smiled.
"I think I can to." She returned his smile. They continued their walk, sweaty palm in sweaty shaky palm, both secretly estatic about their current situation.
So they continued to walk until they reached a small coffee shop. Of course they had to stop there. They were there for quite a few hours, and before they left Monica went to the restroom. Andrew approached the man behind the counter.
"Do you know any restaurants around here?" He asked him.
"I sure do, The Rainbow Room."
"Wait a minute, isn't The Rainbow Room in New York City?"
"It sure is. Really I'm telling you, that's the problem with small towns, the food may or may not be that great. Go to New York. Have a goodtime. It is only a few miles down the road. But trust me, our coffee is better."
"Alright," he laughed. "I'll take your word for it."
"Are you ready Andrew?" She asked as she headed out the door.
"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute."
"Okay, I'll wait for you at the shop next door"
"Okay." He said as he turned back to the man behind the counter.
"Is she your wife?"
"Yeah." He wished it were true. It sounded so odd, so frightening…so awesome.
"I hope that you don't mind when I tell you that she is pretty. You're blessed."
Andrew didn't really know what to say, but he thanked the man then left. He found Monica at the shop next door. Which, oddly enough was called The Shop Next Door, he could see Monica through the window. But the florist was next door to that. He went in and told Monica to wait for him there.
"Is that your boy friend?" The sales girl asked.
"No, he's my husband." Monica replied trying not to let her nerves show.
"Oh how long have you been married?"
"Not long."
"Well congratulations."
"Thank you." She said. "And welcome, to our town. Everyone knows everyone here after all."
"I have noticed." Monica laughed.
"Here I want you to have that."
"Oh no I couldn't!" Monica retorted, not wanting to accept the beautiful dress she'd been looking at, which she had to admit she wanted to have. It was the classic little black dress, everything you could want in a dress. Finally Monica left with the dress at the shop owner's insistance.
An hour later they were walking home. Hand in hand once again, although neither of them ever seemed to notice. It was natural all of a sudden.
"Hey, Monica."
"Yes."
"Would you like to go to dinner with me tonight?"
"I would love to!" She said, turning to him they stopped, almost kissing him again. They paused, sharing the fear they saw in each other's eyes.
"Great." He cleared his throat as they continued walking.
"Where, I didn't see any place in town."
"Well, that's the thing you see, we'd have to go in New York, it's actually not that far a way from here."
"I'm very much looking forward to it." She said, placing her hand in his, again. "Come on, let's go home, and figure out what to wear."
She had just the perfect thing.