Chapter 4
Halfway through dinner Elaine was starting to wonder if he was ever going to propose. Finally she couldn't take it anymore, "So Arnie, what was that big thing that you wanted me to talk about? To be honest, I've been dying to know ever since you mentioned it."
"Oh that, well I guess now is as good a time as any." He took a deep breath, "Elaine…"
"Yes?" it was taking her all not so seem so egger but it wasn't working very well.
Arnie continued, "Elaine, I have received a wonderful job offer."
Her smiled started to fade, "What?" she reacted.
"I've received a job offer."
Now it was taking her all to not be disappointed that he wasn't proposing. "Oh? Well that's… great! I'm so happy for you. What is it?"
"My boss wants to make me the Vice President for the Chicago branch! Isn't that great?"
Arnie currently worked in a bank as a manager. The bank he worked for was branching out to Florida, Boston, and Chicago. Even though working in a bank isn't the most thrilling job, Arnie liked it. He took a lot of pride in his work. When he was offered the Vice President position he was ecstatic and excepted immediately.
"Yes, that's really… really wonderful." She forced a smile.
"Elaine?" he frowned, "Is everything alright? You seem kind of upset by this."
"Oh no! No, I'm not. Honest." She quickly corrected as she perked up.
"Elaine… I'm not quite buying this. I mean, I'm naturally paranoid as it is but I think there's a little more to this than paranoia."
She sighed, "Well… does this mean that you're leaving New York?"
"Well yeah. I think the commute from New York to Chicago would get to be a bit much, don't ya think?"
She couldn't help but laugh, "I guess that was a stupid question."
"There's more." He grinned.
Perking up for real this time, she responded, "There is?"
"Of course! You didn't think that I was just saying, 'See ya babe, I'll be going now. Make sure to write' did you?"
"Well…" she blushed.
He laughed, "Don't be silly!" he took another deep breath before continuing, "Elaine, I want you to come with me."
Her eyes grew wide, "To Chicago?"
"Yes to Chicago!"
"Oh wow, uh… gee. This is just so sudden…" she stammered a bit.
"Would a few days to think about it help?"
She nodded, "Yeah. That'd be good. Uh, when do you need to know by?"
"Let's see, well I leave for Chicago in 2 weeks."
Elaine gasped, "Two weeks? You mean you accepted it already?"
Arnie was puzzled, "Yeah… was that a bad idea?"
"No. I guess it's presumptuous of me to think that you wouldn't have accepted it. I mean it's a great opportunity."
He panicked, "Should I have talked about it with you first? Darn it! Why didn't I think? It's just that I've never been in such a serious relationship. I'm used to it just being me. I'm sorry, Elaine."
"No, no, don't be sorry! I'm glad you took the job. I wouldn't want to get in the way."
Arnie took Elaine's hands, "Sweetheart, don't think that I didn't think of you at all. I kind of hoped that this would be a perfect opportunity to start a whole new life together."
"What do you mean? Like… marriage?" she said hopefully.
"Maybe… eventually… not right away. I mean, I'll need time to adjust to the new job and environment. But I know that I want you by my side."
"Oh," she sighed, "well… let me think about it over the next few days. Because it's not only me, I have to consider Jason and Jennifer."
"I know." He smiled sympathetically realizing that this would be a difficult decision. "I love you."
"I love you too."
They finished the rest of their dinner in silence.
