Sunday Evening
Sue paced in her bedroom, building up the nerve to meet Jack. He had told her to dress up and meet him by the front door at 7:00 PM. She was ready with twenty minutes to spare, hence the problem. She had time to think, to analyze their relationship, for her fears to creep in. She felt like they had been on the verge of stepping into unchartered territory after she turned down the New York job. Then Jack had been called away on assignment and she had been transferred. It seemed like every time one or both of them were ready to step forward, something or someone got in their way. Sue was beginning to wonder if she and Jack just weren't meant to be.
And then he had shown up in New York for his 'vacation'. He did seem to be serious about relaxing and enjoying himself, but he also seemed to be intensely focused on her. The more he focused, the less she knew she could handle. Never before had she sensed her heart in such a precarious position. It would take so little for him to have it completely, leaving her with nothing to give anyone else should he walk away.
She turned and examined her appearance yet again, knowing that her window of opportunity for changing was quickly closing. How she wished Lucy was here, to give her a pep talk and boost her confidence. It's not that the dress was daring, because it wasn't. She was too modest for that. It was a different style for her. She felt good in the dress and that was what mattered. Taking a deep breath before she could chicken out, she grabbed her light sweater and headed to meet Jack.
Jack paced nervously by the front door, his necktie seeming to shrink with each step. His palms were sweaty and his heart was racing, his body recognizing the importance of the evening ahead. For the first time in what seemed like forever his heart and his mind were on the same page. It was time to move forward with Sue. Time for her to understand that he was finished standing still, that there would be no more back-pedaling, that he was committed to a relationship with her. He'd had a taste of life without her; it was dull, dreary, and lifeless.
He heard her bedroom door open and turned eagerly, missing her even for the short time they'd been apart. His breath caught at his first sight of her, taking in her wispy dress and the shy hesitation visible in her expression. She was beautiful and he was a blessed man.
He hoped his trembling lips were in some semblance of a smile as he held up his finger silently asking her to twirl. She did, her eyes lighting up at the pleasure on his face. "You look [B]BEAUTIFUL[/B], Sue. You take my [B]BREATH[/B] away," he admitted seriously. Looking down at his watch in an attempt to gain his footing, he looked up and found her watching him, a smile on her face.
"Tired of me already, Jack? We haven't even left and already you are checking your watch," Sue teased, noticing his sudden fascination with the timepiece.
"CUTE" he signed with a sarcastic expression. She laughed and they both relaxed. "Come on," he said, taking her hand with a wink, "we've got a buggy to catch."