Joe was almost to his car, he could not stand looking at her anymore, she had obviously made her choice.
Mel was practically running by now, determined to get to him before he drove off to god knows where, and then she spotted him "Joe" she yelled, walking faster towards him.
The sound of his name surprised him and made him stop, he turned, surprise in his eyes.
"Mel, what are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question"
"I asked you first" he replied.
"Fine! I saw you there and didn't want you to get the wrong idea"
"The wrong idea? Mel! Austin was proposing to you, what other idea could I have, seeing him on one knee with a ring? Plus It's not like there's something between us, right? At least that's what you told me a couple of days ago."
She could tell he was angry, and knew he had every right to be after what happened between them and then Austin bursting in. Everything happened so fast. She was not even sure of anything anymore.
"Look, I'm sorry" she started to say but he didn't let her finish.
"About what? That you're gonna marry him? Don't worry about me Mel, I'll be gone before you know it."
"What?"
"Well this thing clearly isn't working. It'll be better for all of us."
"But Joe, you can't, what about the kids?" at that he snorted.
"They are old enough to go to college, they don't need me anymore."
"What about me?" she said timidly.
"You have Austin, I'm sure you'll be fine. You should go back, he's probably waiting for you. I know I would be." and then he went into his car to leave and Mel was left alone, shocked.
She started to go back inside the restaurant, but she was still not registering what had just happened. She barely heard Austin asking her what was wrong and where she'd been for so long. She needed to get out, to get some fresh air, but mainly, she needed to think.
Austin was mid sentence when she told him "I have to go" while getting up. He gently grabbed her arm "You still haven't answered my question, you know?"
"What question?"
"Are you serious? Mel what's going on?"
"Nothing" she said her voice getting higher. "What was your question?"
"Will you marry me?"
"Oh, right. I-" she didn't know what to say. Austin was a great guy. He was everything she'd ever wanted. There was only one problem, he was not Joe.
"It's because of him, isn't it?"
"I'm sorry" was all she could say before leaving him there.
When Mel stepped on the curb, she realized that Austin drove her there. "Great" she sighed. "I'll just have to call J-" she stopped before she could finish her thought. No, she couldn't not call Joe. Oh god, what did she do? She needed to find him and talk to him. Soon. But first, she needed to get home. She took out her phone and started dialling.
Meanwhile, Joe just parked in Mel's driveway. He hadn't decided what he would do. Should he leave tonight? But where to? He didn't even have a place to stay. But god staying under the same roof as Mel and her new fiancé would be so awkward and difficult for him, he was not sure he can do it.
"Where is Aunt Mel?" Lennox asked him as soon as he entere the kitchen "I thought she would be with you"
"So did I, but hey don't worry, your soon to be new Uncle Austin will probably be here soon." he replied.
"What? Please don't tell me that even after you told her you loved her she still agreed to marry that guy!"
"Hum, that's not exactly how it went" he answered nervously.
"What do you mean? Joe, please tell me you told her you love her?"
"It was implied!"
"Oh my god, you're probably worse than her!" she exclaimed.
"You know what? I don't need this right now. I'm gonna go to my room and start packing."
Lennox heart sank. He was leaving. He was actually leaving them.
"But, you can't go."
"Look Lennox, I'm sorry it didn't turn out as you'd wish, but I promise you we'll still see each other"
"Yeah right!" she was not looking at him anymore.
"We will." he insisted.
"You should go pack" she said while climbing the stairs to lock herself up in her room.
tbc