Michael & Noelle

"The Woman Was Too Stunned To Speak"

“What is this?”

I hold up a box, and my aunt Cleo snatches it out of my hands.

As I stand on the porch, I place both hands on my hips and narrow my eyes at her.

“Don’t tell me it’s another gift from your, boss.”

I follow her inside, shutting the door behind me as she sighs loudly.

“Stay out of grown folks business, miss Noelle,” she yells, trying to escape into her room.

“Fine, then I guess all of my juicy details from my date yesterday will remain within me.”

Aunt Cleo pauses, turning around with a defeated face.

“Fine, we’ll open it, together.”

I clap happily, plopping onto the couch and tapping the seta next to me.

She silently cusses me out under her breath but of course I ignore her.

As she opens up the box, I try to get an early look by sitting up straight.

“You keep doing that,” she snorts, “you gonna end up looking like a duck.”

“Hilarious,” I tell her dryly, “just hurry up.”

“I’m wondering if they sent this package to me or you.”

She finally pulls out the box, and inside of it with a necklace and ring set. My mouth drop open at the size of the diamonds.

“Uh . . . Auntie, are you 100% sure that you and this man don’t got anything going on on the sidelines?”

“I –“ usually she’d be quickly to defend herself but even she had to take a breath after seeing the diamonds.

She quickly shut the cases, while shaking her head.

I watch, confused as she placed the items back in the box, “what’re you doing?”

“This, is too much, Noelle,” she spoke to me, but it seemed like she was trying to convince herself, “I mean I can accept th-the designer bags, shoes, even the robes, I can deal with dresses, and even expensive chocolate but there’s no way that this man spent over a hundred thousand on me.”

“How do you know the price?”

“We recently invested in this jewelry business, this was one of the most expensive pieces, and admittedly, I may have mentioned that it’s a beautiful set. But I didn’t want him to buy it for me!”

“Okay, let’s calm down then,” I tell her, “why is this a bad thing?”

“Because,’ she stares at me incredulousy, as if I was already supposed to know, “he’s my boss, Noelle. He can’t – I can’t- accept -,”

“But you’ve already accepted so many other things,” I raise an eyebrow, genuinely confused, “besides the price tag, I guess, what make this so different.”

The issue here was obviously not the price of the items, not even the item itself, as I started at Aunt Cleo, I realized that she was . . . afraid.

I didn’t know what to say to her then, but she stood and continued to close up the box.

“This is just too much,” she mutters before she leaves for her room, and shuts the door behind her.

I felt terrible.

She always knew what to say when I got in my head and there she was being consumed by her mind and I didn’t even say anything.

With a sigh, it ae the box and open it up again only this time I noticed a piece of paper at the bottom.

I don’t know if you are tired as I am,

But I’m tired of waking up every day, missing you, but not being able to tell you,

I’m tired of listening to your laugh, watching your smile, and not being able to genuinely tell you that . . . I’m in love with you.

My eyes widen at this man’s confession, and I rest a palm on my lips, reading on,

I will be in the city tomorrow, and it is my hopes that I am able to meet you,

 and tell you all these these things in person.

Clementine, if you didn’t’ see it the first time, I am utterly in love with you

And I cannot stand another moment, not being able to tell you

I await your call  . . .

Evanio.

#

With everything going on, I almost forgot about my date.

In fact, I forgot about Michael completely.

I hadn’t texted him last night, and when I woke up it was because the doorbell rang for the package and well . . . you know how that went.

Evanio was coming to the city, for my Aunt Clementine and she didn’t even know. I considered telling her, but I didn’t know how she would react and the last thing I wanted was for her to feel worse.

I did her a favor by taping the note onto the box, and retreating into the safety of my room, where I was now trying to contact Michael.

When my texts went unanswered, I tried calling but it went straight to voicemail.

It was a little after three, and having not heard from him today, I wasn’t sure if I should’ve got ready or not.

Finally, just as it was about to hit 4 o'clock, he called back. I had never picked up the phone faster in my life.

“Hey,” I rasp and I hear shuffling on the other end.

“Hey,” he replies, and it goes quiet.

“Uh – I’m sorry I didn’t call . . . or text last night I was exhausted.”

“Despite the fact you had me up worried and that’s why I’m waking up at four in the afternoon, you’re forgiven.”

“Oh no,” I coo, placing a hand on my forehead and shutting my eyes, “what time did you go to sleep?”

“I ended up falling a sleep at 5 in the morning,” he confesses with a sigh, and more shuffling is heard, “I thought about calling you but I didn’t want to push.”

“I’m sorry,” I breathe, “I didn’t know you would’ve . . .”

“It’s okay, it’s just after the incident, it makes me feel better when I know you’re home safe.”

A feel utter warmth cover my heart as his words, and my stomach swims with butterflies.

“I get that, from now on, I won’t forget, and if I do . . . don’t be afraid to call.”

“Roger that,” he replies, breaking into a yawn and I hear the tap turn on.

“So . . . should we rain check for out date?”

“Yeah, absolutely not. I’m running a bit late but I’ll be there.”

I bite my lip to contain my grin, hugging my pillow to my chest.

“Great, let me go get ready then.”

“I’ll see you soon, later?”

“Later . . .”

He hangs up, and I end up locking eyes with myself in the mirror.

I was a giddy mess.

Michael did not have to be this amazing. If I wasn’t careful I would fall hard onto my ass.

As I let out a breath, I try to forget about everything so that I could get ready for date number 2.

#

“Did you check the schedule?”

When Michael pulled up I ran outside to meet him there because I knew he’d walk up to the door and I didn’t really want to disturb my aunt from whatever she was doing in her room.

We were currently on our way to the movies, and I must admit, casual wear looked really good on him.

“I didn’t, but I’ll have it done now.”

He nods in response.

“‘The Addams Family 2’ is playing in about 10 minutes.”

“What it is?”

“I have no idea,” I chuckle, “but it’ animated . . . so . . .”

“Alright then, we can watch it.”

I purchase the tickets for us online, and sit back to enjoy the rest of the ride.

“I take it you didn’t get any work done today?’

“I didn’t,” he sighs, “but that’s okay, besides new scents there’s nothing much to do.”

“Did you sleep well last night? How was work?”

“Uh . . . it was really crowded. We danced for a full hour straight because of how many people there were, my feet felt like they were on fire.”

“I guess that excuses you not texting me,” he narrows his eyes at my playfully from the side and I grin.

“Again, I am super sorry about that.”

“Nah, don’t sweat it,” he shakes his head, “I’m just glad that you’re here.”

Once again, my heart is coated with a thick, warm blanket as I stare at this man. What was he trying to do to me?

I don’t have time to respond because we arrive at the cinema.

He parks swiftly before stepping out and pulling my door open. I take his outstretched hand, and he shuts the door behind me as we head into the building.

Once in I show them the ticket IDs on my phone.

“You paid for them already?”

“I did, yeah,” as I slip my phone back into my purse, I noticed that Michael’s face had changed.

“Why? Is something wrong?”

“When I’m with you, you don’t have to pay for anything.”

“Oh – I just – well I just bought them automatically because I was already on the website –“

“Okay,” he shrugs, “then next time ask for my card.”

Michael continues to lead me towards the snack section, and I tried my best not to let my mouth drop open.

My first attempt at choosing a man, and I get all of this.

Please universe, don’t embarrass me and make this too good to be true.

We purchase our snacks and get seated in the theatre.

I had a hot dog and some nachos with extra cheese, as well as a large coke. I absolutely loved the movie’s cups, there were so big!

Michael just took some popcorn, and a water and honestly I expected nothing more.

The movies starts up, the theatre is practically filled.

This is the part I hate the most. Later comers tiptoeing in, and you having to twist and turn in your chair to accommodate them. And don’t get me started on thoe family’s of ten.

Maybe we shouldn’t have chosen a family movie.

“Are you okay?” Michael whispers, and I nod in response. He takes my hand from my lap, and engulfs it with his before leaning back in his chair, and staring at the big screen.

Meanwhile, I was busy staring at him.