****
Doug stood to his feet the minute he saw Sally enter the luxurious surrounds of the Chinese Garden. She was fashionably late and despite Doug waiting for nearly twenty minutes at the best table in the exclusive upstairs restaurant, she still took his breath away. Floating across the room atop her tall black stilettos in a sexy red dress that ended just below the knees, she wore her hair tied back tightly with only her fringe dancing free and lips painted killer red to match her dress.
“Hello Doug.” She greeted him with a pretend kiss which was really nothing more than a soft touching of cheeks. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Doug held out the chair for her at the table he had reserved beside the beautiful, sprawling fish pond complete with its own tranquil waterfall that formed the centerpiece of the Chinese Garden. “You look absolutely beautiful.”
The smile she gave him sent his head whirling as they talked easily above the subtle oriental music that played softly in the background. The cares and worries of the day paled into insignificance by just being in her presence. Any thoughts about work that remained were forgotten about momentarily, washed down with a glass of fine chardonnay colombard. He became intoxicated by her eyes, sparkling in the soft lighting of the room. Her blonde hair, worn up showed off the small diamond, tear shaped earrings that clung to her delicate ears. Her skin, soft and radiant beckoned from across the table, seemingly glowing in the candle light that separated them.
Words rolled easily off his tongue, itself swimming in a sea of flavours. Scallops with ginger and shallots, garlic king prawns and chicken with szechuan chilli sauce. Looking at her, there was no doubting that despite whatever changes life would throw at him one thing was a certainty. He could never stop loving this woman.
The waiter collected their empty plates once they had finished eating and reaching across the table to take Sally’s hands in his, Doug seized the opportunity to ask the question he had been preparing himself for over the past month. It came as a surprise to him that the first words he heard came from Sally’s mouth and not his own.
“Doug.” She paused as she smiled uneasily at him from across the table. She had been dodging thoughts of this afternoon’s review for the entire evening, and she knew that she couldn’t put it off forever. “There’s something that I haven’t told you.”
“Oh,” Doug spoke softly, feeling the moment slip away from him. “What is it?”
“I had my education board review this afternoon.”
“Oh of course, I ‘m so sorry I forgot to ask you how it went. What was the good news? Is it all finally over with?”
“Well, I start back on Monday….”
“That’s great Sally.” Doug interrupted her. “Originally that’s why I asked you out tonight, to celebrate. Now that it’s all over we can finally….”
“No Doug.” She stopped him. “It’s not that easy. I’m only returning in a temporary relief role, the other teacher is taking over my class for the remainder of the year.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but won’t they give you a new class next year and then everything will be back to normal?”
“No, actually they’re arranging to transfer me Doug.” She shot him a saddened look across the flickering candle.
“When, where?” Doug questioned, a look of total bewilderment spreading quickly across his face as the reality of what this would mean began to sink in.
“Tweed Heads.” Sally replied. “Possibly before the end of the year, I’m so sorry Doug, but I don’t have any other options at the moment. It’s all my fault too. I’m the reason you didn’t get custody of Simon. We both know what Rowena is capable of Doug, but I don’t know if I can do this anymore.”
“Hey, hey don’t look at it that way Sally.” Doug squeezed her hand softly, trying to comfort her. The way she looked at the moment it was obvious she was choking back the tears in an attempt to keep it all together. “This isn’t too big of a problem for us. We’ll work this out together.”
“But we’re talking about the far north coast of the state Doug. I can’t handle a long distance relationship and I can’t continue being caught in the middle of you and Rowena either, it’s just too hard.”
“Well let’s consider Tweed Heads for a moment.” Doug tried desperately to put everything into perspective. “It’s a permanent teaching position they’ve offered you right?”
“Yes.” She softly sniffed back a tear, refusing to let it fall and ruin her make-up. “Starting next year, but there’s a real possibility of me being transferred in a relief role before the year is out.”
“Look at it this way, it’s not far from where your parents live. It’s a chance to leave everything that’s happened here behind and make a new start.” Doug pondered what he was about to say next.
“I understand Doug, you really don’t have to say anything, honest.” Sally tried to avoid using the words ‘it’s over’. “I just wanted tonight to be perfect, I wanted tonight to be a night I would remember for the rest of my life, even when we’ve gone separate ways.”
“It’s alright Sally,” Doug smiled, realising now that the two of them were attacking this problem from opposing angles. “I’ll manage to land on my feet. Whether I’m working for a different boss here or up in Tweed Heads, it’s not worthwhile doing anything in life unless I have you by my side.”
“Oh Doug.” Sally was startled by the implication of what Doug was now saying. “I can’t ask you to leave everything behind for me. You’ve got Simon, your job and your brother’s wedding in a few months to think about, I can’t ask you to turn your back on all that for me.”
“You don’t have to.” Doug moved easily out of his chair and dropped down on one knee beside a stunned Sally. He reached into his trouser pocket and produced a small box which he then opened in front of her. The eyes of the entire restaurant turned as one, staring intently at the two of them. Doug looked up fondly at Sally, as he gently took her hand her mouth fell wide open in anticipation of a moment that even she hadn’t seen coming. “Sally, I will follow you anywhere in life to have you by my side, and I will do whatever it takes to bring happiness into each and every day I hope we will share together from this point on. Sally McKenzie, would you do me the honour of being my wife?”
“Yes Doug, of course I will.” She threw her arms around him and planted her lips on his. To the applause of the other diners in the Chinese Garden, one of the waiters appeared on cue just as Doug had arranged with a bottle of French champagne and a long stemmed red rose. The two continued their embrace, lips still brushing over each other’s even after the champagne cork had popped and the subdued applause had died out. The waiter poured a flute of champagne for each of them, set the bottle in a bucket of ice and smiling happily to himself left the rose lying on the table.
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