The next three weeks passed by in a blur. Drulisa and Joshua went out on several dates during that time period, getting to know each other and such. The more time Drulisa spent with the man, the more things she found to actually like about him. A smile came on her face from just thinking about the way he laughed. I even like his chuckle. And don’t get me started on the way he furrows his eyebrows together in that cute little way when he’s deep in thought.
Then she looked across at Lexi and frowned. Since it was past nine in the evening, Lexi had just locked the doors of her donut shop. Consequently, they were in the brightly-decorated space alone.
Drulisa began wiping down the serving counter. “Lexi can I ask you something.”
“Shoot.”
“How do you think you’ll know when you’ve met your Mr. Right? How do you think you’ll know when you’re really in love?” She shook her head. “And I’m not talking about infatuation or having the hots for somebody. I’m talking about real and true love.”
A faraway look came into Lexi’s eye. Then she smiled. “My Great Grandma Ethel was from a different era than us modern-day women, Drulisa. When I was twelve, she was ninety-eight years old. My mama took us clear cross the country to visit my Great Grandma Ethel and my grandma told me something about being in love that was quite simple, but probably true.” Lexi stopped speaking and began thinking back to that day so long ago.
“Well what did she say?”
“She said, when you’re really in love, you’ll feel a tiny twinge that’s almost jealousy — but not really jealousy — whenever you see someone who’s capable of being competition talking to the individual you’re interested in. Then she said for me not to be afraid of that emotion.” Lexi giggled at that point. “Then she said and I quote: Not unless you’re a psycho bitch. Psycho bitches should always be afraid when they become almost jealous.”
Lexi laughed again then shrugged her shoulders. “Since you’re not a pyscho bitch, I guess you can just take the first part of my Grandma Ethel’s advice.”
Drulisa thought over what Lexi had told her off and on for several days. She began formulating her own thoughts on being truly in love, too. Somehow, she’d always thought she’d see fireworks or something when she met her Mr. Right. Now, for the first time, she was starting to wonder exactly what it would feel like to be with her soulmate. Somehow she suspected that Joshua was him, but she wanted to be sure.
Joshua bent down and tied the laces on Drulisa's rental skates.
She frowned. “I don't know how you managed to convince me to come rollerskating.” She wrinkled her nose. “Rollerskating is for teenagers.”
He stood up and pulled her off of the bench with him. “You're not afraid are you, Babe?”
Drulisa cut her eyes at him. “Of course I’m not. I just haven't put my feet into a pair of skates since I was fourteen.” And it’s not like I was very good at it back then. She’d chosen to keep her last little internal thought to herself.
He took her hand into his and they pushed themselves out onto the rink. He grinned over at her as a couple whizzed past them. “Don't worry Drulisa. I'll make sure you stay safe.”
She gripped his hand as her foot went out a little too far to the left. He immediately pulled her back inline with him. “See I told ya. I'll always keep you safe, Babe. Always.”
After five minutes or so, the deejay switched to a song with a much faster tempo. Drulisa knew there was no way she could keep up the pace, so she decided to take a break on the sidelines. “You can skate this one without me. I'll be sitting right over there.”
Joshua grinned at her. “You sure?”
She knew he loved skating, so she didn't want him to be forced to take a timeout because of her. “Yeah, absolutely.”
Drulisa watched in fascination as Joshua took to the rink. His elaborate twists and turns blew her mind. She could have sworn that she was watching a professional ice skater, not someone cutting the floor on a rollerskating rink.
Drulisa frowned when a petite blonde with a killer body skated up to Joshua and they began gliding smoothly together. They went around the rink three times and then other skaters began clearing the circuit to give them the floor to themselves. It looked as if they were dancing a choreographed routine, not just two random people who had happened to bump into each other at the roller rink. When the song ended, the crowd broke out into thunderous applause. The girl pulled Joshua into an embrace, kissed him on the cheek, then whispered something into his ear.
Drulisa narrowed her eyes. Her first instinct was to skate out onto the rink and snatch little miss Barbie's hands off of her date, but she knew that action would be classless and childish. Plus, with her limited skating skills, if she went out there she'd probably fall flat on her ass and be embarrassed. She couldn't let that happen.
Drulisa was relieved when little miss Barbie and Joshua parted ways after a few more minutes of chit chatting.
Joshua skated over to Drulisa and took a seat beside her on the bench.
She tilted her head and gave him a little smile, one that didn't really reach her eyes. “Very nice performance, Joshua...very nice.”
He grinned at her, then frowned. He knew something was wrong. “Uh, thanks, Babe.”
She began unlacing her skates.
Joshua was confused. They'd only been at the skating rink a half-hour at most. “Is something wrong, Drulisa?”
She flashed him a smile, this one overbright. “No, I'm just exhausted. I'd like to go home now.”
Joshua drew his brows together and began untieing his laces. “Sure, Babe.”
Joshua turned Drulisa's skates in to the attendant. He slung his pair over his shoulder since they were his personal property. Then they exited the facility.
*****
Several minutes later, Joshua merged his vehicle onto the interstate and reached across the console for Drulisa's hand. She pulled her hand from within his reach.
Joshua changed lanes. Now he was certain that something was wrong. “What's the matter, Babe?”
Drulisa was a little pissed. “What do you mean by what's the matter? Why don't you ask little miss Barbie back there?”
He frowned. “Who the hell is little miss Barbie?”
“You know, the one you were gyrating with on the roller rink back there. What did you guys do, arrange for you to fuck her after you dropped me off at home tonight? Is that why she was whispering in your ear?”
For several seconds, Joshua didn't say a word. The silence in the car was thick and pregnant. Then he smiled in the dark. She's jealous, he thought to himself. That means she's definitely feeling something for me, too.
He reached for her hand again. She still wouldn't give him access.
“No, I'm not meeting with her later on tonight, Drulisa. I do admit that she wanted to hook up with me, but I told her I had a girlfriend — one who I am committed to.”
“You did?”
He grinned again and nodded his head. “Yep.”
“Okay,” she finally said and returned his smile. It was at that point that she began to believe in what Lexi’s grandmother had said about the jealousy thing. Maybe Joshua really is the one.
*****
A Week Later:
Sonia Johnson looked across the bedroom at her daughter, who was packing her suitcase for her weekend trip to New York City. She smiled. “You have that glow about yourself, Drulisa, my dear. I think you’ve fallen head over heels for Joshua. The good thing is, I know he’s fallen for you, too. I can tell from the way he looks at you.”
Drulisa refused to try to act as if she were totally clueless about what her mother was getting at. She suddenly stopped her packing and sat down on her bed instead. She sighed. “Mama...do you think that what I’m feeling for Joshua is the real deal? I’ve only known him a little over a month.”
Sonia smiled. A faraway expression came into her eyes. “Remember...it only took me three weeks to realize that your father was my soulmate. The rest of it is history.” Then she giggled. “Ancient history, but history all the same.”
Drulisa’s parents had met when her mother had taken a job at the local fire department as a receptionist over two decades earlier. Drulisa’s father had been a rookie firefighter at the time...the first black one their little city had ever employed.
Sonia sighed. “Your father and I were together for twenty-six years after the day we met. We’d be together still if he hadn’t succumbed to that heart attack.” A look of sadness clouded her eyes, but for only a second. It had been difficult, but she’d eventually come to terms with the fact that she’d have to live the rest of her days without Alexander Johnson.
With thoughts of her father on her mind, Drulisa smiled. “You and dad were quite the couple, mom.”
Sonia walked over and gave her daughter a hug. “Yep. We sure were. You and Joshua have a chance at that type of happiness, too. I can tell.”
Drulisa gave her mother’s words some thought for a few seconds, then she stood up and resumed packing away her things in her overnight bag.
Knowing her child well, a little half smile/half frown made its way onto Sonia’s lips. “What else is bothering you, sweetie?”
Drulisa let out a breath on a sigh. Then she came right out with it. “Do you think his parents are gonna like me? I’m not high society like they are. We’re not rich or anything, mom.”
Sonia gave her daughter another hug. “The other day, I heard Joshua tell you that he was sure his parents were gonna adore you. You trust him don’t you?”
Drulisa nodded her head, causing Sonia to do the same. “In that case, I think you should believe him, honey. Stop worrying about it. You and his folks are probably gonna get along just fine.” Sonia winked her eye. “I may be a little biased — seeing that I’m your mom — but you’re incredible, dear. How could they not like you?”
*****
Twenty Four Hours Later:
Drulisa realized that everything her mother had told her about her getting along with Joshua’s parents was true. She and Joshua had only been in Eleanor and Jake Forrester’s Manhattan home for five minutes and Eleanor was already showing Drulisa pictures of Joshua from when he was a kid.
Eleanor carefully pulled a much loved Kodak pic out of her treasured photo album and beamed at Drulisa. “You have to see this one, dear. Joshua had just turned two. Isn’t he absolutely adorable in his ‘tin-man’ Halloween costume? Isn’t he?”
Drulisa, of course, thought that toddler Joshua was the cutest thing ever. She was about to reply and let Eleanor know how she felt about it, however Mr. Johnson cut her off.
Jake Forrester chuckled, patted Joshua on the back and said, “You’re gonna embarrass our son, dear. Then he’s gonna wish he hadn’t brought Drulisa over to meet us.”
Eleanor smiled at her husband. “But this is the first time he’s ever brought a girl home...well, since that one time back when he was in high school. But technically, I somehow don’t think that counts...he was a kid back then.” Still grinning, she shook her head. “I don’t have very much practice at this sort of thing at all, honey.”
Needless to say, Drulisa was surprised. She had to stop her eyes from widening in shock. I’m the first woman he’s ever brought home to introduce to his parents. He must really be serious about me...about there being an us.
Joshua knew that he should’ve felt embarrassed. But he didn’t. He was just glad that his parents had met and approved of the woman who had stolen his heart.
“Hey there, Johnny. Mom and Dad told me you were bringing a girl home with you this time.” The man who’d just stepped into the room — who looked so much like Joshua, but only a few years younger — chuckled. “I told them that I knew they’d misunderstood you. I told them that I’d believe it when I saw it. Now I see I was wrong.”
Joshua gave his younger brother a man hug. Then he smiled. “Hey, Caleb. I’d like you to me my girlfriend, Drulisa...Drulisa Johnson.”
Drulisa shook the hand that Caleb had reached out towards her.
Caleb’s smile broadened. Then with a twinkle in his eye he said, “I told Joshua a month ago that things were starting to get serious between me and my current girlfriend — that I was thinking about getting engaged. Being that he’s the big brother and all, I guess he’s trying to beat me to it.”
Drulisa didn’t exactly know what to think of that, so she stayed quiet. Joshua hadn’t mentioned anything about them possibly getting engaged someday. She figured it was too early in their relationship to be having that discussion anyways.
“Oh my stars, Jake,” Eleanor Johnson told her husband with a smile on her face. “I do think it’s a possibility that we’re about to gain that daughter we never had...maybe even two of them.”
Jake chuckled. Then he shook his head and smiled. “Now, now dear. Like I said before...we don’t want to run Drulisa away with our presumptions.”
Caleb laughed as well. “That’s right, Dad.” Then he rubbed his hands together. “Something smells awfully good, Mom. Is it almost time to eat.”
Eleanor nodded her head. “Yep. Table’s already set. We were just waiting for you to arrive, Caleb.”
*****
Three Hours Later:
Joshua escorted Drulisa out of his parents’ home after they’d finished visiting and straight to his high-end, luxury rental car. After he’d gotten her settled into the passenger seat of the vehicle, he came around and made himself comfortable behind the wheel. But he didn’t start the ignition. Every feeling that he had for Drulisa was on his heart and his mind — it had been like that for him for days. I’m so much in love with her...I’ve fallen so hard.
Thinking that something was wrong, a frown made its way onto Drulisa’s face. “What is it, Joshua? It looks like something’s really troubling you.”
He slowly reached over and took her hand into his. Then with his other hand he gently caressed her cheek. “I’m in love with you, Drulisa. I want you to marry me.”
‘“M...m...m...marry you?” she sputtered.
He nodded his head. He knew she hadn’t been expecting a proposal, and he hadn’t been intending to propose to her at that particular moment. But he was dead serious about his request. Drulisa had stolen his heart.
He allowed a tiny smile on his face. “Yeah...I’m in love with you, Drulisa Johnson. I know my proposal is unexpected — I don’t even have a ring or anything — but you’ve somehow carved a niche right in my heart and I want you to be my wife.”
Her brain began processing everything that was going on all at once. Then her subconscious began speaking to her. You know you’re in love with him, you all but admitted it to your Mom. You might as well tell him yes. There’s no need to beat around the bush or play games...the man’s a catch and you can make him all yours. The two of you will be happy together.
The logical side of her wanted to tell Joshua that it was too early in their relationship to get engaged. But her heart knew what it wanted. Fortunately for them both, her heart won out that night. Her heart won out at that moment.
Drulisa began bobbing her head. Then her lips turned up in a smile. “Okay, Joshua. I’ll marry you. My answer to your proposal is yes!”
Joshua had accomplished a whole lot in his thirty-three years. But no award that he’d ever won, no deal he’d ever brokered had ever made him feel as happy as he felt at that moment. Nothing had brought him as much joy as hearing Drulisa say yes to marrying him. He couldn’t stop himself from scooting closer towards her and wrapping her in his arms. And he couldn’t stop himself from claiming her lips with his own.
Drulisa’s body was on fire as her tongue battled with Joshua’s. She was by no means a prude, but she didn’t necessarily want his parents to see them making out in their driveway. She regretfully began pulling herself out of his embrace. With her lips finally free of his, but still only inches from his mouth she breathily whispered, “Whoa there, cowboy...I don’t want your parents thinking ill of me. I think we should reserve this type of behavior for behind closed doors.” Then she giggled just a little bit. She was on cloud nine. “At least for now.”
Joshua smiled. Then he chuckled, too. “Okay, beautiful. I would say let’s go back inside and tell my parents and my brother our news—,” he lovingly stroked her cheek again with his hand, “—but I think we should keep it to ourselves for at least twenty-four hours and have a little private celebration of our very own.”
As much as she wanted to eventually share their news with the whole world, Drulisa couldn’t agree more. A private celebration with her new fiancee was definitely in order. A mischievous little glint danced in her eyes. “My hotel room or yours?”
He smiled right back. Then he winked. “I have an even better idea. We don’t have to be back here in New York for my parents’ charity event for two days. I’ll call headquarters and have them fuel up the jet. How do you feel about spending a lovely day and a half in Paris? The city’s particularly romantic this time of the year. We can select a ring there and everything.”
She’d always wanted to go to Paris. Her eyes lit up. “Joshua, I think that’s a wonderful idea.”