Until You Are Mine

Chapter 5

Holmer drove smoothly but there was total silence between Mandy and him. Mandy felt as if her heart was placed in a bucket full of ice because of the rift that Holmer had created between them.

She kept wondering why his mood had changed in just a flash. A while ago, they were a happy and the normal couple and Mandy thought things had begun to change, but surprisingly, nothing seemed to have improved. Truth be told, it was the same old story. She wanted to know badly what had gone wrong with him all of a sudden. If only she had an opportunity to read his mind and know what was running through his head. Maybe these were just her assumptions. Holmer drove straight to one of the biggest hotels in Ndola the Savoy hotel, where he had booked reservations earlier that evening. It was his first time taking Mandy with him there.

He parked the car in a parking lot and stopped the engine. He got out of the car and went to the passengers' side, opened the door for her, then helped her come out of the car. Before she got off, Mandy closed her eyes and held her breath for some seconds, breathed out heavily, then went out of the car, and stood at the side waiting for him as he locked the car doors.

They walked towards the hotel reception holding each other's hands, pretending to be a happy couple like they usually did, to keep up appearances in the eyes of the public. Mandy hated the fact that Holmer never loved her the way she wanted. As they approached the doorway, a gentleman wearing a white and black outfit welcomed them with warm greetings while smiling, he said politely to them.

"Good evening Ma'am," he said to Mandy.

''Good evening, thank you," she replied to the gentleman.

He looked at Holmer and repeated the same greetings to him. He responded to the gentleman's greeting cheerfully.

The gentleman led the way as they both followed behind and thanked him.

Mandy and Holmer were shown their table, which was romantically decorated with red roses close to a window that had an eye-catching view and had a number 9 tag on it. Mandy was amused by their table, which was decorated differently from the others. Mandy scanned the place with a lot of enthusiasm because it was the first time to step foot in such an elegant and beautiful hotel as this one. After her eyes were satisfied with what they had seen, she ogled at the happy couples enviously who mingled as they chatted their night away. She enjoyed every single sight and forgot about Holmer's gloomy mood.

She only got distracted from the staring when Holmer pulled a chair for her to sit first. Before she sat down, Mandy stretched out the wrinkles from her dress on her bottom, then she sat down with her legs crossed together like the lady that she is. Holmer walked over to the other side and sat across.

When a waiter had detected how Mandy's eyes sparkled with excitement and how happy and comfortable both were with their table which was reserved for them, he left.

A few seconds later, he brought with him the food menu leaflets and handed them one each. He stood there waiting for them to order.

"Are you ready to place an order, Hun? What are you taking ?" he asked,

"I will take Errr....." Mandy failed to place an order because she was a bit disturbed by Holmer's actions of behaving formally with her, which made Mandy feel a bit uncomfortable. Holmer was triggered to see how panicked she was, he quickly cut in and said," Please don't be tense let me order for us both."

Later on, Holmer turned to a waiter and ordered two plates of spaghetti with kidneys and mushrooms, a plate of Greek salad, a plate of potato salad, a glass of lime water, and a bottle of champagne."

A waiter asked if there was anything else that they wanted to include,

"I guess a dessert after our meal will be fine, that's all. Holmer answered the waiter with a husky voice. Before the waiter made a turn, he asked," What type of dessert Sir?"

"Vanilla ice cream will be fine" Holmer responded.

Mandy sat quietly without uttering a word while she and watched him order. Mandy kept imagining to herself how Holmer knew a lot about her. But with her, he was like a stranger because he confused her and didn't know what to know about him.One minute he was happy, the other he was not and the next minute he functioned like a person who had woken on the wrong side of the bed.

Sometimes she felt like she had never known this person all in all these five years they have been together and this was really eating her up. His mood swings shifted like a chameleon changing its colours. Mandy never had answers why Holmer was like this. Only Holmer himself knew why he was the way he was, Mandy speculated.

"Your meal will be ready in half an hour, please excuse me," the waiter said, and left Mandy and Holmer's table. After the waiter had left their spot, Holmer made a frown and narrowed his eyes, then asked her," So how do you like the place?"

"Urrgh...the place is okay, it's delightful and I am enjoying the fresh breeze that this window is throwing in an....and the view is perfect." After giving him the answer, she became tight-lipped again.

After thirty minutes, as a waiter had perceived, they saw a trolley being pushed towards their table. They were glad their meal was ready. Before the meal came, their stomachs had begun making growling sounds and it seemed like it took forever. Thank God, at last, our meal is here now." Holmer said.

A waiter served them their meal graciously. When he was finished and done away with the serving, he looked at them both then said," Dinner is served! Bon appetite." He excused himself before he departed. They said thank you to him both, then Holmer took out his wallet from one of his pockets and tipped him off. He thanked him and went to attend some other hotel clients.

Then Holmer said to Mandy,". Let's eat before our meals get cold. I am already starved, Hun."

"Alright sweetheart," she answered and took a napkin from her lap, fastened it on her dress, got a knife and fork, then smiled at him and said," Let's eat honey." in a polite tone.

"Let's enjoy our meal and taste their cook." He replied, as they ate, there was silence again between them,

Mandy was troubled. She couldn't hold back anymore, she decided to break the ice by asking him a question," So how was work, honey?"

"Err... work was fine, just a little tiring, but anyways, I can't complain." He answered in a colder way than usual.

"Is there anything bothering you honey?" popped another question from Mandy.

"Nothing is bothering me, why do you ask Ummm.... are we going to start the evening with questions he answered.

"No! it's just that, this isn't you Honey and, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Besides, you have been acting strange tonight..... you can tell me,....maybe I might be of help." Mandy replied in a soft but shaky voice.

Holmer rose in anger and yelled," Are you sure you want to help me solve my problem aahhh.....?! So now show me how t...to..solve this, my problem is you!!!!!" after saying this, he sat back on a chair in a wild way.

Mandy, out of terror, dropped a fork and a knife on her plate in a manner that made a noise, when she looked around she saw people staring at them.

"Honey; I guess I didn't hear you right. Please clarify, how am I your problem?" she asked, and why are you talking to me in such a raised tone, now look honey, people's eyes are upon us." She muttered.

"Mandy arrgh.....sweetheart I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude it's just that, Ummm...He stood up and reached for his pocket and shackled out a crimson velvet box knelt on one knee while he looked straight into her eyes and popped a question," Ms Mandy Meyers will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

Mandy gasped. Never in million years had she expected that. Holmes had told her many times that he never thought of settling down any time soon. Now hear this from him? her heart turned over with joy, she couldn't believe what her eyes saw nor what her ears heard, she has been waiting to hear this for five years.

"My God, Holmer, you've taken me totally by surprise," Mandy admitted. She stretched out her hand without uttering out another word.

Holmer got scared in fear of being rejected by Mandy in front of the crowd, he asked her nervously," Is that a...a yes?!"

Mandy saw how nervous he was. She had never seen him in any way vulnerable before and she felt for him, so she leaned forward and kissed him gently on his lips while tears streamed down her face and whispered," YES! YES! I will, of course, Mr Thompson! A million times yes!"

Holmer put a diamond ring on Mandy's tiny long finger then kissed all her fingers lingeringly and raised with force and lifted her in the air, and screamed out loud, listen everyone! She SAID YESssss!!! The moment he had said that he gave Mandy a passionate kiss on her lips, as they kissed Mandy tilted her head to the side and everyone in the hotel restaurant werewasonished by their romantic engagement, they all cheered up and clapped for them and lifted their wine glasses in the air and said," To the newly engaged couple!" while others whispered," How adorable and sentimental."