Chapter 4
Marcel followed Davina to Elna’s condo where he would be staying throughout the week. Davina’s car was much like herself, small with denied style. Elna’s words went through his head as he made his way through the traffic that seemed to defy reason. Davina drove fairly fast and he was having trouble keeping up. He had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last time he felt that way around her.
When they finally stopped, he breathed a sigh of relief for getting there in one piece. While he had forgone the driver that morning, Marcel had decided on the way that he would not make that mistake again. He didn’t know how they all did it every day and he didn’t plan to do it again.
“You drive like my grandpa.”
Ouch, he wasn’t that old. “I am just trying to get here in one piece. The traffic here is nuts.”
“You get used to it.”
“I’m not sure why anyone would want to.”
She snuck a look at him and realized that it had been worse for him than she had realized. Davina had lived in the city most of her life and didn’t know any other way. Driving was fast and aggressive and she just learned to adapt to it. Those traffic jams was where she learned to drive, so it hadn’t seemed that bad.
“There are good points to being in the city. I guess you will just have to find the things that you like about being here. The views are great, especially Elna’s. Just wait. It might even change your mind.”
He looked doubtful, but she was convinced enough for the both of them. While everyone usually went to the tourist attraction, the real beauty of the city was passed the hustle and bustle and the few places where you could find peace. Davina had always found her peace on Elna’s balcony overlooking the city. It was high enough that once the lights started to go on and the sun went down, it was a twinkling light show for all to see.
It was the first place she took him in the apartment and when she looked over, she could tell that Marcel was just as in love with the view as she was. “This is one of the good things about the city.”
“Yeah, I can see that.”
“Bit of a different view huh?”
He looked over at her, the sun going down in front of them, reflecting off of her blue eyes, making them a purplish color with the pink. “Different, but breathtaking.”
She looked over and their eyes met for a moment before she glanced down. Davina felt her cheeks warming up and she liked the way he made her feel. After a moment, she started back inside to show him around.
“So this is Cleo and you have to feed him every day. You have had cats right?” Davina was petting the orange tabby, trying to get over the feelings that came with being alone on the balcony with him.
“Yes, I can take care of animals.”
She giggled. “Of course you can. Well, there are two bedrooms; one is set up as a guest room. There are two bathrooms.” Davina sighed, not doing a very good job. “Just don’t let the plants die and Maria comes over at noon twice a week, so she will help keep things running smooth. If you need anything, just leave a list on the counter and she will take care of any shopping, errands or anything like that you may need done.”
She was talking faster, trying to get it all out before she ran out of nerve. Marcel was just watching her with an amused look on his face and she was unable to look away. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing, you just seem in a rush all of a sudden is all.”
Davina was in a rush, not trusting herself to be alone with him without embarrassing herself in some way. She was not used to her body reacting in such a way, but there didn’t seem to be much that she could do about it. “I uh, just don’t want to keep you Marcel. I know you have had a long day. Is there anything else that you need from me before I go?”
“I thought you were going to have dinner with me?” Marcel didn’t want to sound too eager, but he was looking forward to getting to know his new assistant in a more personal manner.
“I can, but you don’t have to, really.”
“Please stay. I am new here and don’t know anyone. I am used to a big meal at the ranch with twenty people or so. It will be strange to eat by myself.”
His words did the trick, making her visualize him all alone at the table by himself. “Okay, no problem. My plans were probably Chinese with a book, so anything is better than that.”
“Doesn’t sound bad. Chinese sounds good right now.”
“Well I can order some. Another good thing about the city is they will bring it to you.”
Marcel told her what he wanted and he started to look through the place more carefully while she was on the phone. It was strange to be there in the city, but it was even stranger to be there alone. There was always someone around at the ranch, whether family, friend or workers to talk to, and even though the city was full of people, it seemed detached up there in the clouds overlooking it all. He would never understand how his mom could live there after living at the ranch for so long. As he looked over at Davina, he started to see the perks of the city though.
He learned more about her over dinner and when she was ready to leave later that evening, Marcel didn’t want her to go. If he could have thought of a reason for her to stay, he would have given one, but instead he walked her to car and stopped himself from kissing her before she got in.
“I will see you tomorrow Davina.”
She waved and Marcel felt his heart lurch in his chest with the smile she gave him.
***
The rest of the week went much like the first day had gone. It still amazed Marcel how many different meetings were necessary. It appeared that his mother had a full schedule all week with many projects up and coming or in progress. It was a mad house and he almost wished that he had never agreed to go. The only thing that made him not want to go running home for the weekend was Davina.
Marcel had spent most of Friday evening trying to figure out a way to get her to go back with him. He had found reasons to have lunch and dinner with her most of the evenings that week and a weekend didn’t seem like such a stretch. She could of course go see Elna and he finally got up the nerve to ask her if she wanted to get away for the weekend.
He walked into her office and she had her legs stretched out, rubbing the back of her calves. “Ready to get out of here, huh?”
Davina smiled and nodded. “I am counting down the minutes.”
“So what are you big plans for the weekend?”
He was hoping that she didn’t have any, that he could take her home and make her somehow fall in love with the country, as he was falling in love with her.
“Well I was thinking of going to a concert they have this weekend. It’s an old rock band that my parent’s used to listen to when I was a kid. So I guess a nostalgia run downtown.”
“Old rock band huh?”
When she told him who it was, he felt that there was something to fate. How would he have expected her to listen to that type of music? He didn’t care for the parents comment, but he was able to get passed that just to know that there were some more things that they had in common. She was more than someone he wanted to date. Davina was starting to feel like a kindred spirit.
“You should come. I mean, if you aren’t going home this weekend. It’s tomorrow afternoon at the plaza if you can stand to stay in the city just one more night.”
Marcel was not expecting the invitation. He had plans to woo her under the empty skies and peace of his world. Elna was already getting better and he would be back on the ranch before he knew it. Marcel had to know that Davina could live that kind of lifestyle. It was clear to him that he was in love, but if she couldn’t leave the city, where would that leave him.
“I wouldn’t mind going. I was looking forward to going home this weekend. How about I go with you to the concert and then you come riding with me on Sunday?”
“Compromise. I like that. You got a deal.”
“No, this is a date.”