Epilogue
After four blissful but, at times, bumpy months together, Kennedi and Dante’ were still bumbling through the process of learning and appreciating each other. Their love isn’t perfect, but neither of them expects it to be. Besides, both feel more complete than they ever have after meeting one another and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep that feeling, and their relationship, fresh. Even though Dante’ is a hot commodity, sparking the antennae of just about every red-blooded woman on campus, he only has eyes for Kennedi. He genuinely feels that she is the only person who wants him for the right reasons and that there is something that innately connects them together. Kennedi finds Dante’ to be a complex, fascinating character capable of doing what no other man could: continuously igniting her intrigue and maintaining her interests.
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, the budding couple had already agreed that it may be too early to spend it together. As a compromise, they decide to have a pre-holiday celebration, for just the two of them. Although Kennedi originally proposed it as a joke, in the end, they settled on the Sunshine Café as the place to commemorate Dante’s favorite holiday. In the interest of irony, Kennedi and Dante’ decided to dress up in their finest and head out on the Tuesday immediately prior to the big day, eager to sink their teeth in the Sunshine Café’s take on Thanksgiving fare.
“You know, I was joking about coming here earlier,” Kennedi conceded, “but I think this might actually end up being a good look.” After staring at the dinner menu, and trying to figure out if she wanted turkey, ham, or both, Kennedi continued, “Everything smells amazing – as always!”
“I thought it was a genius idea when you first mentioned it,” Dante’ said with a chuckle. “I couldn’t figure out why you tried to pull it back.”
Kennedi looked around the dining room and noticed that it was much more lively (and populated) than it was on their first morning there. “Wonder if Gladys’ is working tonight,” she asked, laughing and inviting an extra level of nostalgia to the conversation.
“HA! Gladys,” Dante’ said, remembering the first time he had breakfast with Kennedi. “She just refused to let us get through a full sentence, didn’t she?”
Kennedi and Dante’ chuckled heartily.
“What did you think about that first breakfast?” Dante’ asked. “Did you know we were on a date?”
“I don’t think either one of us did,” Kennedi said, staring attentively at her menu. “Think I’m going to have the Gobble, Gobble Skillet with turkey,” she mumbled, somewhat out of turn.
“I’m almost sure I knew,” Dante’ said, still thinking it through.
“What do you mea-,” Kennedi started, before she was interrupted.
“You folks ready to order?” Brad, the waiter asked, looking like he was completely over the pre-Thanksgiving crowd and ready to go home.
“Yeah, we’re going to have two Gobble, Gobble Skillets,” Dante’ responded. “Hers will have turkey, mine will have ham.”
“Two GG’s coming right up,” Brad said, without writing it down.
“Thanks, man” Dante’ said, before switching his attention back to Kennedi. “You were saying?”
“Yes – I was saying something – what was I saying, babe?” Kennedi asked, distracted by visions of Gobble, Gobble Skillets dancing around in her head.
“You were asking me something about our first date here a few weeks ago.”
“Right!” she said, snapping her fingers in time. “Yeah, how did you even know we were on the date that morning? I, initially, didn’t read it that way at all!”
“Well,” Dante’ said, pausing, “I can remember how impressed I was that you made the effort to meet me on the track at 5:00 AM, keep up with me while I was running, and ask me interesting – out of the box – questions. I realized that I liked something about you – no, I realized that I liked you – while we were still on the track.”
Kennedi narrowed her eyes, “I don’t remember feeling anything like that! I just thought you were crazy!”
Dante’ laughed. “I’m glad you changed your mind,” he added with a chuckle.
“Who said I changed my mind?” Kennedi asked, smiling jovially.
“Ah, touché,” Dante’ said. “Well, how about this?” he added, attempting to modify his statement from earlier, “I’m glad you decided to hang in there with me.”
“Well, I don’t know if I told you,” Kennedi started, “but I actually had a very vivid dream about us right after I got home from breakfast – on what turned out to be our first date.”
“No,” Dante’ said, looking puzzled. “You never told me about this dream. What were we doing in it?” he asked, giving Kennedi a randy look.
“Not that!” she said, rolling her eyes to the sky and igniting a chorus of laughter.
“OK, OK,” he said, conceding the point. “But seriously,” he followed, looking sheepish, “what were we doing?”
“It was a lot! Very dramatic,” Kennedi said, flailing her fingers.
“OK,” Dante’ followed.
“Let’s just say: we had dinner on a football field, I wore a ballroom gown and a tiara…”
“A tiara?” Dante’ said, barely containing his laughter. “I can’t even see you wearing….actually, I can’t see you wearing anything like, babe.”
“Who are you telling?” Kennedi said, agreeing with Dante’s point. “I was just confused as you are!”
Kennedi and Dante’ giggled incessantly.
Kennedi continued. “…but outside of what we had on, and maybe where we met, everything else about my dream was pretty straightforward. Good insight, a healthy flow of conversation, just a lot of fun.”
“Oh yeah?” Dante’ asked, please to hear Kennedi’s thoughts – and gain a new awareness about her initial thoughts of him.
“Yeah!” Kennedi confirmed.
“Well, I think that’s – ,” Dante’ started to reply before he was interrupted.
“OK, I’ve got two hot, fresh Gobble, Gobble Skillets here,” Brad said, toting a platter in each hand. “Which one of you had the ham?”
“That would be me,” Dante’ said, pointing to his placemat.
“..and that leaves the lady,” Brad said, placing the turkey skillet in front of Kennedi.
“Thank you!” Dante’ and Kennedi replied, almost at the same time.
“My pleasure,” Brad said, nonchalantly. “Can I get you guys anything else? Ketchup? More water?”
“Uh, I think we’re good,” Dante’ answered, hoping to minimize future distractions.
As dinner continued to progress, Dante’ and Kennedi reminisced about the past four months, their perceptions of key interactions, and secrets that had yet to be discussed. The more they shared, the more they realized why they liked each other, and why they should always fight to stay in each other’s lives.
With the majority of their Skillets in digestion mode, Dante’ and Kennedi, sat across from each other, waxing poetic.
“You know,” Dante’ interjected, “I don’t know if we’ve ever talked about marriage.”
“What do you mean?” Kennedi asked.
“Well, I’m just saying, we talk about a lot. I don’t think we’ve ever shared our views on that step.” Dante’ explained.
“OK,” Kennedi countered, unsure of the angle Dante’ was aiming for or what she should say next.
“Do you want to get married? Do you have an idea about when? You know, that kind of thing.
“So, yes I see marriage in my future, but I don’t have any hard and fast rules about when.”
“Ah, I see!” Dante’ said, sitting up in his chair and leaning toward Kennedi. “I want to get married, too. I think marriage is still important – although some of my friends don’t agree.”
“Oh, OK,” Kennedi replied, thinking that the line of questioning was odd.
“I’ve been thinking about marriage a lot, recently,” Dante’ said, “my life is about to change drastically. It’s going to get a lot more stressful, possibly more unstable. I’ll be under a constant microscope. I’m going to need a partner on my side who can hold me together in all of that.”
“I hear that,” Kennedi said.
“And,” Dante’ started, “the more I think about it, Kennedi, the more I want that person to be you.”
Kennedi’s eyes got wide and then she gasped. “You’re saying you think you want to marry me?” she asked.
“I’m saying, Kennedi Kincaid,” Dante’ began reaching into his jacket pocket. He fished around earnestly and then produced a burgundy velvet box.
Kennedi grabbed her mouth as her hand trembled and her mind raced.
“I’m a firm believer,” Dante’ continued, on another train of thought, “ – I’m a firm believer that when you know, you know. We haven’t been together for years and years but Kennedi, I know you’re my wife and I want to make it official. “
Kennedi watched in disbelief as Dante’ scooted out of the booth, got on one knee, and opened up the burgundy ring box. “Kennedi Alana Kincaid, will you marry me?” He said, looking as nervous as he ever has.
Wiping tears away from her eyes, Kennedi clasped her hands together and drew them to her heart. “Of course I’ll marry you, Dante’” she said, to a round of applause in the restaurant.
Dante sprang to his feet and joined Kennedi on her side of the booth. He then slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her passionately.
“You know this means forever, right?” He said looking deeply into her eyes.
“It better,” she smiled, stroking his cheek, “it better!”