Free Where I Found My Heart by C.E. Hansen Page A
Authors: C.E. Hansen
getting married Libs.” My eyes filled up. I think she was contagious.
“I know, but…” She wiped her eyes, “Oh don’t you start. You’ll smear your makeup.”
I looked up at the ceiling. It was something my mother told me to do ‘when you didn’t want to cry’. It never worked before, but it seemed to help now.
“Thank you for everything Libby. And your necklace…well, it’s just beautiful.”
“Go reapply your lipstick, he’ll be here any minute.” She looked at her watch.
“That’s if he doesn’t have car trouble.” I said snidely over my shoulder.
“Oh, that won’t stop him again. I’m sure he’d make sure he gets here no matter what.”
Just as soon as she finished her sentence the doorbell rang.
“Go, go fix your lips.” She shooed me away and I hurried into the bathroom carrying the small purse as Libby answered the door.
“Hello Libby.”
“Hi Mark. Reny will be right out.”
He stepped inside and I heard Libby shut the door.
“So, where are you two going?”
“I’ve made reservations at Union Square Café.”
“Oh, I heard good things about that restaurant.”
“The food is excellent. If you get the chance to go, I highly recommend it.”
“I’ll tell Josh to take me there.”
“Josh?”
“My soon to be fiancé, if he finally get’s on with it and asks me officially.” She laughed.
“I’m sure it’s coming soon.” I said as I stepped in the room, “He’s nuts about her.”
I don’t think Mark heard a word I said. He stared at me like I was a ghost. Libby had her goofy grin on and I, well, I stood there like a statue.
“You are absolutely…breathtaking.” His voice was smooth as silk and I gripped my purse tighter. That line followed by his smile…well.
“She cleans up real good.” Libby said with a Southern accent.
“Thank you…both… I think.” I shot a look at Libby.
“Remember to be home by midnight…you know the pumpkin thing.” She whispered the last part.
“Yeah, midnight.”
Mark stepped forward and took my hand, “It was worth every single morning.”
I must have looked confused.
“Every morning I sat at that Coffee Shack, it was worth every single one of them.”
I smiled at the compliment, but inwardly I was trembling from head to toe. I was so out of my comfort zone here; like a fish out of water, so to speak.
“Shall we?”
“Yes.” I turned and gave Libby a hug and whispered ‘thank you’ in her ear, “I’ll see you later?”
“Yup, I’ll be the one lounging around in the cute Sponge Bob jammies.” She laughed.
When we stepped outside I looked for the dark blue sedan but didn’t see it.
“You parked near?” I was worried about navigating the sidewalk with these shoes. I haven’t worn heels in a long time and was unsure I’d be able to remain upright.
“Tonight we are going in this.” He stepped down the last step and a chauffer stepped over and opened the back door of a limousine.
“Miss.” He touched the brim of his hat.
“Thank you.” I dipped and lowered myself to the seat. I skooched over as soon as I got in making room for Mark.
He got in and the door was closed behind him. He leaned forward and reached over me to pull my seatbelt into position. The loud click echoed in the large space.
Lifting the top of a large square glossy wood box he removed a bottle of Champagne and poured a glass, “Champagne?”
I took it. I could use any help to calm my raging nerves.
“Thank you.” I said softly as I smoothed my dress on my lap.
Then he poured himself one and set the bottle back inside the box before lowering the lid.
“To tonight.”
“To tonight.” I repeated. “Wow, I wasn’t expecting this.” I nodded indicating the limousine.
“I figured with the hassle of driving in Manhattan, finding parking, walking the streets…all bothersome. Especially when I can spend that time getting to know you.”
I sipped on the Champagne. “Delicious.”
He sat back and pulled his
“I know, but…” She wiped her eyes, “Oh don’t you start. You’ll smear your makeup.”
I looked up at the ceiling. It was something my mother told me to do ‘when you didn’t want to cry’. It never worked before, but it seemed to help now.
“Thank you for everything Libby. And your necklace…well, it’s just beautiful.”
“Go reapply your lipstick, he’ll be here any minute.” She looked at her watch.
“That’s if he doesn’t have car trouble.” I said snidely over my shoulder.
“Oh, that won’t stop him again. I’m sure he’d make sure he gets here no matter what.”
Just as soon as she finished her sentence the doorbell rang.
“Go, go fix your lips.” She shooed me away and I hurried into the bathroom carrying the small purse as Libby answered the door.
“Hello Libby.”
“Hi Mark. Reny will be right out.”
He stepped inside and I heard Libby shut the door.
“So, where are you two going?”
“I’ve made reservations at Union Square Café.”
“Oh, I heard good things about that restaurant.”
“The food is excellent. If you get the chance to go, I highly recommend it.”
“I’ll tell Josh to take me there.”
“Josh?”
“My soon to be fiancé, if he finally get’s on with it and asks me officially.” She laughed.
“I’m sure it’s coming soon.” I said as I stepped in the room, “He’s nuts about her.”
I don’t think Mark heard a word I said. He stared at me like I was a ghost. Libby had her goofy grin on and I, well, I stood there like a statue.
“You are absolutely…breathtaking.” His voice was smooth as silk and I gripped my purse tighter. That line followed by his smile…well.
“She cleans up real good.” Libby said with a Southern accent.
“Thank you…both… I think.” I shot a look at Libby.
“Remember to be home by midnight…you know the pumpkin thing.” She whispered the last part.
“Yeah, midnight.”
Mark stepped forward and took my hand, “It was worth every single morning.”
I must have looked confused.
“Every morning I sat at that Coffee Shack, it was worth every single one of them.”
I smiled at the compliment, but inwardly I was trembling from head to toe. I was so out of my comfort zone here; like a fish out of water, so to speak.
“Shall we?”
“Yes.” I turned and gave Libby a hug and whispered ‘thank you’ in her ear, “I’ll see you later?”
“Yup, I’ll be the one lounging around in the cute Sponge Bob jammies.” She laughed.
When we stepped outside I looked for the dark blue sedan but didn’t see it.
“You parked near?” I was worried about navigating the sidewalk with these shoes. I haven’t worn heels in a long time and was unsure I’d be able to remain upright.
“Tonight we are going in this.” He stepped down the last step and a chauffer stepped over and opened the back door of a limousine.
“Miss.” He touched the brim of his hat.
“Thank you.” I dipped and lowered myself to the seat. I skooched over as soon as I got in making room for Mark.
He got in and the door was closed behind him. He leaned forward and reached over me to pull my seatbelt into position. The loud click echoed in the large space.
Lifting the top of a large square glossy wood box he removed a bottle of Champagne and poured a glass, “Champagne?”
I took it. I could use any help to calm my raging nerves.
“Thank you.” I said softly as I smoothed my dress on my lap.
Then he poured himself one and set the bottle back inside the box before lowering the lid.
“To tonight.”
“To tonight.” I repeated. “Wow, I wasn’t expecting this.” I nodded indicating the limousine.
“I figured with the hassle of driving in Manhattan, finding parking, walking the streets…all bothersome. Especially when I can spend that time getting to know you.”
I sipped on the Champagne. “Delicious.”
He sat back and pulled his