Chapter 54 (1/1)

Charmaine ran out into the streets in search of a cab.  Not a single one in sight.  She hopes she can make it on time.  She really wanted to be there when Raymond go up on stage to accept his award.  Oh why did she waste so much time fighting him.  Because of her stubbornness she may miss out on the most important night of Raymond’s life.  And him as well.  Jazz had called repeatedly urging her to attend the ceremony.  Each time she would curtly say no.  She could imagine Raymond’s reaction to her response and just thinking about it made her stomach clench with remorse.Picking up the hem of her gown she began trotting down the street, her eyes darting back and forth.  Where was a cab when you needed one, she fumed silently without paying attention to her steps until she got one of her heels stuck in a grate on the ground.  Dammit, she cursed as she pulled on her leg.  Her shoe won't budge and with a cry of annoyance she slipped her foot out of the shoe.  Squatting down she began twisting her shoe in an attempt to release it from the grate all the while mumbling about her stream of bad luck.  The heel refused to give.  Moaning with frustration Charmaine was now forcibly yanking at her shoe.  "Come on," she hissed.  After several more attempts without success, she knew it was useless.  Perhaps fate didn't want her back with Raymond and the thought of that disheartened her as tears began to form in her eyes.----------------------------------------------Raymond rounded the corner and out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of someone struggling on the ground.  He drove past and for some inexplicable reason decided to take a second look through the rearview mirror.  The person was bent over something and appeared flustered.  He continued on but a nagging feeling told him to stop and see if that person needed help.  It would be the right thing to do.  Pulling the car over he shut off the engine and got out of his car.  He looked up the block and the person, who he can now see was a woman, was sitting on the ground with her head bent while her body shook.  As he advanced, he could hear her soft cries but there was something familiar about her that made his pulse race.  As he drew closer, he realized it was Charmaine.  "Charmaine!" he called out her name and ran the remaining distance towards her.Charmaine heard her name and turned her head to see Raymond running towards her.  "Raymond!"Kneeling down beside her, Raymond saw the shimmering tears in her eyes and asked anxiously, "What happened?  Why are you sitting here?"Charmaine gestured at her shoe and whimpered, "My heel got stuck on that grate and I can’t get it out."Raymond turned towards the shoe and with one quick yank the heel popped out.  Ignoring the surprise on Charmaine's face, he gently slipped her foot back into the shoe and then helped her up.  When she was fully standing he became aware of the way she was dressed.  She had told Jazz that she was busy with work and couldn't make the ceremony.  But now he finds her dressed up, and beautifully so, that he wondered whether the work was an excuse to decline his invitation and that she was actually going on a date.  Saddened that she had indeed gotten over him, he offered politely, "Where are you going?  I'll give you a lift.""I…," Charmaine stammered.  Just tell him she scolded herself.  Stop wasting any more time!  "Ray, I…"Intrigued by the sudden blush on her face, he peered down at her and asked softly, "What is it?"Not knowing how to begin, Charmaine stuttered for a few seconds before realizing that he was here on the streets with her instead of at the award ceremony.  Looking inquiringly at him, she asked, "Why are you here?  Shouldn't you be at the awards ceremony?"“I…,” Raymond began and the adorable curious look on Charmaine’s face undid him.  With an impatient oath he suddenly pulled her into his arms.  “Awards don’t mean anything to me unless you’re by my side.”The impact of his words made Charmaine push at him until he had no choice but to release her.  Staring incredulously at him, she asked hoarsely, “You mean… you left because of me?”“Yes,” Raymond responded instantly.  Slowing taking her hands into his he said tenderly, “Don’t you know nothing matters to me except for you?”  When Charmaine remained incapable of any response, he continued, “I thought it was my life long dream to be the best actor, the best singer, to achieve the highest known fame any celebrity can ever accomplish.  But after meeting you I realized I was chasing a dream that held no real meaning.  Being with you is what holds meaning to me.”Touched by his words, Charmaine could only croak out, “Raymond,” as tears of emotions flowed down her face.This time when Raymond pulled her into his arms again, Charmaine held on tightly in return.  “I love you,” he whispered into her ear just as a blinding flash of light hit them.--------------------------------------------------EPILOGUERaymond walked out of the arrival gates of the airport and was met by a throng of over eager reporters.  Jazz quickly placed himself in front of Raymond to prevent the reporters from getting too close.  “Please step back.  Give Raymond some room.”A reporter pushed her microphone towards Raymond and asked, “Is it true that you spent last week in Linda Chung’s apartment?”Another reporter injected, “Are you two secretly dating?”Raymond kept his friendly smile as he continued to walk through them and towards the exit.  His eyes found Charmaine who was waiting by the double glass doors with a silly grin on her beautiful face.Seeing the direction of his gaze, the reporters turned as one in that direction.  Raymond saw the reporters’ reaction and paused in mid- step.  In a soft but firm voice he said, “If you must know, you see that woman standing over there,” he pointed at Charmaine, “She is the only woman for me.  So if you’ll excuse me now.  I haven’t seen her in over two weeks and we have a lot of catching up.”  He walked purposely towards Charmaine and after planting a sweet loving kiss on her lips he grabbed her hand and pulled her along to walk beside him.“Why did you do that?” Charmaine muttered feeling the reporters’ curious gazes centered on her.Leaning his head towards her, Raymond whispered, “I want everyone to know that I’ve already found my someone special.  Perhaps then they’ll stop writing all these false rumors about me and my co-stars.”“But…” Charmaine began to argue but was cut off.In a louder voice, Raymond asked, “You love me don’t you?”Charmaine looked up at him and found him watching her studiously.  “You know the answer,” she replied shyly, momentarily forgetting that the throng of reporters was still close at heel.Suddenly Raymond turned her to face him.  “I want us to get marry,” he said quietly.Charmaine was at a loss of words.  They have never talked about marriage.  Sure, she knew their relationship would eventually lead to that but it was something in the distant future.  To hear Raymond speak of marriage now, when he was at the height of his career, left her utterly speechless.“Say that you’ll marry me,” Raymond prompted, enjoying the look of shock on her face and thinking again to himself how lucky he was to have her in his life.Charmaine came out of her reverie to realize that every single reporter who had met Raymond at the arrival gate has now surrounded them and were waiting for her answer.  Lowering her voice to barely a whisper, she said, “Let’s discuss this later.”Raymond, on the other hand, didn’t want to wait a second longer for her answer.  Looking intently at her, he said, “Charmaine, I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.  Please say you’ll marry me.”All around them, the reporters were now chanting, “Marry him!  Marry him!  Marry him!”Feeling more embarrassed than ever at their public display, Charmaine gave Raymond a scathing look only to have him chuckle in response.“We’re not leaving here until you give me your answer,” Raymond announced and to Charmaine’s disbelief, he turned and winked at the reporters.“Raymond!” Charmaine seethed and was about to publicly flay him when Raymond suddenly pulled a small jewelry box from his jacket and thrust it in front of her.  She watched as he slowly opened the lid to reveal a beautiful five carat heart shaped diamond ring.“Please say you’ll marry me,” Raymond pleaded softly.Charmaine’s eyes rivet from the ring to Raymond’s face.  She saw the love shining in his eyes and her throat constricted.  She loves him and he loves her.  How can she possibly say no.  Throwing her arms around Raymond she cried, “Yes!”  Charmaine was oblivious to the clapping of the reporters and it was only much later, when they were in the car going back to his apartment did she realize that her picture would be plastered on every magazine and newspaper tomorrow.  But she didn’t care as long as Raymond was with her.THE ENDNote: I apologize for the delay in completing this story.  Somehow I couldn’t put what I imagine the ending to be in words.  Hopefully, this ending doesn’t disappoint anyone.  I know this story isn’t the best of my work but hopefully the next one will be better.