The Engagement Dinner (Part 2/3)

Earlier that evening, Amanda did not know whether to view it as a good or bad omen when she arrived at the restaurant with Tasha,

"Why did it have to be this restaurant?" she said as she stared at the sign which read, 'Highway restaurant'.

It was the same place where her whole world had come crashing down a week earlier.

She was dressed in a modest nude shade off-shoulder floor-length dress. She did not bother with heels this time. The attire gave off a sophisticated feeling though.

Tasha on the other hand looked like she was out for a stroll. She had said, "I do not dress up for unnecessary outings. I am fully clothed and that is enough." but still looked great in what she wore anyway. She was still harbouring sentiments against Eddy, and she felt that it was not worth her time to give off any extraordinary appearance.

When they entered, they found their nameplates at the back of the room. Tasha fumed when she came to understand the seating arrangements, but Amanda was used to it, so she just happily sat down to enjoy herself until she heard her father call her. She got up in surprise but almost went insane when she heard that she was to be married as well.

She looked out into the crowd at her mother for help and she saw the angry face as her mum stood up but… she heard Kelvin's voice. Then she remembered that he worked at this restaurant as well.

"…and how will she do that when she is already married to me?"

She looked up at him to see that he still held Mitch's hand and had blocked what would have been her second slap for the evening.

"Didn't you tell them, sweetheart?" He asked in his waiter uniform with a tray in his hand! She looked shocked, and she stared at him blankly as if she did not know how to answer.

Kelvin briefly thought back to when he had seen her enter the restaurant that evening. He still remembered how his breath had got hitched. She looked breathtakingly beautiful, and he could not take his eyes away. When her father had made the announcement, he felt his heart drop, but he saw the look that the old man was giving Amanda and it made Kelvin's skin creep. He sprang into action without even thinking it through.

"No one is going to take her away from me", he vowed silently. He left Mitch's hand and gently placed the tray on the nearest table and as if the evening would not exhaust its surprises, he held her by the waist securely and before she realised what he was about to do, he kissed her soundly… right in front of them.

Her eyes widened and she struggled to move. He paused a little and looked at her whispering, "they are looking… if you want this to work…." he left the rest unsaid.

She thought about it, "between the devil and the deep blue sea, what do I do? If I don't go along with this, daddy will force me to marry that old man but … 'my first kiss'. She did not realise that she had muttered that out loud until he asked,

"Your first kiss?" he whispered right on her lips… "Let's make it memorable then",

He delved right back into the kiss and deepened it this time. He threaded his hands into her hair to hold her securely while he coaxed her to open her mouth.

She hesitantly complied and she felt his tongue dig right in.

In as much as she did not want to think of it, he was a damned good kisser, she didn't have anything or anyone to compare with but damn! That electrifying and tingling feeling she was feeling right at that moment… she wished that it would never end. She did not even notice when he had lifted her slightly so that she rested on his feet and did not have to stretch her neck to meet him.

They parted after a moment when they felt flashes on them indicating that the paparazzi were at work. The press was excited. They had been called in to cover a boring engagement, but they got to witness this family drama instead. They would have a lot to write on the headlines the next day. Pens scribbled furiously, tablets and phones were recording as well as cameras flashing continually as if they did not want to miss even one moment.

Kelvin and Amanda stared at each other, and he gently caressed her cheek where she had received the first slap. He hugged her and whispered directly in her ears, "let me help… please?" She nodded slightly and they parted.

Then Kelvin turned to look at a furious Mitch. "Would you care to explain what is going on here young man?"

"How can you marry my daughter without my knowledge?"

"This is outrageous!"

Before Kelvin could answer, Tasha answered from the back of the room,

"I was a witness to the marriage. They are indeed married".

Tasha had observed from when Amanda had been called, to the announcement and everything, she felt furious enough to kill someone, but she relaxed a little when she saw Kelvin step in.

"This is my chance! I must hook the two of them up." She said to herself before blurting out her 'witnessing the supposed union'.

If Mitch felt furious, then he now felt as if his veins were popping out when his ex-wife echoed in the now slightly quiet restaurant.

"They already had my blessings before they got married!" she uttered quietly but every single person in the restaurant heard it loud and clear.

She then added. "It's been a while, Kelvin. Why don't you visit again?".

"Good to see you mum!", Kelvin replied politely, and an old man watched in fascination from the top level of the restaurant.

Amanda was still in shock and thought to herself, "When did they rehearse this play?"

But she had no idea what was going through the heads of everyone else as she was lost in her own world while she continued to stare at her 'new husband.'