Arlene took David to her favorite place to eat, where she bought herself two footlong hotdogs, a large order of fries, and a large strawberry shake.
David bought himself a hamburger, regular fries, and a soda.
After they purchased their food, Arlene suggested they go to Grant Park and enjoy their food there since the weather was perfect for sitting outside.
When they reached the park, they quickly found a picnic table where they could enjoy their food and each other's company.
"Is it always this empty?" David asked as he sat across from Arlene and looked around the park.
"No," Arlene replied. "It's usually packed on the weekend. I guess we lucked out finding this spot."
"You are not going to eat all of that food," David challenged looking at Arlene as she unpacked her food and laid it out n front of her.
"Normally I would agree with you," she said reaching into her purse and pulling out take-out packets of Sonny's® barbeque sauce, opening it and squeezing it on to her fries, "but since becoming pregnant I would have to disagree with you. My appetite has gone through the roof."
"Is that normal?" David asked looking at Arlene as she cut her footlong hotdog covered with slaw, chili, onions, mustard and ketchup into quarters and started eating it.
"I don't know," Arlene replied before taking a bite. "I've never been pregnant before. I'll have to ask my doctor when I go for my appointment next week."
David started laughing when Arlene took a bite into the hotdog, closed her eyes and moaned.
M-m-m-m-m," she said. "I've been waiting for this since this morning."
"May I have a piece?" David asked.
Arlene opened her eyes and gave David a gook that said, "touch my food and die."
"I guess not," David said, easing his hand away from Arlene's food.
"I'm sorry," Arlene said, "but I've been craving a hotdog since I got up this morning, and now that I have it, I'm not in a sharing mood."
"I understand," David said, smiling at Arlene, "you're eating for two. I bet your fridge is stuffed with hotdogs."
"No," Arlene said. "Whenever I crave a hotdog, it has to be a footlong hotdog with everything on it, and it has to be from my favorite place. Nothing else will do."
"Is that why everyone seemed to know you there?"
"Yeah," Arlene said. "I stop by there almost every day for a footlong hotdog, fries, and a strawberry shake."
"Is the barbeque sauce on your fries an effect of you being pregnant?" David asked.
"Yes," Arlene replied. "I usually put sweet pickle relish and mustard too."
"Sounds delicious," David said, making a bit of a face as he thought about the combination and what it would look like.
"And the barbeque sauce has to come from my favorite barbque place," Arlene said. "Lucky for me, I can get a bottle of their barbeque sauce at their restaurants or in the grocery store."
"What do you like to drink?"
"Cream soda," Arlene said.
"Do you have a special brand?"
"Yes," Arlene replied, "and yes, I keep my fridge stocked with it."
David was about to ask another question when his cell phone rang.
"Excuse me," David said, looking at the screen and seeing Diana's name on it. He flipped open his phone and answered it.
"Hello," he said.
"Have you talked to her?" Diana asked.
"I just got here," David said.
"Has she agreed to have the marriage annulled?" Diana asked.
"I can't talk to right now, Diana," David said, looking over at Arlene, who was trying to pretend she wasn't listening.
"Have you talked to her about annulling that sham of a marriage?" Diana asked, her tone demanding an answer.
"I said I can't talk to you right now," David said, his tone letting Diana, know she wasn't going to get an answer to her question.
Arlene stood so she could leave and give David some privacy.
David reached out and grabbed hold of her wrist to prevent her from leaving.
"I was trying to give you some privacy," Arlene mouthed.
"Stay," David mouthed back.
Arlene sat back down at the table.
"I've got to go, Diana," David said. "I'll call you later tonight."
"I want this situation resolved, David," Diana said, the tone of her voice letting David know that she was serious.
"Goodbye, Diana," David said, hanging up the phone.
"I'm sorry about that," he said to Arlene, turning off his phone. "We won't be interrupted again."
"No, need to apologize," Arlene told him, "she is your fiancée, she has every right to call you."
"She wanted to know if I got you to agree to an annulment," David said.
"I figured that from hearing your end of the conversation," Arlene said. "She's not going to be happy with you if you tell her you want to stay married to me."
"I can't help how I feel," David said. "I'm sorry that I'm going to hurt Diana by the decision that I've made, but I can't marry her feeling the way I do right now. It wouldn't be fair to her nor me."
"You scare me, David," Arlene said. "I don't know if I can trust you."
"Why?" David asked.
"Your reaction to this situation bothers me," Arlene said.
"How?" David asked.
"The way you seem to be so accepting of the things that have happened to us," Arlene said.
"It scares you?"
"Yes."
"You're saying you don't understand why I'm not angry."
"Yes," Arlene replied."
"I wish I could answer that question," David said, his tone sincere, "but I can't. My gut, my mind, and my heart says that I should stay married to you."
"I feel the same way," Arlene said, "and that scares me. I'm worried about what could happen if we both really think about the situation and decide it would be better if all of this ended."
"You think we should stay together too?" David asked his smile telling Arlene that he was glad they were both thinking the same thing.
"Is that all you heard?" Arlene asked.
