This is the second chapter in the continuing story of Michael and Diane's blossoming romance and relationship. You really need to read the first installment to understand the story background and how they arrived at this point.
I hope you are enjoying this love story.
_________________________________
You Are My Home - revelation and acceptance
Michael and Diane walked out of the jewelry store arm in arm. She was still in a state of shock that he had so quickly made good on his promise of an engagement ring.
It was just two days ago when she heard from him for the first time in two years, and now they're engaged to be married.
She was giddy, elated and such a rush of emotions that she wasn't sure she could even identify. However, there was one emotion that she could.
Guilt, or maybe it was dread.
There were aspects of her life since her husband's passing four years earlier, that she had not yet revealed to Michael. She knew that she had to tell him.
She didn't want this to go any further until he knew all about her. She needed him to know and was hopeful that he would be accepting.
She determined to speak with him about it later tonight. Right now she didn't want to come down from the high she was on.
They drove the ten minutes from the jewelry store to Michael's house. It was about four in the afternoon. His house was a nice three bed, two bath in a suburb of Springdale.
When Diane walked into the house, having known Elaine, Michael's deceased wife, even she could sense her presence. It was not in any supernatural, or ghostly manner, but the house had her signature on it. It was not the house of a man, but had a definite woman's touch.
She could now understand Michael's problem with the house, seeing Elaine almost everywhere he looked. She thought that all it needed was a complete redecorating, but even that may not help. It would still hold memories of her for him.
Once inside the house, Diane asked Michael if he was hungry.
"I was thinking about that myself. I'm not sure if there is anything to fix. See if you can find anything, let me know and I'll whip us up something" Michael responded.
Diane browsed through the cabinets and the fridge, but didn't see anything that looked interesting or appropriate for the occasion.
"Michael!" she called out to him, "Give your keys and I'll run to the store and get us something that I can cook for us."
"I hate for you to go that trouble, we could just grab something out" he hollered back from his office.
"No, I want to cook us something" she insisted.
"All right, if you're going to be stubborn about it. The keys are on the counter by the sink."
"I'll be back in a few!" she shouted.
"Okay, be careful and I love you!" he shouted at her.
She froze at those words. She walked back to his office where he was going through his desk drawers, and said, "Michael, do you realize that is the first time you have said those words?"
"What's that?"
"It's the first time you said, I love you." Diane noted.
"Really, well I thought the engagement ring said that!"
"Well, yes it does, but it is the first time you've said the words."
"Did it bother you or shock you?"
"No, it was wonderful to hear. I would like to hear it again, if you don't mind."
"Diane, I love you." Michael said looking into her eyes.
Diane smiled, walked over to Michael, took him into her arms, leaned up and kissed him softly on the lips, then said, "Michael, I love you too."
He pulled her into him and kissed her more passionately. After holding her in his arms for a minute, he released her and said, "I guess I thought it was understood from all that we've already said and done."
"Well, yes, but it was nice to hear the actual words. All right, I'm off to the store, my love."
"Okay, and like I said, be careful out there."
"I will." Diane said she walked out of the office.
Michael was left to his thoughts. I really did say it, he thought, I said 'I love you'. It came out of his mouth so fast, without really thinking about what he was saying. It was a habit he had developed whenever Elaine left the house, to tell her to be careful and that he loved her.
He knew that he meant what he said. It was just the first time he had said it to any other woman besides Elaine in over thirty years. At least any woman that he meant it in the way he said it. She had responded in kind, so he guessed that now it would become the norm for them.
Diane returned from the store about a half hour later. She cooked a dinner of Pesto Pasta, with buttered garlic sourdough bread and wine. It was one of her favorite meals.
She called Michael to the table, "Baby, its ready, come on!"
Michael commented on how good it looked and said he really liked Pesto Spaghetti. She was glad to hear it. For her, once you go Pesto, you won't go back to regular.
Michael then commented, "After dinner, I would like for us to get comfortable and have a talk. There are some things I would like to speak with you about. Nothing bad, but things that I need to get out, okay?"
Diane responded with a bit of apprehension, "Sure Michael, and I guess there are some things that I need to get out to."
Dinner was rather quiet. They both were caught up in their thoughts about what the other might have to say.
As they both were finishing, Michael said, "Let me refill our glasses, and let's sit on the couch."
"Sure" Diane responded.
Michael came over with their glasses, and set them down on the coffee table in front of the couch.
He sat down next to Diane, put his arm around her, and began, "Diane, I first just want you to know how very happy I am to have you in my life. These last couple of days have been life changing for me."
Diane snugged into him and replied, "For me too! I am happier right now than I have been in a very long time."
"Good and I would like to keep you that way. Part of the happiness that I feel is the ability to be totally honest and transparent with you. As wonderful as Elaine was, I really didn't have that with her, which always made me sad."
"I'm sorry to hear that"
"Don't get me wrong, she was a wonderful woman. However, I really don't want to talk about her in this way. The issue was not her, I guess, it was me."
Diane asked, "What issue are we talking about?"
"Well, this is where I really need you to hear me out, and not jump to conclusions. After I've finished explaining, then if you need to jump, then I guess that would be okay?" he responded.
Diane agreed, "Okay, no jumping until you're done. Go ahead."
"All right. If at some point in the future you have reason to be on my computer, which you probably will, you may find some pictures of nude mature women."
Diane's expression remained unchanged, "Okay, continue."
