Cafe Del Amour was a large cafe that doubled as an art gallery. The scenery was especially beautiful at night, with a simulation of the Aurora Borealis overlooking the top to down French style windows.
Jennifer gasped as they walked in to the refreshing scent of chocolate tainted with a hint of roses, and a smile widened her lips again. It warmed Elijah's heart just seeing her so happy with the gesture.
"Do you like it?"
She shook her head. "I love it. It's so beautiful."
Elijah smiled, then took out a handkerchief. He had heard her voice crack, and knowing how emotional she was, he knew she would cry. She collected it with another grateful smile, then carefully dabbed under her eyes.
Elijah said nothing as he reserved the private table for them, and they both made their way to the secluded part. Instead of a table and chair, it had one large couch that was big enough for two, and a round revolving table in front.
"What would you like to have?" Elijah asked softly as he guided her to sit.
She shrugged, sniffing. "I'll have anything."
He smiled and walked away again, presumably to order. He came back with a bottle of water, and he handed it to her.
"Here. Stop crying." He laughed.
"I can't help it. It's just so beautiful."
He nodded. "Next time you want to go somewhere, inform me and I will take you there."
She smiled. "You are such a good man."
"Am I a good husband too?" He suddenly asked before he could catch himself.
She looked up to him and he quickly turned away, shaking his head.
"What I meant to say was..."
"You are a good husband too." she said simply, then took a sip of her water.
He felt something rise up at the back of his throat, and he struggled to ignore it. Soon, their order came and they spread it in front of them. Jennifer gasped at the food in her usual appreciative manner and he simply smiled.
"So, Jennifer. What did you want to become before...well, all of this happened?"
She looked up to him. "A new anchor. Some say I am little shy for it, but I justi love it. The smartness, and the way they seem to know everything before anyone else does...the confidence. It's all perfect."
Elijah smiled as he ate calmly. "Have you thought of going back to college?"
She gasped, then suddenly went speechless. "To be honest, even before that wedding...I wasn't so sure about college. It isn't like high school, you know. I thought of taking a paid internship or a contract job for a while, then piling up my savings before I think of college."
She seemed to lose appetite after that, and Elijah leaned back, a small sigh escaping his lips.
"And now?"
"Now?"
He nodded. "Don't you think it a good idea?"
She slowly turned to him, as if she was processing it. "You want me to go back to college?"
He nodded. "Why not? You are smart, you have a dream...and now someone to support that dream. It would be a waste to keep you tied down to me, don't you think?"
"I do want to go back to college, but...I don't feel tied down to you. If anything, I have been...Much freer."
He smiled warmly. "That's a relief. I thought I was being a bore."
She laughed, and his smile faltered in the trance the rich sound put him in. "No, you are fascinating. A few times I woke up and expected to be back home."
"Do you miss it?"
She shook her head. "I miss my mom. And my sister..." Her voice trailed off and he nodded.
"I understand."
She looked up to him with a smile. "Have you always wanted to become mayor?"
He shook his head. "No. If I remember, when I was in middle school, I wanted to be a singer."
She laughed hard, throwing her head back, her hand covering her mouth. "Really?"
"Mhm." He answered, trying to keep his own laughter in. "In high school, I wanted to be a three Michelin star chef. Later on, I wanted to play football. Then, I wanted to play golf. Then, I wanted to be an astronaut. I still like stargazing, but now I realize I was being childish."
Jennifer laughed hard, her voice almost turning faint. "Never in a thousand years would I have believed you had all those ambitions."
He chuckled. Now, I am 30 and I am mayor. Crazy, isn't it? I didn't even want to be a government official till...a few years back."
She laughed again, shaking her head, a few strands coming in front of her face. "It is. I remember always wanting to be a news anchor, but now I am 22 and barely a high school graduate." She laughed again, then picked a croissant.
"I will make sure you go back to school, Jennifer. It won't take long anymore."
She smiled up at him. "Thank you, Elijah. You are a real blessing."
He smiled, feeling warm inside.
"By the way," She suddenly said again, her voice low. Elijah turned to her and her eyes were averted from him. He could already tell she was either ashamed or embarrassed of what she was about to say.
"Yes?"
"Why don't...you still call me Jennifer?" She asked, her voice dropping even more.
His brows furrowed. "What?"
"I mean..." Her voice trailed off. "How about just Jenny? It's the first time anyone gave me a nickname, you know."
He smiled and nodded, realizing she referred to the customized box. "Well, then I will just call you Jenny."
She beamed at him. "It's really the first time," she said again.
"And what other things are firsts for you?" He asked, leaning a little towards her.
She shrugged. "Well, eating at a fancy place like this, these dresses, the gift..the nickname, having a mother in-law..."
Elijah smiled. "You do have a lot of firsts."
She nodded, agreeing. "I do. Especially the funny feeling in my stomach when you are close by."