Love Romance RelationshipThe Big One Page 2

My love romance relationship is heating up...

I never hesitated for a moment at Cinno’s door; I must have instinctively known that Cade would get it for me – just as he should, (in my perfect world.) My world at this moment truly is perfect. We talked softly but excitedly in the queue and both ordered a glass of Petite Shiraz. He led us to a cozy corner with as much privacy as the shop had to offer and smoothed the cushion for me as I sat. He locked eyes with me again, to just – smile. It felt as if my enthusiasm for him was matched spark for spark.

“Vale, you must live near here?” Cade asked expectantly. “I’ve lived up here for 6 years and I’ve never seen you around before. I would know if I had seen a woman like you around before.” This man has been 3 blocks from me all this time. I’m speechless, I’m in disbelief. I can’t believe I didn’t smell him or feel his presence or pick up some intense vibe prior to today. My magnets must be skewed. How could I miss an opportunity for a true love romance relationship when I've been dealing with shallow dating for so long!?

Cade. Cade. Cellar Door...

Tolkien once stated that the most euphonic phrase ever uttered in the english language is the phrase, “cellar door”. When I learned this interesting bit of literary information I walked around saying the phrase for weeks, trying to get in J.R.’s head. I even tried saying it with a british accent, assuming J.R. had one. The beauty of the sound is reportedly inherent, and the factoid made me wish I had musical talent so I could be in a band – just so I could call the band, “Cellar Door”.

But as much as I uttered the mantra I don’t think I ever realized as much phonaesthetic pleasure as I have in the last few minutes just saying this man’s name out-loud…“Cade”. “Cade.” Cade Rainhard Masters, meet Vale Bliss. (No middle name because Mom said we were so poor we couldn’t afford one). “Vale Masters”… I would doodle it on my spiral notebook if I had a spiral notebook on which to doodle. Here’s what I learned about the love of my life on our first, spontaneous date. Cade R. Masters is an only child and loves his Momma. His father was a strict military man with a big heart and died when Cade was 12. His Mom presently lives in the Alzheimer’s ward at Briargate Mannor, an elite Eldercare facility situated in the foothills of Denver. (This fact pains him so, I changed the subject quickly to make the tears in his eyes recede before they spilled.) He grew up in small town Ohio and earned a Masters in Business at Fisher College. He frequently travels abroad in his semi-new career as a Sr. Contracts Negotiator for our US Government.

Meanwhile, this Assistant to the Director, (bucking for Assistant to the President, if Miss Thing would go ahead and retire already), is in awe. We’re the same age, the same sign – our Mommas were pregnant at the same time, and we share the same faith. He loves alternative music, red wine, dark beer, peach cobbler, Buck-Eye candy, Catcher In the Rye, chick flicks, (which he credits to spending so much time with his Mom), and his rugby team. Peench me – but not too hard because if I’m dreaming I’d prefer to stay in a coma.

I had the perfect childhood – no drama, no loss, an older sister and my big brother. I grew up in a semi-poor neighborhood in Albuquerque New Mexico; semi-poor because Dad was a truck driver and insisted Mom stay at home with us kids. What I saw when Dad was home was a couple in crazy love with hand holding, kissy-face and a “Do Not Disturb” sign from Motel 6 hanging on their bedroom door at odd times of the day. I have always been in pursuit of that Motel 6 kind of love and I won’t settle for less.

We left Cinno’s when our server started sweeping around our chairs and strolled hand-in-hand to the parking lot. I then realized that Cade was leading us back into the Safeway. “Sweetheart, your ice-cream has melted by now”.

Sweetheart, my heart has melted by now.