Grand Central Terminal was nothing like the small quiet train station back in Commons. But, Machion moved about the station with ease. She even stopped for a moment to take in the scenery. Snapping pictures to add to her collection of places she had been on her train adventures over the last eight months.
After she got a shot of the famous clock, she made her way over to the ticket counter. The chill of the New York wind was finally wearing off. The northern cold was nothing like what she experienced in South Carolina. And, she was happy to be heading home.
The line was long but moving rather quickly. She made it to the clerk within minutes. “Hello,” the bubbly clerk stated as Machion handed the clerk her ticket. “How was your stay in New York?”
“Wonderful,” she replied. She had been in New York for three days as a guest lecturer at NYU. “I just wasn’t expecting it to be this cold though.”
“I know. The artic blast is nothing to play with.” The clerk typed something in her computer before handing Machion her ticket. “How do you pronounce your name?”
Not surprised by the question. “It’s Ma-shon. My mom was trying to put a spin on it. “
The clerk smiled. And, she dropped her ticket in her purse. With two and a half hours to spare before her train arrived, she went on a search for a cup of coffee. She finally found a quaint little coffee shop where she could relax and wait for her train to arrive. The last three days had been a blur with lectures, dinners, and meetings. She needed a few minutes to herself.
Machion sipped her coffee, before grabbing her iPad. She figured she would go over some emails while she waited. She had the usual emails from her associates. Plus a confirmation email that Cruz’s Valentine’s gift had been delivered.
A smile adorned her face when she thought about Cruz. It had been eight months since he entered her life. And, she couldn’t remember life before he arrived. Honestly, when they officially started dating, she thought it was going to be awkward.
Especially with them working together at the university.
The fact that no one seemed to think anything of the 40-year-old virgin professor and the 25-year-old-speechwriter dating, was surprising. She didn’t care what people thought but she did figure there would be whispers. “Girl don’t worry about what people think,” Sterling told her. “They just mad they can’t get them a Cruz.”
Machion received a notification the train was on schedule. She gathered her things from the coffee shop and headed towards the waiting area. When she sat down, she noticed an older couple seated across from her. She figured they were in their middle 70s.
They were holding hands while he read a book and the lady sipped her coffee. She wondered if that would be her and Cruz one day. She had never thought about them being together long term. But seeing the couple sitting there, she did.
A few tweets and a couple of snaps later she received a notification her train had arrived. She grabbed her bags. A part of her was missing Cruz. Then on the way to the train she noticed more couples holding hands. She sent him a quick text before approaching her car.
MISS YOU
This was the longest time they had been apart since he moved to Common. She still had to wait two more days because he was in DC with the university’s president for a seminar at Howard.
When she finally made it to her car, she handed the porter her ticket. “Good evening mam.” He checked her ticket then handed it back to her. “You’re in the next car.”
Surprised. She hadn’t looked at her ticket since the clerk gave it back to her. “Are you sure? This is the one I was on when I came up.”
“Yes mam. It seems you’ve been upgraded to the next sleeping car.”
Machion was little confused because she hadn’t requested an upgrade. The sleeping car she had on the trip up was good enough for her. Without asking questions, she headed down to the next car and handed the porter her ticket. He took her bags, and she followed him to her upgraded cabin.
A little exhausted, she just wanted to get inside and fall asleep. A good nap and little food was all she needed until they arrived back in Commons.
“Enjoy your trip,” he told her.
“Thank you,” she replied as she handed him a tip.
The moment she slide the door open her eyes were fixed on a dozen red roses, a teddy bear and a box of candy. It all made sense at that point. Cruz had somehow upgraded her to this sleeping car. She just didn’t know how he did because he was in DC. She sat her bags down and picked up the box of chocolates. “My favorites,” she said as she popped one in her mouth
“Hello beautiful.” She turned around with a mouth full of chocolate truffles to see Cruz standing in the door.
****
She barely had time to sallow the truffle before their lips connected. The jolt of the train leaving the terminal pulled their lips apart. Baffled by his presence she stated, “I thought you were in DC for the week.”
“I am,” he replied. “I have a break until five tomorrow, so I decided to surprise your for-Valentine’s Day.”
“I told you we could wait until the weekend when your returned.”
“I know, but I decided with all this time I would rather spend it with you instead of cooped up in the hotel.”
“Aww, how sweet.”
She had forgotten about her plans to eat dinner and take a nap, now that Cruz there.
They spent an hour talking about their trips. Machion gave him all the details of her trip and showed him the picture she had taken with Michelle Obama at a luncheon the day before.
“Sounds like you had a great time,” he stated as they settled in for the ride.
“Did I? For a brief moment I forgot that I was at work.”
“Did you ask her for tips for your upcoming book tour?”
Machion had finally finished her book, and she would be starting her book tour in a couple of weeks. The first leg of the tour was kicking off at Commons Central University followed by trips to all the HBCUs. Not, to mention her second leg of the trip that summer. “You know I did,” she replied.
“Listen,” was all he managed to get out when someone knocked on their door. “Excuse me a moment.”
Machion was trying to figure out who would be knocking on their cabin door. When she heard the man’s voice, she immediately knew it was Cruz’s uncle.
“Hi Machion,” he said.
“Hi,” she replied.
“Baby, I’ll be back in a few,” Cruz told her before planting a kiss on her cheek.
“Sure,” she replied. She really didn’t want him to leave because she wanted to hear all about his time in DC. But she figured they would talk about it over dinner when he returned. As She grabbed her out her purse, she received an incoming call. It was Sterling of course.
“Hi Sterling.”
“Hi darling. How are you?”
“I’m good and you?” She noticed flowers in the background. “Where are you?”
“The country club. Someone gave me a ticket to the Valentine’s Gala, so I accepted.”
Machion knew Sterling never celebrated Valentine’s Day. “Yeah right. Why are you really there?”
“I can’t believe you are thinking I’m not into the love and romance of Valentine’s.”
She lifted her eyebrow and pursed her lips.
He chuckled. “I’m filling in for the president. She forgot about the Valentine’s Day Gala, so she asked me to come in her place.”
“And, you said yes. I can’t believe that. What are you getting out of this kind gesture?”
“I’m appalled you think I did it for something,” he smirked. “The funding for my class next semester.”
“I knew it,” she laughed. “I told you would find a way.”
They chatted a few more minutes before their call was interrupted. It was Cruz. “Lunch tomorrow at Jubilee’s,” she said before switching the call over.
Her first thought with him calling was something was wrong. “Hey you,” she said. “Is everything alright.”
“Yes,” he replied. “I was wondering if you would do me the pleasure of joining me for dinner at nine in the dining car?”
It was no way she was going to pass up dinner with her love. “Of course,” she replied. “That gives me enough time to shower and find something to wear.”
“I’ve already taken care of that. Check in the closet there’s a box in there for you?”
Machion wasted no time going over to the closet. She opened it to find a box with a huge red ribbon wrapped around it. “You found it,” he asked.
“I have it. Hold on.” She laid the phone down to open the box. Inside she found a sexy, yet classy black cocktail dress “When did you have time to do this,” she asked.
“I have my ways. So, I’ll see you at nine and don’t be late.”
“I won’t,” she told him. Machion held the dress up to admire it. She then rummaged through her suitcase to find the perfect accessories for the dress before jumping into the shower.
As she was getting ready for dinner, she grabbed the card she had purchased for him to take with her. It was no way she was going to dinner empty handed after everything that he had done for her. She pulled her boxed braids into a bun, giving her a sleek look. She applied the warm chocolate colored MAC lipstick and her favorite Chanel No. 5.
Time was flying by, and it was 8:45. The butterflies in her stomach were tap dancing as she slipped into her dress. She knew she had to get a move on it because she promised him, she wouldn’t be late.
As the butterflies danced, she couldn’t figure out why she was so nervous. It was just dinner. But then if it was just dinner why did he purchase her a dress to wear. She didn’t have time to stand there and run scenarios in her head. If she didn’t get out the door in the next minute or two, she was going to be late. Tonight is going to be a good night, she told herself. And, that was for sure.
****
She caught a glimpse of herself on the way out of her cabin. “You better slay,” she said with a smile. The butterflies in her stomach had finally calmed down as she made her way to the dinning car. Half way there, her phone started vibrating in her purse. It was a text from Cruz.
Can’t wait to see you.
A smile illuminated her face and the butterflies did a happy dance. He always had a way of putting a smile on her face. Even if she was feeling down, he knew what to say or do to make her smile. She loved the fact that he would send her a text in the middle of the day to check on her, send her flowers on Tuesday just because, or surprise her with dinner after a long day. At moments she thought her grandfather had God to special deliver Cruz to her.
As she approached the dinning the jittery butterflies returned. Get it together, she thought.
She passed an older gentleman on her way. He commented on how beautiful she looked, then asked if they could meet for breakfast in the morning. She politely declined.
“Is it something I said,” he asked.
“No,” she replied, “I’m actually headed to dinner with my boyfriend.”
“He’s one lucky man,” he replied.
She smiled and thought, Yes, he is. And, I am too.
Before opening the door to the dinning car, she brushed her hand down the front of her dress. She wanted to make sure everything was perfect. She took a deep breath before stepping inside.
The moment she stepped into the car, she was taken back by what she saw. The tables were decorated with red table cloths, and candles lit on every table. It had a romantic feel. The table in the rear had a dozen roses and two champagne flutes on it. But Cruz was nowhere in sight. She sat down before sending him a text.
Where are you?
Machion waited a few minutes and started to get nervous when he didn’t reply. She was about to get up when she heard music overhead. Then the waiter approached the table with a bottle of champagne.
“Good evening, Dr. Carrington. I apologize for having you wait.” He grabbed her flute and poured her a glass of champagne.
“Thank you,” she replied when he finished. Roberta Flack’s voice was dancing in her ear as she took a sip of the champagne. Cruz was still nowhere in sight, so she sent him yet another text.
Where are you sir?
She took another sip of the champagne, before taking a quick selfie. She knew she was too cute not to capture the moment. After a few more sips of the champagne, Roberta’s voice stopped, and Cruz appeared through the dinning car door. He looked handsome as always in a tailored black suit.
“Good evening,” he said as he walked up to the table.
“Good evening,” she replied trying not to blush.
“You look beautiful as always,” he stated before he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.
This was the first Valentine’s that she could remember having an actual Valentine other than her grandfather. He would take her out for dinner. And, he always made sure she had a card, a box of chocolates and a teddy bear.
“Tonight is all about you,” he said. “And, I want to make this a night to remember.”
She closed her eyes for just a moment to compose herself. But it must have been longer than a moment. When she opened her eyes, Cruz was down on one knee. She blinked a couple of times to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. Her heart started racing. Her hands were trembling.
“Machion Alise Carrington, I was wondering if you would do me the honor and privilege to make you my wife.”
Machion looked down at the ring then back at Cruz. There had only been three moments in her life that had rendered her speechless. And, this was one of them.
Once she composed herself, she shouted, “Yes.”
Her hand was still trembling when Cruz slid the ring on her finger, “I love you baby.”
“I love you too,” she said as she leaned in and kissed her fiancé.
She was definitely embracing 40.
