Chapter 8

Kate was sitting in the edge of her bed looking for hours now the dress she bought with Helen at the Mall. It was the time she start having seconds thoughts about the date, about him and about everything. She looked up to the clock. She had one more hour until Richie will be in her doorstep.

She sighed and looked to the dress. "Okay, let's do this!" she said full of cofident. She took the dress in her hands and put it on. Once the dress was on her body she looked down to herself. Helen was right, it fits her like a glove. Walking back to the bed she wore the black high heels that Helen brought her earlier that day.

She walked in the bathroom and stopped in front of the mirror. It was the time to put some make up on. She left the glasses on the sink and took the mascara in her hands. Make up was done. A little bit of her favourite perfume and she was ready. She took the glasses in her hands and she stopped.

When Helen came to her house in the morning she gave her an advise. Not to wear the glasses. Kate looked up in the mirror. She couldn't believe that the reflection was hers. She didn't have seen herself like that in a very long time. But she liked was she was looking in the mirror. She looked down to the glasses as she spoke. "I'm sorry but you're staying home tonight.". She left the bedroom.

Walking down the stairs she remembered the first day that Richie slept in her house. She can still remember how his egges and bacon smelled. She wasn't able to forget that smell and she didn't want it. Once she walked down the stairs she checked the clock on the wall. It was 20.00 o'clock. He can be here anytime by now. She closed the window over the sink and the door bell rung.

Smiling one of her best smiles she walked to the door. She paused before she opened the door and took a deep breath. She opened it. Richie was there holding a bucket of red roses. His eyes rolled when she opened the door. His heart stopped beating and the air didn't fill his lungs anymore. What he was looking at right now it was very difficult to put into words.

"You look amazing! These are for you." he said when he found his voise. "Thank you." she answered and smelled the roses. "They smell great." she added and left them on the table next to the door. Taking her coat she asked. "Shall we?" "Yes, of course." he answered.

Richie as a true gentleman he opened the door for her first and then he sut on the drivers seat. "I'm sure you're going to love this restaurant. I hope you like Italian." he said as he put the engine on. "I love italian. How do you know?" "A woman like you will love italian." he simply answered. That caught Kate's attetion.

"A woman like me?" "You know, a woman with class. Who knows what to say even in the most complicated conversations. A woman like you." he answered without looking at her. He knew if he sees her, he will never be able to look on the road again. Kate smiled. That was one of the most beatiful compliments she have ever heard.

Arriving at the restaurant a waiter showed them their table and gave them a menu. Kate was looking to the menu, at least that was what Richie was thinking. She was studying him. Every invh of his face. "What do you want to eat? I'll may go for the salmon." his voise brought her back to reality. "I was thinking about that too. Seems a good idea." she answered and looked at him. He smiled and called the waiter.

"So, how is like to be a doctor?" he opened a subject. "I think is great. Peolpe's livies are in your hands and yoy feel responcible for them." "You know, i wanted to be a phycologist but music won that fight." he answered and that made her laugh. God, he loved her laughter.

"I heard a song of yours in the radio, Livin' On A Prayer, very nice. I liked it." "Thank you. It was a hit song back in the 80's." "It still is. I loved it." she said while she never stopped looking at him. Their eyes locked and stayed there a few seconds. That moment the waiter came with their food.

They start eatting while they were talking about everything. It was that time that Kate changed her mind about Richie. She thought that theonly thing she could talk about with him was music, but she was wrong. They talked about everything. She laughed her heart out. She couldn't remember when was the last time she laughed that much. He was making her laugh. A thing that Peter hardly did.

Richie pulled in Kate's driveway and stopped the car. He opened the door and walked to the passenger seat. He opened the door for Kate and held out his hand. Kate took it while she smiled at him. They walked to the doorstep and stopped. "Thank you for the date, Richie. I didn't laugh that much in one night." "My pleasure darlin'. Maybe we can do this again in your next day off, if you want." "Sure, that will be great." Kate answered and shaked her head.

"I gotta go. Is getting late and you have to go to the hospital tommorow. So, good night Kate." he said with half heart. He didn't want to leave. "Goodnight Richie." Kate told him and watched him walking down a few stairs. "Richie!" she yelled. He turned. "Do you want to come in for a last drink?" she said with low voise but loud enough to hear her.

Richie smiled and walked up that stairs. "I'd loved to." he said and Kate smiled. She pulled out her keays from the purse and opened the door. She walked in first and turned on the lights. "Make yourself at home." she said and took off her coat. She watched Richie taking off his coat too and sut on the couch.

"I have whiskey, you want some?" she asked. "I have to drive after that. Do you have anything lighter?" "Oh sorry. I forgot about that. I think i have red wine. Is that okay with you?" "Fine by me." "I'll be back in a minute." Kate said with a smile and left to the kitchen.

She returned with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. She opened the bottle and pured them a glass. "Cheers!" Kate said and sut next to him. "Cheers!" Richie answered and took a sip of the wine. "Nice. So, what about you family. I was the one who did the talking on the restaurant, now is your turn." he said and left the glass on the table. "Nothing special really. A big protective brother and an even more protective father. That's why i left once i graduate from High School."

"You are his only daughter, that's why he's so protective." he answered. "No, you don't understand. When i saw protective i mean very protective. My brother and father didn't let me have a boyfriend and still they don't." Kate answered. She wanted that to change. "Oh..." was the only thing he could say. He saw the dream he has with her falling apart in just one second.

"But when i came here i was in a relationship. And for one more time i proved them right." Kate said holding the glass of the wine looking to the window. "Why? What happend?" "He left me. He didn't say why, he just left. I never understand why he did this. We were so happy together. I gave him everything i had, everything. And he left me like a broken chair." as she spoke the tears followed. It's been a very long time since she thought about her breakup with Peter.

Richie placed his hand on hers. She froze and turned to face him. With his other hand he wipped the tears with this thumb. He locked his eyes with hers. "Some men sometimes don't understand the value of things they have until they lose them. He was propably one of them." he told her without looking away from her. "What kind of man are you?" "I'm the kind of man that will never hurt the woman he loves and will protect her with any cost. That kind of man i am." he said but he didn't realized how close he was to her.

They were too close until he made a move to be closer to her, she didn't pulled away. Their lips met for a soft kiss. Her eyes rolled and her mind stopped thinking. It was the time for the heart to take the control of her now. She let herself free on his lips.

They both opened their eyes the same time. Richie realized what he just did and broke the kiss. "I'm sorry. I have no idea how this happend. I have to go. Thank you for the wine. I'm sorry again." he said and grabbed his coat from the couch. He opened the door and left closing it behind him. With her fingertips she touched her lips and a huge smile appeared in her face. He kissed her.