3 Renewal and Beginning

Frederick McFenray

"Great outcomes are the result of great planning!" I convinced myself as I tighten the knot of my red tie while I inspect my reflection from head to toe on how charming the figure in a beige tuxedo suit greeted me. I fixed the cufflinks on my suit before combing back my dark hair. Today is the day I bend on one knee in front of the woman I love. I have it all planned out;

Step One: Pick her up from her apartment

Step Two: Take her to the Bayside, the spot where they first met

Step Three: Restaurant

Step Four: Say special things! Remind her of how they met

Step Five: THE BIG FINISH

It takes five easy steps to create his beginning for a new chapter of my life. My thoughts were cut off when my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and realized that it is my dad! I put in speaker but I soon regretted that choice when another voice chipped in

"TODAY IS THE DAY, YOU LUCKY BASTARD!" Francis, my brother, shouted by my ear that I could have sworn for a moment I was death "We've already gathered the herd! Auntie Rosa is here and even her daughters! The family of the bride is already here and their gayish cousin is planning to go hysterical if Audrey is not here before thirty minutes"

I couldn't help but laugh at his response before I asked "Where's Papa and why do you have his phone?"

"Yea! That reminds me" Francis exclaimed, "Our dear father wants me to ask you, my lucky and loving brother-"

"Get to the point, France!"

"-I'm getting there, it's not like every day that I get to call you! Anyways, he is asking if you can just skip everything and just go to the restaurant. Seriously, people here are already dying of suspense and do you know how many appetizers they ate because of, quote and unquote, stress eating?!"

"I can't just skip on my plan!" I said as I wore my watch and grabbed the small blue box from my drawer, "I want this day to be remembered until we are old! Something that we can tell our children and their children, detail by detail"

"This is what happens when you're in love! You've become an idealist" Francis spoke with a hint of sarcasm "Just get over here so you can propose to your girl"

By the end of our conversation, I ended the call before I took one last glance at my reflection as I repeated the words my brother described me earlier "Lucky bastard, indeed". I walked to my dark blue Porsche and started to drive towards her apartment. Like always, the busy street of Manhattan is always filled with pedestrians breaking the "No Jaywalking" law and the cars piling up on New York plaza, both rich and plain yet all of them are stuck on the same road.

It took me thirty minutes to get to Audrey's apartment as I leaned against the car door outside with the bouquet in my left land with my phone in the right while I waited for her. Step One: Pick her up from the apartment. Done!

"Freddie!" she shouted that made me turn in her direction. Her luscious brunette hair bouncing on her shoulders as she is dressed formally for the event. A cream-coloured cocktail dress with a red sash belt around her waist. I jokingly bowed like a gentleman and greeted "My lady". However, Audrey laughed in front of my face. So much for my charm

"Who are you and what have you done to Freddie?" she asked while I stood up properly "And what's the special occasion you are talking about?"

I avoided her curious gaze as I answered "It's my brother's birthday!"

"I thought his birthday was in July?" I opened the car door for her as she slides in the seat next to the driver's before I joined her and answered "He wants to celebrate his party early. You know how Francis is impatient and persistent"

Audrey laughed out loud and I could not help but fall in love with her even more. Her laughter is contagious and without a care in the world!

"You're staring again" Audrey observed "You should keep your eyes on the road rather than me"

"You look beautiful tonight"

"Only tonight? What about the other days that we meet?" she asked

"In those days, you are only average pretty" I teased but Audrey didn't take it lightly as she playfully punched my arm followed by a pout "You're mean!"

I chuckled at her sentiment as I kept my eyes on the road until we finally reached the bayside. Now onto Step Two! I opened the door at Audrey's side then watched her take in the full scenery