Chapter 9

While Walt Whitman and Antsy-Ann Williams were trying to kindle their new relationship; hoping for it to turn out into a full fledge blaze for all to see and admire, Eleanor Ford and Nelson Zuckerberg were going on their last hurdles of ups and downs, in their relationship.

Not because he wasn't interested in her or wasn't giving her all the affections that his heart could manage to give her, but because her eyes were set on the hopes of having another man whose interest of marrying her were next to nil. But Eleanor had really gotten the full picture, indicating to her that noting was going to become of her relationship with Walt Whitman the moment Annie-fay had died, and he completely refused from having her console him.

Her real chance for true love was in the hands of Nelson Zuckerberg who had already bought her an engagement ring, and asked her to marry him, which, she had frankly, but nicely rejected him. But he was determined to ask her one more time for her hand in marriage, hoping that she would say yes in marrying him this time around. So at least, they could move on and take the next step in sharing their lives together.

It was almost a year since he had asked her to marry him, which at such time, she thought it was quite too early for her to devote herself to a man, she barely knew.

She certainly wanted more time to know him a little better before putting herself in a committed relationship with him, and to later realize, he was no good for her, or they just weren't compatible for each other.

Eleanor was receiving all the comfort, love and care of a good man when it came down to Nelson, but she was too blinded by her infatuation with Walt Whitman that she couldn't actually see what she had right in front of her eyes. She was miserably obsess with him and it was actually killing her, and also stifling her own chance of real happiness and true love with another man.

Constantly, she was masking herself behind her curtains and peeping through windows to see if Annie-fay was moving in or was coming there to visit Walt. So she could linger in front his house and be contentious with the woman he was in love with. But, it's a pity she wasn't aware that Anne-fay was already six-feet under and Walt Whitman had found himself another woman; therefore, all her spiteful actions were being done in vain.

The tall handsome man who usually dresses well and had jet-black curly hair swaying at the nape of his neck, has always been nothing but loyal and generous to Eleanor. Bringing her flowers and good tasting chocolate regularly. Taking her out to dinner, movies and picnic in the parks every so oven. Sometimes even inviting her to come by his art studio, spend the entire day with him if she wasn't too busy cleaning her house or had other important obligations that she needed to carry out for her job.

He loved her dearly! He adored her! He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her!

September was now here, and he wanted to ask her once again, if she would give him her hand to him and marry him!

Nelson was planning this moment for a very long time and he thought he knew her well enough to choose a place to conduct their engagement ceremony that she would approve of and also fall in love with.

And since he had been at her house on numerous occasions, he thought it would be the ideal place for him to ask her to marry him; knowing that the act of it would blow her mind away. He had big plans, he was ready to execute them and soon, he was seeking help from his family and very good friends to help him carryout this grand engagement party bash to reality!

In the meantime, Nelson was making plans with one of his very good friends who owns and operated a spa and beauty treatment facility to accommodate Eleanor and keep her there. Until, he had called her, telling her what time to release her from the spa while he rearranged her house and decorated it for the grand cultural event.

He wanted his friend at the spa to give her all the treatment that were available there and he would leave the appropriate clothing at the spa for her to get dress in; so when they were done giving her the finest of treatments she could be dressed for the occasion. And if she rejected, they would have to come up with something creative for her to walk out of that spa looking and feeling like she was royalty.

Nelson was working out all the plans in his head and also on paper. He wanted everything to be perfect without her suspecting his covert deeds. A week had past and he had bought the ticket for her to be at the spa, and rehearse and reaffirmed his plans with his friends at the spa. He had also brought back the engagement ring to the jeweler to have it polished and cleaned so he could present it to her on the night of their engagement party.

"How could she say no to me this time around?"

Nelson questioned himself.

He had known her for almost a year and he had treated her very well, just to have her realized that he was a good man and that he was the right man for her. Even when she was so obsessed with the guy next door; talking about him like he was some delicious bowl of lasagna and juicy baby-back ribs that she couldn't get out of her system. It was now nor never, and he was very ready to make that big step of marrying her.

It was the first weekend of the month of September, and Nelson Zuckerberg, physically started to make the special occasion come alive in everyone's eyes.

First, he gave her the ticket for the spa and told her it was valued for two days and two nights, and she could bring along whit her any of her girlfriends with her if she wanted to while he would hang-out around her house until she returns.

"Are you sure you want to be here by yourself?"

Eleanor asked with worry in her voice.

"Of course I'll be fine here; it's good to be out of my apartment for a while! I might just start a painting of you if I ever get jaded!"

Nelson Zuckerberg replied convincingly.

Sensing that he would be alright, Eleanor began smiling as Nelson kissed her and told her to start packing for her trip to the spa so she could be there in time to take advantage of everything that was been offered in the package.

"They are wonderful there and I want you to have a marvelous time there!"

Nelson told her as he kissed her on the lips while she entered her car.

Eleanor have never been at a spa before and since it was her first time, she wasn't sure of what to expect or what not to expect. But she took Nelson's word for it, that it would be a very marvelous experience that she would really love.

"You will have people doing your hair, your nails, giving you massages and feeding you all sorts of delicious and healthy foods so your skin will look radiant and even youthful like some of those celebrities you see on television!"

Were the vivid descriptions Nelson had stated to her reassuringly!

"You don't have to worry about one single thing while you are there! And if you get the chance, please sneak me back a pack of those wonderful complementary chocolates they have on the trollies over there The last time I was there, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, they had me wanting more and more, every time that I would put one in my mouth and it melt away down my throat, I was reaching for another one!"

Nelson expressed dramatically.

"I'll certainly try to get some for you, then!"

Eleanor said promisingly.

And with those words spoken, Eleanor received one more kiss from Nelson as he passed the palm of his hand on the back of her hand and told her to drive safely and he was looking forward in seeing her refreshed, revived and rejuvenated in the next two days' time.

Moments later, she was pulling out the driveway and making her way down Hillcrest Drive while glancing in the rear view mirror watching Nelson waving good-bye to her.

As soon as she was out of sight, Nelson was on the phone, calling in his team to come by Eleanor's house on Hillcrest Drive; so they could start moving things around and also start their redecorating of her living room and kitchen space.

Carefully, they tried carrying out the operation without breaking anything or losing any of her precious belongings.

The room was painted bright white and when the paint was dried, they began hanging red paper decorations everywhere in the room having it looking almost like Christmas time.

Long chains of crystal lights were hanged around each light fixture, making the room look like a disco-ball was reflecting lights on the wall.

The tables were set to accommodate large trays of food and drinks, and then another table was set and beautifully decorated for the engaged persons to be seated at after the announcement and the acceptance of the engagement ring was made.

Large white couches were also brought into the living room space which Nelson had rented for the guest to be seated on, and placed at all the four different walls of the room, creating almost a circle where everyone would be facing each other. And in between each of the large white couches were placed massive pieces of Nelson Zuckerberg art work.

Very thick white and fluffy carpets were placed from one end of the room to the next, making the room looked like snow had fallen on the floors of the living room.

The entire room looked magical and mystical; and Nelson hoped and a prayed, it was more than enough for Eleanor's heart and eyes.

But soon, after hearing the massive trucks pulling up at Eleanor's front door, seeing furniture being hauled about, and strong young men moving all sorts of artwork to and fro. Walt Whitman walked to the end of his driveway to investigate what the commotion was all about. Standing there in the driveway for a while with his son by his side, totally in a state of awe, because he was very clueless that Eleanor was moving out of the community. At least, that's what it looked like to him. He stood their completely stunned, wondering where in the world she was relocating to.

It was Marx who had recognized Nelson Zuckerberg and called out to him repeatedly before he heard and responded.

Dashing across the street to the little boy whom he remembered bringing with him to the park on his date with Eleanor.

"Hello, my little friend!"

Nelson exclaimed joyfully.

Without responding to his hello, Marx asked.

"What are you guys doing over by Ms. Eleanor's house; is she moving?"

But, before responding to Marx's questions, Nelson turned his attention to Walt Whitman, acknowledging his presence and stretched forth his hand to introduce himself.

"I'm Nelson Zuckerberg, your neighbor Eleanor, fiancée!"

Stretching his hand forward, Walt Whitman exclaimed.

"So you are the lucky fellow she keeps bragging on and on about!"

Walt Whitman was so clueless that his son was paying very close attention to every spoken word out his and Ms. Eleanor's mouth, and neither had he ever forgotten their facial expressions.

It was the very first time Marx had ever caught his father telling a lie, and wondered, when Ms. Eleanor had ever boasted about the stranger standing in front of them in his presence. Because, as far as he could remember, Ms. Eleanor was always looking sad and depressed whenever he was around because she wanted his father's attention and for him to marry her, which he wouldn't for one reason or another. At least, that's how he had analyze the entire scenario between the both of them in his little mind.

Ignoring Walt Whitman's comment that Eleanor was bragging about him continuously, Nelson turned his attention back to Marx and replied.

"No son, Ms. Eleanor is not going anywhere! I'm just having a little party for her with the intention of popping the big question and hoping to get a positive response from her."

Overhearing Nelson's response to his son, Walt Whitman turned to Eleanor's fiancée and said.

"I sincerely hope that it goes all well for the both of you at the party."

Smiling, Nelson turn towards Walt Whitman and shook his hands as he excitingly uttered.

"Thanks very much man, I really appreciate the gesture, and I'm actually keeping my fingers cross, hoping she says, ‘yes' this time around!"

Knowing that his neighbor Eleanor could be very hard as rock one minute and very soft as sponge the next, Walt Whitman encouraged Nelson Zuckerberg to remain confident that she would give him the answer he was hoping for.

And if she rejected his proposal, he shouldn't allow her refusal to marry him keep him depressed or stop him from finding happiness with someone else. But instead, he should get back out there and find himself another woman, that special someone who catches his eyes, because he knew, someone else is definitely out there waiting to have a man like him in her life.

Hearing his wonderful words of encouragement, Nelson turned to Walt Whitman and said.

"I'll remember that... I'll certainly keep that in the back of my mind, if she ever says no to me, again!"

He was just about ready to go back to the house and start his duty, but before leaving the front gate of the Whitman's property, Nelson expressed to Walt that he was aware that he and Eleanor are very good friends.

Therefore, he was inviting him to come along and witness the proposal between him and her, and he should also bring along his son, Marx with him for the merriment.

But, Walt Whitman was hesitant in making such a move, especially after remembering the estrangement – the discord they both had between them a few months back. And so he told him that he would think about it, however, he wasn't promising him that he would definitely be there.

"Well, if you ever decide that you want to come, the invitation is wide open for you and your son to come by! Especially, since he and Eleanor has a very special relationship together!"

Nelson Zuckerberg encouraged.

"Thanks very much for the invite!"

Walt Whitman replied.

Again, Nelson was stretching his hand towards Marx's father hand, expressing to him that he was happy to meet him, thanked him for the relationship advice, and hoping to see him and have chat with him again, probably soon. Minutes later he was waving good-bye to Marx and Walt Whitman as he anxiously made his way across the street, and back to Eleanor's house to finish up on the decoration details for his engagement splash.

While, still keeping in mind all that Walt Whitman had just verbally related to him, about not getting the expected answer he wanted when asking for her hand in marriage.

The decorations in Eleanor's house were completed and the stage was being set and been prepared for the caterers to come over and organize their trays for the food they were going to be serving at the party.

And also, readying themselves for how they would be utilizing the space for serving the crowd of around one hundred guest.

Saturday morning early, Nelson was out of bed and went by the cleaners to pick up his suit. It was the suit he intended on wearing to his engagement party and now he was happy that the suit was in his hand, so he drove by Eleanor's house and waited for the caterers to come.

Within an hour they were there with all the shebang they intended on using, ready to prep the space for serving the many guest who would be there to witness this special and joyous occasion.

House gorgeously decorated, food looking delicious and ready to be eaten, Nelson called his friend Maya at the spa and told her to start getting his woman ready for the grand occasion. Stating that he wanted her at the house around nine o'clock, nine-thirty the latest when to crowd was already there to greet her and shower her with the elements of a grand surprise.

Excited out of her wits, Maya gave him word that she was on it! She would be soon getting her ready and all dolled up for a photoshoot. And soon after the photoshoot was ended she would be terminating her stay at the spa in a hurry, therefore, leaving her no other choice, but to leave the spa in the dress he had provided for her to ware to her own engagement party.

Things were looking on the up and up, and Nelson Zuckerberg was elated for this extraordinary moment to come alive before his eye when Eleanor Ford would come home, bursting through her front door in her elegant red dress, and be greeted by a very welcoming crowd already waiting there to receive her.

He envisioned her standing in the middle of her living room looking stunned, reaching for his hands, hugging him, and telling him that she had a marvelous time at the spa. He also visualized her saying yes to his proposal as he placed the beautiful ring on her finger, her kissing him and thanking him for the wonderful moment.

But, would she give him the green light; saying yes, to accepting his engagement ring?

And the notion of her giving him an unwelcoming answer; made his heart raced aggressively against the walls of his chest.

Calmly, but very nervously, reflecting on her giving him a negative answer, he told himself that regardless of her not seeing him for her perfect future husband; the decorations and the atmosphere looked fantastic and he would certainly remember it for the rest of his life.

Nevertheless, eight o'clock was now here and the crowd began gathering at Eleanor Ford's front-door on Hillcrest Drive ready and anticipating to hear the outcome of the proposal to handsome and very well-known artists and businessman, Nelson Zuckerberg.

And forty-five minutes later, Eleanor's living room was fully packed with people from all walks of life. But she was nowhere in sight and neither had Maya called him to say they were already done with the photoshoot, and she was on her way to the house.

Alarmingly, Nelson called Maya and asked.

"Have you release her as yet; is she on her way?"

"Not yet, we are just about done wrapping up the photoshoot and about to send her on her way!"

Maya anxiously replied.

"Well, will you please hurry-up?"

Nelson blurted out nervously.

"We are hurrying!"

Maya fired back while snapping her finger to one of her employees beckoning him to get all of Eleanor Ford belongings from her room and bring them to her car immediately. So they could have her leave the premises of the spa right now and be on her way as soon as the photoshoot was finish.

As soon as the photoshoot was done, Maya grabbed Eleanor by the hand as if, they were longtime school buddies and walked her straight to her car while filling her ears with compliments and how much she thanked her very much for staying the weekend at her spa and beauty treatment center.

Confused Eleanor lashed out.

"But I still have stuff in my room and another night here!"

"No, you don't! Everything that was in your room was placed in the company's bags and are waiting for you at your car door; including the robe you had on earlier!"

Maya reverberated.

"But, I have not gotten to see myself in the mirror to see how this dress looks on me, or how my make-up look on my face!"

Eleanor spoke sadly and jittery.

"Don't you have three rearview mirrors on your car and a mirror at your house?"

Maya lashed out at her brutally.

"Please, if you are upset about the candies that I took and placed in my nightstand, please forgive me, but I really didn't mean to take them off the premises!"

Eleanor pleaded.

Eyes wild and festering for contention, the spa owner asked.

"You took candies from off the complimentary try and placed them in your nightstand? Ms. Ford that is very naughty of you; but you can always have them!"

"May I go back to my room and get them?"

Eleanor asked with a look of desperation on her face.

"No, I'll get one of my staff members to get them for you!"

Maya spoke, while calling out to one of the workers standing at the receptionist desk to go back to Eleanor Ford's room and remove the bag of candy she had there and bring it back here to her.

With the returned of the candies that Nelson had asked her to bring back for him, Maya told her that she hoped that she had a safe ride home, and she should take it from her, she really looked stunningly beautiful. And the photographer at her company will be sending her the photos she had taken as soon as he had them developed.

Making her way to her car completely confused, Eleanor kept on looking back and forward of her whit guilt and shame ripping at her core while the owner of the spa stood there staring, and smilingly waving good-bye to her.

Eleanor began thinking that she had done something awfully wrong to upset the very nice and competent staff at the spa, but she couldn't think of anything that she had done there to offend anyone there at the time.

With her seat-belt across her shoulders, Eleanor pulled away from in front of the building of the spa looking beautiful, but feeling worse that when she had arrived there.

Taking Maya's advice, she pulled at the review mirror and adjusted it to take a good look at herself before going any further, and was shockingly amazed to see the transformation they had done on her. Urging her to immediately stop her car and ask herself, if that was actually her seated behind the steering wheel of her car or if it was someone else.

Feeling fabulous about her makeover now, Eleanor couldn't wait to reach home to show-off her brand new look to Nelson, hoping that he would want to take her somewhere elegant and sophisticated to showcase her beautiful new look to strangers and unsuspecting admirers.

Almost forty minutes later, Eleanor was pulling at Hillcrest Drive and right-away she could tell that something was off... something strange was happening on her street because of all the vehicles that were lining out on street.

"That damn Walt Whitman must be having his engagement party tonight for that damn Annie-fay! Why does she thinks, she should be the one to have him and not me?"

Eleanor argued to herself.

"Maybe I should just get over there, march inside that damn house and let him see me now; how glammed out I too can be, and crash the whole god damn affair!"

She went on mumbling to herself.

Parking her car right in front of her gate and exiting it, she stood there for a moment staring at the Whitman's house with vengeance, contemplating whether or not, she should make her move, go over there before walking into her own house. But, she was discouraged from doing so when Nelson cracked one of the windows, peeping to see if she had arrived as yet and saw her standing there.

Since it was a bit dark, he only recognized that it was her, because she was standing beside the car and took a chance to call her name and noticed that she responded to.

"Please Honey, come on inside and help me out here, because I'm getting dress so we can go out and have a fabulous time somewhere special tonight!"

Nelson encouraged.

He had just spoken the exact words that she wanted to hear!

And now she was rushing, making her way towards the front door of her house, and just as she turned the doorknob, the light switch went on and she walked inside a room filled with an applauses and grand and beautiful decorations.

Everyone in the room began cheering her on and flooding her with hugs and kisses as they complimented her on how she was looking very fabulously.

Gawking, glaring and glancing were all the eyes upon her, and now she was feeling as though, she was real royalty and she didn't want the moment to ever end. She had never gotten this much praise and attention in her entire life ever and soon she began thanking Nelson for planning such a wonderful and special evening for her.

Eleanor had now completely forgotten all about Walt Whitman and his presumed party, and presently, she had her head resting against Nelson Zuckerberg chest, softly crying; crying tears because of the wonderful joy he had just brought to her life.

But, little did she know that there were more to come!

The music began playing loudly and most persons were getting on their feet ready to get giggly-giggly with it, while others went for the dinner plates and were ready to dive into the food and the various provision of drinks.

Soon the heavy music was ended and the soft music began playing, and Nelson walked to the center of the room leading Eleanor by the hand and then, he began slow dancing with her on the lush carpet.

Shortly after they were done dancing, Nelson told the disco-jockey to hold off with the beat for a while, and soon, he was down on his knee while removing the little silver box from his pants pocket, and began popping the question of a lifetime to Eleanor Ford.

While everyone had their ears cocked and their eyes popping to get her response.

Nelson remembered what Walt Whitman had said to him about her rejecting him and how he should go about handling it.

And although he desperately hoped for her answer to be a yes, he embraced himself for the opposite while he tightly gripped at her hand with one hand and held the jewelry box with the other.

Covering her smile while her eyes glanced into his back and forth, she finally nodded her head, indicating that she was saying yes! Seconds later, he was sliding the gorgeous piece of jewelry on her well-manicure finger which had fitted her just perfectly. And soon, Eleanor had her hand waving it in the air for all to see the beauty on her left hand.

Walt Whitman who had finally come over to Eleanor's house after hearing the blasting of the music and had taken his position on the front porch of the house, observing all the activities concerning the very first stage of most matrimonial ceremonies. He began clapping his hands one clap at a time until his clapping gradually became louder and louder and soon everyone began doing the same thing while Nelson got off his knees and began passionately hugging the woman standing in front of him because she had just given him the answer he was hoping for when he asked her to marry him.

Minutes later, Walt Whitman walked to the kitchen, asked the caterers to fill his drinking glass with red wine and then he brought it back to the living room where he spoke out loudly on the new couple's behalf.

Happily declaring a haughty congratulation to Eleanor and Nelson Zuckerberg and making a toast for them to have a wonderful and very happy engagement period and future marriage life together when that time came around.

Nelson had secretly learned about the history between them; she always chasing him and him, totally ignoring her, even though, his son looked up to her and wanted her to be his step-mother, and not anyone else.

With Eleanor saying a positive yes to his proposal, Nelson securely pulled her against his massive chest, held her there before he began laying a long and very passionate kiss on her lips. And when he was fulfilled in doing so, he whispered in her ear that she won't have to ever worry about, chasing him anymore. Hearing those comforting words, Eleanor sniggering, looked into her fiancée eyes, held his face into her hands and passionately kissed him back for all to see, including Walt Whitman, that she was madly in love with him.

Now she was quite positive that she had made the right decision in saying yes to Nelson Zuckerberg proposal, and couldn't wait for the day to come when he walked her down the aisle.

She knew he wasn't only bringing true love to her life, but he was also guaranteeing her peace of mind, respect and security; and she told herself, she would never allow her feelings for Walt Whitman or anyone else to ever interfere with her relationship with her new expected husband and very true friend.

For the rest of the night, the engagement party was hot as chili peppers, and in an up-swing. Everyone was enjoying the music and also the foods provided for the celebration. And for the first time in months, Nelson Zuckerberg could actually let his guard down now, assured that he had gotten the woman of his dreams who he wanted to be happy with and spend the rest of his life together with her.

He wanted for them to buy a house together!

He was very anxious for her to have his babies, especially, since he had never been a father before and saw how she treated Marx!

He wanted to be in love with her for eternity and live happily ever after!

But, would they make it down the aisle!

Would their state of being madly in love erupts like volcanoes and then subside like the very last word being sang in a choir?

Would Eleanor Ford be faithful to the man who had just completely given her his heart and his ring?