True Love Waits

"All right, I'll let you be. Have a good time over there," Debbie said.

"I will. Bye, Mom," Evelyn replied.

Debbie hung up and turned to Miranda, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for her news about her granddaughter. "Piggy said she is fine. She is out having dinner."

"Did she sound happy?" Evelyn's mood was Miranda's biggest concern. She had been diagnosed with depression, after all. Everybody in the family was worried about her. They wanted her to be happy, above all.

Debbie reflected on the phone call. "She sounded relaxed. She said the food is delicious. I think she is happy, Mom," she said with a smile.

Miranda was relieved to hear that.

After Evelyn had finished talking to her mom on the phone, Sheffield bought her some steamed sweet potato with cheese.

She frowned at the smell of cheese.

He opened the foil. It was so hot that steam erupted from it. He spooned some and placed it near her lips. "Have a taste. There was a long line in front of the store. It should be delicious." Evelyn shook her head. "I don't like it."

Sheffield was surprised. "The sweet potato or the cheese?"

"The cheese." She hated cheese.

Sheffield ate the entire thing without another word.

Evelyn had a lot of food. All snacks. Touching her huge belly, she said, "I'm stuffed."

She hadn't eaten so much in a long time.

"Are you sure? I can take you somewhere else for some staple food." Sheffield didn't think she had eaten much. He was worried that she wasn't used to these kinds of street foods.

"No, thanks. I'm too full already." She had always been strict with her diet while she was home, and took additional care with her dinners.

of mind. Deep down, she longed for some change of her lifestyle. And

couldn't finish, rinsed his mouth with some

the food street was the bar street, which came to life as night

good-looking men and women were soliciting business. Sheffield chose

playing the guitar and singing, "I'm a thinker, never good at expressing my feelings with expressions. I am always hoping and always disappointed..." Heads turned to Sheffield and Evelyn as they stepped

the carnal desire flowing out of those men's eyes. He took her hand

come to a bar with him, Evelyn was worried that he

and asked, "What would you like to drink?" Then, he leaned in and whispered into her ear, "The liquor in this city is shoddy and the wine is likely to

her. So, she nodded. "Beer is

taking their order, the waiter turned to leave. But Sheffield called out to him, "And a fruit tea,

"Yes, sir."

"Fruit tea? I thought we were having

only make it worse. The beer is for me." She sighed and turned to the singer

to this kind of place?" he

to bars a few times while I was in Y City; same in America." She didn't like bars and their

It was well-known for its beautiful view. "The border is a dangerous area." Sheffield sounded hesitant. After giving it some thought, he continued, "But if you want to go, I'll

this point, the waiter served the plate of nuts they had ordered. Sheffield pushed it towards Evelyn. "They're boring. You're more fun to

he was flattering her. "Tayson can

He stopped and his eyes dimmed. "Are you tired of me

not what she had meant. But she nodded, "Yes." He wasn't

won't leave you even if you

this how you

handed her the peeled nuts. "This is my first time pursuing a woman. I'm a greenhorn at this kind of thing.

really expect me to buy that?" She wasn't born yesterday. Everything

"You will believe me

and the tea were

rose from his chair and said, "Excuse me for a minute. Be right back. You go ahead and