Todays Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Guest guest]

Never Say Never

By Sally -Engeman

" How would you like to accompany me to England for a week of

sightseeing? "

I stared at the e-mail in disbelief. It was from Mel, the widower I had

been

dating for six months.

I immediately replied, " Thank you for your generous offer, but I must

respectfully decline. As much as I enjoy your company, I would not be

comfortable traveling with a man I wasn't married to. Besides, I don't

have a

passport. "

My dear husband of fifty-one years had died three years earlier. I

learned

to ease my grief by reading, writing, attending church functions and

visiting my

children and grandchildren. But as time passed, I missed belonging to a

partnership.

Then friends invited me to a party where I met Mel. He was

attractive,

intelligent and had an engaging personality. To my surprise, he called two

weeks later and invited me to join him for dinner.

I discovered being part of a couple again opened new vistas. Soon we

were

receiving invitations to parties and meeting each other's friends. After

being

in a desert of loneliness, I enjoyed the social oasis of dinners, concerts

and

theater.

We talked freely about our deceased spouses and how lucky we were to

have

found true love with them. Because we didn't think it was possible to find

that

level of love more than once in a lifetime, we both admitted our decisions

to

never marry again and decided to enjoy the companionship we found in each

other.

Consequently, I was shocked at the invitation to travel together and

questioned Mel's motives. Certain my response would sever our

relationship, I

was surprised when he phoned.

" I got your reply. Let's forget I asked about the trip. "

Relieved, I mumbled, " Thanks for understanding. "

" We are still going out tomorrow night, aren't we? "

" Sure. " After all, he didn't seem to feel awkward about the

situation, so

why should I?

The following evening he held the car door open with one hand and

handed me

a legal looking paper with the other. " Just happened to be in the post

office

today and picked this up for you. "

It was an application for a passport. What? Why, that sly man!

Without

comment, I tucked it into my purse and changed the subject. Nothing more

was

said, and we enjoyed the evening.

Amused he had bothered to get me an application, I filled out the

papers,

had my photo taken and doled out the $75.00 fee without telling him.

While attending a party with friends, we were invited to join their

dance

club. I was excited, but Mel resisted. " I played trumpet in a swing band

during my youth so I never danced very much. "

" If you're a musician, you've got rhythm, " I reminded him. " If you've

got

rhythm, you can dance. "

Although reluctant at first, Mel relented and agreed to take ballroom

dance

lessons - where he held me in his arms for the first time. With him holding

me,

I felt my heart melt . . . and immediately rued our platonic relationship.

But

I couldn't tell him lest he remind me about our " never marry again "

agreement.

Then he began bringing candy and flowers, and I knew I was being

courted.

Although he was careful not to mention marriage, I sensed we were falling

in

love. Still, neither of us said a thing until the day he invited me to

dinner

at his house.

Fine china, crystal and sterling silver on a white linen tablecloth

greeted

me. Red roses graced the table. Before we sat down to eat, I confessed I

had

applied for and received my passport. When I showed it to him, his eyes

sparkled and he flashed a mischievous grin.

He served a delicious rack of lamb with all the trimmings and we had a

lively conversation as we ate. During dessert he said, " Sally, if I asked

you

to marry me, what would you say? "

" You haven't asked me yet. " My startled response was quick. Awkward.

Even a little coy.

" I think I just did. "

Unprepared, I stammered, " Oh. Oh. P-p-probably. "

He looked dejected, but didn't pursue the subject. I was so surprised

I

didn't know what to say. We cleared away dinner and cleaned up his

kitchen,

then he took me home.

Most of that night I lay awake pondering his proposal. I had been

married

to an extraordinary man once. But Mel was wonderful, too. Was it possible

to

marry two extraordinary men in one lifetime?

The next morning, he called. " Last night I asked you to marry me and

you

said probably. How about a more definite answer, " he urged. " Like yes? "

" But . . . what about our agreement? "

" Let's just forget it. "

" Forget what? " I smiled into the phone, tingling with excitement.

" Let's fly to England for our honeymoon and never say never again. "