But there was a questioning look in his eyes and she did not miss the tinge of disappointment in his voice when he asked, “You’re married?”
“No…no.” she answered a bit hesitantly and added after a short pause, “At least not anymore.”
She looked away a little so he could not see the flash of pain in her eyes, always ignited by that question.
“Oh, I understand,” he said, but with some relief in his voice.

The boys were looking at him with quiet interest, not pulling her arms to leave like whenever other guys wanted to talk to her.
So this now was her move but before she could say anything, Naren asked, “Are you just coming in or leaving?”
“We were just leaving.”

“I am here with a few friends,” he said, “But I could give you a ride home if you’d like.”
“Thanks, but we’ll take a mall taxi.”
The boys were now pulling her arms to say ‘Yes’ to the ride and she looked at them with a little disbelief.
“Well?” Naren asked.

“Okay,” she sighed, not too sure it was a good idea.
As they neared the car was in the Reserved Parking section, she drew in her breath and exclaimed quietly, “Darn, that’s a superb car.”
It was a Jaguar.
The boys were excited riding in a luxury car, expressing their joy, “Nice car, nice car!” until Shauna gave them a soft warning to stay calm.
Naren looked at her and asked, “Comfortable?”
She nodded then said, “It doesn’t seem real.”
“What doesn’t?”

And for the first time, she spoke boldly, “You and the car.”
He smiled, understanding her doubts and said, “It will feel real when your mind can accept it.”
She thanked him upon reaching home and was saying ‘Good night’, when Alex asked, “Would you like to see my race car?”
“No, he doesn’t,” Shauna said quickly, ushering them up the stairs.
Naren shook his head, a little amused at her haste to see him go.
“The kids seem to like me, but you don’t.”

“No, it’s not that, it’s just…” she left the sentence unfinished, not sure how to explain it.
“It’s okay,” he accepted, not wanting her to feel pressured or uncomfortable.
“We can always talk again sometime over lunch or dinner.”
She smiled warmly and shook her head, “I don’t know, maybe.”
That night she laid in bed sleepless for a long while, the burdens of her past still stuck in her mind.
“Can the present help me to move on?”

The next day, during her lunch break, she phoned Rachel, close friends from since high school, for a little advice on Naren.
“Girl,” Rachel advised her, “A guy like that doesn’t just walk into a woman’s life every day.”
“I don’t know much about him, though,”

“Well, there’s only one way to find out and you have to be bold and take a chance so you can move on with your life.”
“I guess I have to,” Shauna replied with a deep sigh, “But I am afraid of being hurt again.”
“It’s just a date,” Rachel continued, “And from there, you take it one step at a time if you’d like.”

So Shauna accepted Naren’s invitation for dinner on Saturday evening. As she readied herself, she took some time to look at her reflection in the mirror.
A beautiful woman indeed she was, with big, brown eyes and a dimpled smile, but somehow since the separation she had lost interest in herself and in life.
The beautiful dresses in her wardrobe hung there untouched but tonight she will wear one. He arrived in time to pick her up and as she came down the stairs, the stunned look on his face said more than words could. She looked chic in a close-fitted, little black dress and he found his voice to say, “Simply stunning.”

Dinner at the Marriott was a beautiful affair with sumptuous cuisine and merlot wine. She had felt a little tense but the ambience of the place as well as his charming personality gave her a relaxed feeling.
“There’s a glow on your face,” he said, “So your mind is starting to accept this is real?”
She sipped the wine and putting down her glass she looked at him with a smile that came from deep within her, for something new had shaken the pebbles.
“I like this, thank you.”

The admiration she had seen in his eyes that night, now seemed deeper and he said, “This could be the beginning for you to start living life a little more.”
She sipped the wine again and said with a slight sombre look, “It’s not that easy for me.”
He knew she was cautious with life because of the challenges she faced being a single mother and he said, “It’s because of your sons, isn’t it?”
“Yes, they are my world and without a father in the picture, I have to live my life for them.”
He reached across the table and touched her hand.

“The first time I saw you, I felt a compelling attraction to your simple, beautiful look, the way you laugh, and now your smile.”
She couldn’t find words to say, to tell him that she hadn’t believed that, that she felt she was not such a lucky girl, but the overwhelming relief and joy she felt in her heart reflected in her eyes for him to see.
“I am willing to give you my hand, Shauna, to hold so you can gain the mental strength you need.”
“What about when you leave?”

“I’m not leaving,” he said confidently, “I am here to look for new business prospects in the Tourism sector.”
“That’s interesting.”
He took her home, not too late and at the door, he asked her, “So, do I get another date?”
She smiled and answered, a teasing glint in her eyes.
“Maybe.”

He kissed her lightly, “Good night.”
And so it began for Shauna, living her life for something better as she became closer to Naren and the boys were elated having a male figure in their lives. Their little hearts had spoken for them the first moment they saw him.
As the days went by she managed to unburden the past from her mind and embraced the refreshing change to love again.
And as he held her hand, she held the hands of her little sons.