In a different restaurant, another family was dining. The woman who looked slim and elegant was wearing a diamond necklace that matched the bracelet around her wrist, and the man opposite her wore a tailored designer suit.
Derrick sat back in the high-backed chair, glancing over at his wife, Mavis, who looked radiant under the soft, golden glow of the restaurant's chandelier. His eyes grew warm as he looked at her with a smile.
The elegant setting of L'Avis with its white linen tablecloths, crystal glasses, and warm lighting seemed like a far cry from the hectic pace of their everyday life. Tonight, though, they had escaped their chaotic reality to indulge in something that felt like a rare luxury: a date night.
Mavis was laughing at something Derrick had said, her dark eyes sparkling with the same warmth he had fallen in love with all those years ago. Her face, always glowing with joy and energy, seemed to light up even more as she playfully swiped at the curls of her hair, tucking them behind her ear. The dim candlelight caught her diamond earrings, making him smile again. He wanted to buy more for her. There was nothing he loved more than seeing her wearing his gifts. It proved to him that everything he did was worth it. As he sat there watching her, it was easy for him to forget about his other life. The violence and blood that he kept away from their relationship.
"You're a bit too smooth tonight. Surprise date night, surprise babysitter. Who are you and what have you done with my husband?" she said with a smile.
"You're just mad cause I'm so good at this husband thing, or have you been slipping on the wife thing?" Derrick teased, picking up his wine glass. The deep red liquid inside caught the light as he swirled it gently, a habit he'd picked up after months of wine tastings. Mavis watched him with a smile, they had been together even when he didn't have so much money, so she believed she had seen all the sides to him.
Mavis narrowed her eyes playfully. "Oh, I see you're in full suave mode tonight." Her voice dropped into a low tone.
"But you can't fool me, Derrick. We've been married way too long for that. I see right through you."
Derrick laughed, leaning back with a confident grin. "Oh, yeah? And how's that?"
"You know," she began, drawing out her words with a smirk, "you always pull this act to make me feel like I'm the luckiest woman in the world. And I am, because I know you too well. You act like you're too busy to plan a date night, but you're just trying to keep me on my toes so I don't know what to expect."
He chuckled at the accusation, although his heart tightened a little in his chest. She wasn't wrong. Between her part-time job at the library and all his late nights, it felt like they were constantly out of sync, always pushing off time for each other. Mavis, meanwhile, had her hands full with their children, Kieran and Leon. It felt like the kids always needed something, whether it was help with homework or just advice from their mom.
They both came from homes where their parents weren't present, for reasons out of their control. So he admired how much Mavis dedicated to making sure their kids never felt the same.
He took a sip of his wine before leaning forward on the table to make eye contact with her.
"You know, I wish I could be home more, but you know how things are. I've got to stay on top of the business. Can't let it all slip."
Mavis raised an eyebrow at him. "Business? Is it business or your true love?" she echoed, her tone light but with a hint of mock skepticism. "sonetimes I think you like your business more than you've ever liked me."
Derrick didn't miss the playful edge in her voice, but he knew how to play along.
"You know it's really hard for people like us to work our way up. The grind never stops." He smiled as he took another slow sip from his glass.
Mavis smirked, taking a bite of her salad. "Right, right. The grind. I respect your hustle, you know I always will, but sometimes it feels like you're missing when you're right here." Her eyes softened with affection as she set down her fork, reaching out to hold his hand across the table.
They continued to enjoy their meal, the conversation flowing easily between them, moving from one topic to the next. Derrick found himself relaxing in her presence, the weight of the day lifting as they spoke about the kids, and their plans for the summer, and the little moments they both cherished. The evening was a brief respite from his busy life. Despite the fact that he had two armed men outside keeping watch, Derrick could feel the tension in his shoulders slowly melting away.
As the night wore on, the restaurant became quieter, the ambient light around them warmer, more intimate. Their table, tucked away in the corner near a window overlooking the city, seemed like a secluded world of its own. Derrick's gaze lingered on Mavis, watching her laugh, her voice rich with warmth, her smile that never seemed to fade. He wanted to freeze time and remain in that moment forever.
Ring ring. Ring ring. The sound of a phone ringing interrupted their date. However, neither of them moved.
"Are you not going to get that, honey?" Mavis asked.
"It's only Jenny. I'll call her later."
Ring ring. Ring ring.
"It must be important if she's calling again. Answer it."
Derrick picked up the restaurant napkin, wiped his mouth, and answered in a terse tone.
"Jenny, this better be important. I told you I wasn't taking work calls tonight, I'm with my wife."
"I'm sorry, boss, but this couldn't wait. It's Robert."