THE BOLAN CHRONICLES: Reading #11

11. Approximate Minutes Reading (AMR): 10

Introduction to Characters:
Gina: Ferry Employee

THE BOLAN CHRONICLES

Chapter 2

Dean

**Proposal**

Donna was five months pregnant when Jake asked her to marry him. Though they had decided months before that they would marry, Jake wanted to ask her formally. The pregnancy had put Jake's plans into a bit of a tailspin, and part of his plan was to ensure some kind of normalcy in other aspects of their lives, so he still took Donna out on dates, and he still kissed her goodnight at her parents' doorstep, and he still called her his wide-eyed beauty.  

It was a Friday night in mid-November. Jake had made reservations at Port Bliss Restaurant in East Setauket, a small town on Long Island, New York. He figured that the ferry ride over would set the mood for a romantic evening. Donna dressed warmly, and though she was all but certain that this was the special night upon which Jake would propose, that knowledge took nothing away from the joy that she felt.

They sat in the main deck where they were protected from the wind and cold. The first half hour of the ride was a thrill for both of them. Jake pointed out the various landmarks that could be seen along the way. He bought her a hot chocolate, and she took it from his hand, immediately set it down on the small round table and wrapped her arms around him. She looked into his eyes and told him that she loved him and that she couldn't believe how happy she was. They talked about one another’s parents and about how, in fact, both moms seemed to have warmed to the idea of having a grandchild around. Subtle comments while watching television or sitting out on the front porch convinced both of them that Grandmas, on both sides were going to warm up to this baby quite quickly. 

Donna had never been on a ferry before, and the two hadn't discussed nor had they thought about the possibility that she might experience discomfort. They were 30 minutes into the journey when she told Jake that she thought she might be coming down with something.

"Do you need to lay down?" Jake asked.

"I think I'll be okay; maybe just a little nauseous."

But as the minutes passed, Donna felt worse. So Jake told her to sit back while he took care of things. Within minutes he returned with a staff person, a middle-aged woman with broad shoulders and with the gate of a soldier. The moment she reached Donna, she carefully grabbed her by the arm.

"Honey," she said, "If there's one thing that's bad for the queasy stomach, it's bein' inside the cabin of a ferry. Let me help you up and out of that seat."

Donna thanked her. The three of them walked out to the bow. When they reached the very front, the woman smiled kindly and said, "I'm Gina. Now, I'm gonna guess that you're feelin' better already, but just wait a couple of minutes, and keep your eyes straight ahead."

"Okay." Donna replied.

Jake put his arm around Donna and pulled her collar up over her neck then he leaned in toward her and gently squeezed. She smiled at him and he said, "Keep those wide eyes straight ahead."

"I can't keep them off of you."

Jake joked, "Aw, shucks!" And they laughed.

Gina had meandered to the other side of the boat. She tromped back and asked, "How you doin' Honey?"

"I'm doing a little better," Donna replied. "Thanks so much for your help."

"Uh-huh. It's nice to feel like they pay me for somethin.' And she smiled.

The remainder of the ride was better for Donna. At least the nausea had subsided.

The ferry landed at Brookhaven in the small village of Port Jefferson. They took a taxi from there to East Setauket where the driver dropped them off in front of Port Bliss.

When they walked into the restaurant, Donna grabbed Jake by the arm and said, "Oh Jake, this is so cute! I love this! Look at that view of the ocean!"

A long, narrow window ran along the entirety of one side of a wall. The view of the Atlantic, for most of the restaurant's patrons, was the biggest reason for being there, and though the place was buzzing with life, most of the animation and noise came from the ocean-view side.

Jake leaned into Donna and whispered, "I called to make reservations, but unfortunately, they charge a pretty penny for those seats."

"I don't care where we sit, Jake. I'm just glad we're here together."

Waiters and waitresses busily moved about. Jake asked Donna to wait while he talked with the greeter for a moment.

He made his way toward the front where the podium stood. When he had finally arrived through the thick crowd, he looked up and was met by the gaze of a pair of lovely brown eyes.

"Hi!"  

She seemed to be the happiest person in the world, and Jake was taken-aback.

"Hi!" He replied. "I have a reservation for two."

"Okay!  Last name?" She smiled even bigger. 

By now, Jake was lost in her eyes. He admired the way her hair fell to just above her eyebrows and how her cheeks framed the most amazing dimples he had ever seen. He finally gathered himself and said, "Bolan. Jake Bolan."

She located his name on the guest list and said, "You're on the ocean side, right?"

"Yes, I am."

Her smile widened, "Special occasion?"

Jake smiled back. "Yes, very special."

"Ah!" She replied. "I'm so curious!  What is it?"

Jake thought for a moment then said, "A first date."

"Oh!  So sweet! Well, I'll see that you get the best of the best."

Jake smiled and put out his hand. She took it then said, "My! My! You're welcome." 

Just behind the greeter’s station, the bar was a mass of raised glasses and laughter as if everyone knew the other. The perfect-faced twenty-something beauty joked with the pock-marked-faced fifty-something truck driver sitting three seats down, while the middle-aged attorney exchanged business cards with the plumber who sat across from him. 

Jake asked Donna what she thought about joining in the fun at the bar.

"I don't know."  She replied, "I'm not sure I'd fit in. I wouldn't have anything to say."

"You wouldn't have to say anything, Donna. Just sit back and be entertained." Then he added, “And look at the variety of people there. You’ll fit in as much as the next.”

They made their way through a crowd of waiting customers. On the way, Jake found the greeter and informed her of their location. She smiled and thanked him. He smiled back.

There was one available stool. Jake pointed to it and mouthed something. He could hardly hear himself. Donna sat down. The bar tender, a hefty young black man with a very large afro immediately approached the two of them and yelled, "I ain't seen you two ever! Where ya'll from?"

Jake called back, "We're from Bridgeport!"

"Ah, yeah! I got me some cousins in Bridgeport! Well, I think they live 'round Stamford area, somewheres near, anyhow." And before Jake had a chance to reply, the bartender asked, "What'll ya'll wanna drink?"

Jake said, "I'll have a Coke."

The big one looked at Donna and said, "I know y'all won't be orderin' no alcohol, dat's fo' darn sure!"  And he smiled real big.

Donna replied, "Oh, no. No alcohol." She looked at Jake.  

Jake looked back at the bartender and said, "She'd like an iced tea."

"What's that?" He strained to hear.

Jake smiled big and shouted, "Iced tea is tea with ice!"

The bartender looked perplexed.

Jake smiled at Donna then back at the bartender and shouted, "An iced tea for her, please!"

"Alright, then." And he turned and grabbed two glasses from a large cooler.

He served them and smiled, "Hope ya'll enjoy ya'll's stay!"

Donna smiled and nodded. Jake gave him a thumbs-up and said, "Ya'll best believe we will!"

He hadn't heard a word of Jake's comment, but he smiled with a thumb up and turned to take care of the customer behind him.

They only watched the bustle of the crowd around them and listened to the sometimes funny, sometimes silly, sometimes ridiculous, but never serious conversations and comments of the half-drunk patrons. Jake was fully amused. He loved the snide remarks from the half-wits with limited vocabulary.  Donna didn't pay much attention to what was being discussed, but she loved being with Jake. She felt completely safe at his side, and she loved to watch him watch others. She loved seeing him smile when he was amused, and she was always amazed at his ability to blend in with a crowd.

The greeter had made her way to the other side of the bar and waved her hand at Jake. He smiled and waved back then he and Donna followed her to their table. 

When she stopped at one of the ocean-side tables and gestured toward the soft bench seats, Donna looked at Jake and widened her already huge eyes and whispered quietly, "Jake!"

Jake smiled and said, "Enjoy." Then he sat down and looked up at the greeter. "You must be tired; greeting and seating."

She placed the menus in front of them and replied, "Oh, I don't usually seat the customers. I just thought you two looked nice. And besides, it gets me away from the chaos of the front desk."

Jake smiled and said, "And that must get tiring; standing there in one spot for so long."

"It's a job," She replied, "And it's getting me through school."

Jake asked, "Where do you attend?"

"Oh, I go to Stony Brook University."

Donna said, "Oh! I had a friend in high school that wanted to go there. She wanted to become a teacher."

"Yeah, it's a teacher prep school; really nice. I like it."

Jake said, "So, what do you recommend?"

A tad confused, the greeter asked, "The school, you mean?"

Jake laughed, "No, I mean, what food do you recommend?"

"Oh! Sorry. Well, to start, Bliss has the best calamari on Long Island. After that, it's your call, but I can tell you that their filet mignon is delicious beyond words!"

Donna replied, "Oh, that might be good. I like just about any kind of fish!"

Jake smiled at the greeter then looked at Donna and said, "She's referring to red meat, Donna. Filet mignon is a steak."

Donna blushed and covered her face.

"Oh, it's okay," the greeter said, "I didn't know what it was until I started work here."

"What kind of fish do you serve?" Jake asked.

"Our favorite is definitely roasted salmon, and we serve grilled swordfish, and pignoli nut crusted red snapper."

Jake replied, "Wow. That sounds great."

"Okay, well you two just let me know if there's anything I can do for you, okay?"

Jake smiled and winked, "We sure will. And thanks."

"Thank you." Donna said meekly.

As she walked away, the greeter rolled her eyes and mumbled, "First date, huh? He'd probably like to knock me up, too."

With the greeter out of earshot, Donna said, "That was so embarrassing."

Jake replied, "You don't need to be embarrassed. The only reason I know that filet mignon isn't a fish is because my dad insisted on having it once a week for years. My mom learned how to cook that stuff so perfectly that it was like cutting into a stick of butter. Even as a little kid, I loved that stuff. God, it was good!"

"I guess that's what you'll order?"

"Nope. I don't think anyone can come close to Mom's filet mignon." Then he opened the menu and looked through the fish selections list. "I've never had swordfish before, and the sweet and sour cucumbers that goes with it sounds really good." And he closed the menu. "That's my pick."

Donna chose the roasted salmon.  

They finished dinner, and Jake insisted they order dessert. Just before Donna took the last bite of her chocolate cake, Jake looked into her big green eyes and proclaimed, "I want you to marry me."

Donna dropped her fork and covered her mouth. Her eyes widened and began to water.

"Yeah," Jake continued, "I hope you'll marry me for life, and I can't wait to be the best damned husband and father that ever lived."

Donna hadn't processed a word past marry me.  "Oh, Jake! Yes! You know that I will!"

And the night got better for Donna as they taxied back to Port Jefferson. Foreigner sang Double Vision, The Rolling Stones belted out Beast of Burden, and Jake and Donna smiled while Anne Murray sang You Needed Me. It was magical for the young couple, warm in each other's arms in the back seat, she, dreaming of a brighter tomorrow, he, contemplating a successful future.