True Meaning of Love Part 4
Orao and Lamika spent a lot of time together and Orao thought it was time to move to the next step. Lamika would often spend the night and Orao would visit her at the courthouse. This just didn't seem like enough for Orao though. He wanted to take care of Lamika and sleep by her side every evening. He wanted to cook for her in the evening and wait for her to come home to him. In short he wanted Lamika to move into the loft with him. He thought about it and wondered. They had only been together for a little over four months and he wasn't sure if he wanted to pop a question like this on her. Orao new Lamika loved him but did she want to lie next to him every evening and awake next to him every morning. All he could do is wonder. Lamika could tell something bothered him but their were no clues as to what it was. Orao got lucky when he got an inside tip on a company. Orao made a fortune in investing and he now had more wealth that he could ever need. Now it was time he thought, I'll ask her when we go out to celebrate.
Orao arranged another dinner at Shay Purr and they went down that evening to celebrate. Lamika ate while her thoughts ran rapid in her mind. She new that he was going to ask her something but didn't know what it was. Could he be thinking of marriage she thought suddenly chocking on a peace of meat? Orao went to her side immediately to see if she was ok and she regained her self quickly. Lamika excused herself and went into the bathroom. She starred at herself in the mirror if he asked she would have to say no, that is to say she would need to wait till a better time in her career for that. She loved him deeply and had seen other relationships fail on a failed proposal. No she thought I would not lose Orao, even if it meant quitting her job to be with him. Nothing would get in the way of them.
Lamika came back and sat down at the table. Orao decided it was time.
"Lamika I have something I want you to consider for me," he said nervously, "Please just hear me out before you say anything."
"Now that I'm rich I plan on staying home so that I can follow my other interests and I want to take care of things and feel like I'm making a difference in the life of the women I love," he said as her eyes widened and a look of suspense flowed onto her face.
Lamika put her paw on Oraos, "I promise I won't be angry, after all I love you more than anything or anyone in the world ever could, so go ahead and ask what you want of me," Lamika assured him.
Orao felt a little better, "So well here it is, I want you to move in with me," a look of relief warmed over her as she got up.
"I love you, I would love to move in with you," Lamika said as she hugged him.
Orao and Lamika smiled at each other and kissed as they passionately embraced. Orao was thrilled that she took it so well not realizing what she had been thinking and worrying about only a few minutes earlier. They danced for a while and finally went back to Oraos place.
Orao had all of her things brought to his loft the next day and supervised the decorating and reconstruction of the loft to make her more comfortable in her new surroundings. Orao was going to leave no chance of her being uncomfortable.
Orao quit his work as a stockbroker only keeping his friends and himself as clients. Orao continued to make money for his friends and himself and in return he got favors that made him more comfortable. Lamika loved moving into the loft and he had taken every precaution so she would be happy.
Lamika loved living with Orao in the spacious loft. She loved to go to sleep by his side every evening; she loved to awaken next to Orao every morning. Lamika loved how he was waiting for her every afternoon with a hot meal just for her. Lamika felt wonderful about the way her being around him made everything better. She only wondered if he would be happy like this forever and what she could do to prove her love to him the way he proved it to her. Orao was thrilled to spend every waking moment dedicating his very essence to her happiness.
Lamika was happy for three months before something just didn't seem right anymore. She felt like she didn't express how much she loved him and he new something was wrong. Orao was not completely aware of her uncertainty but he did want to know what it was. One evening they sat to eat and Orao decided for better or worse he needed to know.
"Honey, are you unhappy?" he said, his voice low and deep.
"No! No! I love you I've just been feeling like I don't make you happy," she said as she stood up suddenly.
He stood up and hugged Lamika, "I will live my life serving your happiness until the day I die," a tear fell from his cheek, "I do what I do and live the way I live because I choose it this way and I have never once regretted it."
Lamika cried, "I love you so much and I don't know how I can show it, you've done so much for me and I feel like theirs nothing I can do for you."
"Your doing it now," he whispered to her as a smile came to his face, "You return the love I have for you and nothing could make me happier than that."
He lifted her head and kissed her. Lamika calmed down and they finished the meal. Lamika felt better and realized what she could do for him but it required him making the first move. Lamika wanted to accept a marriage proposal from him, she new it was just a matter of time before he would.
Lamika soon realized that Orao hadn't proposed to her because he new she might have said no and she felt ashamed for that. Lamika talked to her friends at work about how to show him she would say yes if he asked and for the most part they said, "If she loved him he would figure it out." Unknown to Lamika one of her best friends was already in league with Orao to find out when she wanted to get married. Lamikas friend Jen called Orao and told him about what the girls and Lamika had been talking about that day and Orao jumped for joy.
Orao already had the perfect plan and started implementing immediately. First he diligently worked on the start of a painting. It had to be perfect and he worked long and slowly. Every stroke in its proper place as he tested the extent of his ability and skill. It took three weeks to paint the first stage of the painting but he didn't tire his will to strong to let him stop as he spent an eternity on every brush stroke. Lamika could tell that he was up to something but she had no idea what it was. He asked Lamika to pose for a special painting and she stood every day as he painted. He never let her see the painting, saying it would be a wonderful surprise. She had never seen him work so hard on a painting, the look on his face of deep thought and concentration. For weeks she stood for him and she wondered what it was. Orao had never taken longer that a couple of days to do a painting before and she wondered what the painting was of. Orao finally finishing the painting one evening put a tarp on it and went over to Lamika. He kissed her and thanked her for posing.
"So can I see the painting now," Lamika said with a look of complete curiosity.
"Tomorrow night my love, after dinner I will explain everything," he smiled as he kissed her again.
Lamika decided to be patient and went to bed. Orao laid out a gray suit and skirt so he knew what she would be wearing the next day before he went to bed. Orao didn't sleep that night and just lay there looking at the women he loved so much and with a deep sigh hugged her tight. He pretended to be asleep as she got up in the morning so that she wouldn't be suspicious. After Lamika left Orao moved out of bed and started setting everything he needed to. Orao started cleaning the fireplace and hung the covered painting up above it. He then proceeded to set a small dining table in front while he roasted a large turkey dinner, Lamikas favorite. An hour before he expected Lamika home he built a fire in the fireplace and lit the candles on the table. Orao then dressed in a jet-black suit with gold trim on. A neatly folded Handkerchief stuck out of the jacket pocket over his heart. Orao stood on the balcony and waited for her to walk into the building.
Orao saw Lamika walk into the building and he rushed back in. He put the turkey on the table and turned on his large entertainment center. Orao played a tape he had prepared for this and he listened to the romantic music. Orao stood in front of the door and waited for her to open it. Lamika was surprised when she opened the door to see Orao in the suit she had bought him for his birthday. He looked handsome in the suit and she could tell he was wearing cologne. Orao picked Lamika up and she was whisked over to the table in front of the roaring fire. She listened to the music from the stereo and took a long whiff of the turkey dinner he had prepared. Lamika kissed Orao and sat at the table. They ate silently as Lamika anticipated him to reveal his surprise.
They finished dinner and Orao put his hand on Lamikas. They stood and Orao put Lamika in front of the painting. He asked her to close her eyes. Lamika closed her eyes excited as a child waiting for a piece of candy. Orao removed the cover and knelt behind Lamika. He then told her to open her eyes. Lamika opened her eyes and starred at the painting, it was so life like she thought. The painting was of Orao kneeling in front of her with an open ring box in the suit he was wearing. Lamika was standing before him with a smile. All this was in front of a roaring fireplace, next to a table with lit candles. Lamikas eyes widened when she realized what it meant. Lamika closed her eyes and a tear slid down her cheek as she slowly turned around. Lamika opened her eyes and started to cry as she gazed upon Orao kneeling before her with an open ring box in his hand. A ring of unparallel beauty lay in the box, it had a large diamond surrounded by a heart shaped pattern of rubies all set in a gold band.
"Please tell me you will be at my side for eternity?" he said with love in his eyes and a soft gentle voice.
"Yes," Lamika answered the tears running from her eyes as she knelt down and hugged him crying in excitement. Orao allowed a tear to fall onto her shoulder as he slid the beautiful ring on his loves finger. Orao and Lamika kissed and embraced each other passionately never wanting the feeling to end. There love was unparallel and Lamika was happy to finally show him how much she loved him.