Weeks passed and Josh and Claudia didn’t speak much. Things had become awkward. Claudia’s world had been turned upside down by that one magical night. She was so overwhelmed with new thoughts and emotions that she didn’t know what to do first.

        She hadn’t talked to Jacob much lately either. He had really upset her on Valentine’s Day. Claudia was finally beginning to realize how badly Jacob had been treating her and she was finally becoming fed up.

        But she was torn. Part of her still loved Jacob. Sure he was busy and didn’t always have time for her, but she still loved him. Every time he would take her somewhere romantic and sweep her off of her feet, she would forget all about the times he mistreated her. And she’d fall in love all over again…until the next time he let her down.

        It was the beginning of March and the weather had started to change. The snow was melting and it rained every day. Mud and rain puddles covered the dead yellow grass and Claudia found it humorous how the weather fit her mood.

        Claudia was driving through the rain, on the way to her mother’s house. She had been told that they were having a late birthday party for her brother, whose birthday was the previous week, although it seemed a little weird to her. But she didn’t care. She would go to the party and fake a smile and pretend she was fine for a few hours. Then she would return to her confusing life.

        Jacob would be there. That would make things awkward for her. She would have to pretend like their relationship was perfect while she knew otherwise.

        Claudia wore a sleeveless, knee-length lavender dress and pulled her curls back. While she looked great, she certainly didn’t feel it.

        Claudia arrived at the party, and of course Jacob was there. She mingled and visited with her family, but her heart just wasn’t in it. Claudia rolled her eyes when she discovered that Jacob had brought a few of his business friends along. He just can’t go a minute without trying to impress someone.

        Claudia was relieved when Nicole showed up. It was a nice break from talking with her family. She sighed out loud as she thought to herself: I wish Josh was here.

        Things quieted down when Jacob tapped a fork against his glass of champagne, announcing that he wanted to make a toast.

        He cleared his throat and began. “I would like to take this time to make a toast to my lovely girlfriend, Claudia.” Jacob turned to her and smiled. Claudia slapped a smile on her face but secretly prayed for his speech to be over with quickly.

        “Lord knows she’s been by my side through thick and thin for over two years. Even after all the business trips and late night meetings she hasn’t gotten rid of me yet.”

        This brought slight laughter from the crowd and a nervous smile from Claudia.

        “So tonight, I’d like to make a very special toast to my Claudia.” He placed his glass on the table beside them, took her hand and began addressing Claudia rather than the crowd that was watching. “Claudia, the last two years have been amazing. You’ve loved me unconditionally and you mean the world to me.”

        Claudia’s heart stopped when Jacob got down on his knee in front of her.

        “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know you’ll make me the happiest man on earth… if you’ll be my wife.” That said, he pulled a diamond ring out of his pocket and placed it on her finger. “Marry me, Claudia.”

        Claudia stood motionless and in shock. She had known that this moment would come someday, but now that it was happening, she was completely unprepared.

        She looked over at her grandparents who were smiling proudly. She looked at her father who had adoration in his eyes. She looked at Nicole whose eyes were as wide as saucers and her jaw on the floor. She looked at her mother whose eyes were filled with tears of happiness, a proud smile lighting her face.

        Finally, she looked back at Jacob who was smiling also, waiting for her answer. She looked down at the huge, sparkling diamond on her finger, and then back at Jacob.

        Her heart was pounding. Her mouth was dry as cotton. A million thoughts raced around in her mind, screaming things at her that she couldn’t understand. Thoughts of her future, thoughts of her past. Thoughts about her proud family, and of her wonderful best friend who knew more about Jacob than anyone in her family did.

        She looked back at Nicole who was frantically attempting to tell Claudia something with her eyes. Claudia knew exactly what she was trying to say.

        All eyes were on her. Everyone was waiting for an answer.

        Josh’s face filled Claudia’s mind. She immediately relaxed at the image. She thought of the night by the fire when they had shared that magical kiss. It held a kind of magic that Claudia had never felt. Not even with Jacob. She thought of how tenderly he treated her, how well Josh took care of her when Jacob was nowhere to be found. But mostly she thought of how happy she felt when she was with him.

        “No,” Claudia finally said.

        Quiet gasps went through the room and murmurs buzzed through the crowd.

        “No, Jacob. I can’t,” she repeated, saying it more for her own sense of clarification and reassurance than for anyone else’s.

        Claudia took the beautiful ring off of her finger and placed it in the palm of Jacob’s hand. She looked into his face at that moment and truly felt sorry. He looked as though his world had crumbled around him. He was confused and shocked, sad and angry all at once.

        Claudia leaned down and kissed him softly on the cheek. But it meant nothing. No, it did mean something… it meant goodbye.

        Claudia left the living room, trying to ignore all the eyes that stared at her. She went through the kitchen and into the foyer where she searched for her shoes in the large pile by the door.

        Her mother followed her. “Claudia, what are you doing?” her mother inquired.

        Claudia rolled her eyes at her mother’s firm tone. “I’m following my heart, mom,” Claudia answered matter-of-factly, slipping her shoes on.

        “And just where is your heart taking you?” she demanded.

        “Jacob doesn’t love me,” she stated simply.

        “What are you talking about? Of course he does! He’s loved you for over two years! You heard everything he just said in there,” Isabelle tried to reason.

        “Yes, I heard every word. He said that I was there for him through thick and thin and that I loved him unconditionally. But when was he ever there for me? He says how I’ve been such a great girlfriend but I’m sick of him not returning the favor!”

        Claudia searched through the closet, looking for her coat, wishing she could just get out of there. She didn’t want to hear what her mom had to say.

        “Every relationship has problems, Claudia. Surely you can work them out rationally.”

        “And getting married is going to solve all of my problems?” she returned. “Jacob doesn’t love me and I know someone who does,” she blurted before she realized what she had said.

        Her mother’s mouth fell open in shock. Claudia silently cursed herself for her slip up. “Another man?”

        “Remember Josh? The one you all met at Christmas?”

        “The musician?”

        “Yeah, that’s him. In the last four months, Josh has treated me better than Jacob ever has.”

        “Oh, Claudia I think you’re making a big mistake. Josh is a nice man but he’s a musician! A struggling musician, might I add. He could never provide you with the life that Jacob could.”

        “I don’t care about all that!” Claudia cried. “I don’t care about having a big house and a fancy car and all the money in the world. What’s the point of all that when you aren’t sharing it with someone you love?”

        “Honey, I’m just trying to protect you. I was a singer when I was young, remember? I dealt with musicians every day. And believe me, some of them only want to take advantage of you.”

        “Exactly, some of them. That’s doesn’t mean that Josh is one of them. Don’t forget that I’m a record producer and I work with musicians everyday too. I’m not an ignorant child, mom, I know what I’m doing,”

        “I just don’t want you to get hurt, Claudia.”

        “I know, mom. Thank you for being concerned, but if I’m going to get hurt, at least let it happen by me doing something that I want, not something that I was forced into.”

        Just then, their heads turned to find Jacob had appeared in the doorway.

        Seeing him, Isabelle spoke up. “I’ll let you two be alone,” she said, leaving the room.

Jacob stared at Claudia for a long moment before he finally spoke. “What the hell was that?” Jacob demanded in a firm tone.

        “That was me turning down your marriage proposal. I thought a smart man like you would have figured that out,” she retorted in a sarcastic tone.

        His rolled his eyes, his voice low and angry. “You know, you’re becoming more and more like Nicole everyday.”

        She smiled deviously. “I’m glad you think so. It’s about time I stood up for myself.”

        “Stood up for yourself?” he repeated.

        “Yeah! Surprised I have the guts to talk back to you and finally tell you how I really feel? Come on, Jacob, did you really think I was going to say yes to you after the way you’ve been treating me?”

        “Oh don’t give me that bullshit!” He cried, throwing his hands in the air. “You know, you never had a single complaint about our relationship until that musician showed up. I’ve treated you like a queen! I only take you to the best, up-scale restaurants, buy you beautiful diamonds, pearls…hell, I offered to take you to the Bahamas and Paris, and you’re telling me that’s not good enough?”

        “You could give me all the money and the diamonds in the world, Jacob, but that doesn’t mean you truly care about me. I’m talking about all the times you ignored my feelings, made me feel worthless and miniscule, cancelled our plans and left me at home while you went on your so-called business trips.”

        He glared at her for a long time with cold, hard eyes, saying nothing. “Do you have any idea how much you embarrassed me in there?

        Claudia’s mouth fell open, her eyes widening in shock. “That’s what this is about? I embarrassed you and now you’re mad at me?”

        “You ruined my chance at making a good impression with my clients. Not to mention your family thinks I’m an idiot,” he grumbled.

        “So you just proposed to impress people, is that it?”

        “No! I love you Claude, that’s why I proposed.”

        “Well, you sure don’t act like it! I’m sick of it Jacob! All the late-night meetings and weekend trips… you’ve lied to me and I don’t think I can trust you anymore.”

        “I’m sorry, I’m a busy man. But how else do you expect me to make my money?”

        “That’s the problem Jacob, it’s always about you. You’re so selfish you couldn’t give up one meeting for me, ever. I’d give the world for you and what do I get in return? NOTHING.”

        She realized that she had raised her voice and that her family in the living room could probably hear her, but she didn’t care. She had held her tongue for too long, and now was her chance to let it all out.

        “I know about all those women, Jacob. I saw all the names in your address book, I saw you at the restaurant and I know you’ve been lying to me.”

        “Claudia, what are you talking about? There has never been anyone else but you.”

        “I don’t believe that for a second,” she seethed. “I used to, but I’m past that now. I was naïve and stupid to believe you for all this time. But I’m through with it now.”

        Claudia slipped on her coat and prepared to go outside in the pouring rain. It was thundering now and it appeared as though the storm would only get worse.

        “This is about Josh, isn’t it?”

        Claudia stopped mid-step and turned to him.

        “You’re leaving me for him, aren’t you? I should’ve known, I should’ve seen it coming.”

        Claudia didn’t know what to say. She had no idea that he would predict that.

        “Are you pregnant with his kid or something?”

        “What? NO! I never slept with anyone else… which is more than I can say for you.”

        She hadn’t meant to say that, but now that the words were out, she was glad she did.

        “This is exactly why I didn’t want you around him, Claudia. DAMMIT why didn’t you just listen to me?”

        “You mean, you didn’t want me around him because you thought he would treat me better than you? You thought he would show me what true love is really all about and sweep me off my feet? You thought he would prove what an ass you’ve really been this whole time?”

        “No, I knew he would manipulate you and trick you into believing that I’m a bad guy. I knew he would make you fall for him and take you away from me.”

        “He didn’t manipulate me into anything, Jacob. This isn’t the business world where people manipulate others and step on the little people to get what they want. This is the real world.”

        “This isn’t the real world, you’re living in a fantasy.”

        “Jacob, let me tell you something. Remember when I got sick at that party at the country club and you wouldn’t take me home and then you got mad at me for embarrassing you? Well guess who took care of me that night? Guess who was by my side, making me chicken noodle soup and fluffing my pillows? Josh. And remember Valentine’s Day when you stood me up? Guess who sent me flowers and chocolates to show that he cared even though he was out of town? Josh. Guess who was there for me when you weren’t? Guess who has volunteered with me and has taken the time to participate in the things I enjoy when you wouldn’t?

        “Do the math, Jacob. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who the better man is.” With that, she pushed open the door and stepped out into the pouring rain.

        “Claudia! Come back here! Claudia!” he yelled into the pouring rain.

        But she didn’t look back. She couldn’t now.

        “Dammit!” he yelled, slamming his fist against the wall.

        She left Jacob standing there alone, with a lot to think about. At that moment, as he watched her walk away, he finally realized how much he did love her. And she was right; it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who the better man was. He knew he had mistreated her, but it was too late now. He had taken her for granted and he had lost her.

        Claudia walked briskly to her car and climbed in, thankful to be out of the rain. Before putting the car into reverse, she saw Nicole’s head appear in the window. She was beaming proudly and giving Claudia a thumbs up. Claudia smiled and backed out of the driveway.

        Claudia drove slowly through the heavy rain, trying to clear her mind. She didn’t want to think about a single thing right now. She tried to erase the images of her proud family, and the harsh words Jacob had thrown at her.

        For once Claudia wasn’t going to analyze the situation. She wasn’t going to think about things rationally, considering the consequences of her hasty actions. Her mind had been made up for a long time now; it had just taken her awhile to act on her true feelings. For once, Claudia was acting out of spontaneity, following her heart without a care in her mind.

        And so, here she was. She had finally left him. She was a free woman, driving aimlessly through the pouring rain.

        Aimlessly? Oh who was she trying to kid? She knew exactly where she was going.

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