I shrugged. “Sorry, I’m alone.”
“No problem,” the waitress said before pausing for a moment. “If you’re willing to sit with someone else, then I can get you a table. She’s waiting for a table to open up too.”
I wasn’t as keen on sitting with a stranger. I preferred sitting alone so I could read and eat in peace. Then again, I really wanted my croissant. “Sure, if she’s okay with it too.”
The waitress went to get my mystery dinner date. As I waited, I wondered about my failed marriage. I had thought I’d be married to Olga until my death. I never imagined something like this would ever happen.
Now, I wasn’t so eager to get back to the dating game after a divorce. Perhaps, I had become a cynic who didn’t believe in long-term relationships. I just didn’t want to go through with the heartbreak again.
Eventually, the waitress came back and directed me to the table. I found a young woman sitting at the table. She wore a simple business blouse and skirt combo that was slightly drenched. The rain must have caught her off guard as well.
More than that, this woman was beautiful. Her brilliant green eyes had me spellbound. The rain had slicked her hair in a way that no supermodel could hope to duplicate. A pair of heels finished off her nice, toned legs.
As the rain continued outside, I sat down and took out my book. “Hi…”
She smiled brilliantly. “Hello. I guess you didn’t think you’d have lunch this way, did you?”
I chuckled nervously. “I thought I’d be eating alone. Don’t worry, I won’t bother you-”
“You’re reading Faulkner?” she asked to my surprise. I wasn’t used to having people comment on my books. Olga hated literature. “I’m more of a John Steinbeck gal myself.”
“I didn’t think people here were a fan of the classics,” I replied, intrigued by the woman. “I’m Brian by the way.”
“I’m Emily,” she answered. “You must be new around here. Or at least new to Amy’s Café. I come here all the time and I know.”
“I just moved into a new apartment a few blocks from here,” I explained. I wanted to leave the details of my divorce scarce. It was never a good conversation starter. “I stopped by here out of the blue one day. I immediately fell in love with the croissants.”
“The almond toast is my guilty pleasure,” Emily replied sincerely. Our waitress returned with a notepad. “Shall we order?”
We placed our orders and continued our conversation. We were both book lovers and discussed the authors we were reading. I could never talk to Olga about these things. Likewise, my coworkers preferred to talk about sports at the watercooler.
I told her about my job as an executive at a shipping company. In turn, I learned that Emily worked at an art gallery. She worked with artists and sponsors to set up shows and exhibitions.
“Wow,” I said, finishing up my coffee. I hadn’t even touched my book. I was so engrossed with Emily’s work. “Your job sounds so interesting.”
Emily giggled. “Believe me, it can get pretty boring doing paperwork for a half dozen artists.”
“Still beats doing paperwork for distributors,” I said. I was sad that my meal was over. It would mean I would have to leave her. “I’d like to get to know more about what you do.”
She leaned forward. “How about dinner?”
I nearly gasped as my heart beat like a trip hammer. “Dinner? We just met.”
“You’re the only man I know who reads Faulkner,” Emily laughed. It was the only time I could recall that a woman had asked me out. “Why wouldn’t I take you out to dinner?
I felt equal parts nervous and anxious. “This almost sounds like a date.”
“Almost,” she laughed, handing me a note. It was a flyer from her art gallery with her contact information. It also had an address for a restaurant written by her. “It’s a nice Italian place not too far from here. It’s a couple of blocks from a subway terminal. I’d like us to go there if you’re not busy.”
“Thanks,” I said, handing her a business card. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With the weather clearing up, we said our goodbyes and parted ways. As I walked to my apartment, my encounter with Emily lingered with me. I kept thinking about our upcoming date. Or whatever it was.
Regardless of what you wanted to call it, I felt like a teenager waiting for prom night. I worried about how I should dress for the night or what cologne I should wear. I had never been this way with Olga. I couldn’t believe I had landed a date with a beautiful woman after leaving my divorce attorney’s office.
I went through my wardrobe and realized I didn’t have much to choose from. I had donated a lot of old clothing when I moved into my apartment. I just didn’t have room. Besides, it wasn’t like I was ready to start a relationship. Thankfully, I had a respectable set of business attire.
I decided on a pair of dark slacks with a light grey cotton shirt. A matching dark jacket finished the look. I couldn’t help but feel a little bit self-conscious. Even with Olga, I was usually on auto-pilot with these things.
I looked at myself in the mirror and was pleased. I didn’t know what the dress code was but I didn’t want to seem too formal. Hopefully, Emily thought I looked attractive.
At the same time, I was getting nervous about meeting with Emily. Something felt off about the whole thing. I didn’t know why she made the first move. Hell, I didn’t know what she saw in me. I almost wanted to cancel the whole thing. Nonetheless, I had agreed to the date and I had to show up at the very least.
The following day, I left for the restaurant. I made sure to check the weather forecast for the day. Thankfully, it would be a dry night. Nonetheless, I carried an umbrella with me in case things took a turn for the worst.
I took the train to my destination and met up with Emily. My heart thundered when I saw her waiting on a subway bench for me. My date looked stunning in a light blue cocktail dress with a dark jacket covering her.
Emily smiled when she saw me and said. “Thanks for showing up. I was beginning to think you had cold feet!”
I laughed at her statement. She had no idea how close to the truth she was. “And stand you up? Never.”
“Let’s go in,” she said, gesturing to the restaurant. It was only a couple of blocks away. “I made sure to make reservations.”
“I guess we won’t have to sit with strangers.”
She smirked. “But then we wouldn’t have met.”
I chuckled. “That’s true.”
“Let’s go in before they give our table to someone else,” Emily said. A host greeted us and took my umbrella. Then, a waitress guided us to our reserved table. I tried to pull Emily chair’s so she could sit but she did so herself. “We’ll just have water for now. Unless you want something else, Brian?”
I shook my head. “Water for now.”
For the first time in months, I truly felt happy. The divorce had been soul-crushing. It was hard for me to even enjoy myself. Now, I felt like a new man. Hell, I couldn’t think of the last time I had been so happy being with Olga.
“I can tell you’re coming off a bad relationship,” Emily said to my surprise. The woman could read me like a book. “Don’t worry, I won’t probe. My ear is open to listen if you’re willing to vent. I know how a bad relationship can bring you down.”
“Well, it was less of a bad relationship and more of a divorce,” I admitted. “I found her in bed with the pool boy.”
“Ouch!” she said, winching. “I’m sorry to hear that. I hope the separation wasn’t too bad.”
“You have my lawyer to thank for that,” I chuckled, feeling lighthearted about the whole event. Being with Emily made the divorce feel like a distant event. “There were no kids and the proceedings took a few months to complete. I sold the house, gave her half of everything, and bought an apartment here.”
“At least you got a nice bachelor pad near Amy’s Cafe,” Emily replied. I had never spoken to a woman who so kind and understanding. It was mo
re relaxing than a weekend at the spa. “Still, it sounds like you have a fresh start now.”
I chuckled. “That’s what my lawyer said. Are the two of you related?”
She smirked. “Does he deal with artistic divas on a regular business?”
It was nice talking to Emily. No one I knew really understood me, especially my ex-wife. I suppose that’s a universal issue. Just about everyone believes that no one else ever understands them. However, I was a special case.
My parents had been workaholics that had little time for me or my siblings. It was where I got my work ethic from. Working away on a problem helped me deal with how lonely I was.
It was why I married Olga in the first place. I wanted someone I could come home to and talk to. Of course, it never felt like she was ever listening to my problems.
Emily was far more supportive than my ex. I couldn’t help but feel like she could be a shoulder I could cry on whenever I felt down. We had known each other for a couple of days but it felt like a lifetime.
“Why did you ask me to dinner, Emily?” I asked, getting serious. It was like I was living in a dream. “I’m just some guy you were forced to sit with at a cafe.”
“It’s a change of pace, Brian,” she answered sincerely, locking eyes with me. “If this doesn’t work out, then at least the food was nice. Maybe we become friends, maybe not. The worst that happens is that I lose a night.”
On that note, our food arrived. It was quite delicious but I was more interested in Emily. Whether or not this was an actual date, I felt I could talk to her about anything. She listened to me in a way no one else did. It was more therapeutic than speaking with my actual therapist.
I talked about my divorce with Olga. Speaking to Emily made me realize how the marriage wasn’t a good match. We didn’t have much in common when it came to hobbies. I mostly married her because that was what men my age were supposed to do. That marriage was a ticking time bomb. It was lucky that I ended it before it went boom.
It was utterly cathartic. It felt like I could go on talking for hours with Emily. She seemed to genuinely care about my emotions. I didn’t have to be Brian the stoic transportation executive around her.
I could just be me.
Soon, the conversation shifted to literature. We talked about classic authors and newcomers. I gave her some book recommendation. She returned the favor by giving me her reading list. I felt such a deep connection with her.
I wondered if Emily felt the same way about me. After all, she had been the one to invite me to dinner. The woman had been too flirty and nice to be just acting polite.
As much as I had told her about myself, Emily didn’t reveal too much about herself. I knew what her job was and what she did for a living. However, I didn’t know about her background or any past relationships. It seemed like she had suffered heartbreak in the past like me. I thought it would be rude to press the issue and kept my silence about those topics unless she initiated the conversation.
“I’ll put that book on to-do list,” Emily said before pausing for a moment. She seemed to continue our conversation as much as I did. “You know what, we should meet up again. I’m sure we each have a lot of recommendations to share.”
I was stunned. “Sure… I’d love it!”
We continued our meal and conversation until it came to leave. I offered to pay but Emily swatted it down. “Sorry Brian. When I take a man out to dinner, I pay.”
I smiled. “Maybe next time, I’ll treat you.”
She smiled back as the waitress took her card. “Maybe.”
We left the restaurant hand in hand. It was hard leaving her side when we reached the subway. Thankfully, a goodbye kiss on the cheek made me look forward to our next date.
Emily ran off to catch her train. “See you tomorrow, Brian.”
I waved her off. “You too.”
I enjoyed my job more than most people. At my office desk, however, I couldn’t help but watch the clock like some high school student in math class. What I felt for Emily was magical. She more than healed the hole in my heart. She was a friend I felt I could trust with just about everything.
Sure, I had only known her for a couple of days but it felt true!
Nonetheless, I enjoyed watching our relationship blossom over the next few months. We visited museums, read in libraries, and had our books signed at author signings. I had never done this kind of stuff with Olga. If nothing else, Emily was good and kind friend.
However, it felt like she was hiding a part of herself from me. I guessed it was a bad relationship in the past or something. I knew she would tell me the truth in time once we were close enough.
With my previous marriage in the rear-view mirror, I fully committed myself to spending time with Emily. If nothing else, she was a nice, healthy distraction from my divorce. If it wasn’t for her, I would probably be drowning my sorrows with liquor. The fact that I enjoyed being with her was the cherry on top.
For the next month, it was just her and me. We didn’t rush into sex. It was nice to take it slow and enjoy ourselves together. After a messy relationship, I liked the change of pace.
Together, Emily and I explored the city. We went to under-appreciated restaurants. We went for walks in the park before reading books beside a picnic basket. I loved visiting a lake and watching the sunset with her.
I had initially hated leaving my suburban home and coming to the city. With Emily, I realized how beautiful it truly was. Just being with her seemed to transform the landscape.
Other days, we drove to a nearby town and explored it. It was strange as if I was back in high school and dating again. We went to book fairs and met famous authors. We did all the things I never really did with Olga.
Hell, I even cooked for her in my apartment. It was something I never really did for my ex-wife. Being a bachelor had made me learn a few new skills.
Emily marveled at my bachelor pad. It was her first time at my place. “I think you’re the first guy I know who cooks on a regular basis. Most men order out. My father can’t even boil water properly!”
“I had a lot of free time after moving here,” I explained. I had cleaned up the place for her. We couldn’t eat in a pigsty. “I took a few cooking classes and watched a few instructional videos on Youtube. Not that I don’t have a craving for a croissant at Amy’s Café once in a blue moon.”
Wearing a simple grey colored blouse with a high collar, the woman looked gorgeous. She giggled as I rummaged through the refrigerator. “And what is my master chef making today?”
“Nothing too fancy,” I answered, getting the ingredients out. “In the mood for Chicken Alfredo with garlic bread? I got a nice red wine from a client as well.”
She licked her lips. “Sounds delightful. I’m not the best cook but do you need any help?”
I smiled at her. “You can admire at me from a distance while I create an edible masterpiece.”
We both had a good laugh at that.
It wasn’t that fancy of a meal. Only the chicken was the complicated part and I made sure to get good cuts. It didn’t hurt that cooking the meal made me look more sophisticated than the average man.
I had made sure to keep the chicken in the refrigerator beforehand so it didn’t need to thaw. I had also marinated it with garlic and a few peppers to give it a bit of a kick. In addition, I had pre-copped the rest of the ingredients, such as the parsley.
As I cooked, Emily and I talked about backgrounds. While my parents had been strict and religious, her parents were free-spirited hippies. They moved from town to town like nomads. They were quite artistic people and it rubbed off on their daughter. It was no wonder she worked in the art industry.
With the chicken prepared, I moved on to the spices and noodles. Watching me from behind, Emily asked. “You sure there’s nothing I can do to help?”
This dish was a bit more complicated than it looked. I had to get the timing just right to avoid overcooking the chicken. Having two people work on it would
make things too confusing. “I guess if you want then you can set the table.”
Then, I went to work on the garlic bread. I didn’t make the bread from scratch. I got it from a nearby specialty store. I just had to put it on a baking tray before letting the oven do the rest of the work.
I liked having seafood with Chicken Alfredo but I knew Emily wasn’t a huge fan of it. Nonetheless, the basic ingredients of garlic and Parmesan cheese were more than enough. I just had to get the timing for the pasta right.
First, I started with some olive oil which I used to cook up some crush garlic. Then, I added in the chicken. Once it was done, I added in some wine to give it a stronger flavor.
With the main dish cooking, I checked up on the garlic bread. It was coming along nicely. I followed up by tossing the noodles into a pot of hot water. I worked on the broth next by making sure it was creamy and had the right amount of spices.
The Trans Ultra Collection Vol 1 Page 22