VERY SECRET FRIENDS. Hot love adventures

Chapter 8. First date

After the light breakfast and a cup of strong black coffee, Andre enthusiastically set to work. He has regained the strong desire to stand at the easel with a brush in his hands. Each stroke was made with ease, and the paints lay down on the canvas, as if by themselves. Andre felt like singing and turned on the stereo. The sounds of romantic music helped him to work even better.

The afternoon came quietly, and he heard the phone call. It was from Jackie.

- Hello, Andre! Hope I'm not interrupting you from urgent matters? Nothing's changed? Can we meet today?

- Of course, Jackie! I look forward to it!

- Great! I hope to be free by 6:00 at the latest, maybe a bit earlier. I can be in the park at half past six. Where exactly do you want us to meet?

- How will you go to the park?

- I think I will take the metro. It will be convenient for me.

- Got it, Jackie. Then we can meet at Bethesda Terrace near the fountain. It's close to the metro station on 72nd street. I think we will easily find each other near the fountain. How will l recognize you? What will you have on?

- We have a dress code at work, so I will be in a dark skirt and a white blouse. If it gets cooler, I'll put on a jacket.

- Fine! I do not have any dress code. I plan to wear jeans and, probably, the jean jacket. Then I'll see you later! Call me, if anything changes.

Fortunately, nothing has changed and the message from Jackie informed that she is already free and is on her way. Five minutes before the designated time Andre was waiting at the appointed place. Jackie was nowhere to be seen. Slowly circling around the fountain twice, and attentively gazing into faces of all the people passing by, Andre started to get worried. Jackie was already ten minutes late and he decided to call her. To his great relief, she replied immediately.

- Hello, Jackie! Are you all right? I am already here. And where are you? Couldn't you come? – asked Andre anxiously.

- Hello! I've arrived. I am here too, - in a quiet voice, barely audible, answered Jackie.

- And where are you? Where? I don't see you, - wondered Andre, looking around.

- I went to the side avenue, on the left from the fountain, leading to the Bow Bridge. The sun still burns and it was too hot near the fountain. And here is the pleasant shadow.

- Understood. I go to you. Don't hang up, let us stay connected.

With the phone at his ear, Andre headed to the shady avenue with a pleasant freshness. But he also hasn't found Jackie here.

- Hello, Jackie, where are you? I am already at the beginning of the avenue, but I don't see you anywhere.

- Go forward a bit, then you will see me.

Andre walked quickly along the avenue, but he didn't even make twenty steps when he heard a quiet female voice to his left:

- Is that you, Andre?

Andre stopped short, turned around and saw the charming brunette, looking out of the thick trunk of the big tree.

- Yes, it's me. And you are Jackie? Now we found each other, - he smiled back.

Jackie was blushing, she came out from behind the tree, smiled and gave him her hand:

- Hello! I am glad to see you!

- Hello! I am very happy to see you too! I already started to lose hope, - Andre shook the stretched hand, and to somehow dispel her confusion, he kissed Jackie on the cheek.

- Where shall we go? – she asked.

- We can walk to the Belvedere Castle and have a look at the Turtle Pond. It's not so far away. And then we'll see.

They slowly moved along the avenue towards the bridge, across which they could reach the Belvedere Castle.

- Why did you hide behind the tree? Is anything wrong? - Andre was disturbed because of that improvised hide-and-seek game.

- When you called, I was waiting for you on the avenue, and I saw a man, dressed just like you, in jeans. He also was on the phone, at the same time as we spoke. But he was so fat and with such a big belly, that he could barely walk. I thought it was you. That you sent me someone else's photos, and not yours. I got very scared and hid behind the nearest tree. But that man walked past me, and by his conversation, I realized that it was not you. Still, I was scared, and I decided not to go out from behind the tree.

- I understand. After the incident with that crazy man, you are already afraid of everything. I guess if I were you, I would have done the same.

- Yes. Thank you for understanding and support, Andre. Only with you, I can be frank and not be afraid that you will not understand me and will make fun of me or condemn, - Jackie smiled with relief.

- I am glad to be able to help you.

- Tell me a little about yourself, Andre. I remember you have a daughter and a grandson in Paris. And where is your wife? Here, or she remained in Paris? Or maybe you are divorced?

- It can be said that she remained in Paris. She died in a car accident many years ago. The drunk truck driver drove onto the oncoming lane.

- I'm sorry! I didn't know. My condolences for your loss!

- Thank you, dear! It was a long time ago and time heals all wounds.

- And what do you do? I'm just very curious to know what does such a kind, supportive and lovely man do, - asked Jackie with a shy smile.

- I am an artist. They say that a good one. My paintings are in many collections and galleries, including here in New York. I like to work with portraits. And what about you?

- Oh, that's great! You are the first artist, whom I personally know. I work in an auditing company - finance, accounting, and so on. So they met - an artist and an accountant - Jackie laughed sincerely and loudly.

The wall or better to say, the small wall of embarrassment and uncertainty that was between them, finally melted. They kept on going, cheerfully and enthusiastically telling each other interesting stories from their lives, and sharing their impressions about recent experiences.

They walked up the stairs to the Belvedere Castle and Andre, as a true gentleman, offered Jackie his hand. After that, he held her hand in his for the whole evening. He tenderly felt the warmth of her palm, and the confidence, she showed him. Suddenly it brought him a memory from his childhood when he stayed with his grandfather in summer. One morning, his grandfather Paul took him to the hen house to look at the small, newly hatched baby chicks. Andre held a small yellow ball in his palms that chirped without a break as if asking for help. It was so warm and so helpless. Andre wanted to stroke it and kiss. And he stroked him but did not kiss him, so as not to make his grandfather laugh.

Now, looking at Jackie, cheerfully telling him his next story, he had mixed feelings. On the one hand, at her age she could be his daughter, with whom he also walked, holding hands. On the other hand, he suddenly madly wanted to hug and kiss this cheerful brunette with a slanted fringe and a ponytail. "I wonder if she realizes this", though Andre.

The day was nearing sunset. The first stars appeared in the sky. Although he and Jackie were ready to walk until early morning, hand in hand, it was time to say goodbye. Andre caught a taxi at the exit from the park, gently kissed Jackie on the cheek and shut the car door. So, this wonderful day has come to the end, he thought with sadness.