Dangers in the Dark

Dating Tips and Failures 14.3

Out of everything dad had ever asked me to do, this was by far the most random and unexpected of them all. It was after school but Tanya and I were currently sitting under our little tree on the soft grass with my phone propped up against my bag. Tanya was being picked up by her Mom who was running a little late and I had swim practice anyway in half an hour. Dad was on the other end of our little facetime where he was chucking half his closet onto the bed of the hotel room he was renting for the both of us to stay in while he looked for apartments for us in the city.

Dad had informed me that he was to be going on a date with Lee Thompkins, the doctor who had worked had Arkham with dad for a few months. I had had a feeling that dad had liked her for a while now but it still felt weird to accept that he and Barbara were finally over. That being said, I was willing to give Lee a chance so that was how Tanya and I ended up in this strange predicament.

It seemed that Tanya was having the time of her life, critiquing all of dad's outfit choices as though she had suddenly become an expert in fashion and judging by the mismatched socks she was wearing, I think it may have been a passing phase. But of course, dad had noticed Tanya's black eye when I had answered his call and being the pain that she was, Tanya thought it would be a great idea to say that I had gotten annoyed at her and clubbed her around the face. Thanks, T.

"What about this one?" dad asked, holding up a black blazer and a black tie.

"It looks like you're going to a meeting, not a date," Tanya commented.

"Or a funeral," I added.

"A funeral of your blooming love with the doctor if it all goes wrong," Tanya said, making me laugh as dad stared at us with wide eyes.

"I'm really feeling the support here. Thanks," dad said.

"You're welcome," Tanya saluted with a smile, while I almost cried with laughter.

"Look, this is all I've got," dad told us, making me take a few breaths to calm down. "I've only got my work clothes."

"Wear a bright tie," I suggested with a shrug. "Or lose the blazer and the tie. It'll look more casual and less like you're interviewing her for a job."

"Where you taking her anyway?" Tanya asked, kicking her feet up onto my lap.

"On the date?" dad questioned.

"No, on holiday," I replied sarcastically. "Of course, the date."

"Oh, right. Well, it's just a little restaurant in the city," dad said. "Nothing special. I needed to see her anyway to talk about some work in an investi—"

"You're kidding right?" I said, sitting up and staring at dad.

"What?" dad asked.

"Dad, you invited Lee to a restaurant. She's gonna think it's a date," I told him.

"It is a date," dad countered.

"People don't invite other people out to talk about work and then call it a date," I reminded him.

"This is a work meeting, not a date. So perhaps the black-tie and blazer combo would work," Tanya added.

Dad paused for a moment, staring down at his clothes.

"I've screwed this up a little, haven't I?" dad sighed.

"Just a little bit," I nodded. "But it's okay. I'm sure Lee will understand. From what I've heard she seems lovely. Just try and hold off on the work talk at least until the end."

"Or you could get it out of the way at the start," Tanya countered. "You could say something like, 'Hey, pretty lady. We're on this date but I need some work advice. We can save it for later if you want. But this is a date'."