My offer on the house was accepted and after about two weeks everything was finalized and I was a proud owner of a house. Joy, Carl, and I celebrated by going out for dinner at the local steakhouse in town. We arrived at the restaurant that evening, I was dressed in a flowy lavender summer dress with matching high-heeled sandals, I left my hair down and I even did my makeup. I was so happy to finally be moving on with my life and Joy even commented on how different I looked. "Wow AJ you look drop-dead gorgeous, being a homeowner really suits you," she said. "Why thank you," I said all the while blushing. The hostess seated us at a table to the side of the restaurant and told us that our waiter would be with us shortly. A younger guy who looked to be about my age appeared to take our drink orders. "Good evening everyone, my name is Brent and I will be your waiter for tonight. What will everyone be drinking and can I start anyone off with any appetizers?" he said with a charming smile. I decided on diet coke, Joy and Carl both ordered sweet tea and we decided on a sampler platter for the table so we could try all of the appetizers. Brent told us that he would be right back with that and then he would take our dinner orders. As he stepped away Joy leaned over and whispered, "Did you see the way that he couldn't take his eyes off of you?" I swatted playfully at her, "Oh stop he is just trying to make sure that he gets a good tip that's all". "Please honey you are stunning and it would take a blind man not to notice it," she said. I laughed at her, "ok I will take your word for it but, I just don't think I am ready to get back into the dating pool considering the last time I did I almost drowned." At that moment Brent made his way back to our table with our drinks and the appetizers. As he finished putting everything on the table he looked straight at me and smiled as he said, "are you ready to order?" Joy giggled and waggled her eyebrows at me. I placed my order as did Joy and then Carl. Brent took our menus and then said to me, "I will be back as soon as possible with your order." And with that, he walked away. Carl decided to pipe up then, "See, Joy is right he only has his eyes on you." I giggled as did Joy. We talked about all of the ideas that I have for my new home and Carl told me to remind him when we got back home to get the number of the contractor that they had used. I told them that I was enrolling in night classes at the local community college next week so I could get my degree in interior design because I want to be able to open my own business. They congratulated me on that and we continued to talk. I looked up to see Brent coming our way with our meal. He served me first, then Joy, and then Carl and before he left he looked straight at me and said, "If there is anything else that I can do for you please do not hesitate to ask." Then he slowly walked away. We all laughed at that and then dove into our meals. The rest of the dinner we spent eating and talking with Brent coming over from time to time to refill our drinks and check on us to see how we were doing. We all decided that none of us wanted dessert so I motioned for Brent to bring us the check and I gave him my card. Carl tried to protest, "I can't let you do that, I can get this." I held my hand up to stop him, "I think that it is the least that I can do, and remember it's not like I can't afford it." I laughed as I said that because after all that they had done for me I felt like it was the least that I could do for them. I included a generous tip for Brent because he had been a wonderful waiter. When he brought back my card I signed the receipt and handed it back to Brent. He smiled and thanked me. We walked out to Carl's car since we had all ridden together and drove home. After we got home I went straight upstairs to my room and showered and slipped into my pajamas and then went downstairs to find Carl to get the number of the contractor so I could call them first thing in the morning. I found Carl and Joy both in the living room watching tv as usual. "Hey, Carl, can I get that number from you so I can call them tomorrow and get this project started," I said. "Oh sure," he said as he jumped up and went into the kitchen and wrote the number down on a piece of paper, and then handed it to me. "His name is Adrian Phillips," he said. "Thanks, I am going to call him in the morning because I want to get started right away. I want to move in within a month," I said. "You don't have to hurry, you can take all the time you need ya know," Joy said. I smiled back at her as I said, "I know it's just that I really want to get settled in before I start my college classes. You guys have been so wonderful to me and I am just going to be down the road so I won't be too far and I will still see you guys all the time." Joy jumped up and hugged me, "I am still going to miss you being here," she said. I smiled back at her. Joy had become the big sister that I never had and my best friend all wrapped up into one. Even Carl had slid into the big brother role and I loved them both. I said goodnight to both of them after hugging them both and went back upstairs and climbed into my bed and drifted off into peaceful sleep.
