Until I Found you

Five

"How are you liking your office?" Dr. Bell asked Eda on the following Wednesday.

"It's very nice. I didn't need quite this much space," Eda told him, a bit shy.

"I think you don't realize how innovative your master's thesis was or how impressed our department was by your findings. They were willing to have you start your doctorate on their dime this fall if you were interested," Dr. Bell told her.

Eda was in awe of everything she'd experienced in the last three days. Her ideas and her thoughts were valued and welcomed during meetings. She enjoyed being a part of this team, the research aspect, and the work she did with the children.

"Why don't we have dinner later, and we can talk a bit more about the possibility of a doctorate?" Eda was so eager that she agreed to the meal before remembering it was a school night, and she was supposed to meet Kiraz by 4.

Then again, Eda couldn't remember the last time she'd been out with a man. And Dr. Bell was pleasant, easy to talk to, and very good-looking. Not as handsome as Serkan, but still very attractive. He was interesting, and he was charming. And Eda really wished she could talk more with him about the doctorate.

Eda walked to Ryan's office and knocked gently on the door. "Dr. Bell," Eda called. "I'm sorry for interrupting you. I wanted to inform you that I can't come to dinner with you tonight. I'm still under contract with the Bolats for the next few weeks."

"That's right!  We can leave it for another night. But only on one condition," Dr. Bell said, his face serious.

"What's that?"

"Call me Ryan. Dr. Bell is so formal. You are my colleague. We don't need all this formality," he assured her. "Also, we can do lunch instead. If we leave in the next," he looked at his watch, "ten minutes, we can make it to the lunch specials at Randall's."

"I'll go get my things," Eda told him, excited. "Thank you, Ryan."

"Anytime, sweetheart."

Lunch ran for a couple of hours. Eda hadn't laughed this much in years. Ryan shared many anecdotes of his research, mishaps, and lessons he'd learned along the way.

When their food arrived, Ryan spoke about going to Rome next summer. He mentioned gelato and how it differed from ice cream while Eda enjoyed her cakey dessert before her entrée. Dr. Bell then commented on a particular restaurant in Rome he'd found to die for: Pasta in Corso, a counter service establishment in the heart of Rome. The pasta was made fresh every morning and was better than the fanciest restaurants he'd been in downtown Rome. Ryan seemed to be a simple man who knew how to enjoy a good meal. And what was best, he didn't tease Eda for ordering a side of fries with her Ossobuco. He'd asked for a side of Ketchup and happily shared her fries.

In between dessert and her main dish, Eda had received a message from Serkan. But she'd been so engrossed in conversation that she'd tapped on it, effectively ignoring it.

She didn't see it again until her alarm rang more than half an hour later, and Kiraz's name flashed on her cellphone screen.

"I'm sorry to cut our lunch short, but I've got to get Kiraz," Eda said, though their meal had been anything but short.

"Not a problem. What time is pick-up?" Ryan asked with a smile.

"It starts at 4:00, but I have to be there by 3:30 PM," she stated apologetically.

Ryan looked at his watch, then dropped a few bills on the table along with his business card. "Lunch is on me this time since I made you late. Let's go. Otherwise, you won't have time to get your car from the campus."