Flying Blind

Man In Black

It had been days since my mothers attempted setup. I still hadn't met up with Charlie. My mother wouldn't let it go. So I decided to invite the guy on a not so blind date at Cafe Rose' just to get her off my back. I picked that restaurant because it was located in the center of everything.

Charlie showed up right on time dressed in a black v-neck tee and black jeans. He was carrying a black gift bag tucked under his arm. Boy did he have a thing for that color. A phone was to his ear in his other hand. That attractively distracting smile was ever present as he ended his call and neared our table. He ran a hand through his dark shoulder length hair and then pulled out a chair to join me.

"Hello Emily."he smiled sitting the bag on the table "I must say you look stunning today."

"I bet I do compared to the last time you saw me." I subconsciously go to touch my brown tresses before I catch myself.

The way he is staring intently at me is making me nervous. What is he thinking?

"I am so glad you invited me to lunch today. I was afraid I had angered you that morning by showing up like that."He was playing with the menu as he talked. Maybe he was nervous too.

"Your mother assured me it was going to be fine but clearly it wasn't. I sincerely apologize. As a peace offering I come bearing a gift."

Charlie handed me the black gift bag with a flourish. I couldn't help but smile as I took it from him. I peeked inside. He waited patiently as I slid a pressed flower art print from out of the bag. My eyes lit up with excitement.

"Suitable for framing."he added "The blue flowers were picked out to match the color of your eyes."

"How did you know about my obsession with pressed flowers?" I inquired.

"I didn't." he replied
"So what is good here?"

Charlie flipped through the menu suddenly avoiding my eyes. That was weird. I let the moment pass and began to give him menu suggestions. In the back of my mind I thought of my pressed flower obsession and how it had started.

My mother being a flower shop owner would have so many left over flowers that would end up dying and decaying. As a child I thought it was such a shame and sort of sad. So I would salvage them by pressing them and turning them into cards for friends and family. It was my way of keeping the flowers alive.

We chatted over chicken parm and cheesecake for dessert. He refused the endless garlic bread which I told him was beloved by all who ate at Cafe Rose.' I teased him that it just meant more for me.

Charlie told me about his life growing up in a small villa on his modest family winery. He swore they created one of the best wines in their area. By the end of the meal Charlie had enchanted me. So much so that I decided to invite him to go with me to the Annual Charity Costume Ball.

We ended the date on a brief stroll of the area because lunch had run longer than we expected. I took that as a good sign.