Belly Literary Universe (part 2)

Camilla's Clothes Part 13: Date

"So was this place your safe choice?" Zach asked, looking around the old style brass and lacquered wood bar, then at the muscle bound sailor type bartender. "Was dinner too much of a commitment?"

"I picked it 'cause it was familiar enough. Sorry." Camilla blushed and looked away. Fiery red hair - flannel bound muscles - rugged in a clearly planned way. He was attractive, and because of that, her choice of venue felt all the more tacky. "Especially dumb 'cause they told me not to drink while i'm still recovering," She chuckled and stared at her brown soft drink.

"No, you know what? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that," He said smiling down at the table. "Even with Secret Advisor acting like a glorified matchmaker, this is still a first date. To be honest I'm just glad you agreed to meet me after my awkward-ass introduction."

Camilla sighed with relief.

"Mind if I ask what the surgery was for?"

"What? The Secret Advisor didn't tell you yet?"

"No, he mostly just said you were a nice southern lady that he thought I'd like."

"That's all?"

"More or less. I mean he told me you were eager to start a family. But you told me that too. I assume he knows more, but wanted me to learn it on my own."

Camilla side stepped his original question. "So how did you 'meet' this guy?"

Zach gave a sad smile. "Uh - sure. My wife died years ago. Cancer. Took a long time to get over her. That's not here or there through. I saw a counselor and they eventually gave me the contact information for Secret Advisor."

Guilt weighed in her stomach. She reached across the booth table and grasped his hand. "I'm sorry about your partner..."

Zach sniffled a bit and smiled. "Thanks."

"I do find it funny that a shrink would send you to a belly obsessed social media fiend though," Camilla lightly joked.

"Hah! I didn't know that at the time. I don't think the counselor did either."

"Sorry for being blunt," Camilla apologized.

"No. No, think nothing of it. It was funny."

"No I mean I'm sorry for being blunt today and when we talked on the phone."

"I get it. I've been there. Bitter. Resentful. People just don't know how to deal with people with problems. Especially when you can see 'em out an open. It sucks when you're ready to try and move onto something new but people won't even give you a chance."

Camilla fought back tears. She took a deep breath. "My surgery. I avoided talking about it 'cause of that. Uhhh - I didn't lose anyone. Not like you. I've tried for a decade to make a family. But it was one thing after another. I'll spare the details. First things didn't implant right. Then a cancer scare. Then infections. Scarring. I can't have children." It killed her to say those words. "Can't - couldn't. As much as I'm dubious on the Secret Advisor, he has me helped out. I'm doing a thing for him, and he got me into some crazy medical program. They gave me it all back..."

Zach leaned back in the booth and ran his hands down his face. "Wow. I didn't know he was that well connected. So like - did they just... Spruce everything up again? Or?"

"They grew a whole new set of - well - everything." She felt a warmth in her chest. It already happened. It reminded her that things we're changing for the better.

"Wow," he repeated.

"It's a bit of a sensitive subject... So what is it that you do?"

Zach cleared his throat." A few things. I own a lumber company. Small one. But my real passion is a furniture shop." Zach laughed. "It's funny, My last name is carpenter, and I ended up a carpenter."

"Family business?"

"No, hah. Dad was a used car salesman. Mom was a teacher. Elementary."

"Huh."

"What about you, Camilla?"

"I actually own a business. I make clothes, Maternity clothes, specifically."

"Is that - uh - related to everything?"

"Huh? Oh. No. It's more superficial. I just always hated how maternity clothes were always ugly lazy frumpy sun dresses, or good looking but custom and expensive."

"Do you like it?"

"Yeah," Camilla smiled. "Actually it's sort of funny. My store is in an old converted saw mill. Got my home set up in the old production offices suspended above the main line."

"Wow! It must get cold there in the winter."

"Yeahhhh it lacks insulation. But, the living space is converted, as is my fitting area."

"I'd love to see it." Zach leaned on the table.

"Are you flirting with me?"

"That's why we're here, isn't it?"

Camilla blushed. "Well, I can't do anything more 'cause of the surgery."

"I didn't assume it was on the table. Was it on the table? No, don't answer that," he laughed. "I wasn't that eager. I mean I didn't want to be that forward. I like you but wasn't planning on pushing anything..."

"Don't worry about it darling, you're fine," She said brushing her hand against his."