Lunch Date Part I
She felt conspicuous.
She was sitting at Digger’s Diner in a booth opposite Ernst and it felt like the entire town was watching. She’d only just sat down but it felt like everyone was waiting for her lunch date to start with more anticipation than she had.
“So, Gulliver took Kaylee to Burlington for the day?” Ernst asked curiously. “How did that feel to let her go so far away for the first time?”
“Actually,” she shrugged, “I didn’t hesitate at all. She was
excited to go and meet her cousin and uncle for the first time.”
“Darwin was worried she would love him more.” Ernst gave a laugh.
“Oh no. Kaylee will fix that when she gets back. She will make sure he feels loved.”
“You had no reservations at all then?”
“None. My mother was pissed. She felt it was too soon, but he’s missed out on seven years of her life. I’d rather not be responsible for more time lost. He travels with a good security detail, especially after the shit with Davis, the dirty agent, so 1 know she’s safe. He’s going to be with a seasoned parent in15:43
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“Honestly, my mother is going through something.” She made wide eyes at him. “She’s been super bitchy since this all started with Gulliver showing up. She got in my face a couple of times, once in front of Kaylee at breakfast and again this morning.”
“What do you think her problem is?” Ernst seemed so confused.
“I think she’s torn.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s finally getting the chance to see us moving out and giving her back her freedom. Her entire life for the last eight years has revolved around us, me and Kaylee that is. Dad and I have had more than one conversation this past week about how she’s feeling guilty for being excited to get her life back.”
“She should feel guilty.” Ernst said bluntly.
She blinked at his words. “You think so?”
“Yes. If twenty years from now, Kaylee came to you and said her partner put her at risk and she needed you to hide her and her child, what would you do?”
“Disappear with them. No questions asked.”
Ernst gave her a pointed look. “My mother did the same thing. she did as many nights walking the floor with a newborn as 15did
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which were not part of your control, well, that’s not a cool mom
move.”
“I can see her point.”
“I can’t.” Ernst was blunt. “The alternative, January, was you would have left with Kaylee on your own. You would have been on your own and she would have missed out on eight years with you and everything with Kaylee. She is being selfish.”
“Wow.”
“Too much?”
“No. You’re far more,” she made a face, “honest than I was expecting from you.”
“Life is too short to be anything but,” he gave her a smile. He leaned forward and whispered across the table, “the entire restaurant is staring at us, and Digger has come from the kitchen about four times to glare at me.”
She giggled, “we’re having lunch together. You’d think by the way everyone is staring we were eating naked.”
He sat back and blinked in surprise and then closed his eyes and shook his head, his cheeks a pink color.
Now it’s my turn to ask if I’m too much.”
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“Ernst!” she was shocked by his bold comment.
“Shh. Still warring with my imagination!” he opened his eyes, mischief in them and for the first time she got a glimpse of where Darwin’s playfulness came from. He squinted at her, “almost, there. Under control.”
Now she was blushing at his flirting. She felt her cheeks burning as Alice, the server, approached with a smile and a notepad.
“Well, this is interesting, January, Ernst. What can I get for you?”
“I’ll have the special with a chocolate shake,” January said with a smile, her hands touching her cheeks.
“I’ll also have the special, but I’ll have coffee instead of the shake.”
“So, is this a date?” Alice leaned over asking curiously.
“Just two friends having lunch,” Ernst answered clearing his
throat.
“Oh,” Alice seemed disappointed as she walked away to put their orders in.
January was quiet as she studied her fingertips.
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He reached across the table and took her hand in his, “January, I want to date you. I want to take you on a lot of dates and get to know you better but,” he smiled softly, “I think you’re jumping into dating because you’re avoiding feelings with Gulliver. I very much want you to date me, but I want it when you’re not thumbing your nose at your ex. For now, I’ll happily spend time with you building our friendship and if something romantic. blooms from that then it’s a win–win for me. I’ll flirt with you and try to win you over but,” he tapped his chest, “I need to be careful with this, January. You asking me out seems a bit too reactive and while I don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, I don’t want my heart broken again.”
She sat back feeling chastised by his words with no defense to
