Chapter 9
"Just how long have you been divorced?" Rich asked.
"Uhhm ... I don't know ... about nine or ten months I think."
"And this is your first date, right?" he continued.
"Well, yeah. My first real date."
"Well I hope you're under a lot better control tomorrow than you are tonight," Fiona said with a scowl.
"Yeah ... me too," I agreed.
"Relax, Will. Be yourself. You know ... that guy that we've come to know and appreciate for his razor wit, panty-wetting good looks, immeasurable wealth, and ultimate sophistication."
"Very funny, very funny. On that note, I think I'll have another beer."
"Oh ... and a word to the wise," Fiona interrupted. "Don't drink beer on a first date. It isn't cool."
I nodded. "Warning noted."
"She's that important, is she?" Rich said, now serious.
"Yeah ... I think she is. I've got to admit, man, she caught me by surprise. I wasn't expecting anything from those Internet replies and then she popped out as my last chance. Caught me completely by surprise."
"So tell us a little more about her," Fiona requested.
I pulled the photo of her out of my pocket. I had printed from her Skype image that I had captured while talking to her.
"Oh ... she's lovely," Fiona said, looking at me in surprise.
"You thought I might be settling for something less than Leona?"
"I didn't know what to think," she admitted. "It all happened so quickly, and after you described some of the losers that contacted you earlier, I wasn't expecting too much."
"Really, Fiona, I do have some standards," I said in mock indignation.
"Yeah ... sorry about that. I should have known."
"So it's off to a play tomorrow night. Then what?" Rich asked.
I shrugged. "I want to meet her family ... particularly her son. If I'm going to be serious about her, I have to be serious about him. She's really close to her parents, too. They've been a tower of strength for her and I want them to be as comfortable with me as possible."
"I don't see a problem, Will," Fiona said, again in her serious mode. "You're a good guy and they'll pick up on that when they get to know you. You've got a good job and you live in a nice place in a nice neighborhood. It's really going to be all about you and her."
"And Jimmy," I added.
"Yeah ... him too," she agreed.
"Well, I'm grateful for the encouragement. I'm still nervous, but you have made me feel better. Thanks for that."
Our Friday night after-work gathering at The Blue Heron was coming to an end and I was about to head home, stopping at the grocery store deli to find my evening meal. Something light, I decided, considering the butterflies in my stomach. Hell, it wasn't even Saturday yet.
I willed myself to be calm as I climbed the steps to the Carlisle house. In my left hand I clutched a clear-wrapped bouquet of flowers while my right thumb tentatively pressed the door bell. I heard the chimes and waited for the door to open. I could hear footsteps and then the door swung wide. It wasn't Nicole, but a middle-aged woman I guessed to be her mother.
"Hi, I'm Will Travers and I'm here for Nicole," I said, forcing my voice to be calm.
"Oh, come in Will, Nicole should be right along."
"I brought these for you ... for looking after Jimmy tonight," I said, handing the flowers to her.
"Oh, they're lovely. Thank you, Will, that's very thoughtful. Come in and meet the rest of the clan," she said merrily.
I followed her into the living room and saw a man rise from his chair to greet me.
"This is my husband, Angus. Angus, this is Will Travers."
"How do you do, Mr. Carlisle. Nice to meet you."
"It's Angus, lad," he said with a slight hint of his native brogue. "And my wife is Mary."
I stood not knowing what to say next, noticing neither Nicole nor Jimmy were in sight.
"You're off to a play, then," Mary spoke, breaking the ice.
"Yes," I said, happy for the comment. "It's a comedy about office manners and other chaos. I'm told it's good fun."
"A wise choice," Angus said with a smile. "A bit of a laugh on a first date is always a good idea."
I was beginning to breathe a little easier because of the congenial way I had been greeted. Maybe this wasn't going to be so hard after all. I was a bit premature with that thought. When Nicole appeared from the rear of the house, I caught my breath in surprise. She was drop-dead-gorgeous.
She must have seen the look on my face. I know Angus did.
"Ah, lass, you look a treat tonight," he said, taking the initiative away from me.
"Yes ... yes you do," I agreed lamely.
She was dressed in a very colorful blouse that I would describe as artistic in pattern. Like broad strokes from an artist's palette on a background of navy blue. It accentuated her figure as it tucked snugly into a navy blue knee-length skirt. For the first time, I saw that her body was more curvaceous than I originally realized. Last Sunday, her jacket had hidden much of it. Tonight it was on display, but in a dignified and classy way.
"Thank you, Daddy. Thank you, Will."
She was still in stocking feet and was fastening a single strand of pearls around her neck. I was about to go to her to help her when she finished the task. She looked amazing and I think she read that on my face.
I caught a glimpse of her mother, smiling knowingly at both of us. That was a relief.
"Look what Will brought for us," Mary said, showing Nicole the bouquet.
"Oh, that's lovely, Will. Thank you," she smiled.
I was about to say something when a towheaded youngster walked into the room, looking at me curiously.
"You must be Jimmy," I said, hoping to put him at ease.
"Uh huh," was the solitary answer.