Moving Forward

The Second Date and A Cancelled Date

                We texted back and forth quite a bit.  I wanted to test how much he wanted to try and make a relationship work with me so when he asked me if I wanted to go out the next night, I had responded that I needed to see if I could find a babysitter.  I waited for what I deemed an appropriate amount of time before telling him that I just couldn’t swing a sitter that night. 

                “I can’t get a sitter tonight darn it.  When is your next days off?”

                                “Mon and Tues. no worries”

                “Want to plan something Monday?”

                                “We could. is there anything you want to do?”

                “Oh, wow it’s been a while not sure.  I can’t think of anything right now.  I really enjoyed myself last night.  Thank you so much.”

                                “Again, it was my pleasure it’s been way to long for me.”

                The next day when he woke up, he asked me if I had a barbeque grill and I had answered him no.  His response was that was a shame. 

                                “What time do you go to bed? Get up in the morning?”

                “Go to bed between 10-11 wake up around 7-8.  Sometimes later if the kids are having a bad night or my insomnia kicks in.”

                                “Ok just didn’t want to text you too early or late.”

                After going to work that day he texted me on his first break. I asked him if work was going well, and he replied

                                “Yes, but all I can think about is going on a date with you.”

                “I’ve been thing about that as well”

                                “Been thinking about it ever since our conversation earlier.  I have made about ten call and there is not one restaurant that does candle lit dinners.”

                “Oh, my trying to pull out all the stops huh?”

                                “No but I think dates should be romantic and special. That doesn’t do any good if there are not restaurants who can accommodate the need.”

                “True but just the fact that you thought about it speaks volumes.”

                                “I will continue working on this and talk to you in the morning.”

                “Ok have a good night at work.”

The next morning:

                                “Good morning, I think I got Monday evening figured out.”

                “Good morning. You do huh. Now you have me curious.”

                                “I will get my confirmation tonight- very special.”

                “Wow ok I trust you.”

                                “What was the most romantic dinner you have ever had? The most romantic dinner I have had was on a beach in Maui at sunset.”

                “Um dinner at Sizzler’s.  See that’s romantic I could go for that but that’s a little far from here lol.”

                                “How was the dinner at Sizzlers romantic? Very loud there, well lit and no privacy.  What made it romantic?”

                “It was just us and no kids.  I think it was just the being able to talk.  My late husband wasn’t much of a romantic.”

                We chatted away about places in the area that could do romantic dinners but how we both felt they were too pretentious for us.  Then he asked me if I knew how to slow dance.  I told him that I did but much more than that was big no.  He surprised me and asked me if I could teach him because he had “three left feet.”  He said he was going to sleep, and I was taking my kids out for a day of fun in the sun.  When he woke up, he asked if we were still out and about, and I told him that we were in fact at home chilling with the air on.  I wished him safe travels when he was going to work and would chat with him later.  So, I wasn’t surprised to get his text later that night.

                                “Update on Monday.  Sunset is roughly 9:20 pm.  My plan was to have a picnic at sunset on the canyon rim.  Grab a few items to go, light a candle for the picnic table, crack open a bottle of Moscato wine and have meal while the sun sets. So, I would say 2-3 hours total.”

                “I can make that work.”

For the next while we texted back and forth asking each other about likes and dislikes.  What kind of music and movies did the other one like? We both realized that we had similar tastes in just about everything with the exception that I liked musicals and he didn’t.  The next day when he got off work, he asked me what the plans for the day were and I told him we were deep cleaning the house.  I explained to him that I was going to save the steam cleaning for the next day but since that was our date night I decided to go ahead and do it a day early.

                “I don’t want to be falling asleep on you.”

                                “That would be something for a different day.”

                “Make me blush why don’t you.  When are you heading to work?”

                                “Wasn’t trying to make you blush.  I wasn’t talking about being after s*x either. There is a time and place for everything.”

                “Yes, there is.  You are a gentleman, so I didn’t figure you were talking about sex.”

                                “Then what did you think I meant?  And why were you blushing?”

                “Just falling asleep on your shoulder.  To me that can be intimate in its own way.  I was blushing because I could see myself doing just that at some time in the future.”

                                “That exactly what I was referring to.  Cuddled up on the sofa watching a movie and having you fall asleep in my arms. “

                Again, we chatted about different things.  It amazed me how compatible we were and how comfortable I was around him.  I hadn’t expected to fall for someone this quickly after losing my husband let alone this quickly after meeting them.  To me love like that only happened once in a lifetime.  I had fallen for my late husband like that but this guy as well.  We chatted about our birthdays and how we weren’t big into astrology but knowing a sign gave a good hint into the person. 

                                “Break time.  How is your night going?”

                “Going good. Starting to feel the day as I’m starting to relax.”

                                “If I was there, I would rub your back and shoulders for you.  Draw a bath for you.  Light a candle and let you soak away all your aches and pains.”

                “Oh, sounds like heaven.  You know I can hardly wait to see you tomorrow night.  Looking forward to it.”

                                “After bath a full body massage.”

                “And why did your ex let you get away?”

                                “Because her mom was in bad health, and she didn’t want to move to Idaho away from her family.  Besides she wasn’t into romance.”

                We chatted some more about romance and family.  He told me about his days off for the week and asked me if he had sent me his work schedule.  We chatted about his previous relationship and how they had drifted apart.  How romance wasn’t something that appeared to be on the top of the list for either of our previous spouses.  After a while I told him I was going to sleep.  In the morning we texted again.

                                “Good morning, I hope you slept well.”

                “Good morning and yes I did.  So how was the rest of your day?”

                                “It went well.  It gets better with every passing minute.  Only 12,300 minutes to go.”

                “And just think some of that will be spent getting some sleep.  At least for you.  I’m not sure who is more excited you or me?”

                                “I am wrong 750 minutes.  Set my count down alarm.  I would say me because it excites me to hear your excited.”

                He told me he was going to bed to get some sleep and I set about my day.  As I was puttering, I got a phone call from my doctor.  They found some things that concerned me during my last annual examination, and I needed to go in the next day to have my ovary removed.  I was going to have to cancel my plans with him on Tuesday because I was going to have surgery.  The words possible cancer was brought up and that there would need to be more tests run to see.  I was having a hard time wrapping my head around it.  I was even more nervous telling him I was going to have to cancel and why.  I wouldn’t blame him if he turned tail and ran now.   When he woke up, I broke the news to him.

                “So, I have good news and bad news.  Good news I’m looking forward to tonight.  Bad news I have to cancel tomorrow as I have to have a minor surgery.”

                                “For what?”

                “I have to have an ovary removed for further testing.”

                                “That doesn’t sound minor.”

                “Just got this news just before noon.  Been crying all afternoon the only bright spot in today is getting ready for our date tonight.  It’s same day surgery.  I will understand if you want to run for the hills now.”            

                                “Why do you say that?  In a dark hour is when you want someone to stand up and be with you. Not run away.”

                “Just the implications of what might be and why they have to do the surgery.”

                                “Who is going with you tomorrow?  Someone should be there to pick you up at least. “

                “I’m taking my kids out to my parents’ house in the morning.  My dad and my nephew are going to watch them while my mom and sister go with me.  So, I will have someone with me.  I will call or text you when I’m awake.”

                He assured me he was there if I needed to talk, and I could tell he was sincere about it.  After a while I asked him how dressed up did, I need to be for this date?  His reply was “I am in shorts and a t shirt.  Too hot for much else besides a skinny dip in the river.”  We went over the plans for the dinner date that night and I verified where we were going to be.  When we met up, he led me to a little private patio on the canyon rim where he had set up a romantic little dinner for the two of us.  I had actually somewhat dressed up for the date.  Leaving my hair down instead of in its normal ponytail. I had added a few curls to it and even splashed on some makeup.  The dinner, the wine, the candlelight and even the sunset were wonderful, and I couldn’t help but feel special at this treatment.  After bit he had excused himself to move away from me so that he could smoke a cigarette.  After he was done, he ate a breath mint and then motioned for me to come to him.  My brain was telling me not to go, he should be coming to me, but my heart and feet weren’t listening.  We hugged and kissed for a bit and then said our goodbyes.  I texted him to let him know that I made it home just fine and thanked him for a wonderful evening.