Tuesday Tales - Year

 

Welcome! 

This week we have Charlotte's first real date with Mark. They're going out to dinner. Don't forget to leave a comment and then hop  on over to read the wonderful stories by the other Tuesday Tales authors. Find them HERE.

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“I don’t drink when I’m driving, but please go ahead and order a drink or a glass of wine,” he said as he looked over the menu.

Nerves drove Charlotte to order a glass of cabernet while Mark ordered a Coke. They sat quietly looking over the menu. Charlotte’s eyes examined each offering, one more expensive than the other. She chewed her lip. The scallops looked delicious, but they were one of the pricier items on the menu. What should she do?

Realizing she hadn’t been on a date with someone who might actually be financially solvent like in
years, maybe ever, she didn’t know what to do. When she went out with Derek, she always ordered the cheapest thing on the menu. He was crass enough to thank her, too. Suddenly the patio seemed hot, even though it was evening.

Yes, Mark was older, but college professors didn’t make a fortune. Did he have enough money for the scallops? She sensed red creeping into her cheeks as she agonized over the choice. Sure, she could order a chef’s salad, but what fun would that be? She sighed. Maybe she should do the prudent thing, when Mark spoke up.

“Gee, the scallops look great. Do you like seafood?” he asked, putting down the menu.

“Yes,” she managed to squeak out.

“I’m going to order the scallops. Why don’t you order that, too? They’re the special. Usually the special is the best dish on the menu,” he added.

Relief flooded through Charlotte. She wasn’t a baby by any means, but she’d never been out on a date like this before, with an older man in an elegant restaurant.

“I love scallops. Yes, I think you’re right.”

“Good. That makes it easy,” Mark said, beckoning the waiter.

While he placed their order, she studied him. Did he know how confused and scared she was of doing the wrong thing? No, the man wasn’t a mind reader. Still, you didn’t have to be clairvoyant to see that Charlotte struggled with that decision. If her guess was correct, Mark had earned additional brownie points with her for being sensitive. Not that he needed any more points. As she gazed at his handsome profile, butterflies fluttered in her belly. Could this be the romance of a lifetime? Maybe her luck was about to change. 

    That's all for this week. Thanks for stopping by.