Chapter 9 #2
“I’m done, I tell you. I’m done.” He lifted the little boy’s shirt and rubbed his five o’clock shadow on Jace’s bare belly. The laughter in the room was louder than the music.
Dad sat up and helped the toddler to his feet.
“Why don’t you go find your nana? She said something about an early dinner.
” As Jace disappeared into the kitchen, jabbering for all he was worth, Sean’s dad got to his feet.
“I don’t know where that boy gets his energy.
Between him and following your mother around the mall later, I might not survive the day.
” When he looked up after straightening his shirt, his eyebrows rose. “You look nice.”
“Thanks. And thanks for watching Jace again tonight. I feel like I’m taking horrible advantage of you guys.”
Dad brushed the words aside. “You’re not taking advantage. We love hanging out with him.”
“OK. I’m going to sneak out while he’s occupied with Mom. Sometimes he gets a little whiny if he sees me leave. I won’t be late.” Sean reached for the doorknob.
“Enjoy your date. Monica’s a lovely girl.”
Sean’s shoulders drew up around his ears at his father’s words and his mantra replayed in his head.
It’s not a date. It’s not a date. It’s not a date.
***
“OH, IT’S BEAUTIFUL,” Monica said as they turned into the parking lot at Oakleigh’s.
She’d never been inside the restaurant, but she’d passed it many times.
Tonight, it was lit up with green and red lights that twinkled in the windows and around the doors.
There was some sort of pattern to the lights and she almost felt as if she should try to name that tune.
She faced Sean as he parked the car. “I can’t wait to see what it looks like on the inside.”
“Well, let’s go see.”
Monica was still sorting out the date-that-wasn’t-a-date etiquette, so she didn’t wait for him to open her door. She was outside by the time he came around.
“I would have gotten that for you.”
“I’m just excited. I’ve heard their food is amazing.”
“Then why have you never been here?”
Monica’s face flushed, and she was grateful for the darkness. “It never seemed like a place to visit by myself.” And nobody ever invited me. “Did you know that the chef and owner attends Grace Community?”
Sean extended his arm. “That’s interesting. Maybe the pastor’s son deserves a discount.”
Instead of taking the offered arm, Monica slapped his shoulder.
“I was kidding.”
“I know, but since you brought it up, dinner is on me. I sort of got you into this.”
Sean stopped and looked down at her. “I’ve never taken a woman out for a meal and made her pay for it, and I’m not going to start tonight.”
“It’s not a date, though, so—”
“Did you enjoy being with my family on Thursday?”
“I did.”
“And I fully intend to enjoy myself this evening. No more arguments over who takes the check. Let’s go enjoy our meal.”
They were silent the rest of the way to the door, but when it opened at their approach and Monica got her first look at the interior, she couldn’t help the awed sigh.
Delicate white lights twinkled along the edge of both the floor and the ceiling.
Each table was covered in a gold tablecloth.
A red poinsettia and a flickering white taper sat in the center of each one.
She heard Sean speaking to the hostess but didn’t pay attention to his words.
She was already waving at Kinsley and Benjamin, who were seated at one of the tables in the center of the room.
The hostess led them to the table and waited until they were seated. “I’ll send your waiter right over.”
Monica reached over and took Kinsley’s hand. “This place is amazing.”
“They do make a statement.”
Benjamin was peering at the menu. “Yeah, and the statement is, ‘Prepare to take out a second mortgage.’”
Kinsley smacked him. “You hush.”
He was grinning at her when their waiter appeared. He recited the specials for the evening and took their drink orders.
Sean looked at the offerings. “Wow. How do you choose just one thing?”
“You want a recommendation?” Benjamin asked.
“I’m game,” Sean said.
“The steak and lobster tail is amazing. I know it’s not one of the more exotic items on the menu, but it’s never let me down.”
Sean laid his menu aside. “Sounds good to me.”
Monica looked at Kinsley. “These two are real risk takers.” She too, laid her menu aside. “I’m going with the chicken piccata.”
Kinsley took a little longer. While she studied her menu, one hand circled her enlarged middle.
“This baby does not know what it wants. The duck l’orange sounds yummy, but so does the beef Wellington.
” She closed her eyes and jabbed a finger at the menu.
When she opened her eyes, she said, “The duck it is.”
Monica was still laughing at her friend when she gave the waiter her order. The next ninety minutes flew by in a combination of pleasant conversation, laughter, and trading bites of decadent food. Oakleigh’s more than lived up to its reputation.
While Benjamin and Kinsley shared a serving of deconstructed tiramisu and Sean and Monica enjoyed helpings of chocolate mousse parfait, a young lady with a camera stopped at their table.
“Did you guys enjoy your meal?”
Groans of ascent circled the table.
“I’m so glad.” Her gaze landed on Kinsley’s pregnant belly. “Easy to see what you’re celebrating,” she said with a grin. “Boy or girl?”
Kinsley leaned her head against Benjamin’s shoulder. “We decided to be surprised.”
“Only way to go in my opinion.” She held up her camera. “The restaurant is doing a promotion. Everyone here tonight gets a free five-by-seven to commemorate their evening.” She focused her camera on Benjamin and Kinsley and took the shot as the couple exchanged a kiss.
She circled the table to face Sean and Monica. She motioned them a little closer together. “Your turn.”
“Oh, he’s not—” Monica began.
“We aren’t—” Sean interrupted.
“Camera shy, are we?” the photographer said. “I came prepared.” She dug in her pocket and held a piece of artificial mistletoe over Sean’s head. “You know it’s bad luck to break tradition.”
Monica and Sean looked at each other. Did she dare? With a slight shrug Monica leaned over and gave Sean a chaste peck on the lips. Her breath caught at the contact, and even as she started to sit back, she longed for more.
But apparently Sean wasn’t satisfied. He cupped her face in both of his hands, drew her close, and covered her mouth with his.
Surroundings forgotten, Monica sank into the kiss. It was the first time in her life that reality outpaced imagination. She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t think, all she could do was surrender to the moment.
As if stung by a wasp, Sean jerked back. He still held her face but the expression he wore had gone from desire to loathing. A tear welled in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, then backed away.
He stood, pulled out his wallet with hands that visibly shook, and laid bills on the table. He looked at his brother. “Make sure she gets home, will you?”
He was out the door before anyone could speak.