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I glanced at my reflection in the mirror before grabbing my jacket off the back of the chair. I made my way to my car and sped off toward the local flower shop.
I felt it was necessary to take her flowers; I had told myself many times in my head this wasn’t a date, but my mother had taught me early in life that women like flowers, so I’d grabbed a bouquet of light-pink carnations, the same colour her cheeks went as she blushed. Armed with flowers, I pulled up outside of her building.
As I sat there waiting for her to come down, I kept looking to the bouquet. I was about to get out and dump them in the garbage bin when I saw her step out of the building. I could barely take my eyes off her. She walked toward the car, dressed in snug-fitting jeans and a light-pink sweater under a beige jacket. Her dark hair was wavy and soft and bounced lightly at her shoulders as she walked. I quickly got out of the of the car and walked around to her side, the flowers behind my back.
“You look great,” I said, not wanting to come on too strong, but not wanting her to think I hadn’t noticed.
“Thank you, as do you,” she said, smiling at me.
I opened the passenger’s side door and waited while she climbed into the car, then I handed her the bouquet. “For you.”
“Oh…” she said with a look of surprise. “They’re, um… they’re beautiful,” she said, seeming confused.
“Yeah, after I bought them, I wondered why I had. See, it’s just my mother always told me that girls like flowers, and well…you are a girl,” I explained, nerves fluttering through me.
“I am and I do,” she said, smiling, bringing the flowers to her nose to smell them. “Thank you, they are beautiful. They are also very unexpected, but beautiful,” she said, glancing up at me.
I swallowed hard, shut the door, and made my way around to the driver’s side door, taking a deep breath before I climbed back into the car. “Hope you’re hungry.”
“I am. Where are we headed?”
“Well, I thought we’d go to The Harbourview.”
“Oh. Okay,” she said, looking out the window and not meeting my gaze.
I glanced over. I could tell she was uncomfortable. Was it me, the flowers, had I overstepped the ‘friends’ thing? “Is something wrong with that restaurant? I just looked up ‘local seafood restaurant’ on the computer, so if it’s no good, I’d rather know now. Nothing worse than horrible seafood.”
She shook her head, but I still wasn’t convinced. “No, it’s nothing. The Harbourview has got fantastic food.”
“Then what is it, because that’s not a face of someone who likes food in a restaurant and is happy to be going to it.”
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and looked over at me. “Really, it’s nothing, really. The flowers are really pretty. Thank you,” she said, pulling her seat belt across her.
I wasn’t sure I believed her, but I’d also learned from my previous relationship that dwelling on things wasn’t healthy, nor was it smart. It was a surefire way to end up in an argument, even with a friend. Instead, I pulled away from the curb and headed toward the restaurant’s, determined to make this a night of fun for both of us.
* * *
“So, what is your choice?”I questioned, looking over the menu just as our drinks arrived at the table.
“Hmm, I thought that the Lobster Bisque looks good, but then, so does the Lobster Tagliatelle. What about you?”
“Funny, I was looking at the Tagliatelle or the Grilled Atlantic Salmon.”
“Oh, I missed the salmon,” she said, smiling over at me then looking back down at her menu as she picked up her wine and took a sip.
“So, what are you doing to heal yourself?” I questioned. “You told me you were focusing on that.”
“Well, aside from working, I have been putting a lot of focus on me. I have been setting up my new place, spending time with Brielle, my best friend, and her husband, Sawyer, and Emma, their little girl. I’ve been doing yoga, and recently I started a meditation group at the yoga studio. Honestly, I’m focusing on me and the things I want to do. I didn’t get to do many of those things while I was married.”
“That’s good. How are you liking meditation?”
“Um, well, I have done it twice, and honestly, I’m not sure I get it. Silencing the mind isn’t as easy as one would think, but I’m trying. I find I get a lot out of yoga, more so than in meditation.”
“Yoga is fantastic! I actually used to practice at a local studio before I moved here. It was always what I needed to clear my mind after a tough day.”
“What about you?” she asked, sipping her wine again.
“The same as you. Just focusing on myself. I took some time off from work to clear my head, and I’ve started running again and hitting the gym. There is something very healing about running on the beach in the early morning, watching the sunrise. Have you ever tried it?” I smiled, passing the bread basket that had been placed on our table.
