The peal of bells from the front door sounds again, and I dart my eyes back over.
“Robin,” I whisper into the phone, “I think he just walked in.”
I survey the tall, dark, handsome, and very Prince Eric-ish man who’s just entered the coffee shop. He’s slowly panning around the room.
“Whatever you have to say, Robin, it’ll have to wait.” I bite my tongue through a devilish grin. “The prince has arrived, and he is a dish! Thank you, thank you!”
I quickly disconnect, drop the phone into my bag, and stand up. I swallow hard and smooth the crinkles of my hand-stitched and -beaded Mexican poncho. I glance down only briefly, making sure I look all right.
Jackie insisted I dress my poncho up with some chunky beads and maybe high heels and skinny jeans. I took her up on all the suggestions, except for the high heels. I’m wearing a really soft and comfy pair of brown ballet flats that actually match my hobo bag perfectly.
You look great, Emily, I tell myself. Dressed up, but not too much. Go have fun!
I inhale sharply and look back at the striking man who’s just entered the shop. This has to be Jaime. If not, I’m asking this guy out anyway!
I pull my bag snuggly onto my shoulder, and slowly approach the handsome man.
“Jaime? Jaime Geeson? Robin Sinclair… Jaime Geeson…”
“Emily,” Jaime exclaims, his blue eyes growing wide, a smile forming. “Glad to meet you.”
I’m about to hold out my hand for a shake, but he takes me by surprise when he gives me a small hug. It’s brief, not at all awkward, but it definitely takes me back for a second. It’s actually…charming.
“I’m happy we could do this,” Jaime says in a voice that makes me weak at the knees. It’s soft, yet strong, almost safe, if that makes any sense, and he sounds so genuine. There’s absolutely no slime factor going on with Jaime like there was with Rick, or the fear factor that began to ooze from Hugh. Jaime could be the hot ticket.
Hold up now, I tell myself as Jaime leads the way out the shop. Don’t go and assume you’ve found “the One” here, Em.
“You know, Rory and Diane’s is one of my favorite joints,” he says, electronically unlocking a white Lexus in the middle of the small lot. He swings open the driver’s door.
“The best burgers in town,” I say in a joyous note. “I love Rory and Diane’s.”
“An ideal start to a blind date.” He slips out of sight and into his seat.
I open my door and smile, feeling my cheeks flush red. I bunch up the hefty ends of my poncho and step one foot into the car.
“Definitely an ideal start to a blind date,” I agree. I’m about to duck into the passenger’s seat when my eyes catch sight of something large in the backseat.
What is…
My eyes widen.
Then, in an almost trance-like state, I carefully plop into my plush leather seat.
That’s a baby seat, I think. That’s a car seat in the back.
I can’t help myself. I turn my eyes back to the seat once more, then when I feel Jaime’s eyes boring into the side of my face, I hurriedly turn away.
“You’re not that short, Emily. Don’t think you need a booster seat,” he teases.
I press my lips tightly together, mentally cursing myself for being such a dip and so obvious about what I’ve just seen. “Oh,” I laugh out. “That? No…”
He slips the key into the ignition and winces. “Robin didn’t mention that little detail, did she?” He looks so endearing I can’t help but look at him and let a small smile play my lips.
“No,” I whisper in response. “She didn’t. Are you…?”
“A dad?” Jaime, still wincing but only slightly, starts the engine. “I am indeed a dad.”
He leans back in his seat, making his proper posture even more erect. “If that’s a problem for you I completely understand. I just think,” he sucks in a breath of air, then exhales as he says, “that we should be honest with each other now and not take this any further if it’s a problem. I won’t be offended.” He puts his left hand on the steering wheel and turns his head my way.
I swallow the annoying frog that’s developed in my throat and eye Jaime’s ring finger. Robin did say he was single and had never been married. I just didn’t see this one coming. Why Robin waited to share this very important piece of information until the second before Prince Charming Eric walked through the coffee shop door…
“Emily?” Jaime asks in a low tone. “I honestly will not take offense if this isn’t what you had in mind for a…” He bobs his head about. “…a first date.”
I look back at the car seat, then again into Jaime’s warm eyes. I reach for my seatbelt and fasten it.
“It’s not a problem at all, Jaime,” I say with sincerity. “I’m famished and would love to get to know more about you and your…”
“Son,” he finishes, a grin beginning to form.
“Your son,” I repeat.
***
As it turns out, Jaime Geeson is a really great guy. As I expected! We didn’t just make it through a first date—we enjoyed a fantastic first date! No hiccups, other than the totally awkward moment I made in the car when I spotted his son’s car seat. There were no urges to leave the table midway through the meal, no turn-offs, no ordering for me, no insults, no head-scratching over how someone could be adverse to global travel—nothing that might prohibit a second date. My date with Jaime was, in one word, amazing!
When Jaime opened up about having a three-year-old son with a long-time ex-girlfriend, I actually opened up about my consideration of adoption. It was the ideal convo topic for us to get past our little faux pas at the beginning of the date. I mean, if I was considering adoption, how could I have trouble dating a guy who had a child? Fate likes to do funny things, and maybe this is one of its fun games. I think I’m heading down one path, then fate drops this on me.
“So when’s the next date?” Lara presses me with eagerness the moment I walk through her apartment’s front door. “I’m so happy this guy worked out for you, Em.” She shuts the door behind me. “Especially with Robin withholding that tidbit.” She pulls a tight face.
“Oh,” I say with a flick of the wrist. “I wish she would have actually prepped me that Jaime was a dad, but my God!” I press my hand to my chest. “The date with Jaime was a-ma-zing, Lara. We talked forever at the restaurant…” I saunter into her living room, dropping my bag onto the floor, “took a walk in the park. Moonlight, starry night. So romantic.”
Lara flies to the couch, motioning for me to take a seat next to her. “And?”
“And,” I sigh, “it was unbelievable. Such a great first date.”
“And!” She throws her hands up. “Did you kiss? Was there a first kiss?”
I love it. Lara’s one of the last people to kiss and tell, but when it comes to her best girlfriends doing the kissing and telling, she’s all eager ears.
“Well…” I draw out.
A small, low laugh comes from the hallway.
It’s Nathan.
“Sorry,” Nathan says shyly. He emerges from the hall. “Didn’t mean to intrude.”
“Oh, babe,” Lara says. She looks at me with rueful eyes, then says to her boyfriend, “A girl’s got to know if one of her best friends had a first kiss with the man of Operation Blind Date.”
Nathan stifles a laugh. “I hope Lara’s not foisting some mousy guy on you, Emily,” he says, giving me a look of commiseration.
“Been there, done that.” I make a mock basketball swoosh. “Failed miserably. But Lara tried her hardest.” I give Lara’s shoulder a rub.
“Babe,” Lara says, turning to look back at Nathan. “Some more of the girls are coming over in a sec. You heading out soon?”
“Gosh,” I say dramatically. “Poor guy lives here not, what, a week? And you’re already pushing him on out?”
“No!” she cries defensively.
“I’m teasing,” I say. I catch Nathan laughing under h
is breath some more as he disappears around the corner and into the kitchen.
“But honestly,” I whisper, leaning in to Lara. “The move-in situation is going A-okay?”
Lara’s lips curve upward. “Couldn’t be any better. I’m really in love with him, Emily.”
“Eee!” I screech, but still in a whispered volume. “I’m so happy for you! I knew fate would send you the perfect guy.” I kick off my flats and criss-cross my legs. “So, you’re madly in love and things are great together and…” I leave my sentence hanging, searching for more juicy gossip.
“And things couldn’t be better,” she repeats, her face all dreamy-like.
After nearly a half-hour’s time, after I’ve excitedly filled Lara in on my date details because she just couldn’t wait for the rest of the girls to show up, a bubbly Claire barges through her front door, Conner in tow. Then on their heels come Robin and Bobby, who’s carrying Rose.
“Rosie!” I say, waving at the little girl with small pigtails.
“Hey girls,” Robin greets. She hands Rose a pink-lidded sippy cup.
Rose instantly throws the cup down. “Rose,” Robin moans tiredly. She bends down, breathing heavily as she stands back up. “Baby, please take this.” She hands the cup back to Rose.
Rose accepts, stares at the cup for a brief moment, then tosses it back down.
Robin bends back down, but Claire stops her halfway and picks up the rejected cup. Robin arches her back, then rubs her stomach. At five months, she’s definitely showing her pregnancy, and from the looks of it Rose isn’t making it the easiest of times on her mom.
“Bobby,” Robin says quietly, tapping his shoulder. She takes the cup from Claire and holds it out in front of Rose. “Bobby.”
Bobby’s caught up in a roar of laughter and chatter with Conner.
“Bobby,” Robin says again, this time louder. She’s still holding out the sippy cup, and Rose is now hitting it and saying, “No! No! No!”
Lara and I exchange discomfited glances.
“Bobby,” Robin repeats.
“Yeah, dear?” Bobby says, swiveling to meet Robin face-on. “What’s wrong?”
“No! No!” Rose’s voice is climbing one octave after another with each shriek of resistance.
Robin gives up the sippy cup battle and sets it on the coffee table, sighing heavily. “She needs to hydrate,” Robin says softly. She looks at Lara and me and says with a long face, “Poor baby had the runs today. Was a rough day at daycare and—”
Robin looks back at Rose, who’s now wriggling in Bobby’s arms and still shouting, “No! No!”
“She’s going through a phase,” Robin says tiredly. She shows the sippy cup to Bobby, a serious expression on her face. “She needs to drink this, and she’s not listening to me.”
“Terrible twos,” Claire says in an understanding way. She crosses her arms and seems to be assessing the growing temper tantrum.
“Rose,” Bobby says, turning her in his arms to face him. She stops whining and listens. “Drink your juice. Okay? Momma said you need to. Listen, all right?”
Robin hands the cup to Bobby, and after a lengthy stare at it, Rose slowly brings the cup to her mouth and begins to down it.
“See?” Robin says, plopping onto the couch. “A phase.” She rests her hands on her stomach and breathes deeply, then looks over at Claire. “You ready for this, Claire? With the adorable baby comes the temperamental toddler.”
“Oh, definitely!” Claire says, beaming. “I so want to get pregnant.”
“Let’s get out of here, guys,” Conner says abruptly, clapping Bobby on the shoulders. “Game’s about to start.”
“Conner,” Claire says in a high-pitched and warning tone as Nathan joins the guys, “do not drink more than one beer. Okay?” She makes a puppy dog face.
Nathan’s and Bobby’s ears prick up.
“Not more than one beer?” Nathan says, looking to all us girls. “We’re getting a cab home. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“One beer, max,” Claire says, holding up a stiff index finger. “Don’t drink more than that, Conner. Please.”
“Expecting or something, buddy?” Bobby teases, poking at Conner’s stomach.
“Hopefully,” Claire says glowingly.
“Wha—?” Bobby gasps, looking at Conner appraisingly.
“No,” Conner says. It looks like he’s giving Claire the warning eye. The look that says he doesn’t want to talk about it.
“Hopefully,” Claire repeats, just the same.
“Come on, let’s roll,” he says, trying to usher the guys out the door. He hikes up his baggy jeans, then awkwardly rubs at the back of his neck.
“I’ve read that alcohol decreases sperm count,” Claire says matter-of-factly.
Lara, Robin, and I exchange curious looks, then turn to Claire.
“It’s a fact,” she says with pride. “I read it in Time magazine. It’s the real deal.”
I look over at Conner. His normally olive-colored skin is starting to turn a bright shade of pink at his cheeks. He lets out a loud breath and runs one hand through his tousled blonde hair. “Dear God, let’s go,” he says through an awkward laugh. He makes swift motions for the guys to head out.
Lara, Robin, and I break out into a fit of giggles, and Claire’s just looking at us with a puzzled expression. “What?” she cries innocently.
Bobby sets Rose down on the couch next to Claire. He turns to Conner, who’s nearly out the door and on his way to turning full-on beet red, then looks back at Claire. “We’ll make sure Poppa Bear doesn’t drown his little soldiers,” he says with a wink.
“Oh, God,” Conner groans.
Bobby gives Rose a kiss on the head and waves goodbye, laughing to himself as he follows Conner and Nathan out the door.
“Embarrassed him much, have you, Claire?” Lara says. “Poor guy.”
“Oh, poor guy my foot,” Claire remarks. She lightly twists one of Rose’s pigtails around her finger. “He knows I want to have a baby, and he’s being all adamant about waiting. What’s a little coaxing and a little precaution?”
“Claire,” I say, resting my head on the pillowy couch back, “you’re hilarious. Conner can never say you’re not a barrel of fun and surprise.”
“Surprises, surprises,” Robin says. “I can’t take anymore suspense or surprise. Emily, you better gush about your date with Jaime or else!”
“Well,” I begin. “You were right, Robin; Jaime’s a total doll. Super handsome. Definitely looks like Prince Eric.”
“Oh!” Claire squeals, clapping her hands on her thighs. “I think Jon Hamm is sooo dreamy!”
“Well,” I continue, clearing my throat, “turns out Robin knows him from Rose’s daycare.”
Robin gives an abashed shrug. “I tried to warn you. Sorry.”
“Like five seconds before Prince Charming waltzes on in!” I say with a laugh.
“Still,” Robin says, making bedroom eyes, “he’s a hottie, isn’t he? Handsome, and he has the sweetest, cutest little boy. Well!” She drops a hand to her baby bump. “Cutest little boy until Phillip comes.”
“Awww, Phillip!” Lara gasps. “I love that name.”
“Phillip Pemberley Holman, we’ve decided.” Robin brings her other hand to her stomach and lovingly looks down.
“Phillip Pemberley Holman?” Claire asks. “The kid sounds like a law firm.”
“Hey!” Robin looks up at Claire. “Phillip is a strong, masculine name.”
“Pemberley?” Lara asks. “Some kind of family name I take it?”
“Exactly,” Robin says assuredly, proudly. “Bobby’s great grandfather’s name, his grandfather’s name, his father’s middle name, and Bobby’s middle name, too. And now, Phillip.” She sighs dreamily.
“I think it’s a lovely name,” I say.
“It is a cool name,” Claire says, crossing her ankles. “It’s not the worst thing in the world to sound like a law firm. Maybe he’ll be a fancy schmanc
y lawyer or something.”
“I really can’t believe you’re going to be a mom again, Robin,” I say huskily, looking at Rose. She’s fallen asleep with her sippy cup in her mouth.
“You could be, too, girlfriend,” Lara says slyly. “With handsome daddy Jaime and all.”
“Okay,” Claire says, anxiously patting her thighs. “I need the story. Dish it, Em, or else!”
I proceed to tell all the girls how the amazing and romantic and perfect first date went with Jaime. Jaime and I didn’t share a first kiss, and I think that’s sweet; it didn’t detract anything from the magic of the first date.
Over our delectable dinner and walk in the park afterward, Jaime and I talked about his son, Toby; my thoughts of adoption; our mutual travels to South Africa; his growing up in Seattle; my growing up in Boston; my work as a photographer; his work as a real estate broker. Anything and everything. It was the perfect first date, the best blind date I could imagine having. I’m definitely looking forward to our second date tomorrow night.
Chapter Nineteen
“An M&M,” Jaime says. He slips his right hand into the pocket of his black dress pants. “Don’t you think that’ll be the cutest thing? A bright orange M&M?”
“Adorable,” I say, liking the feel of Jaime’s fingers entwined with mine.
We’re on our second date, and it’s much like the first one: dinner out, a walk in the park. This time, however, we’re walking along the waterfront.
The autumn moon is shining so bright tonight, not a cloud in its glowing path. It looks like glittering crystals are jumping off the water and leaping back up into the starry evening sky. The air is crisp, but Jaime, ever the sweet dad, brought along a blanket, and I’m wrapped in its fleecy warmth.
“Are Robin and Bobby dressing Rose up for Halloween?” Jaime inquires. He swings our hands about a bit.
“Oh, I’m sure,” I say, looking up at the globe-like moon. “Last year she was a cupcake. One of our good friends is a baker and found this adorable cupcake costume. She’s always dressing her up in baked goods.”
When Girlfriends Take Chances Page 17
