She drove up to the place they had spoken of, parked and headed inside to see if they had arrived. Chantelle was there first and waved her over to the booth. She hugged her and sat down across from her as they began to chit-chat about work. Marissa revealed the good news about going back to teaching in August as long as her health was still good and she felt well.
“I’m so happy for you, I know how much teaching means to you!”
“Thank you. Yes, I cannot wait to go back!” She heard Lyndsay’s voice and turned to see her pulling her sunglasses up on the crown of her head smiling. She was still in her scrubs. Chantelle wore black slacks and a white button-down shirt. Very classy and professional. She took her job seriously. Lyndsay had always said one good thing about working in a doctor’s office and being a nurse was wearing the scrubs. They were so comfortable she sometimes slept in them when she was too worn out to change. They all exchanged hugs and greetings as Lyndsay took a seat next to Chantelle and looked over at Marissa.
“Why are you more giddy than usual? Something happen? Even Dr. Martinez was cheerful, more than usual. Maybe it’s because it’s Friday,” she said absentmindedly as she looked at the menu. Marissa smiled and looked down at the menu, clearing her throat. Both sets of eyes were on her now. She put down her menu and looked back and forth between them.
“What?” Lyndsay grinned and Chantelle narrowed her eyes.
“Spill.” They both said at the same time before laughing out loud. Marissa chuckled and shook her head.
“Okay, so the other day Soph and I went to the mall so I could get some new shoes and a new swimsuit for tomorrow. We ran into…Dr. Martinez. He bought us cookies from the Great American Cookie place, after overhearing Soph beg for one.” Both of them sat there gape-mouthed with wide eyes as they listened.
Lyndsay broke the silence. “Well, go on. Then what?” She looked anxious to hear the rest of the story.
“So, then we had to get home so I could start dinner and he asked me to go out with him to dinner. Said I could even bring Sophia along, just to call him when I was free. He gave me his private cell.”
“Oh. My. God! Marissa! I’m so happy for you! You’re going, aren’t you?” Lyndsay asked, in a tone that said she better be.
“I-I don’t know. He said it was just a friendly dinner, a way to celebrate that the medicine is helping. I don’t know if I should go alone or not. Or even go at all.” Chantelle shook her head.
“You’re always second-guessing yourself. You deserve happiness, and love. I say you go. Go alone. Let me know when, I can maybe take Soph for the night if you need.”
“Well, I don’t know when to call him. Thank you, Chantelle. I appreciate that, I just…I don’t know, guys. I’ve never been this nervous. It’s not a date date, it’s just a dinner. A friendly dinner.”
“I’ll tell you what. If you decide to go, say tomorrow night. Soph can stay for a sleepover with Sam. They can have a slumber party. Sophia will go to my house or Chantelle’s and you know this. So there is nothing holding you back. I say you go alone. See if there is a connection. You never know until you try.”
“But, he’s my doctor!”
Lyndsay laughed. “So? What, you think you’re breaking some sort of rule by dating your doctor?”
Marissa let out a nervous chuckle and shook her head, blushing. “No, it’s not that. I just…I haven’t been on a date in like six years. I haven’t had time. I haven’t had the desire. What if it goes horrible and then I have to switch doctors? Or we start dating and we break up. I’ll be looking for a new doctor.”
“You overanalyze too much, Mars Bar. Take it from me, if you continue to let work and life get in the way of love, you’ll end up single forever.” Chantelle chimed in. She never had time for dates. Only recently had she begun to see a co-worker of hers secretly, but that’s because they worked together and he got it. They’d connected on a working level before romance set in. Marissa imagined their dates were spent discussing caseloads and talking about work.
She sighed. “I guess you’re right. I mean…what’s one date? And it’s not even a romantic date.”
Lyndsay smiled as the waitress came to take their orders. One by one, they all placed their orders and sipped their drinks while they were waiting. Soon their food was served. The aroma that filled her nose was so good, her mouth watered at the smell. As they ate, they talked about how tasty their food was and how impressed they were with the food and prices. It would be their new lunch place.
“So, you gonna go?” Lyndsay asked as she set her fork down after she’d finished her meal. Marissa smiled and wiped her mouth on the napkin, took a drink of her water and sighed.
“I guess I can call him when I leave. See when is good for him. You sure you don’t mind?” Lyndsay shook her head no.
Chantelle smiled and added, “If you need a sitter for the second date, let me know. I miss my angel.”
Marissa nodded, smiling. “Thanks guys. She misses you, too.” She blushed and covered her face with her hands. “Oh my God, I’m going on a date,” she said into her hands as Lyndsay squealed and Chantelle laughed. They spent the rest of the lunch catching up and exchanging gossip before they parted ways, satisfied by the good food and great company.
Talking to her friends helped her to realize she deserved to go, she deserved happiness and love. Even if they just remained friends, what could it hurt to go for a friendly dinner? What would she wear? All this freaking and planning and she hadn’t even called the man. Her fingers hesitated over the numbers on her cell phone. With one hand holding his card and the other holding her phone she took a deep breath and dialed the number. As it rang she closed her eyes and tried to breathe normally. She felt as if she was in high school again with her nerves. A deep voice answered the phone and she knew instantly it was him.
“Hello?” he said into the phone as her lips pushed together and made a line. “Hello?” he said a second time when she didn’t speak.
Letting out a breath, she began.
“Dr. Martinez, I mean—Carlos? Hi. It’s Marissa. I was uh…I was calling to talk about dinner,” she said and closed her mouth, holding her breath and waiting for his answer.
“Hey, Marissa. Dinner. Right. What about it?” He sounded guarded, like he was hoping she wasn’t calling to cancel before they had even made the arrangements.
She exhaled and continued, “Well, I was calling to see when you wanted to do this? Have dinner I mean?” She covered her face at her ridiculous rambling.
“I’m free this weekend, if you are. No rush. I don’t want to inconvenience you.”
“Oh it wouldn’t be an inconvenience at all. How about tomorrow night? Or is that too short of notice?”
“Not at all. Tomorrow night sounds perfect. What kind of food do you like?”
“Um, I’m not picky really. You pick. Just let me know where and when to meet you.”
“Well, how about Little Texas Steakhouse. Have you been there?”
“I have once, yes. Great food.”
“Then Little Texas it is, say six o’clock? Would you like me to pick you up?”
Pick her up? Pick her up! Since when did casual friendly dates involve picking that person up? “If you want to, I mean I could meet you there. Doesn’t matter.”
“Well, in case I get called out it might be best. Maybe next time I can pick you up.”
Next time? They were just talking about their first dinner, which wasn’t a date or so she thought it wasn’t. Maybe it was. Who knew and she wasn’t going to ask and look like a fool.
“Six o’clock, Little Texas. I’ll be there,” she said as she smiled, feeling so giddy.
“Sounds great. See you then, Marissa.” They hung up and she laid her head back on the headrest and let out a breath she’d been holding, or so it seemed. She started to laugh and shook her head. “I have a date! Sorta.” Placing her hands on the steering wheel, she chuckled. Wait until Lyndsay and Chantelle heard about this. Now she had to se
e if Sophia wanted to go have a sleepover at Sam’s Saturday night.
The next morning she woke with the biggest smile on her face, as she headed into the kitchen to make breakfast and coffee. Sophia sat on the couch watching cartoons.
“Morning Momma!” she said as Marissa smiled and returned the greeting.
“What would you like for breakfast?”
“Hmmm, French toast sounds good,” Sophia requested as she made her way to the bar and took a seat on the barstool. “Need some help?” she asked.
Marissa shook her head no. “No thank you, sweetheart. French toast coming up.” As she began to cook French toast and wait for the coffee to brew she turned to Sophia and smiled. “I have a date tonight.”
Sophia’s face lit up and she smiled. “No way! With Dr. Martinez? Where?” she asked excitedly.
Marissa chuckled. “Yes, at Little Texas. Just a friendly dinner. Would you like to come, or do you want to sleep over at Sam’s?”
“I wanna go to Sam’s. She got the new PlayStation and some games for her birthday last month.”
Marissa nodded. “Miss Lyndsay said it was okay already, so you can go home with them after the water park. Just be sure to pack a bag, okay?”
“Yes ma’am. I will. Thank you Momma! And congrats on your date! I hope you have fun.” Sophia gave her mom a playful wink before Marissa shook her head and smiled. Placing the toast on her plate, she licked her lips. “Mmm, looks and smells so good.”
Marissa fixed herself a cup of coffee and stirred in the sugar and cream. Breaking a piece of the toast from her own plate, she popped it into her mouth and nodded. “Mmm, it is good. That batch came out perfect.”
Sophia nodded in agreement. “Oh yes. So delish.”
“After breakfast I need you to go pack so we can get going, okay?”
Sophia nodded and finished her breakfast, put her dish in the sink and headed for her room to pack.
Taking her last sip of coffee and rinsing the mug out before placing it in the dishwasher, Marissa headed for her own room to get dressed and pack a small beach bag for the water park. Getting into the new swimsuit she’d purchased, she then put on shorts and a tank top over it as she slid her flip-flops on. She packed the beach bag with sunscreen, towels, and anything else she thought would come in handy.
“Mama! I’m ready!” Sophia called out from the living room.
“Just a sec, I can’t find my sunglasses!” Marissa answered her as she searched high and low, going back and forth through rooms.
Sophia giggled and pointed to her head as she furrowed her brows and touched the top of her head. There they were, right where she’d put them. Shaking her head and letting out a sigh, she grinned. “Well, that doesn’t get old.”
They both laughed as she grabbed the keys and they were on their way to meet Lyndsay, Bill and their kids at the water park. Marissa’s nerves were still crazy knowing tonight would come all too soon.
After arriving at the water park she was greeted by Lyndsay. Sophia ran ahead with Samantha as Lyndsay walked with Marissa. Bill walked ahead of them with the rest of the kids. The day was beautiful with the sun in the sky and clouds partially blocking its rays. Just enough of a breeze for it to be the right temperature.
“So, did you call him?” Lyndsay questioned with a big smile as she nudged Marissa playfully. Marissa looked at her and grinned with a slight nod. “Oh, you have to tell me about it!”
“Well, we decided to meet up tonight at six at the Little Texas Steakhouse. Sophia would rather spend the night at Sam’s. So I guess I’ll be going alone. Is it still okay that Soph stays over?”
“Of course it is! Wow, that’s a nice place, too. So, is it a date?” Lyndsay emphasized the word date with a playful wiggle of her brows.
Marissa blushed and sighed. “Just a friendly dinner, Lyn. But he did say next time he’d pick me up. I didn’t know there’d be a next time, so maybe? I don’t know. I don’t want to overanalyze it and be wrong and look like a fool. So, we’ll just see how tonight goes.”
Lyndsay nodded in agreement as they continued to walk through the water park searching for a place to set their things and get comfortable. She was nervous about tonight, but excited at the same time. Once they found a small empty pavilion, they set their things out and slathered the kids with sunblock. Seeing them run off with screams and squeals as the water hit their bodies made the adults laugh. Bill left Lyndsay and Marissa to have girl-time while he went with the younger kids to the kiddie area. The women lounged on chairs under the sun. Marissa laid on her chair and smiled.
“Maybe I’ll have a tan for tonight.” She teased as Lyndsay laughed.
“Oh, it’s nothing, just a friendly dinner.” Lyndsay mocked her.
They both laughed and talked about the kids, work, and what she’d wear to tonight’s “friendly dinner”. She was terrified of it going wrong but even more worried that she’d get her heart broken. Already one man had left her, she didn’t think she could handle another.
By the time lunch had come around, Sophia’s skin was darkening as her smile just continued to grow. She was having a blast, and so was Marissa. It was needed. Sophia and Samantha’s giggling erupted louder when Bill began to spray everyone with a water gun. Lyndsay and Marissa threw their hands up and ran for cover as they laughed, getting wet. The day was turning out so wonderful, Marissa only hoped the night would be the same. Realizing that the time was getting late as it was almost three in the afternoon, she decided to head out.
“I’d better get home, shower and get ready for tonight,” she said to Lyndsay as she stood.
“You’d better call me and let me know how everything went. Sophia is in great hands. Have fun, okay?” Lyndsay said as she hugged Marissa.
“Thank you again.” She turned to find Sophia and called her over. “Soph! Come tell me bye, I have to go.”
Sophia ran over, dripping wet, wearing the biggest smile. She wrapped her arms around her mom’s waist and hugged her, looked up and puckered for a kiss. Marissa kissed her goodbye and told her to be on her best behavior.
“I will, Mom. Have fun tonight. Good luck on your date!” she said playfully and Marissa rolled her eyes.
Why was everyone saying that? Gathering her keys and phone, she headed for her car. Her skin was a soft bronze color from sitting out in the sun. Good thing, because she couldn’t imagine going on a date looking like a lobster. Red burning skin was not pleasant or appealing. Her nerves were frazzled but that didn’t surprise her. It wasn’t everyday she had a…a date with a doctor. Smiling at the thought, she started her car and headed for home.
She entered the shower smelling like Coppertone sunscreen and exited smelling like silk vanilla. Her skin so smooth to the touch, sporting the tiniest hint of tan, and she felt beautiful, perfect. Jamming to some tunes on her favorite radio station, she skimmed through her closet wondering what to wear. Too sexy, too professional, too casual, too smothering. Oh there had to be something!
Finally, something she’d passed up hit her eyes and she smiled. Perfect. A black knee-length sun dress. Small ruffles on the sleeves and around the bust area. It was a perfect going-out dress for summer, but just casual enough to not be too dressy. She paired it with her black sandals. Her toenails were not painted but she wasn’t going that far. This was just a casual dinner date with a friend.
She did her makeup lightly, and left her hair down in its spiral frenzy. It wasn’t frizzy, but fell loosely around her face, perfectly framing it in a sea of chestnut brown strands. Her only jewelry was earrings, a necklace and a watch. She checked the time and exhaled. It was time. Taking one last look in the mirror as she fluffed her hair and smiled, she palmed the front of her dress and checked every angle to make sure everything was looking okay.
She nodded, turned and grabbed her black clutch bag trying to remember where she’d left her keys and phone. Snapping her fingers at the thought, she headed into the kitchen and for once, they were where they were supposed to be.
Dropping her phone into the clutch and grabbing her keys, she headed for the door. Here goes, she thought as she locked up the house.
Marissa pulled up to the restaurant and parked, seeing it was pretty busy, she wondered if he was there already. Deciding to go inside and check before calling him, she asked the waitress if she’d seated a man who was waiting on someone and the woman nodded with a smile and described the man perfectly. Marissa nodded as the waitress showed her to the table. Carlos stood and smiled, looking so relaxed and very handsome in his baby blue polo shirt, tucked into his black slacks with a black shiny belt. My, oh my, did he look good, she thought to herself as she remembered to breathe. He helped her to her seat and waited until she was seated to go around to the other side and sit.
* * * *
Carlos thought to himself how amazing she looked, but there was never a time he saw her and didn’t think that. She was a stunning woman, who had a great personality and outlook on life. Ever since meeting her a few years back, she’d always been optimistic and totally had faith in him as a doctor. He admired her strength, he admired her. The fight she gave and how she would explain to him she would do whatever it took to get her health better so she could be there for her daughter always impressed him. It was amazing to see such fight in her, such determination.
After his split with Carmen, his ex-wife, a part of him felt as if he would never find anyone that he could trust. The betrayal from her infidelity caused him to guard himself. He’d felt lonely and doubted he’d ever find someone that he could share his life with. Then, Marissa Hayes walked into his office and he was smitten with her. It was more than a physical attraction, although that helped. Her smile was contagious and her laugh, he could listen to that for hours. He found himself looking forward to her appointments, but saddened that she was in such pain most days. Someone as sweet and kind as her didn’t deserve it.
Circle of Secrets Page 8
