Writing Challenge: Part III

I arrived first. I was eager to find out more about Rebecca, and I had nothing else to do anyway. That is the major benefit of graduation, no more homework or studying.

She arrived at exactly 11, almost to the second. “Hello,” I greeted her. “I’m really glad you came.”

“As I recall, you didn’t leave me a choice,” she said with a smile.

“Yes, well, I do have a way with the ladies,” I replied, and she chuckled. The waitress came for our drink orders before we had time to continue the conversation. I really had no idea what to say anyways. I had my usual morning drink, coffee with extra cream. She ordered green tea, extra sweet.

“So you just graduated. What was your major? Did you do well?” she asked after the waiter left.

“Mechanical engineering, and they are giving me the diploma, or so they say. I must have done better then I thought.” I replied with a smile. “You’re entering a Ph. D. program here? What for?” I asked.

“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” she asked.

“What?” I hadn’t realized it, but I was studying her, looking for any differences between her and my mother. After a moment of introspection, I replied, “You look like someone I know.”

“Is it Jennifer Aniston? ‘Cause she’s gorgeous,” she said with a smile.

“Jennifer Aniston has nothing on you. No, you just sometimes remind me a little of my mother. I know. It isn’t what woman like to hear on a first date.” I said gently, not knowing how she would react.

The waitress interrupted the conversation to deliver our drinks. “Psychology,” Rebecca replied after the drinks were sat down, “And it’s a conversation not a date.”

“What can I get for you?” the waitress said before the conversation could continue.

“I’ll have the scrambled eggs platter with bacon,” I said, and handed in my menu. “Thank you”

“I’ll have the vegetarian omelet,” Rebecca ordered with a smile while making eye contact.

“You were talking about your mother. What was she like? I mean is she still alive?” Rebecca asked once the waitress left. She lifted her cup of tea to her lips while waiting for an answer.

“No, she died when I was young. She was beautiful, kind, and caring,” I said. After a pause, I continued, “I loved her very much.”

“What about your father? What was he like?” she asked.

“He died a few years before my mother in a boating accident. I don’t remember him as much, but I do remember him being strong and kind and caring,” I replied.

After a moment, she lifted her hands slowly. My eyes naturally followed the movement of her hands as she swayed them back and forth. It took me a moment to realize what she was doing, and what I was doing.

“So why the hand fetish?” she asked.

“What?”

“You were staring at my hands,” she replied.

“Oh, sorry. Um…I’m not sure how to explain this. You see the clearest memories I have of my mother are her hands. Specifically a ring she always wore. I think it was her engagement ring. Talking about her must have made me remember it.”

She smiled sympathetically. “It’s ok, we don’t have to talk about her anymore.”

“You use to wear a ring. I can see the tan line. What happened to it? Did you lose it?”

“No. I used to be married. I’m not anymore. It is one of, but not the top reason this ‘conversation’ is a really bad idea.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said as the waitress delivered our food. The conversation died as we both began to eat. It seems neither of us had eaten yet today.

“So what happened?” I asked after a few bites. “Why are you not married anymore, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I do…mind. Can we talk about something else?” she replied. “You said your parents both died when you were a kid. Did you go to foster care? What was that like?”

“Yes. I was lucky. I found a great family almost immediately. They had 2 older kids and 3 other foster kids. They were great to all of us. My eldest foster sibling is graduating from Princeton this year. The other 2 are both attending college as a freshman and junior. Our foster parents paid for all of it.”

“It sounds like you were pretty well off, all things considered,” she said. “I’m really glad to hear that. After your childhood, you deserve it.”

“Thanks. What about your parents? Are you guys close?” I asked.

“My father died a while back. My mother lives in Montana. Unfortunately I don’t get to see her as often as I would like,” she said after taking her last bite.

“That’s too bad. You will have time to visit before you start school right? I have a grandmother in Montana. Maybe we could go up there together and surprise both of them sometime.”

“I’m not sure about that,” she said. “Like I said before, my life is complicated right now. I’m not entirely positive I’ll be able to attend school.”

“Oh well, it was just a thought,” I replied in a defeated tone.

“Listen it was great talking to you, but I really must be going. I’m meeting a friend this afternoon,” she said while getting up.

“Might I have your phone number? I would really like to get together another time,” I asked. My heart was pounding as I waited her answer.

“Well…Ok, but I want to make it clear. I’m not interested in a relationship. As long as you agree to that, then I would like very much to get together and talk once in a while.”

I complied as she wrote down her number on a napkin. She gave me a pleasant smile before she turned and left.