So James and I parted on good terms, a date booked in our calendars and ready to take up our regular lives for the next two weeks until my kids were next at their dad’s house. But, funny thing about that: after I left Starbucks I found I had a really hard time not thinking about him. A lot.
Of course I went straight home after the date and called Grace – she would’ve killed me if I hadn’t. In fact, I was half surprised not to find her sitting in the passenger seat of my car waiting for me when I drove home that night. I grudgingly told her she had relatively good taste – my interest was piqued and James and I were going to get together again, this time for dinner. She screamed. It’s good to know some girlish reactions just never go away! So, we chatted and giggled and gossiped for far too long, and I went to bed that night thinking of James.
The next day, he phoned me. I guess when you get to be 45 there are some games you just don’t play anymore, and James seemed very ready to lay his cards on the table. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot, Claire. I just wanted to let you know I really enjoyed meeting you and getting to know you a little better last night. I really would rather not wait another two weeks to see you again – can I take you out today?” Turns out he had tickets to an exhibit on movie costumes at the museum and there was no-one he’d rather go with.
Well, laundry be damned. I readily agreed and met him downtown. This time, of course, we knew each other straight away. He smiled at me and his whole face lit up, green eyes and all, and my heart did a little flip-flop. Yes, I was happy to see him again.
It turned out that the museum was a great second date. The movie costume exhibit was very interesting, and we got to know a lot about each others’ tastes just by talking about the films. And I must admit: he shot up about 100 points in my esteem when he gushed over Emma Thompson’s costume from Sense and Sensibility, admitting that the film (and later, the novel) helped him change his perspective on personal relationships, being by nature a very sensible, accountant type. The man reads Jane Austen…help me now.
We walked, and talked, and talked…and talked some more. I enjoyed the way he jumped from goofy jokes to serious personal insights and back to goofiness again, and I was impressed by his cultural bent (I’m so prejudiced about financial types). He was by turns energetic and intense, but always with a willingness to laugh at himself. He was very considerate of me, but without being at all patronizing. And when he occasionally put a hand on my arm to emphasize a point in our conversation, or looked right at me with those intensely green eyes, I felt like I would really like him to do that again.
Yes. This is most definitely the fun part.
Okay Claire….I”m thrilled for you AND seething with jealousy! After a a few dates…can you see if he has any equally mature friends?????????