Days 109 and 110

Writing exercise – a conversation in a restaurant, what they ordered last time, what they’re eating this time, what they like or dislike about the place, and how long since their last visit.

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Just as I was walking out of the front entrance of my apartment block, I received a message.

The ring tone that went with it was a special one, attached to my mother, and it had been the first since I last left home two years ago.

And it was about the same person, a girl I went to school with, who I came to New York with after we graduated and where she only stayed for two weeks, I had stayed for two years.

He mail was short and succinct.  Nina was back for the day.  There was no reason why, and it was as cryptic as any of her messages.  I shrugged.  In a city as big as this, there was no way I’d see her, and for that reason, I simply shrugged and went to work, thinking no more of it.

I had bigger issues, the fact it was going to be a promotion or resignation.  I’d paid my dues, and it was time.

Of course, things rarely play out in reality the way they do in your mind.  All the way in, I went over all the scenarios, all the reasons, all the evidence meticulously collected to show Eaterson, the man who held my future in his hands.

He had even said, as recently as the week before, that I was due for a promotion for all the hard work and excellent results.  I had high hopes.

Instead, I walked out of his office, unemployed.  There had been much discussion during the previous week, with various candidates being put forward, and in the end, a rival won the day.  My turn was not far away, but I decided it was now or never.

There was not much resistance when I proffered my resignation, which meant his platitudes were rather hollow, so I handed him the document and told him I could go in two weeks or right now.

It was immediate, and was escorted to the door.

Things happen for a reason.  It just doesn’t appear to be the case at the time, but often becomes apparent later on.

Outside the door, looking back, I shrugged.  If anything, it had been a stepping stone to be chalked up to experience.  Right then, I had no idea how it would help me later on, but there would be time for rumination later.

I’d timed my meeting so that if it did or didn’t go south, I would be able to celebrate or commiserate at my favourite restaurant not far from the office.

For the first time in years, I was not in a hurry and could amble along the sidewall like a tourist rather than a harried employee. 

Outside, going to open the door, my hand reached the same time as another and when I stepped back, seeing it was a lady and manners took over. When she turned to thank me, I saw it was Nina.

She also stepped back and smiled.  “Kevin.”

“Nina!”

I opened the door, and she went through, and I followed her.  We stepped up to the front desk together. 

“Are you here to meet someone?”

“As it happens, yes.  You.  If you remember, we used to come here once a week, on a Thursday, which is today.  I had hoped you would still come here, and you do.”

The girl came back to the desk after taking another couple to a table.

“Are you together?” She asked.

I looked at Nina.

“If you are not here to see someone else?” Nina said.

“I’m not.”

“Then,” the girl said, “You are together.  Follow me.”

We weaved between the tables to the back near the bar and sat, almost the same table we had sat the last time we had eaten there, the day Nina left to go home.

Drink order taken, she left us with menus.  I think we both knew what we were having.

“Remember that last lunch, nearly two years ago, you said that I should try the lobster.  It was very expensive, but you said it would be a perfect way to cap off what had been a wonderful two weeks.  Lobster and champagne.”

“You never said.”

“I loved it, but it was expensive.”

“Then we shall have it again. It will be my treat.”

“I can pay my share.”

There was an element of the same defensiveness she always had if she thought her integrity was being impugned.  It was, if anything, the only fault she had.  On my part, after time to think about it, I could see why she didn’t like the idea of my paying for her.  I’d always believe it was my responsibility if I asked her out and forgot that we lived in a different world from the one my parents expected me to live in.

“And so you shall.  I’m sorry.  I keep forgetting.”

The drinks arrived as we ordered.  “I hope the service has improved.  They used to take forever.”

That was two years ago, even a year ago, but the management had changed, and everything changed.  It had become more professional and more orientated towards business people who were under a time limit.  I told her that since then, the service has been spectacular.

A few sips of the champagne and a few moments to see she had not changed, except in hair colour and length.  I had missed her, and my feelings towards her had not changed.  And I knew she had not found and married another guy since returning home.  Mother took an interest in matters like that.

“How is your job?  Did you reach the divisional manager?”

She knew my master plan and where I would be by now.  It was the job I had just missed put on.

“No.”

“Still at Benders?”

“No.”

“Oh.  What happened?”

“They didn’t give me the promotion.”

“OK.  Where are you now?”

“Here with you.”

“I mean…  Oh.  Do I assume that you resigned?”

“I did.”

“Can you afford not to have a job?”

“No.  That’s why I’m coming home.  I have a few things to clear up, and then I’m on the plane.  Silly question, but why are you here?”

“I wanted to see you, see how you were going.”

“And…”

“Does there have to be an and?”  Furrowed brow, the prelude to a frown.

“No.  I’m just curious.  It’s just that you were always the one who never did anything without a reason.”

“Well, I’ve changed.  I came here to see you.  I took the chance that you would still eat at the same restaurant.  I had not expected you would not have a job.  I came to ask you if there was any chance you might be coming home soon.”

“Then you did have a reason.”

She sighed.  “Just answer the question.”

When I took a few seconds to consider the possible reasons, and knowing her as well as I did, I came to an interesting conclusion, one that caused a sudden ache in my heart.

Back when we graduated and went to the prom together, at some point we promised each other that we would tell the other if we were going to marry someone else.  It had been a given back then that we would marry the other when we achieved success.  I hadn’t, and not hearing from her believed she hadn’t either.

Perhaps I was wrong.

“Tomorrow, but probably in a day or two.  I have to finalise a few details before I can leave.  I’m sure my parents will be glad to see me.  Why?”

“Because I really don’t want to marry Giles.”

“Westerby?”

“My mother thinks I’m about to become an old maid left on the shelf and working her way through Oldbury County’s eligible bachelors.  Giles is the latest and he’s keen.”

“Because no one else will take him.”

“Perhaps, but he can provide a girl a life of luxury to which she could become accustomed.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Of there’s nothing else in the offing.  According to my mother, my childbearing days are rapidly diminishing.”

“You’re barely into your mid-20s.”

“You know, mother’s.  You also have one, and she longs to hold a grandchild, yours preferably, and more likely than one from your brothers.”  She shrugged.  “We could go home and pretend we’re engaged.  It’d solve the Giles problem, and we could string the engagement out for a few months and then let it fizzle.”

“Or we could just get married.  I mean, we always said we would.  If no one else wanted us or had first right of refusal.”

“Would you still want to.  I mean, we were silly kids back then, all starry-eyed and full of impossible plans.”

“I meant it.  Didn’t you?”

“I did, but I never thought you’d remember.  I thought you were just saying what I wanted to hear.”

“I loved you more than anything.  It broke my heart when you went home.”

“I had to.  I missed home too much.  You were the only one, and as you can see, I waited.  And then I’m here giving you first right of refusal.”

“That sounds pretty awful, doesn’t it?”

“I can’t think of a better way of putting it.  You are my first and, to be truthful, only preference.  But, if you have had a change of heart…”

“I have not.  Let’s have lunch, I think I can see it coming now, and afterwards, we’ll go to Tiffany’s.  If we’re going to do this, let’s do it in style.” I took both her hands in mine.  “Oh, and just to be formal, will you marry me?”

“Fine.  I had hoped it might be more traditional, but yes.”

I kissed her hand.  “Excellent.  We will make a stop after going to Tiffany’s.  There’s a special spot in Central Park where I’m told you can propose.  We’ll get a horse and carriage and flowers.”

“And photographs.”  She smiled.

“And photographs.”

“You knew I was coming, didn’t you?”

“No.  But my horoscope this morning was too coincidental to not come true.  An old friend will come back into your life, causing you to make a life-changing decision.”

Glasses refilled, toast made, lunch arriving at the table, everything had turned out as I expected it would.

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©  Charles Heath  2025