CHAPTER FIVE
The black one, the red one or the gold one? Heavens, the decisions a girl had to make.
It was Saturday night, a whole five days since Drake had asked her out, and she was in a pickle. It wasn’t her dress she was worried about although she still hadn’t made up her mind which one to wear. It was the whole idea of going out with him that was driving her crazy. She’d agreed to go out with a man she’d hated – no, that was too strong a word – held a grudge against for the past ten years and all he’d done was ask her out and she’d given in.
Of course, there had been the issue of the information he’d promised to give her. What in the world had he and Jessie been talking about? She was dying of curiosity. Jessie tended to be a very vocal child and would say anything in front of practically anybody. She shuddered to think of what she’d said to Drake. But, she’d been asking herself for the past five days, was that the only reason she’d accepted his invitation? She sincerely hoped that was it. In her heart, though, she knew better. Her heart, that treacherous part of her, still had a very soft spot for this man she’d adored in her younger, immature days.
But goodness, she was older now and far more experienced. She’d even been married to a man she’d loved and admired. So why did her heart pound at the thought of going out with a man who had hurt her so badly? She gave a deep sigh. Obviously she had learned very little over the years, least of all how to protect her heart.
The babysitter came at six-thirty and at seven o’clock on the dot she heard the doorbell ring.
“I’ll get it,” Jessie yelled and before Meg or Amelia could stop her she was racing down the hallway toward the front door.
Meg grabbed her purse. “You have my cell phone number?”
“As always,” Amelia said with a roll of her eyes.
“Good. I’ll only be a couple of hours, okay.”
“No rush.” Amelia pointed to her bag on the floor. “I have my laptop.”
“And call me in case of emer-”
“Mrs. Gracey, go.” The teenager took her by the arm and turned her toward the door. “I’ve been babysitting Jessie for two years now. I know what I’m doing.”
“Okay, okay. I’m going.”
“Thank you.” Amelia said, laughing at her.
Feeling just a little bit on the nervous side, Meg followed Jessie’s path and there, standing in the doorway stood Drake, heart-stoppingly handsome in dark-gray suit, his shirt open at the collar. Goodness, he was almost Brad Pitt handsome, with his dark blond hair just touching the collar of his shirt.
“Bye, Drake,” Jessie said with a wave of her hand then turned and ran back the way she had come.
“Mr. Duncan to you, missy,” Meg called after her but she’d already disappeared into the den where Amelia was waiting for her.
Now Meg was completely alone with Drake, not dressed in business suit and sensible pumps like she’d been for their two previous meetings but in elegant wear that reminded her that she was a woman. And he was a man. Going out on a date. Not exactly what she wanted to remember right now.
“Shall we go?” Drake gave her a polite nod then waited for her to step past him. His eyes had a special twinkle to them and she could see that he liked what he saw. He didn’t say anything but somehow he didn’t need to. The eyes said it all.
Drake had chosen a restaurant which was only fifteen minutes drive away from Meg’s home, the Phancy Pheasant, one of her favorites. How had he known? It was an elegant place and the food could only be described as exquisite. And it was pricey. Meg’s visits to the restaurant had been rare but she’d enjoyed it immensely each time. After Greg’s death she hadn’t been back at all.
As they entered the lobby the memories, so bittersweet, came rushing back and Meg had to blink rapidly to clear the mist from her eyes.
“Are you all right?” Drake dipped his head to peer down at her.
“I’m…I’m fine,” she said in a choked whisper. Then, determined not to break down in from of him she sniffed, straightened her back and stepped ahead of him toward the hostess who was coming forward to greet them. To Meg’s relief she was able to regain control of her emotions and, just to make sure Drake didn’t bug her with any more questions, she gave him her brightest smile. She was glad when he smiled back and seemed to relax. Danger averted. Thank goodness.
After the appetizer they had a meal of the restaurant’s signature dish, pheasant in wine on wild rice followed by chocolate mint and pistachio ice cream. Meg was dying to start questioning Drake about his conversation with Jessie but, not wanting to be rude, she bided her time, waiting for him to bring up the subject.
It was while they were sipping after-dinner tea that he finally did. Drake gave her a slow smile then he rested his cup on the saucer and leaned back in his chair. “I think I’ve held you in suspense long enough,” he said with a wicked smile. “I’m ready to put you out of your misery if you’ll promise me one thing.”
Meg sat back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. “Oh, no, you don’t. Don’t you dare tack on anything else. We had an arrangement. I go out to dinner with you and you fill me in on everything you and Jessie talked about. That’s it.”
Drake chuckled. “You’re right. Thought I could squeeze in something else along the way but you caught me.”
Now it was Meg’s turn to give him a wicked smile of her own. “Now start talking. I'm all ears.”
“Okay, Meg. I hope you can handle this.” Drake sat forward, leaning toward her, and rested his arms on the table.
This sounded serious. Meg held her breath.
“Jessie told me about her father and how he died. She also told me about her wish to have a daddy.” Drake’s eyes so intensely gray, searched hers. It was as if he wanted to gauge her reaction. “She tells me she doesn’t really remember her dad but she seems to yearn for what she never had. She wants a complete family, Meg – mommy, daddy and baby.”