Page 65 of Miracles and Marriage
“Cal wants to know if you are available to attend the concert at Kennedy Center tonight. He has season tickets and finds he can attend tonight’s performance. It’s the music of John Williams. He said if you can go, he’ll pick you up at seven and to plan to have a late supper afterward.”
“Tell Cal thanks. I’ll be ready.”
Zoe loved attending performances at the Kennedy Center. It gave her a chance to dress up. Since Cal rarely saw her outside of the office in the past, everything she had would be new to him. Too bad. She’d have loved an excuse to splurge on a new dress. Still, she was saving her money for her precious baby. Even a night at Kennedy Center wouldn’t sway her.
Cal knocked on her apartment door promptly at seven.
“You look lovely,” he said when she opened the door.
Zoe wore a long burgundy velvet dress, with a high collar. She’d arranged her hair swept up and pinned with glittering combs. A bit more makeup than she normally worecomplemented the deep color of her gown. She felt stylish and feminine with the glittering jewelry that complemented the outfit.
“Thank you.”
She was pleased he thought so. She might not be able to compete with his model-gorgeous girlfriends, but she did dress up nicely.
“Sorry for the short notice. I have season tickets and often give them to employees or clients, but had saved these for tonight. I like his work. If I had been home from Europe earlier, I’d have invited you earlier,” he said.
“I had no other plans, so this is a special treat.”
A date. They had made love several times, been married a month and she counted this as their first real date.
Did Cal realize that? They’d had several meals together, but he and various staff members often had meals together when discussing business. Those didn’t count.
She even felt as shy as a first date.
“Ready?”
She handed him her coat and he helped her put it on. In moments they were speeding toward the glittering Kennedy Center. Lighted at night it looked like a huge confection, its reflection doubling in the Potomac River. Columns marched around the building. Despite its huge size, it looked light and magical with all the illumination.
Valet parking took care of the car. Zoe loved mingling with the others who had come to hear the music. Glitter and dazzling displays of jewelry had her gazing around in awe. Conversations ebbed and flowed, laughter rang out.
“It’s always the same, yet unexpected and wondrous,” she said, holding Cal’s arm. “I love coming here.”
“You’ll have to let me know what you want to see and I’ll keep those tickets,” he said as they moved through the groups chatting and greeting acquaintances.
Cal spoke to a couple on his right, introducing Zoe to the McGillroys. He nodded to a beautiful woman with one of the junior congressmen from Wisconsin. Zoe wondered if she was one he used to date. She fit the profile—slender, beautiful and exquisitely attired. The dress Zoe had been so happy with now seemed conservative in comparison.
“A bit too much skin for the Kennedy Center, I’d say,” he murmured when they were past.
“I thought men liked to see skin.”
He glanced at her.
“On the right woman and at the right time.”
She couldn’t have written anything more perfect to say.
The music was wonderful. She enjoyed the entire program. Cal had been attentive, holding her hand during much of the performance. Which, given all they’d done together, shouldn’t have been the big deal it was.
Zoe could hardly listen to the music. Her entire body was tingling from that connection. Her senses swam with awareness and desire. She wanted to drive back to his place and make love all night.
After the show, he drove to a small restaurant near the Mall. It was dark and intimate. Zoe was charmed he’d thought of it for their late dinner.
The maître d’ seated them in a small alcove, with enough light to read the menu, yet with a definite romantic overtone. She glanced at Cal. The man constantly surprised her. She never thought of him as being romantic.
“This is lovely,” she said.
He nodded, reading the menu.
