Page 17 of Lordes

“Okay, super important question. Are you married?”

Without hesitation. “No, I’m not married and I’ve never been married.”

“Okay.” I could see her breathe a faint sigh of relief.

“And do you have kids?”

“No. Do you?”

“No. My sister has two. I’m an aunt.”

“I’m an only child. I hope that’s not a deal breaker.” I joked while being serious.

“Why would it be?”

“Only children, we have a bad reputation of being egotistical and self-centered.”

“I judge everyone I meet on his or her own merits.”

“Okay it’s my turn. This is a bad question but I’m going to take a chance and ask it.”

“Okay let me take a drink first.” She raised the wine glass to her lips and I watched, as her lipstick didn’t transfer to the glass. Fascinating. “Should I be scared?”

“No. No. I was just wondering why you’re single?”

“Okay.” Her eyebrows arched but she was still wearing a smile. “That is the worst question ever.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer.”

“No. Let’s be brave. Let’s do this together. I will answer if you do. Mr. Donovan, why are you single?”

“I see what you mean about the question, but I will answer. I work a lot. It doesn’t lend much time for relationships.”

“Oh, you work a lot. Good answer.”

“It’s your turn.”

“I’m single because I haven’t found the love of my life. It’s corny but it’s true.”

“You believe in all that?” I was interested in her answer.

“Yes, I believe it because I’ve seen it. My parents loved each other every day. They were each others love of a lifetime.”

“I didn’t have that sort of example growing up. My parents weren’t around. I didn’t know them and now they’re gone.”

* * *

Dinner went as smooth as it could be. Bria was witty, intelligent, and charming. She had a class about her that wasn’t forced or contrived. I couldn’t find one thing wrong with her. Her smile was beguiling. Her laugh was infectious. Keeping my hands to myself would be a hefty task as the night went on.

We talked like old friends, as if we’d known each other for years. We went through two bottles Leviathan. After our waiter cleared the table I wanted more. I was in my head trying to figure out why she was different. It wasn’t her race or color. I’d dated a lot of women and I found for the most part they were all fundamentally the same. Women had different faces and bodies. They had armor that they wore to make it through the day, but Bria was different to me, for me. I just couldn’t pinpoint why she was special or why I wanted to be in her presence.

I wasn’t smart enough to figure it out tonight. But I was determined to find out how and why I felt such a deep connection with her. She was a stranger in all regards but there was something between us. I would call it a magical connection if I believed in magic. I believed in science and logic. I believed in religion because it was forced on me and it would be very sad and hypocritical for a man with the first name Lordes and the middle name Romans to not believe in the Bible. My Gram and her family before her believed in God. Who was I to break with the Catholic tradition and not believe in Christianity? I had too many nuns and priests in the family to be an atheist. They all were dead but that was beside the point. As an ancestor of such a religious people I might as well believe for the sake of tradition.

Bria and I had conversation that had many twists and turns. I needed to confess. I couldn’t let this lady leave here without knowing my intentions.

“I want to make sure it’s clear that I’m interested in you.”

“It’s very clear now that you have declared it in a restaurant full of people.”

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