RACHEL’S lunch routine at the café continued on her business days, and always when she reflected on that moment when she met him, it brought a smile to her lips.
“How crazy is that?”
That feeling of exhilaration, though, that had pulsed through her being when she looked at him, left her wondering how that had happened and why.

“I am an older woman with two young children,” she said silently, “How does a young man fit into our lives?”
She couldn’t be sure of the answers, nor if she would see him again, so she tried not to let it linger in her thoughts. But her friends were happy that she had met someone, knowing the lonely life she had been living, and they encouraged her to accept him as a friend and see where it went.

She sighed and said, “Well, we will see.”
Two weeks later, as she neared the café, a little later than usual, she saw him sitting at the same table they had that day.
“Hey,” he stood up, greeting her with a warm smile, “I was hoping you would come here today.”
She smiled, feeling a sudden rush of joy on seeing him, but said calmly, “I wasn’t sure I would see you again.”

“Well, I made it my duty to stop by just in case there are any unleashed dogs around.”
She laughed lightly, “You’re funny.”
He pulled a chair for her to sit and offered, “I’d like to buy lunch for you today.”
“That’s nice, thank you.”

After ordering lunch, he said to her, “I couldn’t seem to get you out of my mind nor my shirt.”
“Your shirt?” she looked a little puzzled.
He smiled and said, “When you grabbed me that day, the scent of your cologne was left on my shirt, a fresh, floral scent that somehow captivated my senses.”

“Oh,” she exclaimed softly, not sure what to say, intrigued by the look in his eyes, a look that spoke of deep attraction.
Lunch arrived, much to her relief and she took a quick, deep breath to regain her composure.
The conversation gradually returned to normal and he told her he was a civil engineer and had been visiting a few project sites.

“So that means you travel a lot?”
“Regularly, to lend my expertise on projects.”
“Interesting job.”
“Yep, and quite challenging.”

At that point, he glanced around the café and asked her in a low tone.
“Is there a husband in the picture? Don’t want anyone coming up to me angrily, swinging something.”
She laughed and responded, “No, there’s not. I’m divorced with two kids.”
He heaved a sigh of relief in a funny way that made her laugh again.
“I like that,” he said.

“What?”
“The sound of your laughter.”
“Oh,” she blushed, realising that since they met, he had been making her laugh and she admitted, “I don’t do that much.”
“You need that in your life so there can be a glow on your face from the happiness within.”
She looked at him and smiled, for she was starting to feel that joy, and she said, “You’re amazing.”
It was time for her to go back to her shop and he asked, “Can I see you again?”

She hesitated a little, then answered, “I’m not sure.”
“I would like to see you again, though,” he said, a sincere look in his eyes.
“I umm, I—” she wasn’t sure what to say, her friends’ voices echoing in her head, “Don’t let him go…”
He noticed her uncertainty and, taking her hand, he kissed it.

“Call me so we can talk some more.”
He left his card on the table, smiled with just that little charm, and left. She picked up the card and kept it in her purse but did not call all week until Friday night. He answered on the first ring, as though, waiting for that call.
“Hi.”
“Hey, great hearing from you.”

“I was kinda busy.”
“That’s understandable, I was busy myself.”
“So how far away are you working right now? She asked.
“Nowhere is too far away for me to see you again.”
“That’s a nice thing to say.”

“Yeah, and I’m missing the smile that goes with that.”
They spoke briefly, and she told him about her little antique shop in town.
“It’s great having such a deep love and passion for something,” he told her.

It was kind of pleasing to her that he always seemed to say the right things in a nice, sometimes funny way, so when he asked her out for dinner on Saturday night, she accepted though, still somewhat uncertain, having him as a close friend.
For the first time in six years, she took her time to find a new dress and had a complete makeover for a fabulous outlook.
She met him at the most exclusive restaurant in the little town, and he greeted her, looking stunned.
“Absolutely amazing.”

Dinner was a beautiful affair, the Italian cuisine, the wine and soft music, something she had missed from her life, and to that he toasted, “To our first date, hoping there will be many more.”
It’s what she wanted too: looking at him, listening to his smooth, deep voice, and seeing his charming smile filled her heart with a new, unique feeling, yet she still felt uncertain and knew then, she had to talk to him about it.
After dinner, they went for a stroll, enjoying the cool ambience of the night and getting a park bench, she said to him, “There’s something I have to ask you.”

“I know.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I sensed something is bothering you.”
She sighed and asked, “How old are you?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”

He answered her after a short moment, “I’m twenty-eight.”
She felt a bit deflated knowing he was that young and told him, “I’m forty-two.”
That changed nothing on his expression and he shook his head a little.
“That’s why you were so uncertain about seeing me again?”
“Yes.”

He took her hand in his and said, “I felt an instant attraction to you, the first time I saw you. I love your simplicity, your smile, the sound of your laughter, so age, I did not see.”
She knew she felt that same attraction to him, but she told him, “I have two young children and I’m not sure dating someone fourteen years younger could be a good thing to do.”

“You do know, life begins at forty.”
“So I was told.”
“So you’re going to let it pass you by without living your life a little, find love, embrace your desires?”
“I don’t know, I don’t think I can do this.”
“What does your heart tell you?”

She didn’t answer, not looking at him, and putting his finger gently under his chin, he lifted her head and so she was looking in his eyes.
“Tell me,” he urged her softly.
She couldn’t say what was in her heart, but she didn’t have to, for he could see it in her eyes.
“Sometimes words are not needed,” he whispered.

She closed her eyes, “I can’t…” and got up to leave, “Can we please go?”
He took her home and at the door, she said, “Thank you for a wonderful evening and I’m sorry–”
“It’s okay,” he interrupted her, putting a finger to her lips.
“I understand and I’ll be waiting for you, when you’re ready to live your life.”
He kissed her softly, “Good night.”
To be continued…