Date Night Date night has become a weekly tradition you look forward to. Thursdays. When others go out with the lads… the girls… it’s just you and Evelyn. Your French Fancy. You think it’s corny but she finds it funny – even after all these years.
She acts differently on a Thursday morning. More loving. Like a teenager, even. She becomes your Frisky French Fancy.
You’re a private couple and go somewhere different each time so no-one remembers you but always classy, expensive. You pay cash as if it’s going to impress but the only one who feels differently is you.
A young man with an ice bucket of individual red roses stands at the table and wishes you a Happy Valentine’s then asks if you’d like to buy a flower “for your lady”, which you gladly do, even though you’ve bought her an expensive bracelet.
You order steak, medium-well done, Evelyn has trout, and you talk about everything and nothing; your work, the children – you still have plenty to say.
Sharing a caramel roulade takes you back to your first date and you mention it. She stops smiling and you see a tear forming.
“Je suis désolé,” you say, putting down your fork, and signalling for the bill.
You pay and leave the restaurant in silence, remaining so as you walk to the car park.
You kiss her cheek and she smiles briefly.
You open her door and she says a “merci”.
You watch her drive away, back to her family, and you get in your car to return to yours.
Based in Northamptonshire, England, Morgen Bailey (“Morgen with an E”) is a freelance writer, editor, tutor, blogger, and speaker. Like her, her blog, http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com, is consumed by all things literary. Her debut novel, several short story collections, and writer’s block workbooks are available from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Smashwords.
