The next morning, I quickly shower and spend extra time fixing my hair and makeup. Luckily, Mason is still fast asleep as I try to get ready as quietly as possible. I can’t remember the last time I was so excited to go on a date. It brings back memories of when I first met Brent. A breakfast date … I smile at the thought. I love the fact that Tom wants to change up the traditional dating ritual.

The fact that I’m excited to meet up with Tom, compared to the other night going out with Rick, shows me that I need to have the talk with Rick. He is sweet and kind, but other than the fact we knew each other in high school, we really don’t have much in common. Also, I’m not really crazy about how he acted in front of Tom.

I’m scrambling to find my black heels that go perfectly with the dress I’m wearing. Reaching in my jewelry box, I instinctually grab the pearls that Brent gave me for a wedding present. I pause, wondering if it is right to wear them, knowing I’m going to meet another man.

Has it been long enough? Is there an acceptable time frame to date after your husband passes away? Do I tell Tom about Brent? Rick already knew about my situation because he is friends with Mike.

I decide to go ahead and wear the pearls, but looking at my wedding set that sits proudly on my hand, I have a decision to make. It’s not fair to keep wearing the reminder of a love long gone. I’m not breaking our vows. I loved him, till death did us part. I take the rings gently off my finger and begin to place them in my jewelry box. I hesitate. It still doesn’t feel right. I put the rings back on, but on my right hand instead. Baby steps, I tell myself.

I look in the full-length mirror and self-doubt washes over me. I’m slightly overweight and my nose is crooked. I look like a mom, not a sexy woman. Stop doing this. Last night, I started reading a book called Positive Women, Beautiful Women. One of the key points is to stop criticizing yourself. It reminds you to tell yourself: You are unique, you are intelligent, you are …

“You are pretty, Mommy.”

I turn to see the eyes of the number one man in my life. “You think so?”

“Uh-huh,” he says, walking over to me.

I kneel down, giving him a hug. “Thank you, sweetie.”

“Are you going to work?”

“Yes. Guess what, though?”

“What?”

“I saw someone yesterday.”

“Who, Mommy?”

“Remember your pilot friend from the air show?”

“Colonel Tom?”

“Yep.”

“Really? He’s here?”

“He is, but I’m not sure for how long. He told me to tell you hi.”

“Can we go see him later, Mommy?”

“Maybe another day. I have to work and you have vacation Bible school.” I don’t want to tell him that I am meeting him this morning. I’m not ready for that step yet.

“Okay, tell Ms. Amy hi, and if you see Colonel Tom again, tell him I said hi back.”

“I will. I made you some waffles. They are on the table. Have Aunt Holly help you.”

“Yummy waffles.” He takes off quickly to the kitchen.

“And don’t run in the house,” I call out to remind him again.

I look back in the mirror and smile. My son’s affirmation was just the boost I needed.

I pull up to Hill Top Diner. Holly still works here on occasion, and Mason and I enjoy coming on Saturdays for lunch. Carl’s burgers are the best in town.

I get out, looking around and wondering if he’s here already. I’ve only seen him around planes; I should have asked him what he drives. I hear the sound of a motorcycle entering the parking lot. It pulls up next to me, before shutting off. The rider is dressed in a black leather jacket, black jeans, and black cowboy boots. With the dark helmet on, I can’t see his face. When he removes it, Lt. Colonel Tom Sullivan’s bright smile greets me.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning yourself,” I say, surprised by his entrance.

“What a beautiful morning. I had to bring the bike. It was just too nice of a morning. Speaking of beautiful, you look lovely this morning, Ms. Olivia.”

Immediately I start to blush. “Thank you. Fighter jets and motorcycles, I guess you are an adrenaline junkie?”

“You have to be, in my line of work.” He smiles as he gets off the motorcycle. He unzips his jacket to reveal a white T-shirt with his dog tags showing outside of it.

Immediately, I think of Tom Cruise and start to laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“Never mind.” I shake my head.

“Oh, no, you’re not getting off that easy. Is my hair sticking up or something?”

“No.”

“Then what’s so funny?”

“It’s like you just walked off that movie.”

“Movie? What movie?”

“Top Gun.”

“Top Gun? Oh, no, you didn’t just go there. You think I look like Tom Cruise?”

“There’s a slight resemblance.” I try to stop giggling.

“I guess it could be worse, but you do realize that’s a movie about Navy pilots? I’m Air Force.”

“Oh.” I stop smiling, wondering if I just broke some military branch etiquette.

“Yeah, oh.” He smiles, leading us to the entrance.

“Ladies first, unless you think celebrities should go first.”

“Ha ha!” I sarcastically laugh, realizing he’s turned the tables and is now making fun of me. It’s okay, though. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard.

I stand by the podium, waiting for a waitress to seat us.

“Come on, we don’t have to wait. I asked my uncle to save me a booth,” he says, taking my hand and leading me through the restaurant to a booth all the way in the back.

The table, decorated differently from all the other tables and booths, has a blue gingham tablecloth with daisies in a mason jar in the center, complete with flickering candles on each side.

“Candlelight breakfast?” I look at him and smile.

“Impressed?” he asks.

“Very,” I say as I sit down.

Carl comes up to us, dressed a little nicer than normal.

“Good evening, I mean, good morning,” he says as he places menus in front of us.

“Good morning, Mr. Carl.”

“Hey, Uncle Carl.”

“Can I start you off with a beverage?”

“What do you have?” Tom asks.

“We have a delightful freshly squeezed orange juice from the finest oranges in Florida or crystal springs refreshing water, all the way from the mountains of Georgia,” he tries to say in a French accent.

“How about coffee?” I ask, deciding to play along.

“Ah, yes, we have the finest coffee from the finest coffee house in the US.”

“Where’s that?” I ask.

“Maxwell House,” Carl answers and I begin to laugh.

“Uncle Carl.” Tom makes a motion with his finger across his throat.

“I thought it was funny. I’ll go get you some coffee,” he says in his normal voice, leaving us to look over the menus.

“Okay, so maybe he went overboard when I told him to make it nice for you.”

“Not at all. I think it’s great. Thank you.” I smile at him.

“You’re welcome,” he says as we are once again caught in a moment of looking into each other’s eyes.

“Mason says hello,” I finally say, breaking the silence.

“He’s a cute kid. How old is he?”

“He just turned five last month.”

“Will he be off to kindergarten in a few weeks?”

“Yes. He’s very excited about it, too.”

“Must be hard raising him alone.”

“Sometimes.”

“How long has your husband been gone now?”

“Almost four years,” I say as I notice Tom looking at my hands. Self consciously, I try to cover the signs of where my wedding rings used to be.

“That’s too bad that he didn’t get to know his dad.”

“Yes. Brent was so happy when Mason was born. At the time, he said it didn’t matter if it was a boy or a girl, but when we found out it was a boy, he was on cloud nine.” I stop when I realize that I’m rambling on about my dead husband. “Sorry, I’m sure this is not appropriate first date talk.”

Tom reaches his hand to cover mine. “Hey, it’s okay to talk about him and to miss him. It doesn’t upset me.”

“It doesn’t?”

“No. I want to get to know you, Olivia, and I realize that your husband was a big part of your life. I’m not threatened.” He gives my hand a squeeze before releasing it. “Does Mason like other things, besides airplanes?”

“I’m sure he does, but planes seem to be his obsession right now.”

“Right now? So you think it’s just a phase?”

“Maybe, only time will tell. Did you love planes when you were little?”

“Oh, yeah, I grew up around them. My dad, my granddad, and even my great-grandfather were all pilots.”

“Are you saying it’s in your blood?”

“I guess you can say that.”

“So, speaking of planes, why aren’t you off flying your jet?”

“Flying my jet?” He laughs

“Isn’t that what military pilots do?”

“Yes, I suppose they do. I’m on leave right now, though.”

“You are? For how long?”

“Well, I guess that depends on how breakfast goes today.”

“What?”

“Just a joke … bad joke,” he says as Carl brings us coffee and takes our orders. Tom motions for me to go first.

“I’ll have the egg whites scramble and some fresh fruit.” I quickly close my menu, handing it back to Carl. Both of them are staring at me.

“That’s it? That’s all you’re having?” Tom says, looking disappointed.

“Yes, that’s what I want,” I respond.

“I’ll have the western omelet with country potatoes and wheat toast, please.”

“Coming right up,” Carl says as he leaves us again.

“So, what about you, ever married?” I quickly ask, hoping to avoid the talk about my menu choices.

“Only to the Air Force.”

“So, you don’t want a wife and children one day?”

“I really don’t know if I should answer that right now, Olivia,” he says, leaning back to look at me.

“Why not?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Okay, remember you asked for it.” He pauses, thinking for a moment before continuing. “Let’s just put it this way, up until now, the right girl hasn’t come along.”

“Oh,” I answer, feeling like that is no big deal, until I replay his words in my head, especially the up until now part. “Oh …” I repeat, not knowing what else to say.

“Yeah.” He raises his eyebrows.

“Here you go, the best western omelet in town. And for you, the egg whites scramble and fresh fruit,” Carl says as he places our plates before us.

We start eating and I am still thinking about what he said.

“I spooked you, didn’t I?”

“No, not at all,” I lie.

“Do you mind if I cut to the chase?” he asks, putting his fork down and looking at me very seriously.

“No, I don’t mind.” I set my fork down as well.

“Are you going to continue to see Rick Cowen?”

“Why are you asking me that?” I’m surprised by his question.

“It’s a simple question, yes or no?”

“I don’t believe so, why?”

“Not a good enough answer,” he says before beginning to eat again.

I pause a minute, watching him. What is the beef between Rick and Tom? There is definitely some kind of history and it’s no secret that neither one of them likes the other. “I’m not sure if I like how this conservation is going, but if you must know, no, I do not plan to see Rick anymore. We are strictly friends.”

“Does he know that?” Tom asks as he wipes his mouth with his napkin.

“What do you mean?”

“You heard him yesterday. He was happy to announce that you’re his girl.”

“Like I said yesterday, we went on one date, that’s it. Honestly, Rick and I don’t have that much in common.”

“What about us, do we have much in common?”

“Well, I don’t know yet, I guess.” I start to laugh. “But you make me laugh. You make me smile.”

Tom smiles and starts shaking his head. “Damn, woman.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. You’re just incredible, you know that?”

“Is that good or bad?”

“It’s good, very good.”

“I guess I need to talk to Rick, huh?”

“Definitely. The sooner the better.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because, if you’re not careful, he will be booking the church and the minister.”

“Stop it.” I start laughing again.

“I’m not kidding. The poor guy, he has no idea he is too late.”

“Too late?”

“Yes. You’ll be marrying me, not him.” He looks at me, his face quite serious.

I’m waiting for him to start laughing to let me know he’s joking. “But, I …” I can’t think of anything to say as I stare at him.

“No? Too soon?” He starts laughing.

“That’s not funny.”

“Made you laugh, though. Seriously though, you need to talk to your boy Rick, otherwise he might try to defend your honor again.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I want to ask you out again. On a real date for Friday night.”

“This isn’t a real date?”

“I mean one at a nice expensive restaurant with a wine list.”

“I’m not sure I want to, now. You seem to like to tease me a lot.” I smile.

“That’s just part of the fun. If you can’t have fun, what’s the point? So, what do you say? Friday night, dinner and a movie?”

“I suppose I could fit you in.” I smirk.

We finish our breakfast, and looking at the time, I realize I need to get to the library.

“I’m sorry I have to rush, but I need to open the library.” I stand, waiting as he insists on paying the bill.

“Yes, you must not keep the public waiting, Ms. Kennedy.”

“What are you going to do with your day?” I ask him as we step outside. He straddles his bike and gets his helmet ready as I stand by my truck, admiring the view.

“Well, since I can’t convince you to run off and elope with me, I guess I better head to the airport. I promised to help Pops and Red,” he says as he puts on his helmet and starts his bike.

“I’m not falling for your joke this time, Tom Sullivan.”

He lifts his visor to smile at me. “Who says I’m joking, Olivia?” He drops his visor as he revs the engine before taking off.

I stand there, once again in awe of all things Tom Sullivan.