As soon as I changed back into the dress, Emily and I headed out the door. She drove us to Poppy and parked the car. I was starting to think that this was a good idea. The restaurant had a contemporary feel, with bright green walls and tables made out of natural wood.
“Thanks Em,” I said was we entered the restaurant. “I would have just mopped around at home otherwise.”
“That what friends are for,” she said, giving me a smile.
“Do you have a reservation?” the hostess asked as we approached her station. A professional smile was plastered on her face and she held a clipboard with the reservations list.
“David Wright, but we’re a bit late,” I said. Seeing her odd look I clarified, “My boyfriend made the reservation, but since he can’t make it, I’m taking a friend. Neither of us are named David,” I added with a small laugh. The hostess didn’t smile, but she looked at her list.
“David Wright, party of two?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“I’m sorry ma’am, but I have it marked that David Wright did claim that reservation,” she said.
“That can’t be right,” I argued. “He let me know that he couldn’t make it out tonight.” A cold feeling of unease trickled into me. It must have been a mistake. Maybe they mixed up his reservation with someone else’s.
“I seated him right over there,” the hostess said, gesturing to a table in the corner.
Feeling shaky, I walked over to the table in question, desperately hoping to see strangers. As I got closer, I realized I was half right. There was a woman I didn’t know sitting at the table. She was beautiful, tall and slim with shinnying red hair. She was laughing at whatever the man next to her had just said. A few more steps, and I could clearly see the man sitting next to her. He was tanned and muscular, wearing an expensively tailored suit and carefully slicked back blonde hair. I would know him anywhere.
“David!” I cried, in shock and horror.
David whipped his head up and saw me. I saw a look of surprise pass his face and then guilt. He started to get up.
“Bernadette, listen to me,” he said. But I wasn’t having it. I ran out of the restaurant. My humiliation and hurt threatened to overwhelm me. I needed to get outside. Emily rushed out to be with me. I tried to wave her away. I didn’t want comfort, I just wanted some time alone.
“Bernadette, let me get the car. Then we can go home,” Emily said in a soft voice. I nodded, unable to say anything.
As Emily left to get the car, I focused on steadying my breath.
“Bernadette, you have to listen to me.” David had come outside and was walking towards me.
“Don’t talk to me,” I snapped, anger flaring in my voice. “You said you were busy with work but instead took another woman here. Do you think I’m an idiot?” I certainly felt like an idiot.
“It’s not what you think. This was a last-minute work dinner. I swear.”
I looked up at David. He looked sincere, but I couldn’t see how a date to the restaurant we had reservations could have possibly been a work dinner. I felt the trust I always had in him shatter and fall away. I thought about all the other times he had canceled our dates because of work. I wondered how many of them really were because of work.
“I don’t think I can trust you now,” I confessed.
“What do you mean?” he asked. He looked so concerned. Part of me desperately wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that this was an innocent work date. I wanted to push away my suspicions and kiss him and have him hold me in his arms. But I couldn’t.
“I think we need a break,” I finally said, unable to look him in the eyes.
“Do you really think that’s necessary Bernadette? We’ve been through so much together. And I told you that this dinner was just a work thing.”
“I can’t be with someone I can’t trust,” I said, finally looking at him. His blue eyes were piercing, but I forced myself not to back down.
He sighed. I hoped he would argue, fight for me to stay with him. Convince me I could trust him. “If that’s what you want. Maybe we should take some time. You’ll realize how foolish you’re being when you’ve had some time to cool off.” With that, he turned and walked back into the restaurant.
I started crying in earnest then, knowing my mascara was running down my face and not caring. The sobs got so bad I started to hiccup and desperately wanted to run away. There was a physical pain in my heart that was making in hard to breath. I just wanted to curl up and disappear.
“Bernadette, let’s go,” Emily called. I looked to see she had pulled up the car and was waiting for me. I gratefully ran to the car, feeling so glad to escape. Emily didn’t say anything when I got in the car, but gave me a big hug before driving us home.