The restaurant was unusually busy when I went next door for lunch, and I had managed to get the last table, and was agonising over my lunch choice when Clive came over looking rather worried.
"Cos we're so busy do you mind sharing the table?"
"No it's fine." Especially if I was sharing it with the rather handsome man who had just walked in. Well my luck was in, he was joining me, was rather disappointed to see a wedding ring though.
"Is it always this busy? It's just I'm new here and I don't want to spend them somewhere this chaotic."
"No, this time of day usually pretty quiet. So your wife needen't get jealous of us."
"Oh, no." He said seeming to avoid the comment.
"You said you're new in town, so any particular reason, and I feel like I'm interviewing you for a job, sorry."
"No, it's fine, a friend of mine has a surgery here and offered me a job, and there were just too many bad memories in Cirencester."

Our conversation was interrupted by the food arriving, but was quickly resumed over a hot chocolate.
"You said your friend had a surgery here, doctors or dentists?"
"Doctors, do you happen to know a Dr Gail?"
"Our paths may have crossed, yes."
"Sebastian." I may have almost spat out my hot chocolate laughing at that. "And I have been friends since medical school, and was in fact my brother in law."
"Oh dear, that poor man has met my mother."
"She can't be that bad. I'm sorry I've spent the entire time talking you without introducing myself, I'm Gary."
"Miranda, and she is, trust me."
"Well Miranda, I've had such a pleasant time, why don't we meet for dinner, say outside here at 7?"
"Sounds lovely, I'll see you then." Looks like you've pulled, Clive said when he came over with the bill.

I left a hastily scribbled note for Stevie so she would know where I went. 'Have a date tonight. Off to do emergency shopping and have hair done. Explain all tomorrow. M.' Things were going worryingly smoothly found a decent outfit in the first shop, the hairdresser listened when I tried to explain what I wanted, I don't look like Princess Anne and it didn't rain when I came out, it was only when I got back to the shop that the problems started.
"You have a date and don't think to consult the font of the Allure for advice."
"Yes, because whenever you have given me dating advice things have gone wrong, so giving it one last try myself."
"So what's he like?"
"Gorgeous, and a doctor, only problem is he knows Dr Gail so hoping he doesn't here that I'm a mad woman and change his mind, And if you don't mind I have a date to get ready for, and if mum comes in, get rid of her please."

I was very impressed when he arrived at 7 on the dot, there was a bit of confusion about whose umbrella we would take as the rain I was glad to have missed earlier made an appearance, but Clive said I could pick mine up in the morning so that sorted that.
"So? Where are we going?" Gary asked, not unreasonably.
"A little Italian place , it's not far."
When we were sat down and were presented with our menus I asked an awkward question that had been niggling me all day.
"You don't have to answer but when I mentioned your wife earlier you seem to dodge the comment, and described Sebastian as your ex brother in law, so nasty divorce?"
"No, that would be easier to explain to people, I'm actually a widower, almost 2 years ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"No, it's fine. Talking about it helps, her name was Kate and we met at uni, in fact we met when she ran over my foot with her bike."
"Is that why you still wear the ring?"
"Yeah, I promised her at the funeral that unless I had to for work, I wouldn't take it off, it's like having her with me everyday."
We spent the rest of the meal, tactfully avoiding the subject, and just learning about each other. He asked me out again, we're going for a drink on Friday night, and I even got a kiss at the door, which is always a good sign, and I am off to bed as I am going to need a good nights sleep if I have to face Stevie in the morning. Goodnight.