Chapter 2: Pre Date Jitters

"Ok, now the tape." said Chingachgook. When no tape came, he asked again. "Uncas, the tape." Still nothing. Holding the end of the bandage he had wrapped around the leg of a deer he was treating, he glanced over his shoulder and saw his son staring at the floor, absentmindedly rubbing his finger back and forth over the roll of surgical tape he was holding as he squatted next to his father.

"Son?" No response. "Uncas?...UNCAS!"

"Wha..?" Uncas was so startled at his father's raised voice, he lost his balance and fell over backward, sprawling out on the floor.

"Are you alright son?" his father asked.

"Huh? Yeah! No, I'm, I'm fine. Sorry, I was just…thinking about something." he said to his father as he got up and secured the bandage with the tape.

"Something or someone? You've been in a daze ever since Ed's daughters left here. Does the 'something' you were thinking about have blond hair and brown eyes by chance?" Chingachgook asked with a knowing smile.

Uncas gave a laugh as he looked at the roll of tape which he was now tapping on his knee. "Yeah…busted!"

"I thought as much! Well, looks like I'm going to have my hands full with you! After lunch, do you realize you put your empty plate in the refrigerator and a jar of mayonnaise in the dishwasher?"

"I really did that?"

"Oh yeah!" replied Chingachgook as father and son shared a laugh. After a moment Uncas stopped laughing and became thoughtful as he once again rubbed the tape with his finger.

"She's just….I don't know….different somehow. She's so gentle and sweet and kinda sophisticated but not in a stuck up way. And she's pretty…and she loves the outdoors. And I love her accent and the way she laughs. I don't know. I'm taking her out tomorrow night and I just can't stop thinking about her."

"Oh man! You do have it bad! Well!" Chingachgook sighed, shaking his head as he stood up and brushed some hay off of his jeans. "I can tell tomorrow night is going to be a looooong time coming for you. God help me!"


Alice sat in a patio chair on the back deck of her father's house with her feet tucked up under her. She gazed off blankly at the lawn as she continuously twirled a strand of loose hair around her finger. Studying a page in the notebook he was holding as he stepped through the patio door onto the deck, Ed sat down in the chair next to Alice.

"I though perhaps you might help me with my notes for my next speaking engagement." he said to her.

"Mmhm."

"I just think my speech is missing something."

"Hmm."

"I think it needs more pizzazz." he said.

"Mmm." she replied in a faint murmur.

Glancing at Alice, he noticed for the first time that his daughter hadn't really heard a word he'd said. Leaning forward for a better look at her vacant expression, he then sat back and returned his attention to his notebook while raising his eyebrows.

"And after I give my speech, I thought I'd get my entire body tattooed from head to foot and then hitchhike to Arizona and go bungee jumping off the Grand Canyon."

"Mmhm."

"Earth to Alice! Do you read me? Over!" he said as he gently shook her arm.

"I'm sorry, Papa, what were you saying?" she said, snapping out of her daydream when she finally realized her father was talking to her.

"You haven't heard a word I said, girl. I've never seen you like this before. What's got you so distracted?" he said with a slight, quizzical smile.

Alice looked at her father and then down at her lap as she brushed the strand of loose hair over her face and smiled shyly. She had always been able to talk to her father about anything, so she was not afraid to tell him about who she was thinking of.

"Uncas." she said his name so softly it was almost a whisper.

"Uncas? Ahh, so you met the lad when you were at the sanctuary, did you? Well, he must have made one hell of a first impression on you. You've been in another world since you got back from there."

"Yes, he did make a big first impression." Alice was barely able to get the words out as she had a hard time keeping a grin off of her face and she felt her cheeks getting hot at the memory of seeing Uncas naked.

"Well, he is a good looking young fella, I'll give him that." He wondered why his daughter's face turned red as she looked away from him while trying not to smile and why it got even redder when he mentioned Uncas was good looking. It was definitely a curious effect the young man was having on her. Always shy around boys, no one ever made Alice act like this before. Strange! The lad always struck Ed as being very quiet and mild mannered but apparently he must have quite a way with the ladies!


After returning home from the trip to the sanctuary, Cora immediately called Duncan Heyward to reschedule their dinner date from tomorrow night to the night after. She had been so enamored with Nathaniel that when he asked her to go out with him the next evening, she had completely forgotten Duncan was taking her to dinner that same night. When she got the voicemail on his cell, she left a simple message saying something unexpected came up and could they go out the next night?

About ten minutes later, Duncan shot her a text message stating: On duty, can't talk. Next night fine! Duncan xxoo.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Cora sat down on her bed and looked at the double sided picture frame on her dresser. One side contained a photo of her and Duncan posing together under a tree outside of the Fort William Henry Museum. She smiled when she remembered the day he took her there. After touring the fort, they were just starting to leave the museum when one of the fort reenactors fired off a cannon. Cora was so taken by surprise, she let out a scream as she jumped a good three inches straight up. Duncan had laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight.

The second photo was of Duncan dressed in full uniform as he stood next to his patrol car. When he was seventeen, his father moved his family "across the pond" to live permanently in their summer home next to Lake George. It had always been Duncan's dream to pursue a military career like his father, but after attending a career fair in his senior year in high school, he immediately changed his plans and became a State Trooper as soon as he was old enough to enter the police academy. Now, at age 26, he was a seasoned officer and had recently been decorated for bravery after he saved the life of a woman being held hostage by her enraged boyfriend after a domestic dispute.

Cora cared for Duncan a great deal and the two had been dating casually for the past few years, most of which had been conducted long distance since he was stationed here and she had been in Boston attending college. Although they had always maintained an open relationship, she had begun to sense a change in Duncan since she'd come home and she got the impression that he wanted there to be more of a commitment between them, although he hadn't said as much yet. And until today, Cora thought that's what she wanted too. But now that she'd met Nathaniel, she wasn't so sure.

The two men couldn't be more opposite of each other if they tried, and Cora always felt Duncan was just the kind of man she wanted to be with. If someone had described Nathaniel to her sight unseen, she would have said she'd never be attracted to a man like him. But from the moment she set eyes on him, the long haired, easy going, woodsy vet had stolen her heart.


Even though the moon would not be full until the next night, it was still very bright. Its light illuminated Alice's bedroom as she lay on her back with both hands under her head and her knees raised. Although she was staring at the silhouette of the tree outside her window, her mind was seeing Uncas as he looked when they had run into each other earlier that day. Embarrassment had only afforded her a quick glimpse of his naked body but, concentrating on the memory, she could still see him clearly. Closing her eyes, she ran the palms of her hands slowly up and down her thighs, pretending it was his chest. Oh how she wanted to touch him like that. And to feel him touching her in return.

Opening her eyes, she curled up on her side and thought again about how relaxed and at ease she felt around him. Even though they had only just met and that first meeting had been very brief, the rest of the day had been agony being away from him. What was going on? Why did she feel this way about him? She'd had crushes on boys before but never had they made her feel like this. Was she in love with him? No! She couldn't be. They only just met and she hardly knew him. It couldn't be love. Could it?

Trying to get comfortable, Alice punched her pillow and closed her eyes to sleep. As she lay there, she thought about her upcoming date with Uncas tomorrow night. What would they do on that date? Well, they'd eat, obviously, since he was taking her to some sort of restaurant. And he mentioned a band might be there, so they'd listen to some music. Then what? Would he try to kiss her? Alice's eyes popped wide open. Oh God, what if he did kiss her? She'd never been kissed by a man before, well, other than her father of course, but a peck on the cheek by him doesn't count. She'd never been kissed in the way a man and a woman kiss. Oh, why did she have to be so shy that boys didn't like her! She should be experienced by now! Maybe she could practice?

Turning her face into the pillow, she tried to pretend it was Uncas. No. That wasn't going to work. She decided to try kissing her hand instead, holding her thumb and index finger together to simulate a mouth. Better, but still not perfect. Oh well, her fingers would have to do. Closing her eyes again, she pretended she was kissing Uncas. After a few moments she stopped, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't want to kiss her own fingers, she wanted to kiss him! And she wanted to kiss him right now!

With a groaning sigh, she punched the pillow again and decided she wouldn't worry about it. Back when she had gone on her first date, Cora had told her kissing would come naturally and that was what Alice was counting on now. Rolling over onto her other side, she curled her legs up and closed her eyes again. She imagined her and Uncas going out on other dates together and a smile came to her lips at the pleasant thought. Then another thought barged its way into the picture, shattering her little fantasy into tiny pieces. What if he wanted to have sex?

Once again, Alice's eyes shot wide open. She'd never had sex before! What if he wanted to? Did she want to? Oh hell yes! She wished he was lying next to her in bed making love to her right now! But she had always planned to wait. She knew she would only get one shot at having her first time and she wanted it to be with someone very special. Well who could be more special than Uncas?

She also wanted their first time together to be something special. But how do you know when that special time comes? Is the first date too soon? And if he wanted to have sex tomorrow night, would she be able to say no? Would she want to say no? And what if she did say no? Would he be hurt or angry and not want to see her anymore because she rejected him? She couldn't bear the thought! But what if she said yes? Would he think less of her for giving it up so quickly? And who should be the one to initiate it? Should she wait for him to start, or will he be waiting for her to start?

"Oh bloody hell, I'm going to blow it tomorrow night! I just know I am!"


Uncas lay on his back with one arm over his forehead and his other hand on his chest, staring up at the ceiling at the spot where his alarm clock projected the time in red LED numbers. 11:42pm. He kept remembering being with Alice in the woods earlier that day. He still couldn't believe she'd agreed to go out with him. He'd expected her to say no, that she had other plans or, worse still, she had a boyfriend. But instead she'd said yes! And tomorrow night they'll have dinner together at…..a barbeque place? Did he really tell her he'd take her there? Aw crap! What was he thinking when he said that? He shouldn't be taking someone like Alice out for chicken! He should treat her right and take her to a nice restaurant with waiters and tablecloths and candles!

11:44pm. Well, it's too late to change plans now. Besides, she'll have a good time….right? Oh God, what if she hates the place? She doesn't seem like the kind of girl who goes to barbeque pits for dinner. What if she has a miserable time and never wants to see his sorry ass again! The very though made him want to get in his truck, drive over to her house and beg her never to leave him! Up until this morning he hadn't felt anything was missing in his life. But since meeting Alice, he now felt a big piece of his life was missing and only she could fill it. Is it possible to feel that way about someone you only just met?

11:47pm. Will tomorrow night ever get here? Stop worrying about it! Everything will be fine. He'll take her out to dinner and they'll have a great time. Wait a minute. What about after dinner? What then? A movie? No. That's even worse than taking her to the barbeque place! What would a girl like her enjoy doing? The theater? Taking her to a play wouldn't be so bad. Are there any theater productions in town? Aw geez, what if she likes ballet? Or worse yet, opera? Oh God, shoot me! Taking a deep breath, he blew it out and turned onto his side. Look, don't worry about what happens after dinner. Ask her what she wants to do and take it from there. Just treat her with the respect a girl like her deserves and everything will be fine!

11:51pm. Why was everything so different with Alice? He just wanted everything to be perfect for her tomorrow night. Why was she having this effect on him? He never felt like this with any of the other girlfriends he'd had. He always knew what places to take them to. He always knew when to kiss them. And he always knew when to have sex with them. Closing his eyes once more and giving another big sigh, Uncas was just drifting off to sleep when another thought popped into his head and his eyes flew open again. What if she wants to have sex? Should he? He hadn't thought about that! Well, that's not entirely true. He most certainly had been thinking about it! He just hadn't planned on doing it on their first date. A woman like Alice is someone you show respect to and take your time with. But what if she really wants to…or what if you only think she wants to and she really doesn't, but you don't know that and you push yourself on her thinking she does? And then she gets pissed and you never see her again!

"Oh shit! I hope I don't blow it tomorrow night!"


Could the clock move any slower? Alice was a walking bundle of nerves and after what seemed to be the longest day of her life, the time finally came for Uncas to pick her up for dinner. After trying on almost every single piece of clothing she owned (and some of her sister's clothes as well), Alice finally decided on a snug fitting oatmeal colored cowl necked sweater and dark blue jeans over brown boots. Wearing her long hair loose, she sat on the sofa to wait for Uncas, only to bounce up off the couch to check her appearance in the mirror. When she repeated this act every few minutes even her father began to check the time, himself getting anxious for her date to arrive and save him from this ticking time bomb before she explodes.

When the doorbell finally rang, Alice leaped off of the sofa and ran to the door. Stopping short, she took a deep breath and held it for a moment before slowly letting it out, then opened the door. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Uncas standing on the doorstep. Wearing a light blue denim shirt with a bone hairpipe choker visible around his neck in the open collar, his long black hair flowed loose over his shoulders and down his back. Blue jeans over black boots and a small pair of silver earrings finished off his outfit and Alice nearly melted into his arms right then and there.

"Hi!" he said. 'God, she looks incredible!'

"Hi!" she replied. 'Oh he's even handsomer than he was yesterday!'

"Uncas! Hello! How are you, young man?" Ed enthusiastically said as he came up behind his daughter and shook Uncas's hand.

"I'm fine! Thanks. Yourself?"

"Oh, never better! How's that grouse doing?" he asked.

"She's doing great! The break wasn't too serious and once the wing heals she should be able to fly again."

"That's great news! Great news. Well, you young people will want to get on with your evening. Alice, make sure you've got your key with you. I'll probably turn in early tonight so you'll need to let yourself in." he said to her with a wink, which promptly made her blush.

"Good night, you two! Have fun!" said Ed as he walked away.

Alice looked down at the floor with a shy smile before looking up at Uncas, who was also looking down and smiling. He had obviously seen the wink as well. Meeting her gaze, he held out his arm to her.

"Shall we?"