Mercedes heaved a heavy sigh as glanced in the mirror. Normally she would enjoy a night out, but she didn't really feel like there was a reason to celebrate the end of a four year relationship. Brian was supposed to be the "one". He was the man of her dreams or so she thought. She thought the frog turned into the Prince it wasn't supposed to be the other way around.
She gave herself another once over. She decided to go with a combo dress. It had an abstract white, yellow and blue print top and black woven skirt. She turned to the sides and glanced at the cutout flutter short sleeves and wondered if she should change. She found a pair of blue pumps and the matching purse and grabbed her keys. She flipped her long Shirley temple curls over her shoulder and shut her door. She needed to be positive.
As she arrived at the restaurant she was pleasantly impressed at how it looked. The outside of the building was brick molding with a canopy over the valet station. As she handed over the keys to her black Nissan Altima she smiled waving to Santana. She hugged her smiling.
"You look so cute girl."
"So do you! We have a table ready inside I just came out to make a phone call give the Hostess my name and she will show you where the girls are."
Mercedes nodded as Santana walked away pulling her phone out of her purse. As Mercedes turned to go inside she bumped into a man. She looked up and recognized the hypnotizing green eyes from before.
"Excuse me I am sorry…Mercedes wow hi you look nice."
"Sam. I'm sorry I wasn't watching where I was going."
Sam glanced at her smiling. "Well you clean up nicely, not saying you looked bad earlier. I'm just going to shut up about it. So what are you doing here?"
"I am meeting my friends, they said this is the place to be now so we will see."
"You're skeptical?"
Mercedes smiled. "Don't get me wrong I am not saying this place isn't beautiful. I love the details on the molding, and the solid mahogany wood bar. I think the lights are perfect not so dim that you can't see the person in front of you but not so bright that you are blinded. From the looks of it, I think the spacing is nice."
"But everything you have said is superficial."
"Well this is my first time here I don't really know what to expect. But I will tell you placed with southern in the name are often a letdown. I spent some time in Atlanta when I was a child and I loved real down home southern food. And most restaurants that try are disappointing because most people don't know how to cook southern food."
"Is it because the owner is white?"
"I honestly have no idea who the owner is so no. I don't care if it's black, white, and Asian whatever the owners are they all just seem to miss the big picture."
"So you are just sure this place isn't going to have good food."
"I'm not saying it won't be good I am saying that I am not going to get my hopes up that the food is going to be what I expect and just accept that if I want that down home southern style taste I am going to have to actually visit the south."
"Wow."
"What?"
"I am just taking everything you are saying in."
"Mercedes you didn't have to wait for me."
Mercedes turned to see Santana walking back over to her.
"Santana I'm sorry I just bumped into a neighbor. Santana this is..."
"I know who this is. Mr. Evans. I am so glad to be here on opening night. What you have done is amazing."
"Thank you I was just talking to Mercedes asking her what she thought of the place."
"You two know each other?"
Santana smiled widely. "I am the one who sold Mr. Evans the property."
"You own Southern Cuisine. Of course you do that is just great."
"I moved up here from Tennessee about a year ago with a dream and after finding the perfect location and putting of my money into it we will see if it was worth it."
"I didn't mean to offend you."
"You didn't I like a woman who can speak her mind. I need to get back upfront I like greeting those who have graced my restaurant with their presence, however I am looking forward to hearing your take on my menu."
He winked at her and patted Santana on the back as he walked away. Santana smiled.
"What was that?"
"I stepped in it. I stepped in a big ole heaping pile of it. Take me to the table please."
Santana laughed as she escorted Mercedes to the table. Kurt stood and hugged Mercedes then took his seat.
"Santana told us about Brian. I am so sorry he is such a loser."
tina smile as Rachel grabbed her hand. "I know we always thought you could better."
Mercedes gave a half smile at them. Brian was the last thing she wanted to talk about. She glanced at the menu sighing and wondering what small plated big ticket items would be on the menu. She was surprised to see the choices.
"I am the only one surprised by this menu?"
Santana glanced at hers and looked up.
"What's wrong with it?"
"Seriously? Grilled Shrimp Remoulade, Sausage Gumbo, Soup beans, Collard Green & Black-Eyed Pea Soup, Shrimp Po boy, Raspberry Spoon bread. This are all southern style meals."
"It's a southern restaurant."
"Owned by a white guy."
Rachel sighed. "Mercedes that's kind of racist."
"I am not being racist I am just saying I know he has some black chef back there."
Tina laughed.
"I get what you saying I am kind of skeptical to see what he knows about flaky Southern-Style Biscuits, crispy Maple-Glazed Bacon, and creamy Puffy Cheddar Grits."
Santana laughed. "I know what you guys are thinking and yes he has a chef with him but you don't need to worry. He had this tasting yesterday for all of the people who helped him make this restaurant what it is. And he is not only good looking but a remarkable chef."
The waitress came over with a bright smile.
"Welcome to Southern Cuisine my name is Kitty and I will be your server. Can I start you off on drinks?"
Mercedes looked down to her menu and grinned. "I will just have a strawberry lemonade."
The girl looked over at the waitress and nodded in agreement.
"I will have the same."
"Me too."
"Same here."
The waitress wrote it down.
"I will bring them right out. Do you need a minute or would you like to order now."
"Well I am ready. Because I wasn't to try that Spicy Southern Fried Chicken."
As the girls gave their orders Mercedes caught a glace of Sam. He was extremely handsome underneath the glow of the restaurant lights. Santana looked after her to see what she was looking at and smiled.
"He is single and looking."
Mercedes looked over to Santana.
"What?"
"Sam he is single."
"Girl no body is thinking about that man."
"Really because you are looking really hard at him. And what was that exchange I saw earlier?"
"It was nothing. He is so not my type."
Mercedes smiled at the waitress as she placed their drinks on the table.
"Your food should be out momentarily."
She nodded towards them and walked away.
Mercedes placed her leftovers in the container and smiled at Santana.
"You were right girl that was really good. I love the spices and flavors. But the servings are too big for me."
"I told you Sam is the real deal. I am glad you came out tonight."
Mercedes smiled widely. "Me too. I'm starting to think maybe being alone is a good thing. Now I have time to learn about myself."
Kurt grabbed her hand. "You are never alone Cedes. We are all here for you always. You will find someone who is as wonderful and caring as you are. Someone who loves you and sees you the way we all see you."
"And someone who can match your whit and sass." Tina said smiling.
"I am lucky to have you guys. But I should be going I have a couple of early lessons before I head to the studio."
Kurt took a sip of his drink. "Why are you still working at the studio if your engagement is off? You took that job to help pay for the wedding. I thought you said you hated helping those, and these are your words "Talentless wannabes.""
"I love working at the studio. I just wish I was actually recording and not just a vocal coach."
Rachel put her glass down. "So why don't you? Why don't you record you have a ton of songs and a great voice."
"How was your dinner? I hope you enjoyed it?"
Mercedes looked up to see Sam smiling down at her. She hated that every time he smiled at her the butterflies roamed free in her stomach. Santana looked up to him and smiled.
"It was delicious. I think we all can agree this place is going to be one of our new hangouts."
"Thank you. Mercedes what did you think about it?"
Mercedes looked up to him smiling sweetly.
"I think the food is amazing. I feel like you have opened a brand new market on taste. You should be really proud of yourself and the Chef you hired to prepare this meal."
"Actually I made it. After I saw your order I decided to make yours myself. And I am glad you like it. Santana can I borrow you for a moment. One of my diners is looking for a spot and I told her you were the woman to see."
Santana nodded as she stood. "Don't leave without me guys. I will be back."
She walked away as Tina, Rachel and Kurt glanced at Mercedes.
"Well," Kurt said smiling widely. "I think we are over Brian."
"What are you talking about?" Mercedes said sipping her pink lemonade.
Tina turned towards Sam, "That man is into you. He made your food himself? He wanted to know what you thought of his meal. He came over here to talk to you."
"He came to get Tana."
"Tell yourself that all you want. I know guys and that one is hot for you."
Mercedes shook her head as Kurt and the girls turned towards Sam once more. There was no way that man was into her he was just being nice. Unless she was completely out of touch and he actually liked her. No! He saw her crying and felt obligated to make sure she was ok. It's nothing more than trying to make sure she was ok. He was a gentleman after all.