Chapter 9
Just Dinner
The drive was to the restaurant Helga knew it they had arrive, Arnold parks and climbs out and goes around to her side to open the door for her, he stands, his gaze intense-"evaporates, he waves his hand vaguely and then runs it through his hair and takes a deep breath, in an instant he takes her hand again, they whisk into an Helga nods her head and want to say something but she can't articulate the words as she is too nervous and excited, they walk in, the place looks fine to her, the wooden chairs, linen tablecloths and the walls are exposed brick, with randomly small gilt mirrors placed white candles and small vases of white roses, crooning softly in the background, this thing called love, it's very romantic.
The hostess leads them to their table for two in a small alcove by the window, and Helga sit's apprehensive and wondering what he's going to say, memories come back to haunt her, thought of nothing else all day, daydreaming Arnold glances up at her a slight smile on his lips, his eyes dancing with amusement he's telepathic, surely it's spooky, Helga tries to keeps her face impassive and it's there is the weird electrical attraction crackling between them, enslaving her, she closes her eyes in a vain attempt to ignore it, they are just having dinner,
"Thank you" Arnold says to the waiter as they sit.
They both ordered the sirloin steak cooked medium, with fries and green vegetables, and asked the bring the wine list,
"certainly sir" the waiter taken aback by Arnold's cool, calm efficiency, scuttles off, as Arnold places his apple phone on the table, It's as if he's slapped her, so this is how it it will be an agitated fraught conversation, albeit in a very romantic setting but certainly no hearts or flowers, she mutters trying to conceal, Arnold presses his lips together in a thin line and scowls as the waiter returns with the wine list.
Arnold glances at the wine list "would you like to choose a wine?" he asked raising his eyebrows at her expectantly, arrogance personified,
"you choose" Helga answered, sullen but chastened.
"I don't know much about wine I'm more of a beer and whisky guy" he winked
"Two glasses of the Barossa Valley Shiraz please."
"We only serve that by the bottle madame"
"A bottle then" she stated
'Maim. sir" the waiter retreats, subdued and she didn't blame him, Helga looks across the table at Arnold, oh she herself probably, and somewhere in the depths of her psyche, her inner goddess rises sleepily, stretches and smiles, she's been asleep for awhile, he gazes at her impassively.
"Well, it's good to set the right tone for an intimate and honest discussion wouldn't you say?" She smiled at him sweetly, his mouth presses into a hard line but than almost reluctantly his lips lift and she knew he stifles his smile.
"I totally agree" he says
"everything that happened between us it's all ancient history" she proclaimed
"ancient history huh!? he mouths and his eyes soften with humor, he runs his hand through his hair, he becomes serious again.
"Yeah i mean it's all water under the bridge"
"uh huh as you say"
"It was a long time ago I mean you have your life and I have mine and I'm okay Ive moved on"
"Have you now" he says sarcastically,
"mean we're both adults and we should be civilized to one another and respect each other" difficult she swallows and a lump in her throat swells as
Saying nothing his gaze is intense and expectant while his candor is totally disarming, what the hell does he say to this? His desperate anguishes, nothing comes close, but reality hits home, it winding her
"people change as they get older and I've change" she squeezes the words out past the lump in her throat
"I' sure your feelings changed too?" he says his voice emphatic.
"I don't know"
"you don't know?" his tone changes
"I don't know how i feel anymore" she shrugs
Perhaps they could avoid all this heartache, gasping with horror, grabbing the sides of the table and glaring, she withers under his stare he's furious again, her inner goddess glares at her too.
The waiter arrives with their wine as they sit staring at each other, blue eyes to green, both of them filled with unspoken recrimination while the waiter removes the cork an unnecessary flourish and pours a little wine into Arnold's glass, automatically Arnold reaches out and takes a sip.
"That's fine" his voice is curt.
Gingerly the waiter fills their glasses, placing the bottle on the table before beating a hasty retreat, Arnold has not taken his eye of Helga the whole time, she is the first to crack, breaking eye contact, picking up her glass and taking a big gulp, she barely taste it.
"I'm Sorry" she whispered feeling stupid because thinking they are incompatible.
"Sorry for what?" he says alarmed
"for running off like i did"
"we might have avoided all this suffering" he mutters
"You look fine" more than fine you look like you
"Appearances can be deceptive" he says quietly "and i am anything but fine"
Feeling like the sun has set and not risen for five days, Helga is perpetual night her, winded by his admission, yet the going gets tough and your out the door in her sleep it is the most comforting thing, it made her relax, her heart constricts and reaches for her wine.
"you said you loved me" he whispers "is that now in the past tense?" his voice is low laced with anxiety.
"No Arnold it's just a sore subject"
He looks so vulnerable as he exhales "I see" he murmurs.
Shocked by his admission he had a change of heart, when she told hims she loved him for the first time he was horrified, the waiter is back. Briskly place their plates in front of them and scuttles away.
Holy hell food!
"eat up" he commands
Deep down she knows she's hungry but right now her stomach is in knots, sitting across from the only person she has ever loved and debating their uncertain future does not promote a healthy appetite, she looks dubiously at her food
"So help me god Helga if you don't eat i will take you across my knee here in this restaurant and it will have nothing to do with my sexual gratification. Eat!"
Keep your hair on Shortman, her subconscious stares over her.
AN: please review.
