After nearly four months in Florida, they still have not been able to find the guy. They keep tabs, on a few potential suspects, but they are unable to get anything concrete. She pulls into a parking space, at the restaurant. He gets out of the car first. He opens the door for her. She smiles at him. He offers her his hand.
He is dressed in a pair of linen pants, and a short sleeved, button down shirt, and she wears a flowery, spaghetti strapped maxi dress. Her hair flows down her back. They both wear flip flops. It was amazing how relaxed they had become. It was a sharp contrast, between the uniforms they had grown accustomed to wearing, every day.
He opens the door for her. The maitre d' takes their names, and leads them to their table. He pulls out her chair for her. The waiter brings them a couple of drinks, and takes their orders. He smiles at her, from across the table, near the center of the restaurant.
"What?"
"Nothing, I was just thinking how beautiful you look."
"It's the tan," she jokes.
"Did you find the anniversary card that I left you?"
"Why did you leave the house so early this morning?"
"I had to get your gift," he admits.
"Did you find your card?"
"I can't believe you snuck it into the car, last night, after we went to bed."
"It is not my fault that you are such a sound sleeper."
"Was Lizzie in or out, when we left?"
"She was inside."
"So we can't stay out too long? She might get restless, and decide to eat my shoes again."
"That is why you are supposed to leave your shoes in the garage."
"She is not supposed to eat shoes."
She laughs.
"What is so funny?"
"Do you hear us?"
"We sound like an old married couple," he smiles.
"Yes, I guess that we do."
"So are you excited for you gift?"
"I wish that you would tell me what I am getting. You already know what you got."
"I still acted surprised."
"It wasn't that great. You are not an easy person to buy for, you know?"
"I know that, but I loved what you got me."
"Movies are not a romantic gift."
"Since when do you care about romance?"
"I am just trying to make the best of things. So are you going to tell me what you got me?"
"Absolutely not."
"Not even a hint?"
"I know that you have ways you can make me talk, but would you just once, let me surprise you?"
"Only if you will let me surprise you."
"Do you have a surprise for me?" he wonders, feeling like a kid the night before Christmas.
"Maybe," she shrugs.
"You are such a tease sometimes."
"What is taking them so long? I am starving."
"I ordered steak."
"It is not that difficult to cook, not the way that you like it, any way. All they have to do is slap it on the grill, leave it there for two seconds, flip it over, let it cook another two seconds, and throw it on a plate."
"I just like it pink in the middle."
"You like it still mooing when they put it on your plate."
"You like your food your way, and I like mine my way."
"Like popcorn, with a cup of salt, on every bite."
"You are exaggerating."
"Not by much."
"I like salt, and butter, and red meat, sue me."
"Don't get me started on the butter."
"What is wrong with butter?"
"Nothing, in moderation. You take half a stick of butter, and put it on a potato, with a cup of sour cream, and eat it. I don't know why you even bother with the potato."
"You are definitely stretching things, a little bit, don't you think."
"Not really. Should I even mention the tea incident from last week?"
"You can't put a cup of sugar in a gallon pitcher, and then dump half a gallon of ice in it. You might as well just drink water."
"You make yours too strong."
"So make your own, and don't drink mine."
"If you dislike it so much, why did you drink it?"
"It was hot, and I had just gotten done mowing, and that was all there was in the fridge."
"There was water."
"We didn't have any bottled water," he argues.
"You can't drink tap water?"
"I don't like the sandy, gritty taste."
"You're going to have to get used to it."
"I don't think that I ever will."
"You are such a baby," she shakes her head.
"Says the woman who refuses to allow the central air to creep above sixty five degrees."
"I like air conditioning."
"You need to get used to the heat, eventually."
"I do not have to, that is why they invented air conditioning."
"I sleep with six blankets at night."
"I told you how to remedy that."
"I am not going to sleep outside, on the porch."
"The dog doesn't seem to mind."
"In the middle of the day. Sarina, she sleeps at the foot of the bed at night."
"You are the one who treats her like a person."
"I gave her a piece of cheese, one time, and you won't let it go."
"I can't go into the kitchen without her attacking me."
"She isn't vicious. She just loves cheese. You make it sound worse than it is. It's really just begging."
"I opened the fridge yesterday, and didn't give her any cheese, and she growled at me, it is becoming a problem."
"When we get home, I will have a discussion with her," he vows.
She rolls her eyes, "She's a dog," she quips.