Disclaimer: See chapter 1
"Garcia," the tech said into her cell as she got ready to head home for the evening.
"Hello Garcia, it is Theresa calling," the voice said in her ear.
"Hi Theresa, how are you doing?"
"I am very good Garcia but I have a little problem," Theresa admitted.
"Tell me," Garcia sat back in her chair and put her purse on the desk.
"Garcia, I have a date," the young Mexican woman informed her.
"Honey, that's not usually considered a problem," the blond whose hair was today streaked with blue chuckled.
"Garcia, I do not know dates with men. I do not know what to wear."
"And you're asking me of all people for advice," the blonde's eyebrows rose. "Who are you going out with, the plumber?"
"Ches," Theresa sounded surprised. "I did not think I had mentioned him to you."
"Oh, you didn't, but I did a…uh hear about it from Reid. So," she carried on quickly, "tell me about this date…"
Theresa twirled in front of the full length mirror in her room, a luxury she hadn't had in her room in San Francisco. She wore the ensemble she'd worn when she first arrived here. Garcia said that had sounded most appropriate for dinner and a movie.
She had been surprised when Justin had called and asked her to go out with him. He'd asked if dinner and a movie would be alright with her. Theresa had been somewhat surprised by the question. In the life she'd led, men had never asked what was alright with her. They had just taken. She'd never been to dinner except for those she'd had with Spencer and Fletcher and she'd never been to a movie. Theresa stared at her reflection, amazed at the transformation of the woman who'd fled Mexico a few short years ago. The white tank, offset by the gold corduroy waist length bolero style jacket and the white, gold and brown knee length plaid skirt was now even more stylish with the addition of the tiger eye earrings and necklace the girls had given her. Soft bangs feathered her forehead; her hair was now cut in a shaggier razor cut that turned under a little below her chin and framed her face beautifully from her deep brown eyes to her sensuous lips. She smiled at the woman in the mirror and the woman smiled back.
"Reid," the profiler said into his cell.
"Hello my favorite junior G man."
"What's up Garcia?"
"I was just talking to Theresa. She's going out on a date with Justin," she informed him.
Reid looked puzzled. "Uh…that's nice. So you called me to tell me that?"
"Not exactly, Theresa mentioned something else when we talked. Do you know what's in three weeks?" the tech asked.
"Three weeks," Reid appeared to be racking his brain.
"Does a cake with candles give you a hint?"
"A birthday…"
"Way to go genius, keep going."
"Fletcher's birthday," Reid finally latched onto Garcia's hints.
"Reid, Theresa was wondering if you had anything planned. She said as long as she was with the Bancrofts he never had a party. But since you weren't even clued in that his birthday's coming up, you likely don't have any plans."
"I never had birthday parties myself but I'll have to do something. I don't know the first thing about planning a birthday party."
"Then aren't you lucky that Theresa and I are willing to help."
Justin and Theresa were ensconced at a table in the B Street Bistro. Theresa tried to look everywhere at once, having so seldom been to a restaurant. The square tables were covered with gold tablecloths that matched the wall coloring. The carpet was a pattern of navy blue and gold, the pattern was echoed on a smaller scale on the upholstery of the chairs. Expertly folded navy blue napkins sat at each place setting next to the cutlery and the water glasses. Smoky glass sconces on the wall provided muted lighting while the flickering light from the flame of a hurricane lantern lit their table.
It didn't bother Justin that, at the moment, Theresa seemed more interested in her surroundings than she was with him. He understood from what she'd told him that this was all new to her. He was content to look at her as he tried, once again, to believe his good fortune at having her sitting across the table from him. She was the culmination of all his dreams since he was a kid in high school, never the best looking, never the smartest; he was the date that had been okay until something better came along. Yet here he was sitting across from this stunning woman who seemed truly happy to be with him. She was kind, caring and fun to be with and he wanted his time with her to go on forever. How could he think about that when he hadn't known her that long? Was there such a thing as love at first sight? He knew she needed time. From what she'd told him, she'd been so beaten down in her life, she was now finally gaining her freedom and self respect. It was something she needed and deserved. He could wait as long as it took. It was like watching a beautiful butterfly finally escape from its cocoon. As he looked at her some words of his oldest sister Sarah's favorite song came to his mind. She'd played it so many times on the old piano in their dining room; he could recite it from memory.
When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been to long
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong.
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring becomes the rose.
Theresa's head almost spun around on its own when they entered the multiplex with people scurrying everywhere and the huge signs advertising the movies that were playing. "Is there anything special you'd like to see?" Justin asked.
"Justin, I have never been to the movies. I do not know, you choose."
Justin looked at the offerings. He didn't think she'd be a big fan of science fiction and he wanted to steer clear of anything too violent and racy. That left him with comedies or chick flicks. Comedy could sometimes be rather unrefined so a chick flick was the way to go he decided as he purchased two tickets and headed for the refreshment counter.
"Justin, we just ate a while ago," Theresa reminded him.
"I know, but this is the movies and you have to have popcorn. It's the law," he laughed. Besides, he told himself, he wanted to have something to do with his hands that longed to hold hers but he didn't want to risk being too bold too early and scaring her away. Sitting beside her for a couple of hours and not touching her was going to be torture. He took their tub of popcorn and paid the kid behind the counter. "Okay, let's go find some good seats."
"That was such a lovely story," Theresa said, her eyes practically glowing after they left the theater and headed for Justin's car. "Thank you Justin; that was one of my most wonderful evenings ever."
"Good, that was the goal," Justin said as he unlocked the car and opened the door for her.
"Do you always go to those kinds of movies? I would not think that you would be interested in a movie about Julia Childs." Theresa asked and then laughed. "I have even cooked some of those recipes."
Justin was quiet for a moment, "No, that's not my usual kind of movie," he admitted.
"I did not think so. You did that for me. What one would you have gone to see?"
He was quiet for a long time. "Justin," Theresa prodded.
"Okay…I would have gone to the one about the Mexican boxer but I thought that might hit too close to home for you so I didn't."
"You are a very kind man," she reached out and took his hand. "Thank you for thinking of me but I think when we come the next time, we will see that one, ches?" She paused for a moment. "If there is a next time…?"
"Of course, there'll be a next time," Justin said as if someone had just told him he'd won the lottery. "I just didn't want you to be uncomfortable."
"You will be with me, ches?" Justin nodded at her question. "Then it does not matter. I will not be uncomfortable with you. Since I met you at the library, I am never uncomfortable with you."