The Date

Mr. Laurence and Laurie arrived at their hotel. They unpacked their bags and were led upstairs to their room, as they were settling in Laurie looked over at his grandfather who remained quiet. He could tell that he was greatly displeased with his choice, "Grandfather, why are you upset?"

Mr. Laurence looked over at his grandson, "I have nothing to say." Laurie crossed his arms, "You evidently have something you're thinking about, or else you wouldn't be so silent." His grandfather shrugged and peeled back the curtains; New York was beautiful in the winter. Gorgeous, snow covers every rooftop, the windows are frostbitten, there's nothing quite like it. Nothing, except Concord.

Mr. Laurence decided to be honest with his grandson, "Theodore, I don't want you to settle for the first girl that comes your way, that's all."

Laurie huffed as he plopped his legs down on the bed, "Grandfather, I am taking her out to dinner! It's not like I am going to marry her or anything."

Mr. Laurence, still looking out the window, just sighed, "Theodore, do not lead her to believe that you do."

"Who says I don't? Perhaps I do." Laurie lied through his teeth.

"Hm. 'Perhaps.'"

Laurie despised his grandfather's sarcasm, "I am going on a walk."

"Stay warm." Mr. Laurence stayed looking out the window, not looking at his grandfather. Laurie grabbed his jacket and walked out of the hotel onto the streets of frosted New York. Laurie walked off his anger, Who is he to decide whom I like and whom I don't? Laurie stopped at a coffee shop, coffee. That's what he needed. He sat down and unraveled all of his layers, he looked across the way and saw someone reading Little Women. Laurie looked over at the woman reading the book, who then saw him staring. Laurie's face turned very red and got up immediately to explain himself, "I am so sorry, ma'am if I made you feel uncomfortable. I know the author of that book and I just noticed you were reading it."

"Oh, dear. It's quite alright–wait, you know Jo March?" The lady was quite curious.

"Very well, my best friend actually." Laurie was hoping she wouldn't connect the dots.

"Wait… are you… Teddy?"

"Laurie, that's what everyone else calls me." He didn't like hearing anyone else call him by that name, it belonged to Jo.

"Right, sorry. Laurie! Where's Amy?"

"Well, you see she and I aren't actually together. Jo just made that part up."

"Oh, so are you and Jo together then? Is Fritz real?"

"No and no. She and I aren't together, and Fritz isn't real."

"That's too bad, I always wanted you two to end up together. I don't understand how you aren't! You two are the perfect pair! It's like you are the same person!"

Laurie hung his head and shuffled his feet, "I don't understand either. I don't think I ever will–" Laurie stopped himself, he had shared too much.

"My dear, never give up hope.' The lady spoke firmly to Laurie, 'She might not see it now, but everyone can tell. Even in the way she writes about you, she loves you, Laurie."

It's like the lady was an angel, or hired by his grandfather to speak what he hadn't, but the situation seemed divine nonetheless, "Thank you." Laurie responded kindly, but no matter what anyone else had said, he had lost hope entirely. Laurie had to leave to meet Violetta and bid the kind lady farewell.

Laurie walked to the carriages outside of the hotel where he and Violetta had agreed to meet, it was 5:55 pm. He waited and she arrived at 6:10; Jo was never late, not even one minute. Violetta looked beautiful but in a conventional kind of way. She wore her hat and beautiful, big purple dress well, her face blushed to perfection. To most her blue-green eyes would have melted their hearts entirely, but there was something that was lacking for Laurie. He didn't necessarily find conventional beauty most important, or really what was attractive at all. Yet, even he couldn't deny that she was beautiful, just not in the way he found most appealing, "Good evening, Violetta! How are you doing?"

Violetta's face became redder when she saw Laurie, "Oh, quite well. Although, this snow isn't quite what I like."

"I presume that it snows in England?" Laurie asked.

"Oh, only for a few days. Nothing like this American snow." Violetta reminisced about her homeland and then brought herself back to the conversation, "We should get going! I am quite hungry."

Laurie nodded and the carriage was pulled in front of them and they were escorted in. As they pulled up to the restaurant, Laurie's stomach growled. Even outside the doors the air of steak and potatoes wafted and filled the outdoors. They were seated quite quickly and Violetta was thrilled, "How divine is this!"

"Quite spectacular. The food here is exquisite." Laurie looked over the menu, although he already knew what he was going to order: the famous Delmonico steak. The waiter came around to order their food, Laurie allowed Violetta to order first, "Yes… I would like the chicken broth in a cup." Laurie's eyes widened, "That's it?" Violetta's face whitened. Laurie felt bad, but he was used to Jo who ate massive amounts of anything without any remorse whatsoever. "You can always order more if you'd like," Laurie added. "I think I'll be fine," Violetta said promptly. Laurie looked at the waiter, "Sir, may I please have the famous Delmonico steak?" The waiter nodded and thanked them both and went straightaway into the kitchen. Laurie felt convicted for his shock and tried to cover it up by explaining, "I apologize, Violetta. I am used to eating with Jo– if I took her to a place like this, I think she would try to buy the whole menu!"

Violetta relaxed, but noted, "She and I are very different, I hope you weren't expecting us to be alike."

"Different isn't bad! I know you two are different."

Violetta didn't want to mention Jo's name much more for the rest of the evening, she wanted Laurie entirely to herself, "So, Laurie. How excited are you for your trip?"

"Quite, really. Although, I am going to miss Concord."

"Really? You miss Concord? You attend Harvard and you miss a small town in Massachusetts?"

"I can see how you and Fred are related. He said the same thing to me."

"Great minds think alike. Laurie, you could live such an amazing life! You have the whole world at your disposal…"

"The world can't compare to Concord. It may seem insignificant to some, but I find it to be one of the most fascinating places on the planet."

"What exactly makes it so?"

"The Marches."

"Ah, you mean Mr. and Mrs. March! I have heard they are wonderful people."

"I mean all of them. I mean just these last few weeks have been amazing. Violetta, have you ever been on a frozen picnic before?"

"A frozen picnic? I can't say I have."

"Or performed a play entirely composed by one of the most talented writers ever to walk the face of this planet?"

"No, but–"

"Violetta, Concord isn't just a city. It's a place full of adventure!"

"It's only valuable because of the people there, Theodore. You can't go anywhere in Concord, it's not a place of opportunity."

"Jo found opportunity there, I don't see why anyone else couldn't."

"Don't you want to be a successful businessman?"

"Not really, that's never been my passion. I would have loved to have been a music teacher, but Grandfather wouldn't have ever approved."

"Then you're not the man I thought you were," Violetta sighed as her chicken broth was placed in front of her.

"Whose to say what success is? I would much rather be happy than to be rich," Laurie said before cutting into his steak.

"I can't agree with you, money, in my opinion, is a key to happiness," Violetta sipped.

Laurie was growing angrier and angrier as the conversation progressed, "We can agree to disagree, then."

"What are your passions, Violetta? Is there anything you want to do in life besides becoming rich?" Laurie snarkily retorted.

"I don't have any. I have always just wanted to be a wife," Violetta kindly responded.

"Jo would kick you if she had heard you say that," Laurie remarked. Violetta was about to burst, but maintained her composure, "That's why I always admired her; she has passion and talent."

"Yes, she does. She isn't ever going to get married though, she thinks the whole thing is a sham."

"That surprises me, someone with so much passion would be a great wife. Once she finds whom she is passionate about, I am sure nothing will get in the way of loving him." Violetta hoped that thought would cause Laurie to stop talking about her, but nothing could stop him. "I just hope I like him," Laurie forced a smile, "That's all I can hope for." The two stopped talking. Silence had become a well-known acquaintance in this last day. The two finished their meal. Violetta decided to break the silence, "Laurie, you know, I thought you and I would be a good pair."

"Why don't you think that now?" Laurie would have felt awful if he had made her feel less than in any way.

"You love Jo. That's why, 'Laurie twiddled his fingers and Violetta continued, 'I don't think you and I could ever work out. This whole evening you have spent talking about her and how much you miss her and admire her. I could never be what you want, and I think you know that."

"I am sorry, Violetta." Laurie looked up at her, "To be honest with you, I went on this trip to try and rid my memory of Jo altogether–" Violetta interrupted him, "Laurie, you can't ever run away from how you feel. If you love her, don't push her away."

The check came and the meal was paid for.