Chapter Four - The Dinner Date In All But Name

When Abby saw the restaurant she instantly knew why Carter knew the owner. It was the biggest and most posh restaurant she had ever seen. "You know the owner of this place?"

"Yeah."

"How?"

"I met him at a Carter family function. He is actually quite a funny guy. You would probably like him."

"Oh yeah?"

"Obviously he is not as funny as me." Abby let out a little laugh. "But then who is?"

"How about everyone else in the entire world."

"That's a lot of people."

"I know."

Carter stopped the car in front of the restaurant and gave the keys to the valet. He turns to Abby, "After you my lady."

"I thought I told you not to talk like that."

"Sorry it must be a relax."

"You mean you talk like that to all women."

"Yeah."

"I'm surprised you get any dates."

"I am rich remember."

"So you keep reminding me."

They were shown to a table that was almost exactly in the middle of the room. Then a waiter handed them the menus.

"So they don't serve hamburgers?" Abby said with a smile.

"Yeah they do." Carter pointed to something on her menu.

"That means hamburger? I thought that was some sort of soup."

"Maybe I should order for you."

"Maybe you should."

As Carter gave his orders to the waiter Abby continued to look in puzzlement at the menu.

"So how was your day?"

"Long."

"That good?"

"It was one of those days that you know is going to be bad as soon as you wake up."

Carter nodded.

"I got puked on, twice. Had to bathe a smelly homeless guy. And I mean really smelly. Then I.wait you don't want to hear this."

"Actually I do." Abby looked at him in surprise. "I thought I had a bad day but hearing that it puts it in perspective."

"I'm glad my suffering helped you."

"Anytime."

Their food arrived. Carter picked up a fork and started to eat his. But Abby just stared at hers. "Something wrong?"

"Is this it?"

"Uh-huh."

"It just doesn't seem like a lot."

Carter stopped eating and smiled, "It's not the size that matters. It's what you do with it"

"How many times have you been told that?"

"Probably the same amount as you."

They both smiled.

"So what am I eating?"

Carter looked at her plate, "Looks like frog."

"Frog?!?" Abby dropped her fork as she said this.

"I'm only joking. I don't know what it is."

"That was not funny."

'I thought it was."

"Well I didn't."

"Your expression alone." He stopped mid-sentence when he looked up and saw Abby's face. "was not funny in the least."

There was a period of silence between the two as they both ate. Carter was finished a lot quicker than Abby as she inspected every piece of food before she put it in her mouth.

Carter waited patiently until she was finished and asked, "Do you want anything else?"

"Nah. I probably should be getting home."

"Early shift?"

"Yeah."

"Okay." Carter told the waiter to bring the cheque over. "So how much are you going to tip?"

"Me?"

"Yeah I figured that you would be paying your half."

"What?"

"That thought that is what women do nowadays."

"Not this one."

"What about equal rights and all that?"

"When I go to dinner with one of the richest men in Chicago I expect him to pay the bill."

"Okay fine but don't expect me to open any doors for you."

"And I won't open any for you either."

"Okay."

Carter paid the bill and they left the restaurant. Outside he handed the valet his ticket and they waited for him to return with the car. It was quite cold outside and Abby could feel it. "You want my jacket?"

"No. I'm fine."

Carter took off his jacket and put it around her. "Here."

"Thanks."