This chapter dedicated to Christina - Sorry it took me so long. Okay, just gotta spread the luv to Stacy, YeBritishBabe, Robeth, Sparky015, Tosh, Despinetta, Justine and all the other wonderful people reading and reviewing my story. You guys are great.
This chapter and chapter 15 were hard to write. I've also been a little torn between doing this and reading the new Harry Potter book. What can I say?
If you haven't read chapter four in a long time, you may want to go back and read it first before reading this. There are a few references to it, but you'll probably be okay even if you don't. This chapter is all Cordano. No Kerry.
Thanks again for the reviews. Please keep 'em comin'. I like to know when people are actually reading this.
PG - I know. Every chapter is PG. It'll change. I promise.
Chapter 16 - The Date: Take Two
He looked very attractive and lonely. He was standing outside of The Macaroni Grill; not more than a 15 minute walk from Elizabeth's home. She had decided to walk there this evening. It was pleasant out and she was dressed nicely, but comfortably. As she got closer to the restaurant, she halted a little ways away once she spotted him standing there waiting for her.
The restaurant was busy this evening. It was 7:30 on a Saturday night after all. Robert was standing there with a conglomeration of other people waiting outside for a table. He didn't see her, yet. He was leaning against the wall with his hand in his pocket. He had a fairly relaxed look about him. He wore a navy blue buttoned shirt with no tie. The first two buttons were unbuttoned so he could be comfortable. He was also wearing a light jacket. The jacket wasn't necessary, of course. It was the middle of summer. But she figured he wore it to cover his lack of arm. His slacks were black with a belt. They were nice. Not too tight, yet not too baggy. They fit him well. Very well, actually.
She proceeded to walk toward him. He saw her and looked up. Once she got closer, she saw something she hadn't seen before. She thought to herself, 'Good Lord, what's that?'
"Hey," he said as she reached him.
"Hello. Is there a long wait?"
"About 20 minutes. Do you want to go somewhere less crowded?"
"No. This is fine." She was trying not to sound nervous, but she doubted she was accomplishing it. He on the other hand, looked completely comfortable.
Neither of them spoke for a moment until Elizabeth broke the silence and stared at his left sleeve. "When did you get that?"
"Oh, um, I've had it a while. I don't like it," he responded quickly in regards to the prosthetic arm he was wearing.
"Oh. Well, why not?"
"Well, it's a nuisance. It gets in the way. I forget I have it on. Whenever I bump it, it hurts like Hell and...it makes my arm itch." He said all this very fast. "It's more trouble than it's worth."
"Oh. I see. Well, why do you have it on tonight?"
He gave her a look as if she were stupid and now he was looking a little bit nervous for having to answer that question. "Because," he started slowly, "it eliminates idiots who have no life from gawking at the one-armed freak. They were obviously never taken to the circus as a kid, so I become the most captivating thing they've ever seen."
She gave a little laugh. "Since when do you care about people staring at you?"
He didn't answer. But, he gave her a look that answered all. He obviously didn't want the added nuisance of having people stare at them while he was with her.
She just looked around embarrassingly. She should have realized he was wearing it because of her. She glanced at the front of the restaurant and noticed the name painted on the door. She gave a little laugh and looked back at him. "Huh. You did this on purpose."
"What?"
She nodded toward the name on the door. "Romano's Macaroni Grill?" she said slyly.
He just looked at the door. "Hm. No, I didn't." She didn't believe him. "Really. I just picked here, because I knew it was close to you."
She believed him now. "Hm, funny. I've been here lots of times. I never noticed that until now."
"Really?" Now he didn't believe her.
"Yes, really."
There was a long pause again until Romano took a deep breath and was about to say something when "Romano, party of two," was shouted over the speaker system outside.
They went inside. Robert held the door open for Elizabeth as she walked in. They met the hostess who asked, "Romano?" as she grabbed two menus.
"Yeah," Robert answered.
"Smoking or Non?"
"Non-smoking," Robert answered automatically. Elizabeth couldn't help but smile. She was remembering her last date. This one hadn't even started and it was already turning out better. Of course, even Romano looked good compared to a murdering con-man, she supposed.
"This way," said the hostess. Robert nodded and held out his hand for Elizabeth to go in front of him and the hostess took them to their seats. Robert pulled the chair out for Elizabeth before sitting down himself. He was doing everything by the book. Elizabeth kind of liked it, because he wasn't doing it in order to make himself look good. He was just doing it. After they were seated the hostess gave them their menus. "The waitress will be right with you."
Elizabeth took a deep breath. She was nervous. She wasn't sure if she was going to be able to eat or not. She saw Robert just pick up the menu and start reading it. She couldn't help but remember her date with Dorsett and compare this one with that. She knew it wasn't really fair. Dorsett hadn't been honest with her. He was just doing everything he could to show off and try and make himself look good. Robert was merely being himself.
Elizabeth very carefully pulled her menu off the table, while staring at Robert the whole time. He was just reading away. She thought she would do a little test. Still watching Robert, she opened her menu quickly. This, of course, was when Dorsett had snatched the menu away from her. That had infuriated her back then. She wanted to see what Robert would do. But Robert didn't do anything, except realize she was watching him and look up at her perplexed. He thought he knew what she was thinking.
"Oh, you can order whatever you like. I'll pay for it," he said. She just smiled at him and began looking at the menu. It wasn't long, though, before she was staring back up at him. She stared at him for a while.
He looked up. "What?"
Oops. "Uh, nothing...um...nothing." She looked down at her menu again sheepishly. If she wasn't very nervous before, she certainly was utterly nervous now. How could she have been so stupid?
He saw she was nervous and smiled. "So, how's Ella?"
Elizabeth didn't look up from the menu, but answered, "Oh, she's, she's fine."
Robert just kept looking at her smiling, "Good, good." Elizabeth looked like she might throw up right there. He wished he could think of something to settle her nerves. Just then he saw a waitress zooming their way. Robert stopped her before she had a chance to whiz by. "Uh, you," he said. She stopped and just looked at him with her eyebrows raised. "Could we get a bottle of wine?"
"Oh, sure. I'm sorry. What would you like?"
"Just red wine. Whatever you have."
"Well, we're featuring a '98 Chateau Merlot this evening."
"That's fine."
"Okay. I'll be right with you, sir."
He looked again at Elizabeth who just looked back at him awkwardly.
"Well, you seem pretty at ease," she blurted out.
"I'm just hiding it well," he replied kindly.
She made a little nod of her head that meant to say, 'Great, I guess I'm not.'
Just then out of the corner of her eye, she thought she spotted Peter Benton, former fellow surgeon at Cook County General. But after getting a better look, she realized it wasn't him, but someone who looked a little like him. However, this brought a new thought to Elizabeth's brain, which added to her nervousness...if that were possible. What if she did end up seeing someone there she knew from the hospital? They would see her there with Romano and it'd get all over the hospital. She'd be the biggest thing talked about and she'd get weird looks wherever she went. The ER docs would tell her she's crazy; the nurses would whisper around her in hushed tones and Shirley was bound to crack jokes. She wasn't liking the sound of this. She tried not to think about it.
Finally, the waitress came by with a bottle of wine and two wine glasses. She opened it in front of them and poured it. Robert stared at Elizabeth trying to figure out what she was thinking.
The waitress took out a blue crayon from her apron and wrote her name on the tablecloth in front of them. But, it wasn't really a tablecloth. It was actually just nice looking paper that would subsequently be thrown away after they left. Robert thought this kind of stupid, but he was going to be good tonight and didn't say anything.
"My name's Tracy and I'll be your server this evening. Would you like anything else to drink?" she asked.
"Maybe just some water with lemon," responded Elizabeth.
"Okay," answered the waitress, as she wrote it down on her little tablet of paper. "Do you know what you'd like to have?"
Tracy had not been trained on the more finer points of serving, because she looked directly at Robert when she asked this question. Tracy didn't realize it is just common courtesy to take the order from the lady first. Robert, however, did not let her get away with this and nodded toward Elizabeth so Tracy would ask her first. The waitress thankfully understood this gesture and turned toward Elizabeth.
"Uh," began Elizabeth looking at the menu as she spoke, "how about the Chicken Portobello?"
"Okay. Would you like a Caesar or Garden Salad to go with it?"
"Uh, sure. Caesar."
"Alright...and for you, sir?"
"Same thing," answered Robert. Elizabeth just stared at him suspiciously.
"Okay. Good choice. I'll have your salads out in a minute," Tracy concluded and took their menus away.
Elizabeth nodded toward her politely as she left then leaned in closer to Robert. "You didn't have to get what I get."
"I know," he said, "I'm sure it's good." He took a sip of wine and she did the same.
"So," she began, "having any luck with the job hunt?" She wasn't sure if she should bring up this topic or not, but it was too late now.
"Yeah, I've made a few calls and I'll probably be able to stay here in Chicago." He wasn't completely lying. He had made calls to different hospitals in town these past couple of days; and he was going to stay in Chicago even if it meant he had to work at 'Mr. Tacos'. There was no way he would leave Elizabeth now. However, none of the hospitals had called him back yet and they weren't sounding that interested. But, he didn't really want to think about it now.
"Good...good," said Elizabeth.
There was a long silence with no one talking for a while. They sipped their drinks; Elizabeth picked at her fingernails; Robert looked around the room.
"So, you like it here?" he asked.
"Yes. Why? You don't I presume?"
"No, it's fine."
"What do you like?" she asked.
He just shrugged in response. "I don't get out much. I eat at home."
She nodded. "Right. Well...right." There was a long pause again, before the waitress brought their salads with bread and Elizabeth's water.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said. The waitress just scurried away. She was quite busy this evening. They both began to eat.
"I took my father here once when he was in town," continued Elizabeth, "He didn't like it very much."
"Why?"
"Oh, I don't think he likes any place where the waitress won't flirt with him."
They both smiled. There was silence again as Elizabeth thought about her parents. Another horrible thought entered her mind: her parents. What would they think if they knew she was having dinner with Robert Romano? Elizabeth just looked at Robert while she thought this. Her father would think her insane and her mother would throw a fit. Both of them would be furious with her for even considering associating with this horrid man.
Elizabeth was only able to eat about half the salad and had only drunk half her glass of wine. Robert ate all of his salad and proceeded to pour himself a second glass of wine. He filled her glass too, while he was at it.
"Are you alright?" he asked as he poured.
She woke up out of her daze. "I'm fine. Sorry."
"It's okay."
The waitress brought their food and took Robert's salad plate. "Are you finished?" Tracy asked Elizabeth.
"Yes," said Elizabeth embarrassingly. She couldn't eat much. She was too uptight. Robert watched her. He was looking partly concerned and partly flattered.
"This looks good," she said.
"Unh-huh," said Robert. "Are you sure you're okay? We could go."
"I'm fine! Please stop asking me that."
"Okay."
They ate. Well, he ate...she just sort of nibbled and played with her food. She talked about Ella. He listened. She talked about work. He listened. She basically rattled away about nothingness for half an hour.
"I'm sorry," she finally said closing her eyes. "I'm nervous."
"Here," he replied grabbing the wine bottle and filling her glass.
"You trying to get me drunk?"
"No, I'm trying to get you to relax."
She drank a little more. "I talk when I'm nervous."
"I know."
"I'm sorry," she said again.
"Don't be. I don't mind. I like..." he stopped briefly before going on, "...I like listening to you. I just like being with you." She tensed a little and drank some more. He thought he should stop there and not say anything else, but he couldn't let this opportunity pass him by. "I don't want to make you nervous, but..." He took another drink of wine himself before continuing. "...I'm very...I'm still very attracted to you...as you know. And I could sit here and listen to you all night."
They just stared at each other. Elizabeth was tense. Robert was intense. He said only one more thing.
"You're very beautiful." He closed his eyes and opened them again. "You're gorgeous. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever known. You always have been."
She looked away and breathed out roughly. All of sudden Mark popped into her brain. He had told her things like that...sort of. Maybe without that much intensity, but still. Oh God, Mark. What would Mark think about this now? He hated Robert. Well, everyone hates Robert. She knew people had told her Mark would want her to get on with her life and be happy. But, she was sure, without a doubt, Mark wouldn't want her with Robert. She could hear him now telling her to run as far away as possible. 'All he'll do is hurt you,' she could hear him saying now. Mark had always warned her about Robert many times when he was alive and she had always fought him on it. How could she be with a man now that Mark had utterly despised?
"I think we should go," was all she said to him after he had just opened his heart wide open.
"Okay," he said. That wasn't quite what he expected. He grabbed Tracy. "Can we get the check?"
"Sure," she said politely. She handed him the check and tried to leave, but he stopped her.
"Just wait. I'll only be a second," he said to her.
He took out some money from his wallet with one hand, which looked weird, but he had obviously had practice at this. He didn't actually use the prosthetic. He just used it for show.
He paid her with extra. "Just keep it," he said.
"Thank you. You two have a nice evening."
Elizabeth didn't even look up at her. She was staring at her half uneaten plate.
"Come on," Robert said politely to Elizabeth. They got up and left. Again, Robert held the door open for her. Her demeanor had changed. She didn't look nervous anymore, but dejected and perhaps even cold.
"Can I walk you home?" he asked.
"Fine."
They walked in silence the whole time. She just looked ahead and her facial expressions stayed blank the whole walk. He thought he must have said too much. It was the only thing he could think of. The silence wasn't broken until they reached her house. She began to pull out her keys from her purse, when Robert stopped her.
"I'm sorry if I said too much," he stated.
"What? Oh, no...no...you didn't. I'm sorry. I just have a lot on my mind."
He knew she was hiding something. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She was looking sad and disappointed.
"What did I do?" he asked sternly.
"You didn't do anything, Robert."
"Okay, what didn't I do?"
"Nothing. Nothing. You did everything right." She was talking like a woman who wanted something she couldn't have.
He licked his lips and tightened them. This is what he did when he was getting mad. "Then what is it?" His voice was getting harsh.
She looked at him longingly. This look made him want to just grab her and kiss her as hard as humanly possible without actually hurting her. He wanted to hold on to her and never let her go. He wanted to make love to her...tonight...right now.
"I just can't," she answered miserably.
"Can't what?"
"Can't do this."
"Can't do what?!" His voice was rising.
"I can't be with you!" she yelled.
"Why?" he asked softly.
She just looked away, wanting to answer, but couldn't.
"Why?" he asked again louder.
"I can't tell you," she answered plainly. Her voice was deep. It made him crazy.
He glared at her intensely and then whipped out his wallet. With one hand alone, he was able to open the wallet and pull money out of it without setting the wallet down. Even seeing this done in front of her, Elizabeth couldn't believe what she saw. It was weird looking, yet pretty incredible. It made sense really. His right hand was probably stronger and more flexible now that it was the only hand he had. Even as he returned his wallet to his back pocket, Elizabeth couldn't help, but stare at his right hand.
"Here," he barked out abruptly as he handed her a twenty dollar bill.
"What's this," she asked as she took it from him.
"Babysitter," he barked out again. He immediately turned on his heals and walked away. She just looked at his back longingly.
"Robert, wait. Don't leave."
He didn't answer or even turn around. He just kept walking.
"Robert?!"
But he was gone.
This chapter and chapter 15 were hard to write. I've also been a little torn between doing this and reading the new Harry Potter book. What can I say?
If you haven't read chapter four in a long time, you may want to go back and read it first before reading this. There are a few references to it, but you'll probably be okay even if you don't. This chapter is all Cordano. No Kerry.
Thanks again for the reviews. Please keep 'em comin'. I like to know when people are actually reading this.
PG - I know. Every chapter is PG. It'll change. I promise.
Chapter 16 - The Date: Take Two
He looked very attractive and lonely. He was standing outside of The Macaroni Grill; not more than a 15 minute walk from Elizabeth's home. She had decided to walk there this evening. It was pleasant out and she was dressed nicely, but comfortably. As she got closer to the restaurant, she halted a little ways away once she spotted him standing there waiting for her.
The restaurant was busy this evening. It was 7:30 on a Saturday night after all. Robert was standing there with a conglomeration of other people waiting outside for a table. He didn't see her, yet. He was leaning against the wall with his hand in his pocket. He had a fairly relaxed look about him. He wore a navy blue buttoned shirt with no tie. The first two buttons were unbuttoned so he could be comfortable. He was also wearing a light jacket. The jacket wasn't necessary, of course. It was the middle of summer. But she figured he wore it to cover his lack of arm. His slacks were black with a belt. They were nice. Not too tight, yet not too baggy. They fit him well. Very well, actually.
She proceeded to walk toward him. He saw her and looked up. Once she got closer, she saw something she hadn't seen before. She thought to herself, 'Good Lord, what's that?'
"Hey," he said as she reached him.
"Hello. Is there a long wait?"
"About 20 minutes. Do you want to go somewhere less crowded?"
"No. This is fine." She was trying not to sound nervous, but she doubted she was accomplishing it. He on the other hand, looked completely comfortable.
Neither of them spoke for a moment until Elizabeth broke the silence and stared at his left sleeve. "When did you get that?"
"Oh, um, I've had it a while. I don't like it," he responded quickly in regards to the prosthetic arm he was wearing.
"Oh. Well, why not?"
"Well, it's a nuisance. It gets in the way. I forget I have it on. Whenever I bump it, it hurts like Hell and...it makes my arm itch." He said all this very fast. "It's more trouble than it's worth."
"Oh. I see. Well, why do you have it on tonight?"
He gave her a look as if she were stupid and now he was looking a little bit nervous for having to answer that question. "Because," he started slowly, "it eliminates idiots who have no life from gawking at the one-armed freak. They were obviously never taken to the circus as a kid, so I become the most captivating thing they've ever seen."
She gave a little laugh. "Since when do you care about people staring at you?"
He didn't answer. But, he gave her a look that answered all. He obviously didn't want the added nuisance of having people stare at them while he was with her.
She just looked around embarrassingly. She should have realized he was wearing it because of her. She glanced at the front of the restaurant and noticed the name painted on the door. She gave a little laugh and looked back at him. "Huh. You did this on purpose."
"What?"
She nodded toward the name on the door. "Romano's Macaroni Grill?" she said slyly.
He just looked at the door. "Hm. No, I didn't." She didn't believe him. "Really. I just picked here, because I knew it was close to you."
She believed him now. "Hm, funny. I've been here lots of times. I never noticed that until now."
"Really?" Now he didn't believe her.
"Yes, really."
There was a long pause again until Romano took a deep breath and was about to say something when "Romano, party of two," was shouted over the speaker system outside.
They went inside. Robert held the door open for Elizabeth as she walked in. They met the hostess who asked, "Romano?" as she grabbed two menus.
"Yeah," Robert answered.
"Smoking or Non?"
"Non-smoking," Robert answered automatically. Elizabeth couldn't help but smile. She was remembering her last date. This one hadn't even started and it was already turning out better. Of course, even Romano looked good compared to a murdering con-man, she supposed.
"This way," said the hostess. Robert nodded and held out his hand for Elizabeth to go in front of him and the hostess took them to their seats. Robert pulled the chair out for Elizabeth before sitting down himself. He was doing everything by the book. Elizabeth kind of liked it, because he wasn't doing it in order to make himself look good. He was just doing it. After they were seated the hostess gave them their menus. "The waitress will be right with you."
Elizabeth took a deep breath. She was nervous. She wasn't sure if she was going to be able to eat or not. She saw Robert just pick up the menu and start reading it. She couldn't help but remember her date with Dorsett and compare this one with that. She knew it wasn't really fair. Dorsett hadn't been honest with her. He was just doing everything he could to show off and try and make himself look good. Robert was merely being himself.
Elizabeth very carefully pulled her menu off the table, while staring at Robert the whole time. He was just reading away. She thought she would do a little test. Still watching Robert, she opened her menu quickly. This, of course, was when Dorsett had snatched the menu away from her. That had infuriated her back then. She wanted to see what Robert would do. But Robert didn't do anything, except realize she was watching him and look up at her perplexed. He thought he knew what she was thinking.
"Oh, you can order whatever you like. I'll pay for it," he said. She just smiled at him and began looking at the menu. It wasn't long, though, before she was staring back up at him. She stared at him for a while.
He looked up. "What?"
Oops. "Uh, nothing...um...nothing." She looked down at her menu again sheepishly. If she wasn't very nervous before, she certainly was utterly nervous now. How could she have been so stupid?
He saw she was nervous and smiled. "So, how's Ella?"
Elizabeth didn't look up from the menu, but answered, "Oh, she's, she's fine."
Robert just kept looking at her smiling, "Good, good." Elizabeth looked like she might throw up right there. He wished he could think of something to settle her nerves. Just then he saw a waitress zooming their way. Robert stopped her before she had a chance to whiz by. "Uh, you," he said. She stopped and just looked at him with her eyebrows raised. "Could we get a bottle of wine?"
"Oh, sure. I'm sorry. What would you like?"
"Just red wine. Whatever you have."
"Well, we're featuring a '98 Chateau Merlot this evening."
"That's fine."
"Okay. I'll be right with you, sir."
He looked again at Elizabeth who just looked back at him awkwardly.
"Well, you seem pretty at ease," she blurted out.
"I'm just hiding it well," he replied kindly.
She made a little nod of her head that meant to say, 'Great, I guess I'm not.'
Just then out of the corner of her eye, she thought she spotted Peter Benton, former fellow surgeon at Cook County General. But after getting a better look, she realized it wasn't him, but someone who looked a little like him. However, this brought a new thought to Elizabeth's brain, which added to her nervousness...if that were possible. What if she did end up seeing someone there she knew from the hospital? They would see her there with Romano and it'd get all over the hospital. She'd be the biggest thing talked about and she'd get weird looks wherever she went. The ER docs would tell her she's crazy; the nurses would whisper around her in hushed tones and Shirley was bound to crack jokes. She wasn't liking the sound of this. She tried not to think about it.
Finally, the waitress came by with a bottle of wine and two wine glasses. She opened it in front of them and poured it. Robert stared at Elizabeth trying to figure out what she was thinking.
The waitress took out a blue crayon from her apron and wrote her name on the tablecloth in front of them. But, it wasn't really a tablecloth. It was actually just nice looking paper that would subsequently be thrown away after they left. Robert thought this kind of stupid, but he was going to be good tonight and didn't say anything.
"My name's Tracy and I'll be your server this evening. Would you like anything else to drink?" she asked.
"Maybe just some water with lemon," responded Elizabeth.
"Okay," answered the waitress, as she wrote it down on her little tablet of paper. "Do you know what you'd like to have?"
Tracy had not been trained on the more finer points of serving, because she looked directly at Robert when she asked this question. Tracy didn't realize it is just common courtesy to take the order from the lady first. Robert, however, did not let her get away with this and nodded toward Elizabeth so Tracy would ask her first. The waitress thankfully understood this gesture and turned toward Elizabeth.
"Uh," began Elizabeth looking at the menu as she spoke, "how about the Chicken Portobello?"
"Okay. Would you like a Caesar or Garden Salad to go with it?"
"Uh, sure. Caesar."
"Alright...and for you, sir?"
"Same thing," answered Robert. Elizabeth just stared at him suspiciously.
"Okay. Good choice. I'll have your salads out in a minute," Tracy concluded and took their menus away.
Elizabeth nodded toward her politely as she left then leaned in closer to Robert. "You didn't have to get what I get."
"I know," he said, "I'm sure it's good." He took a sip of wine and she did the same.
"So," she began, "having any luck with the job hunt?" She wasn't sure if she should bring up this topic or not, but it was too late now.
"Yeah, I've made a few calls and I'll probably be able to stay here in Chicago." He wasn't completely lying. He had made calls to different hospitals in town these past couple of days; and he was going to stay in Chicago even if it meant he had to work at 'Mr. Tacos'. There was no way he would leave Elizabeth now. However, none of the hospitals had called him back yet and they weren't sounding that interested. But, he didn't really want to think about it now.
"Good...good," said Elizabeth.
There was a long silence with no one talking for a while. They sipped their drinks; Elizabeth picked at her fingernails; Robert looked around the room.
"So, you like it here?" he asked.
"Yes. Why? You don't I presume?"
"No, it's fine."
"What do you like?" she asked.
He just shrugged in response. "I don't get out much. I eat at home."
She nodded. "Right. Well...right." There was a long pause again, before the waitress brought their salads with bread and Elizabeth's water.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said. The waitress just scurried away. She was quite busy this evening. They both began to eat.
"I took my father here once when he was in town," continued Elizabeth, "He didn't like it very much."
"Why?"
"Oh, I don't think he likes any place where the waitress won't flirt with him."
They both smiled. There was silence again as Elizabeth thought about her parents. Another horrible thought entered her mind: her parents. What would they think if they knew she was having dinner with Robert Romano? Elizabeth just looked at Robert while she thought this. Her father would think her insane and her mother would throw a fit. Both of them would be furious with her for even considering associating with this horrid man.
Elizabeth was only able to eat about half the salad and had only drunk half her glass of wine. Robert ate all of his salad and proceeded to pour himself a second glass of wine. He filled her glass too, while he was at it.
"Are you alright?" he asked as he poured.
She woke up out of her daze. "I'm fine. Sorry."
"It's okay."
The waitress brought their food and took Robert's salad plate. "Are you finished?" Tracy asked Elizabeth.
"Yes," said Elizabeth embarrassingly. She couldn't eat much. She was too uptight. Robert watched her. He was looking partly concerned and partly flattered.
"This looks good," she said.
"Unh-huh," said Robert. "Are you sure you're okay? We could go."
"I'm fine! Please stop asking me that."
"Okay."
They ate. Well, he ate...she just sort of nibbled and played with her food. She talked about Ella. He listened. She talked about work. He listened. She basically rattled away about nothingness for half an hour.
"I'm sorry," she finally said closing her eyes. "I'm nervous."
"Here," he replied grabbing the wine bottle and filling her glass.
"You trying to get me drunk?"
"No, I'm trying to get you to relax."
She drank a little more. "I talk when I'm nervous."
"I know."
"I'm sorry," she said again.
"Don't be. I don't mind. I like..." he stopped briefly before going on, "...I like listening to you. I just like being with you." She tensed a little and drank some more. He thought he should stop there and not say anything else, but he couldn't let this opportunity pass him by. "I don't want to make you nervous, but..." He took another drink of wine himself before continuing. "...I'm very...I'm still very attracted to you...as you know. And I could sit here and listen to you all night."
They just stared at each other. Elizabeth was tense. Robert was intense. He said only one more thing.
"You're very beautiful." He closed his eyes and opened them again. "You're gorgeous. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever known. You always have been."
She looked away and breathed out roughly. All of sudden Mark popped into her brain. He had told her things like that...sort of. Maybe without that much intensity, but still. Oh God, Mark. What would Mark think about this now? He hated Robert. Well, everyone hates Robert. She knew people had told her Mark would want her to get on with her life and be happy. But, she was sure, without a doubt, Mark wouldn't want her with Robert. She could hear him now telling her to run as far away as possible. 'All he'll do is hurt you,' she could hear him saying now. Mark had always warned her about Robert many times when he was alive and she had always fought him on it. How could she be with a man now that Mark had utterly despised?
"I think we should go," was all she said to him after he had just opened his heart wide open.
"Okay," he said. That wasn't quite what he expected. He grabbed Tracy. "Can we get the check?"
"Sure," she said politely. She handed him the check and tried to leave, but he stopped her.
"Just wait. I'll only be a second," he said to her.
He took out some money from his wallet with one hand, which looked weird, but he had obviously had practice at this. He didn't actually use the prosthetic. He just used it for show.
He paid her with extra. "Just keep it," he said.
"Thank you. You two have a nice evening."
Elizabeth didn't even look up at her. She was staring at her half uneaten plate.
"Come on," Robert said politely to Elizabeth. They got up and left. Again, Robert held the door open for her. Her demeanor had changed. She didn't look nervous anymore, but dejected and perhaps even cold.
"Can I walk you home?" he asked.
"Fine."
They walked in silence the whole time. She just looked ahead and her facial expressions stayed blank the whole walk. He thought he must have said too much. It was the only thing he could think of. The silence wasn't broken until they reached her house. She began to pull out her keys from her purse, when Robert stopped her.
"I'm sorry if I said too much," he stated.
"What? Oh, no...no...you didn't. I'm sorry. I just have a lot on my mind."
He knew she was hiding something. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She was looking sad and disappointed.
"What did I do?" he asked sternly.
"You didn't do anything, Robert."
"Okay, what didn't I do?"
"Nothing. Nothing. You did everything right." She was talking like a woman who wanted something she couldn't have.
He licked his lips and tightened them. This is what he did when he was getting mad. "Then what is it?" His voice was getting harsh.
She looked at him longingly. This look made him want to just grab her and kiss her as hard as humanly possible without actually hurting her. He wanted to hold on to her and never let her go. He wanted to make love to her...tonight...right now.
"I just can't," she answered miserably.
"Can't what?"
"Can't do this."
"Can't do what?!" His voice was rising.
"I can't be with you!" she yelled.
"Why?" he asked softly.
She just looked away, wanting to answer, but couldn't.
"Why?" he asked again louder.
"I can't tell you," she answered plainly. Her voice was deep. It made him crazy.
He glared at her intensely and then whipped out his wallet. With one hand alone, he was able to open the wallet and pull money out of it without setting the wallet down. Even seeing this done in front of her, Elizabeth couldn't believe what she saw. It was weird looking, yet pretty incredible. It made sense really. His right hand was probably stronger and more flexible now that it was the only hand he had. Even as he returned his wallet to his back pocket, Elizabeth couldn't help, but stare at his right hand.
"Here," he barked out abruptly as he handed her a twenty dollar bill.
"What's this," she asked as she took it from him.
"Babysitter," he barked out again. He immediately turned on his heals and walked away. She just looked at his back longingly.
"Robert, wait. Don't leave."
He didn't answer or even turn around. He just kept walking.
"Robert?!"
But he was gone.
