"Hi." Randy smiled at her shocked face.
"Um, hi. Wait, I'm confused, why are you here?" Jocelyn asked completely bewildered.
"If you'll please come with me, everything will be explained." Randy smiled again in his all-knowing style as he handed her the rose he was holding. He then offered her his arm and she reluctantly took it and allowed him to lead her out the door. She gave her father a questioning glance over her shoulder but all he did was smile at her.
Randy led Jo to her own backyard where there was a small candlelit table for two and soft music played somewhere in the background. He pulled out her chair like a gentleman. Jo expected him to take the seat across from her but instead he grabbed a small apron with a booklet in it like she'd seen on waiters at fancy restaurants and he tied around his waist.
"Good evening Ms. Snyder, I'm Randy and I'll be your waiter this evening. Can I start you off with a drink while you wait for the rest of your party?" He asked taking out the pad and a pen. Jocelyn giggled at how well he played the part and at how well he'd fooled her.
" I'll just have iced tea Randy." She replied formally and trying to keep a straight face. She felt as though she were five years old again and they were playing restaurant.
"Iced tea it is. I'll be right back with you're drink." He turned and walked over to the back porch where there was a mock-kitchen. Jo was turned around watching Randy when she heard a female voice coming from the other direction.
"Right this way Mr. Taylor." Jo turned back around and saw Lauren leading Brad to her table. Brad didn't sit down either though, instead he took her hand and kissed it.
"Good evening Ms. Snyder. You look absolutely beautiful tonight. Brad complimented as he sat across from her.
"Why thank you Mr. Taylor. I must say you look handsome yourself." Jo smiled at him like a giddy little school girl. Randy then appeared by the table and set the ice tea on the table for Jo.
"Here is your tea, and for you sir?" Randy asked Brad.
"I'll just have Coke thank you." Brad responded never looking away from Jo's eyes.
"Coming right up." Randy said turning and leaving to again get the drink.
"May I have this dance?" Brad asked after a few moments of just staring at each other.
"I'd be honored." She extended her hand and he helped her out of her chair. They moved to a more open place and Brad pulled Jo close to his body. He still hadn't broken their gaze and he didn't plan to. Jo couldn't help but look at him, looking into his eyes trying to see what he was thinking. She almost couldn't believe this was the same guy that she used to wrestle and play tackle football with. When did he turn into this wonderfully sweet man that in only twelve hours had somehow stolen her heart and swept her off her feet.
"What are your thinking?" Brad asked out of nowhere.
"I'm not really sure." Jo laughed at herself as they swayed to the music.
"That's a first." Brad joked.
"Oh shut up. Don't ruin the moment." She only half-scolded him.
"It can't be ruined, not with you here." He smiled sweetly at her. They both became silent for a moment and Brad leaned in, but this time he didn't pull away. Their lips connected in a glorious kiss that shot tingles down Jo's spine. They separated themselves and just smiled.
"Ahem." Randy loudly cleared his throat behind them. The new couple separated and turned to hear what he wanted to say.
"I thought you might like to hear what's on the menu." They both took their seats. "Tonight we have a delicious spaghetti plate, or you may also like the angel hair pasta covered with a tomato sauce and meatballs." All three laughed at the small joke.
"Spaghetti it is." Brad ordered.
The backyard at the Snyder home was aglow with happiness that night. To Jo and Brad, it was as close to perfect as one night can be. But up above them, looking out her own bedroom, was Delia, scowling down at the two.
"Um, hi. Wait, I'm confused, why are you here?" Jocelyn asked completely bewildered.
"If you'll please come with me, everything will be explained." Randy smiled again in his all-knowing style as he handed her the rose he was holding. He then offered her his arm and she reluctantly took it and allowed him to lead her out the door. She gave her father a questioning glance over her shoulder but all he did was smile at her.
Randy led Jo to her own backyard where there was a small candlelit table for two and soft music played somewhere in the background. He pulled out her chair like a gentleman. Jo expected him to take the seat across from her but instead he grabbed a small apron with a booklet in it like she'd seen on waiters at fancy restaurants and he tied around his waist.
"Good evening Ms. Snyder, I'm Randy and I'll be your waiter this evening. Can I start you off with a drink while you wait for the rest of your party?" He asked taking out the pad and a pen. Jocelyn giggled at how well he played the part and at how well he'd fooled her.
" I'll just have iced tea Randy." She replied formally and trying to keep a straight face. She felt as though she were five years old again and they were playing restaurant.
"Iced tea it is. I'll be right back with you're drink." He turned and walked over to the back porch where there was a mock-kitchen. Jo was turned around watching Randy when she heard a female voice coming from the other direction.
"Right this way Mr. Taylor." Jo turned back around and saw Lauren leading Brad to her table. Brad didn't sit down either though, instead he took her hand and kissed it.
"Good evening Ms. Snyder. You look absolutely beautiful tonight. Brad complimented as he sat across from her.
"Why thank you Mr. Taylor. I must say you look handsome yourself." Jo smiled at him like a giddy little school girl. Randy then appeared by the table and set the ice tea on the table for Jo.
"Here is your tea, and for you sir?" Randy asked Brad.
"I'll just have Coke thank you." Brad responded never looking away from Jo's eyes.
"Coming right up." Randy said turning and leaving to again get the drink.
"May I have this dance?" Brad asked after a few moments of just staring at each other.
"I'd be honored." She extended her hand and he helped her out of her chair. They moved to a more open place and Brad pulled Jo close to his body. He still hadn't broken their gaze and he didn't plan to. Jo couldn't help but look at him, looking into his eyes trying to see what he was thinking. She almost couldn't believe this was the same guy that she used to wrestle and play tackle football with. When did he turn into this wonderfully sweet man that in only twelve hours had somehow stolen her heart and swept her off her feet.
"What are your thinking?" Brad asked out of nowhere.
"I'm not really sure." Jo laughed at herself as they swayed to the music.
"That's a first." Brad joked.
"Oh shut up. Don't ruin the moment." She only half-scolded him.
"It can't be ruined, not with you here." He smiled sweetly at her. They both became silent for a moment and Brad leaned in, but this time he didn't pull away. Their lips connected in a glorious kiss that shot tingles down Jo's spine. They separated themselves and just smiled.
"Ahem." Randy loudly cleared his throat behind them. The new couple separated and turned to hear what he wanted to say.
"I thought you might like to hear what's on the menu." They both took their seats. "Tonight we have a delicious spaghetti plate, or you may also like the angel hair pasta covered with a tomato sauce and meatballs." All three laughed at the small joke.
"Spaghetti it is." Brad ordered.
The backyard at the Snyder home was aglow with happiness that night. To Jo and Brad, it was as close to perfect as one night can be. But up above them, looking out her own bedroom, was Delia, scowling down at the two.