Chapter 2

When Arnold returned with her sandwich, he also had a plateful of French fries and a glass of soda.

"Don't you have other customers?" Helga asked biting into her sandwich.

"I'm on my lunch break. Unless you don't want me to…"

"No it's all right. I liked talking with you. So what do you do?"

"Besides working in the diner, I'm a mechanic. I'm actually working on opening my own shop. That's why I'm working here."

"How long have you been working here?"

"For about 4 years. My shop's on hold though. My family's boardinghouse is in bad shape. I think the bank is going to foreclose."

"That's awful."

"Yeah but I don't want to bore you with my sob story. What's up with you? What do you do?"

"I own my own business. It's a manufacturing company actually."

Arnold nodded and smiled. He opened his mouth to speak but his cell phone interrupted him. Arnold held up his index finger telling Helga, one minute. "Hello? Oh hey Gerald. Is it tonight? I can't, I don't have…I know that's what I said but…Fine. I'll see ya then. All right. Bye." He hung up the phone and sighed.

"What's the matter?"

"I'm the best man in my best friend's wedding. And his engagement party is tonight."

"Is that a problem?"

"Yeah, his fiancée's maid-of-honor is my ex-girlfriend, and we hate each other so I don't have a date for tonight. This means I gotta pretend to like Beth for two hours so I won't be alone. Unless…" He gave Helga devious grin.

"Unless what?"

"Unless…nah I couldn't ask you to do this. You're a stranger and probably wouldn't want to…"

"Want to do what?"

"Be my date for tonight."

Helga's eyes widen; it had been nearly two years since her last date and she really enjoyed spending time with this person. "Arnold, break time's up."

"Man I gotta go. What do you say?"

She looked down and nodded, "All right, I'll do it."

"Oh man thanks a lot. You're saving my hind end. Thanks again." His hand brushed hers and Helga felt the color rise in her cheeks. "I'll pick you up tonight around…"

"No, I'll meet you, in front of the diner. What time?"

"7:30 good?"

"It's fine. I'll see you then."

Helga searched through all of her suitcases trying to find something to wear that night. But all she had was business clothes. "Ah crap. The first date I've had in years and I don't have anything to wear."

A knock on her hotel door interrupted her search for clothes. "Olga? What do you want?"

"I just wanted to make sure your coming tonight."
"Coming where?"
"Dinner tonight, with me, mom, and dad."

Helga's face gave away her feelings. "You forgot? Helga how could you?"

"With dad hating me and all I figured he didn't want me around. I have a date for tonight."

"But we're your family."

"Look I'll do something with you tomorrow. Now I've got to get ready to leave. So you need to go."

"But Helga…"

"Go." She said digging in her suitcases again.

Olga sighed and left her sister alone. After a few more hours of searching for an outfit Helga finally chose a black summer dress. When she was finally dressed she met Arnold in front of the diner at 7:30 on the dot. "You look wonderful." He said taking her hands and looked her over.

"Thank you. So do you."

"Yeah well, I'm not really a suit and tie kind of guy." Arnold said tugging at his tie.

"Here…" she adjusted his tie and dusted his shoulders, "You're handsome."

"Come on. We're already late." He said leading her down the street.