Sorry for the delay in updating... I think I disappeared down a lockdown rabbit hole. Anyway, I'm back and the date continues. Enjoy and please review to let me know you're still following.
FIVE YEARS
Chapter 20
He holds open the front door and she walks into the hotel lobby. He takes her hand and leads her towards the restaurant where they're met by a smartly dressed, moustached maître-de. She's not really taking notice of the man in front of her, too busy looking around and happily absorbing the familiarity of her surroundings.
"Good evening Major James, Mrs James. Delighted to see you again."
She instantly recognises the voice and looks at the man properly for the first time and starts to exclaim, "Bra…."
He interrupts before she can finish, "Eduardo. Good to see you too."
"I had to do a bit of juggling due to the last minute reservation, but I've put you in the usual spot, Sir."
"Thank you, that's very good of you."
She incredulously watches the formal exchange, wondering what the hell is going on.
"Not at all, my pleasure. I hope you enjoy your meal and do not hesitate to let me know if you need anything further. Otherwise Anna here will be looking after you."
-OG-
The waitress shows them to their table and waits patiently as he chivalrously seats her first before taking his place opposite her. She is a little surprised to find it is not the table from their first date, but clearly one of the best in the room - offering the ambience of the restaurant but with plenty of privacy. Anna hands them a couple of menus.
"Sir, Madam. Can I get you an aperitif whilst you take a look at the menu?"
He smiles politely at the girl, "Could we just get a bottle of sparkling water please?"
"And a beer for …. my husband, thanks."
He raises a questioning eyebrow.
"You don't need to keep me company on the water. I really don't mind. Believe me, if it was the other way around, I'd be getting stuck in right now."
He smirks at her.
"If it was the other way around, I'd be a scientific wonder but thank you Dawsey. A Samuel Adams then as well please."
The waitress finally leaves them and he knows what is coming next.
She looks around conspiratorially, leans forward and whispers, "Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on? What is Brains doing in a posh restaurant in Bath, calling himself Eduardo?"
He chuckles.
"I'm sorry. I should have told you, but your face was a picture!"
She laughs.
"A bit of warning would have been good! Well? Spill the beans. What's the story?"
"He left the Army a couple of years ago. Somehow he always managed to keep it a well-kept secret from the piss-taking 2-section bastards, but he went to catering college before joining up… turns out hospitality was always his passion. He came to me when he was thinking of leaving; he'd done his research and knew what he wanted to do next. He'd seen the position here advertised and decided to go for it. I helped him with some interview practice and when he was offered the job, a reference of course. He knew the place because of the wedding – it was one of those things that just worked out."
"I always thought he was a dark horse."
"I know, he's done very well! He's the man to know if you want to get a table here! I suspect he will be tempted by one of the top London hotels in due course."
"Do we always do the whole formal Eduardo thing with him now?"
"God no, that's just for show when he's working. I'm sure we'll be able to catch up with him later on when the restaurant is less busy if you'd like."
"Yeah, that would be good. Does he know about the accident?"
"I haven't told him specifically, but I expect that the 2-section grapevine has probably got to him. Everyone was worried about you when you were in the coma."
"Do people know about …. you know…. the whole amnesia thing?"
"No. I haven't shared it beyond our immediate families. I thought it should be your decision, once you'd had some time to adjust to things. Colonel Thomas said it might only be temporary, so you might not need to, unless you want to…."
"Maybe I should just do a Facebook status update and be done with it. Molly James is feeling confused – she can't remember the last five years."
"Well that would certainly be a novel way to tell people!"
She grins at him.
"There's a problem though….. I have no idea what happened to my phone. I haven't seen it since the accident. Did it get damaged in the crash?"
"Shit. I haven't thought of that. I don't actually know. It wasn't brought in with you to hospital and I didn't think to ask."
"I probably left it at barracks before the exercise."
"I can make some calls tomorrow and see if it can be tracked down. Get it brought to the house if you'd like."
"Thanks."
"You know, if there's anyone you want to call, you can always use mine. I've probably got most of your friend's numbers in my phone…"
She smiles at him, reaches across the table and squeezes his hand.
"Nah, it's alright. I'm happy just being here with you….."
He takes her hand and brings it gently to his lips, placing a light kiss on her knuckles.
"Me too Molly. Me too."
She chuckles.
He looks questioningly at her, "What?"
She laughs again, a little harder, "Nothing!"
"I'm trying to be romantic and you're fucking laughing at me."
She smiles at him.
"I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you. I'm just remembering the first time you kissed my knuckle like that and I accused you of wiping cabbage on my hand."
He grins at her, delighted that she remembers.
"Well, as I told you then, I don't want to soil the napkin."
"Yeah, except we haven't actually eaten anything… in fact, we haven't even looked at the menu yet, so …."
He smirks and deliberately puts her hand back on the table, gently stroking her knuckle before letting go of her hand. He picks up his menu and starts studying it.
"So, what are you waiting for Dawsey?…. crack-on"
She grins at him and focuses her attention on her own menu.
After a little while she breaks the comfortable silence, "Hmm, it all looks fabulous. I can't decide!"
"Would you like me to order for you?"
She smiles at him, remembering how he'd asked her that same question all those years ago on their first date. How she'd really wanted to say yes as the menu had been completely overwhelming and nothing like she'd ever experienced before, but how she hadn't wanted to appear unsophisticated in front of him, still desperately anxious that their differences would be too great away from the intensity of Afghan. Back then she taken a pot-luck approach to her choices based on the few words she'd recognised and thankfully she'd been rewarded with the best food she'd ever tasted. Now looking at the menu she realises that she understands everything on it and is able to make an informed choice. It's a small reminder that over the last five years she's changed in ways she doesn't even realise.
"No… but I think there are a few things I'm probably supposed to be avoiding, being knocked up and all."
He looks slightly alarmed.
"Knocked-up. Is that how you feel?"
"Nah, I'm just kidding with you."
He still looks unsure, "Are you really ok? You've had to take on board a hell of a lot over the past few days."
She smiles reassuringly at him.
"Yes… I am. Although I know I've been an emotional wreck at times."
"Which is completely understandable. In fairness, I've had my moments too."
She laughs.
"I know, we're a right pair… Obviously I want and hope to remember the past…. but I also know in my heart that this is where I am meant to be, with you."
He visibly relaxes at her words.
"You don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that. I feel the same."
She smiles happily at him, "You know…. I've been thinking…."
She stops as he raises his eyebrow at her use of one of their familiar lines of banter.
"Yes, I know, you don't need to say anything… what I've been thinking is ….. so what if I can't remember everything… does it really matter? Is there much point looking backwards? What's important is the here and now... and the future of course."
"You've never let the past define you or hold you back before. It's one of the many things I admire and love about you."
"We're good together aren't we? That much is obvious. I feel that. I want to be with you."
"And me with you. So much so. I don't know how I would have coped if I'd lost you."
His words remind her of what his mother told her earlier about his battle with PTSD after Elvis died. She can sense his vulnerability. She reaches across the table and takes his hands in hers, simultaneously stretching out her leg to rub her foot along his calf muscle. She holds his gaze.
"Charles… I'm not going anywhere. Promise."
"I love you Molly."
"Ditto."
He leans forward across the table and kisses her. She returns his kiss for a few moments before pulling back.
"Now, can we order please? Despite your mum's best efforts at feeding me up, I am starving!"
-OG-