The restaurant was very chic but the atmosphere felt friendly nonetheless. Dimmed lights, soft music, puffy furniture that could pass for old-fashioned unless you were into antiques and actually knew its real worth... The only thing that really gave away the status of this place was the level of service, three digit prices and the fact that you had to book your table few month in advance.
Waiter helped Catherine to her seat and said:
- So happy to see you here again, ! Hope you and your friend will enjoy today's visit!
He bowed a bit - stuff here knew how to make guests feel welcomed... and a bit superior.
Catherine smiled:
- Thanks you, Jeremy, we fully intend too!
Jeremy left leaving them to read their menus while Gabriel looked astonished. He gave away choked laugh:
- Way to impress a girl, - he jokingly patted himself on a shoulder, - is to invite her to a fancy restaurant only to realize she's a favorite customer there! Geez, you couldn't hurt my self-esteem more, Catherine!
She didn't want to smile - but she did. There was something so charming and boyish and him... and she'd decided to follow Vincent's advice to come to this date with an open mind so...
- Don't feel bad about it, it's just this is one of my dad's favorite places to have our traditional family meetings... so I kinda frequent this place... but you've managed to get a table here - I'm impressed!
Catherine nodded to support her statement and added with a bit of suspicion:
- Unless you've planned to bring somebody else today and your date bailed on you and I was a last minute replacement - them I'm deeply offended and will rob you by ordering the most expensive battle of wine here!
Gabriel smiled... When his smile had no agenda of seduction or quick office flirting it was actually very nice... and sort of sexy to say the truth...
- No, you were not the last minute replacement, I swear! Getting a table here on such a short notice is one of the perks of "knowing people who know people", ADA thing. But by all means - rob me of everything you like, who am I to obstruct justice here!
He opened a menu:
- So what would be the most expensive battle of wine here?
But before he could order Catherine interjected:
- I'm more of a beer person, you know...
Gabriel looked around - bedazzled dresses, expensive watches, crystal glasses... Catherine looked totally stunning today - short simple black dress with deep U-neck and a set of amber embroidery that fitted her skin tone so perfectly... This could have been such a high profile evening...
He winked conspiratorially to her:
- So I say we break all the rules! Who's up for the sandwich and some French fries?!
Catherine giggled. Maybe Vincent was right... Maybe she needed this... Normal date.
Beer and sandwiches it is then...
They spoke, and they laughed, and they were shushed by the people at the nearby tables, and they laughed some more...
In times subjects were getting touchier:
- So, Catherine, what makes you so interested in that vigilante cases? I mean, it's a tough nut but it's not like you haven't seen this stuff before - I looked up your profile, you've caught quite a few of this freaks...
She flinched. Because he called Vincent a freak. Well, not technically, but still - Gabriel got too close to the subject in hand...
- Ah, you know, one of those cases is... connected to me.
He nodded sounding apologetically:
- Yes, your mom. I remember... I'm sorry.
She dismissed his apology - she was NOT going to go there.
- Anyways I though I'd check it out, see if anything will stir my memories... cause my brain went almost blank about that night.
That was her safe way out of this topic... but suspicion in Gabriel's eyes told her he's not buying her amnesia story. She went for a late safe:
- What do you do in your free time? I heard you volunteer in a homeless shelter.
He looked taken aback, almost frightened. Apparently it wasn't something she could "hear" so easily.
- How do you know? Who told you that?
- Um... a friend saw you at the station and then at the shelter. Why? Is it a secret?
More suspicion... felt like she'd changed a topic from dangerous to even more dangerous.
- Which friend? Do I know this friend?
- No, Gabriel, you don't. But change a subject, tell me what's the matter - is it some kind of top-secret homeless shelter or am I missing a bigger picture?
He smiled sarcastically, cracking his fingers in one swift motion:
- Look who's talking about changing a subject!
But there was something in her face... sincere, concerned... a bit frightened with his sharp outburst... So he went silent for a while suddenly more interested in drinking his beer than in anything else.
And then Gabriel spoke in a hushed voice not raising his eyes from his plate:
- My parents met in India where my father studied on an exchange program. My mom followed him here, where they've got married and had me... Only then it was revealed that my father had no intention to keep us as only family... so my mom left him. She took three jobs only to put me through school... but in times that was not enough. That's how I got to know what those shelters are... No, we were never homeless per se... but few times too often we could not feed ourselves. So my mom's friend who volunteered in a shelter... invited us.
It was painful to watch him. It was as if this veil of success and life steadiness flew off him and left struggling but unbreakable boy behind...
Gabriel raised his head and saw her pitiful expression. He managed a brave smile that looked more like bravado:
- Oh, no worries, we've got through it in one piece. I got a job or two when I could spare some time from college, then I got some really good job in DA's office and here I am - having a dinner with the most beautiful women I've seen! So life is shaping up pretty nicely for me, right?
- Well, except for when you act like a first class career driven douche...
She didn't get to finish her comic assessment of his office alter ego when he interrupted her in a rough voice:
- Do you think I would last for a second there if I was anything less than that? Brown boy in second-hand clothes who took all of his books from the library cause he couldn't afford to buy them.
He looked her in the eyes, his gaze pleading:
- I had to make... this... of myself. I hoped you'd understand.
Catherine tilted her head and started him carefully:
- Why? Why did you think I of all the people would understand?
- New Your University School of Law - we both went there, you know... Only I graduated before you entered so we couldn't meet there. But when I looked up your profile I had this picture of what you'd be when I'll come to precinct - but you weren't. Not arrogant, not a power junkie... So I felt... I know it's stupid... but I thought you might have an answer to how stay yourself through all of this... - Gabriel encircle a wide area around them trying to explain implications of "all of this".
Then he'd finished his confession:
- You are interesting.
And added with a smug smile:
- And beautiful! But that's a bonus feature I don't complain about!
And the evening went on...
Gabriel walked her home, wished her "good night" and walked away. No attempts of farewell kiss, no innuendos about breakfast, no nothing. Classy.
It was a very good evening.