19. Dinner with Kara

Kara opened the door after the third knock with a smile. She had a dark blue satin nightgown on. Robert felt somewhat surprised and looked at his watch. Was he that early or was she just running late, again.

"Hi, come in and have a seat, I'll be right back."

She shouted over her shoulder already running back into her room.

"I am almost ready."

A smile was creeping onto his face finding her lack of punctuality somewhat amusing. He followed her in and after closing the door he took a seat.

He did not wait long for Kara to re-emerge. She was dressed in a casual pair of pant and a colorful top. A small purse was hanging over her shoulder and a black leather jacket was draped over her right arm.

"I'm ready."she declared.

They entered little restaurant and were they were welcomed and swiftly taken to their table near the wall. It was a very homely looking family owned restaurant. Shortly after a waiter brought their drinks and took their order.

Robert ordered the meal with such precision and detailed instructions as if he had done this a hundred times before. Kara stared at him with admiration in her eyes.

"Wow. You must love coming here often" she said when the waiter had left.

"No, I've never been here before." He replied while examining his surroundings. "Alice's assistant recommended it." A perplexed crease adorned his brow.

He looked around the picturesque little place. Robert knew that he had never sat foot in the restaurant before. Yet somehow he knew that there used to be a piano next to the window on the far side of the room. He also knew that they served the best seafood in the whole town. The theme of the place has hardly changed since it first opened its doors, almost a century ago.

He looked at her and saw she was staring at him with questing eyes.

"Have you ever walked into a place for the first time and felt like you have been there before?" he asked trying to sound casual.

"No I can't say that I have. Why?"

He laughed and shook his head "I know I have never been here before in my life. But, it all looks so familiar. It feels kind of … I don't know... homey." He laughed and shook his head. "Ridiculous I know?"

"Déjà vu."

"What?"

"Well that's what they call déjà vu. When a place seems familiar to you even though you've never been there before."

"Yes, I guess, that must be It." He chuckled

"Well maybe you were here in a previous lifetime."

"No, that's not it." He chuckled apprehensively. He felt very uncomfortable with the direction that the conversation had taken.

"Many people believe in reincarnation."

"And you? Do you believe in it?" he could see that she was hesitant to answer.

Her right hand skittishly started playing with a strand of hair in the back of her neck. She looked away for a moment her eyes scanning the surrounding area. She glanced back at him with a nervous smile, pulling her right shoulder up to her ear. Her hand relinquished the strand of hair and moved to her lips. Her fingers started gliding over her lower lip.

"Who knows?..." She gently pulled up her right shoulder on her innocently fluttered her eyes. " It's a nice thought though, having more than one life to look forward to. That everything doesn't just end one day." she took a sip of her soda. "What do you believe?"

He didn't reply.

Robert felt strange emotions stirring inside him as he watched every move she made. A smile creped into his eyes and he felt his heart skip a beat. Once again he felt in awe at her beauty.

"Are you making fun off me now?"

"No." he was still smiling at her. "Just sitting here thinking how beautiful are."

She looked away and he saw the blood rushing to her cheeks. He sensed that his words had made her feel uncomfortable. The waiter arrived with their food.

"Sea bass for the lady with a warm rocket salad. And seared carpaccio of beef in a red wine sauce with roasted baby potatoes drizzled with olive oil, no beets and a watercress and parmesan salad for the gentlemen." The waiter said causally as he served the meal.

"Can I get you anything else? Some wine perhaps?" he asked looking at Robert.

"Kara would you like some wine?"

Robert looked at her and saw that her cheeks had lost their red flush.

"No thanks. I am not much of a wine person." and he dismissed the waiter.

Robert knew what it would taste like before he even cut the meat. He was thankful for the distraction.

He stole a glance at Kara, and hoped that he did not make her feel uncomfortable.

They ate in silence for a moment and then Robert asked her how Sam was doing and was thankful when the conversation started to flow seamlessly.

Halfway through the meal the manager came to welcome them to his restaurant. He introduced himself as Sergio Nunez owner and manager of the family owned restaurant. He asked if they were satisfied with their meal. He was an elderly man in his late forty's, neatly dressed and very gracious. As he spoke he constantly turned his eyes to Robert.

Then finally realizing that he was being rude he turned and faced Robert.

"Excuse me for asking but are you any relations of Joseph Goodman?"

"Not as far as I know. Why?" Sergio looked at Robert and smile.

"Please excuse me, but you bear an uncanny resemblance to an old friend of my fathers, I knew very well from when I was a child. I just thought you might be related."

He said smilingly not taking his eyes of Roberts face.

"No, I'm not related to any Goodman." Sergio smiled and withdrew his gaze.

"Well, please enjoy your meal and I hope to see you again soon." And with that he left them to finish their meal.

"That was weird." Kara said.

"Yeh, I guess I just have one of those faces."

"No you don't. You have a very memorable face." she blushed and quickly bit her lip.

A warm flush filled him and he smiled. Sergio and his weird questions instantly forgotten.

"So are you enjoying you fish?"
"Yes, thank you."

They finished their meal.