"We just made up a story where she said I was the princess and he was the man, and then she said the princess always marries the man".
"Aunt Jeffer is a pretty princess, Mommy".
"She sure is. Were you a good girl for her?"
Savanna nodded.
"Why don't you go upstairs and get dressed?"
"Ok".
She put Savanna down and she ran off upstairs.
"How's Luke?"
"He's fine for now. We have to monitor him closely. They determined that he has a double ear infection and a really bad respiratory infection, so he's on antibiotics which should help keep his fever down".
"Glad to hear it". Patrick came back downstairs and told Caroline that Luke was asleep in his bed.
"Great. I am going to try and catch a few winks myself".
"Well, I am going to head home. Jonathan, if you want to call and cancel your cab, I am happy to give you a ride".
"Sure, that sounds great".
He went to the next room to call the cab company.
Caroline looked at Jennifer.
"Did he behave himself?"
"Yes, he did. The power went out sometime after Savanna and I went to bed, and he came into your room and built us a fire in the fireplace so that we wouldn't be cold. He ended up sleeping in there with us too, and I told him we had plenty of room and it was fine, but he still went and got an extra blanket and slept on top of the bed, under the blanket".
"Good, glad to hear he was a gentleman".
"He was."
A few minutes later, Jennifer had to give Savanna a million hugs and then she and Jonathan left.
They had a nice quiet ride, and she dropped him off at his hotel. Jonathan was impressed that Jennifer had a Corvette.
"Nice car".
"Thank you".
She stopped for gas on the way home and he insisted on paying for it.
"Where would you like to go?"
"I'm staying at the Madison".
She dropped him off right out front.
"Thanks, I owe you one".
"You're welcome".
She went back to her house then and got ready for the day.
About an hour later, she was about to head to her office when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Someone has a not so secret admirer, ma'am. His name is Jonathan, and he called here after you dropped him off and raved about you to my husband for about 20 minutes".
"You're kidding".
"I'm not."
"Nothing happened between us for him to rave about".
"Patrick said he told him that he has never thought twice about a woman before until you. So, you should feel flattered. He said he couldn't wait till Saturday and wanted to know if we thought you would go out with him sooner".
"Oh my! What did you tell him?"
"We told him that we were looking forward to it also, and that with Luke being sick, we couldn't go until Saturday."
"If he calls back, please try and be subtle and drop some hints that I'm not looking for anything serious? I mean, we can definitely do dinner when he's in town or something, but if he wanted to take someone else to dinner, it wouldn't hurt my feelings".
"I will pass that along. And Patrick and I discussed it and we told him too that Saturday night is our treat to say thank you for staying with Savanna last night".
"You don't have to do that. I enjoy watching her as much as she enjoys staying with me".
"I know, but we don't have family here, so if you had said no, we would have been in a bind and we really owe you one".
"Ok, I accept."
"Good. Now, I'm going to go get some sleep, and I will talk to you later".
"Ok sounds good".
They hung up and Jennifer headed to work, putting Jonathan out of her head.
***Saturday***
Caroline called Jennifer early in the morning, around 9.
"Hey, I feel I should warn you. Jonathan came over last night and I dropped the hints like you asked me too, and it didn't go well. He insisted that he was only interested in you. I told him that it would be good for him to be open to other opportunities if they arose, and he said he understood. He seemed sad though, so he might not be very talkative tonight".
"That's ok, I can handle that. Thank you for telling him".
"Sure. I gotta say though, I feel like if you gave him a chance, you wouldn't be disappointed. He's a good guy, and when he wants something, he goes for it with all his heart, and I've never seen him go after a woman like he's going after you. I mean, he usually just sends them flowers, takes them to dinner, and then doesn't call them again. But something about the way he's talking about you tells me that you are different from everyone he's dated before. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am".
"Well, we will see, I suppose. Who is watching Savanna and Luke?"
"The neighborhood girl from down the block. But, I promised her that when you get here you will tuck her in and read her a story, if you don't mind?"
"Not at all. What time are we talking? And where are we going? What should I wear?"
"Well, we have reservations at 8, at Ricardo's. And it's an upscale place, so dressy, but not evening gown or anything".
"Ok deal. I will be at your house by 7 so that I can tuck her in and read her a story".
"Perfect. See you then".
They hung up and Jennifer set about trying to figure out what she was going to wear. She pulled a few options out of the closet and hung them up on the door frame of her bedroom.
Around 3, she took a long, hot bubble bath and washed her hair. She decided to curl her hair that night. She laid on the bed and let her hair dry upside down, while she read a book.
She walked out the door at 6, so that she could make it to Caroline and Patrick's by 7. Saturday night traffic in the city was always pretty tight.
She pulled up around ten till 6 and parked in front of their house.
She had brought two dresses with her and was going to change at their house, after she put Savanna to bed.
"Hi, hope you don't mind if I get ready here".
"Not at all".
Savanna ran to her and insisted on helping her carry her stuff.
She let her carry her shoes.
They went to Caroline and Patrick's room.
Jennifer touched up her hair and makeup.
"Savanna, you get to pick. You can help me get ready or I can tuck you in and read a story".
"Help you get ready".
"Ok, deal".
"Ok Jennifer, I just want to tell you-this is like the 5th date that I've gone on with Jonathan. If he really likes someone, he will tell them they look beautiful. He will engage them in conversation and he will offer them bites of his meal. If he doesn't, he won't make eye contact with you at all".
"I have been on dates before, Caroline".
"I know, but Jonathan is different. He has these tell-tale signs, and he's pretty easy to read".
"Oh?"
"Ten bucks says he orders a ribeye and loaded baked potato, and offers you a bite".
"You're on".
Jennifer picked a long-sleeved bright blue knee-length dress, with a deep plunge. It accentuated her curves in all the right places, and she looked absolutely amazing. She paired it with black knee high boots.
She decided to read Savanna a story after all, so they sat down on the couch and read a book before the babysitter got there.
Luke was engrossed in a movie on the couch with his dad.
Jonathan showed up right on time, at 7:30, and so did the babysitter.
He held the door open for her, and they came in together.
Caroline quickly showed her where stuff was, and Patrick and Caroline kissed the kid's goodbye.
Jennifer gave them each a kiss as well.
She walked to the kitchen where Jonathan was standing.
"Hi".
"Hi". He looked away from her and didn't say anything else.
It was extremely awkward, so she walked outside to get a breath of fresh air.
A few minutes later, they all came out.
They all got in Patrick's Mercedes, and headed to the restaurant.
Thankfully, the restaurant was close. Jennifer and Caroline sat in the backseat.
Jennifer whispered to her that he hadn't spoken to her all night. Caroline seemed shocked.
They got to the restaurant and were seated right away.
Jonathan sat next to Jennifer, on her left. He basically turned his body towards Patrick and only talked to him.
Jennifer tried to ignore it, and talked to Caroline.
Halfway through the evening, Jonathan got up and went to the bathroom. On his way back, he stopped at the bar and chatted up a brunette.
Caroline looked at Jennifer and Patrick.
"Well, I guess that's that".
"Yeah, I guess so. Crazy how he begged for this and now he'd rather be anywhere else but here".
"Well, like I told you, this was also a thank you dinner, so it's fine".
"Yeah, I know".
"Jennifer, I'm sorry. He swore to me that he wanted to have dinner with you, I don't know what's gotten into him. I'll talk to him".
"It's quite alright. If he's not interested, he's not interested".
They paid the check, and just before they were about to leave, Jonathan came back to the table.
"Still got it. She practically threw her number at me".
"That's great, Jonathan".
"Hey, they didn't call me the Conquistador in the Navy for nothing".
Jennifer thought she was going to vomit. She was repulsed by him, but glad that he wasn't interested in her at the same time.
She and Caroline went to the car, while Patrick and Jonathan finished their beers.
About half an hour later, they got home.
Jennifer came inside just to go to the bathroom and get her things.
Caroline was changing, so Jennifer went to the ½ bath by the kitchen.
Patrick offered Jonathan a drink, and he accepted.
"Jonathan, I don't understand what happened. You practically begged us to hook you up with Jennifer, and then you ignore her all night when the date happens. She's a beautiful, intelligent woman, and you didn't speak to her all night".
"She might be intelligent. But she doesn't have the whole package."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, some girls have it going on body-wise, and nothing intelligence wise. And some have it going on intelligence wise, but aren't pretty to look at. Jennifer is a little bit of both, that's all. Neither part is complete".
Jennifer was crushed. So he wasn't attracted to her, ok. But he didn't have to insult her and be so incredibly cruel?
Jonathan and Patrick went to the game room to watch another game. Caroline was in the kitchen.
Jennifer tiptoed out. Try as she might, she couldn't keep the tears from falling.
"Jennifer, what is it?"
"Nothing. I'm fine. Thank you for a lovely evening. I'm going to go now".
"Jennifer, really-what is it?"
"I was a fool. I just heard him telling Patrick how he really feels about me. I should have never come tonight and if I had known how he really felt, I wouldn't have. I'll call you tomorrow".
She gave her a quick hug and headed out.
Caroline headed to the game room.
"Jonathan, what did you say to Jennifer?"
"Nothing".
"Yes, you did. She just left, in tears".
"I promise I didn't say anything to her".
"Well, she came out of the bathroom and was crying and said she would have never come if she had known how you really felt".
"Came out of what bathroom?"
"The one off the kitchen. She said she heard you talking to Patrick".
Patrick hung his head.
"Jonathan and I were having a conversation. We thought you and Jennifer were in the bedroom, we didn't realize that she was in the bathroom by the kitchen."
"Well, she was and she heard every word you two said. And she left here, very upset and crying. I swear, Jonathan, I am never setting you up with my friends again".
Caroline stormed out and headed to bed.
Patrick went to go talk to her and explain that he was just trying to explain to Jonathan that he should have talked to her.
Jonathan felt horrible.
He went downstairs and called a cab.
"Caroline, what is Jennifer's address? I promise, I will go apologize in person right now".
"No, you have done enough".
"Can you give me her phone number?"
"I'm pretty sure she would hate me if I did that".
"Fine. I will go see her in person on Monday, before I fly back home".
"I can't stop you, but I'm damn sure not going to tell you to do so. You were so rude to her, and you really hurt her feelings. A simple "I'm sorry", isn't going to cut it. And might I remind you, that when you get here, our kids tell you hi, sometimes. Luke gets excited when you and Patrick take him to games and stuff, which is fine. I am glad you do that. But in case you haven't noticed-when Jennifer gets here, the kids RUN to her. Especially Savanna. She loves them as much as they love her. Luke doesn't crawl up in her lap as much as he used to, but he always asks for her to come over if we are going somewhere or doing something special. And that's not going to stop just because you treated her like crap. So, if it comes down to her coming over or you, it will be her".
"She's right, Jonathan. She has never once been ugly to someone ever most likely, but for sure, here in the house".
"I understand. I promise, I will apologize to her, sincerely".
"You better."
"Well, my cab should be here soon, so I'm going to go. Thanks for dinner, and I'm sorry that the evening ended so badly".
"Thank you".
***Monday***
Jennifer got to work right on time, and went to get a cup of coffee.
When she came back, there were 2 dozen roses on her desk.
She dug for the card.
"Thanks to a lovely lady for a lovely evening. Lunch today? Please call me. 212.981.6724-Jonathan".
'He can't be serious'.
She called his office, got no answer, and hung up.
She decided to throw herself into her work and just get through the day and then go home.
Before she knew it, 3 hours had gone by.
She took her lunch at 12, and had just walked outside the building. She was just going to run across the street for a sandwich and some soup when she saw him standing by the curb.
"Hey, can we go somewhere and talk a minute? I promise, it won't take long. And lunch is on me, if you're willing".
"I would tell you my answer, but I'm not intelligent enough to form a sentence."
She tried to walk past him.
"Ok, I deserve that. Please? Just 10 minutes. That's all I ask".
"Fine. Here, and in 10 minutes, I'm leaving".
They sat on the bench outside her building.
"I apologize for what I said to Patrick about you. Let me explain. I know this doesn't excuse what I said, but I really thought that you were in the bedroom with Caroline. I honestly thought that he and I were having a private conversation. And, normally I would apologize right away, but Caroline wouldn't give me your address or phone number. I looked you up but you weren't in the book. Anyways, I shouldn't have said what I said, and I didn't mean any of it. I certainly didn't mean to hurt your feelings, and I feel awful that I did".
"Thank you".
"I meant what I said, I would love to take you to lunch, if you'll let me".
"That's not necessary".
"Well, Caroline really read me the riot act, as she should have. And I want you to know that I agreed that if you didn't want me to come to their house when you are there, that I wouldn't come. It's your call".
She nodded.
"Well, I guess that's it. I'm really sorry. Thank you for hearing me out".
"Wait. Before you go-I just want to say one thing. You told Patrick that I wasn't intelligent enough. I would love to know what would qualify as enough, because you see, I consider myself highly educated. I graduated from Gresham Hall in Massachusetts with a 4.0. If you haven't heard of it, look it up. I applied to 12 colleges while I was in high school. NYU, Columbia, Vassar, Towson and UMass, I applied to my junior year of high school. I applied to Brown, Princeton, Yale, and the University of Connecticut my senior year. I was accepted to all of them. Every single one. And Stanford, UCLA, and the University of Virginia-they all three sought me out. They came to me. I ultimately chose Stanford, and graduated from a 4-year program in 3 years. I then got my masters from Vassar in Linguistics. I speak 7 languages fluently-English, Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin, Chinese, and Russian. I have written articles that were published on the first draft, when most journalists have to submit and resubmit and resubmit again before they get published, if ever. I can hold my own in a poker game just as well as I can discussing topics like archaeology, Egyptology, or playwrights. I may not be able to do much about my looks, and that's ok. I am a dead ringer for my mother and proud of it. However, if you are going to dare say I'm not intelligent, then I will challenge you to a debate on the topic of your choice, and I guarantee you, I will win. Think about that and hopefully the next time we see each other, you will use some manners".
With that, she got up and walked away, while Jonathan sat there with his mouth open.
A few minutes later, he hailed a cab and went back to his office.