Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Nicole was more than a little nervous as she got ready for her luncheon date with Douglas. She wasn't sure what they would talk about other than the usual catching up newsy stuff everyone does when they reunite with an old acquaintance. Hopefully that would last through lunch! If not, she had photographs of her nephews to share.

On her bed was a pile of discarded clothing. Nichole felt the need to impress Douglas because she had spent many years shedding the skin of her high school persona—one she hated—and she wanted him to be amazed with the real Nicole that once hid behind those huge owl glasses during those high school years. She choose a simple blue top and jeans. On a whim she pulled her long chestnut hair up into a top-knot on the top of her head, securing it with a pair of cobalt blue chopsticks that were part of a set that Dave had given to her one Christmas. Nicole didn't possess a kimono, so the chopsticks would have to suffice.

When she arrived at the Chinese restaurant, she saw Douglas standing in front of the building holding a sign that read “Nicole Johnson.” She sat in her car, watching him for a few minutes, wondering if Douglas and the bar rags at Smitty's had plotted together on how to embarrass her the most. To her amusement Douglas showed the sign to several elderly ladies as they walked to the entrance. Nicole took a deep breath and walked over to where he stood. She heard him say to the oldest who wore a pretty buttercup yellow dress, “...but you look exactly like the picture I saw on the Internet. Are you sure you aren't Nicole Johnson whose user name is Hotmama69? How can you pretend not to remember me? I'm hardrod4u? Come on, you remember all those nights we spent chatting about whipped cream and Chinese noodles!”

The elderly lady in buttercup yellow said, “Sonny, I'm eighty-years-old and don't know a thing about the Internet. You've got me confused with someone else.”

Nicole cleared her throat and said, “Hi there. Sorry I'm late, Douglas.”

The women all smiled at Douglas in unison, obviously approving of Nicole or the fact that someone was there to claim the sign. He stared in disbelief at her. “You're Nicole Johnson aka Hotmama69? But you aren't eighty-years-old? You've deceived me, woman! I want a hot mama not a spring chicken!” To the ladies he asked, “Should I run for it or should I have lunch with her?”

Nicole took the sign from him and tore it in half before stuffing it in the trash container. One of the ladies, this one was dressed in minty green said, “Dear, she tore your sign up. Best have lunch with her.” The rest of the ladies agreed emphatically.

Douglas grinned at Nicole. “So, hotmama69, are you still hungry for a noodle? Or two?”
The ladies and Douglas stood watching her as she blushed. Nicole was taken back to a time when she couldn't control such reactions when attention was focused on her. As she tried to shake the old Nicole from the new Nicole, one of the ladies, this one wore lavender pointed at her hair and said, “She's got chopsticks in her hair. I believe she's ready to eat. Go on, honey. I think he's harmless. A little crazy but harmless.” The elderly ladies cackled and went inside, leaving Nicole with a highly humorous Douglas who watched her with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

Exasperated and in disbelief, Nicole said, “Honestly Douglas, those women think the worse. That we met on the Internet! I don't remember a practical joker side of you.”

“Indeed,” he said holding the door open for her. “Nicole, I have a strong feeling there are many sides that we'll discover about each other today.”

Douglas insisted they settle into a corner table away from the buffet line. Both opted to order off the menu instead of facing the crowded buffet tables. “I have to be careful with what I eat when I come to places like this that have buffets,” he explained. Nicole took a sip of water and then said, “You mentioned health issues. I'm assuming some stem from Diabetes.”

His smile disappeared. “How did you know I have diabetes? I hid it from everyone in school except a couple of close friends.”

"I remember overhearing you tell Smitty about it in the seventh or eighth grade. You know, I was invisible to most of our class, Douglas. No one paid any attention to the shy quiet smart girl who sat at her desk, either reading or working on homework. You would be surprised at the stuff I heard. I could write a tell-all book on our class and gain wealth from people paying me not to publish it. I remember looking over at you as you talked to Smitty and thinking that if you chose to keep it quiet it was your business. You had your reasons for doing so. I never said anything to anyone about it.” As Nicole finished speaking their food arrived, piping hot and smelling delicious.

Douglas said, “I wonder what else you overheard me say.” To the waitress, he said “Thank you.”

He glanced over at the elderly ladies and gave them a thumbs up. Nicole watched their beaming smiles and wondered if there wasn't any woman this man couldn't charm. Then she noticed their eyes on her. With a defiant shrug of her shoulders, she reached up and pucked the chopsticks out of her hair, which cascaded over her shoulders in a defiant dance of its own. While Douglas laughed she dove enthusiastically into her meal.

Nicole eyed Douglas as he forked some beef. “You don't chopstick?” Looking down at his food, he replied. “No. I am a fork and spoon man, my dear.”

She said with a slight smile in her voice, “Be careful. I've learned forking leads to spooning.”

Nicole spoke on impulse. Those dark blue eyes of his devoured her face with a mild look of surprise. He watched her pick up some broccoli with the chopsticks. “You are a professional. But I do remember learning how to play chopsticks on the piano when I was a kid.”

She laughed. “Do you remember that music teacher we had in the eighth grade who could play it with her nose?”

“Indeed I do. Ah, so we are making a connection by sharing memories?” He returned his attention on his food. Nicole stared at him, realizing that she didn't want to share memories at this moment. “No, I want to hear about your health issues and anything else you want to share.”
His sharp eyes looked deeply into her soft ones. “Are you sure you want to hear this stuff while we eat?” She kept her eyes riveted on his and answered. “Yes. My stomach is stronger than you think.”