(Page 3)
Mary [Ekholm] Francis
(c) 1997
The hostess seated them at a window table. Even though the restaurant was busy, the dividers and potted plants created an illusion of privacy. Colleen ran her fingers over the mahogany window ledge. �Isn�t this gorgeous?� Then the lights outside caught her attention. �Oh, look! We can see the trees in the park.� Before he had dropped them off in front of the restaurant, their taxi driver had driven slowly around the small park and explained that the tiny twinkle lights had just been put up and turned on a week ago. Colleen turned her attention back to Steve. He was busy ordering a bottle of wine. She didn�t understand why Steve kept drinking. She wondered if he felt he needed alcohol in order to be sociable. And, then, she wondered if he had been drinking before he had met her for lunch those few times. She thought back to lunch on Tuesday and tried to recall any signs of drinking in his manner.
Steve had made a reservation at 12:15 at a popular Chinese restaurant. �Ever seen so many green lanterns in one place before?� Steve smiled down at Colleen.
�I don�t think so. Do you suppose that�s why they call this place The Green Lantern?� They both laughed as they stood in line waiting for the host to seat them.
The lobby was paneled in mirrors that multiplied the number of various-sized green lanterns that hung everywhere. The mirrors also reflected the line of prospective diners. While she pretended to focus on a huge floral arrangement squatting on a low black table across from her, Colleen studied the reflection of herself and Steve. They were both in their late forties, and both were carrying a few extra pounds. She was getting used to the padding on her hips; she rather liked the little paunch that covered the top half of Steve�s belt buckle. Both of them had hair turning silver instead of gray. She liked the way her brown hair was lightened by the silver strands scattered through it, and she was in awe of Steve�s full head of silver. She caught him sneaking a look at himself after a bald man passed them on his way out. Steve brushed his fingers through his hair as if he needed to reassure himself that it was all still there. His eyes met Colleen�s in the mirror; he colored slightly and shrugged his shoulders. �I used to wear it in a pony tail when it was brown and I was new to real estate. As it turned gray and I began to have it cut shorter, my sales increased.� Steve turned to face Colleen. �I changed my hair style, nothing else. Isn�t it funny how a stranger�s willingness to buy could be affected by my barber?�
An elderly Chinese man led them to a booth and handed them menus. A waitress set water in front of them and turned away.
�Wait.� Steve stopped her. �I told my friend that Tuesday�s Green Lantern special was the best Chinese lunch in town. Bring two specials and a pot of tea and . . .� he grinned at Colleen, �two pairs of chopsticks.� Steve leaned back and unbuttoned his suit coat. �I know you are a writer who has been all over the country doing research for various magazine pieces. Tell me why you gave up all that for a desk job.�
�The desk job is only temporary. Before I was able to support myself with freelance work, I was one of the editors at Cat-Tail Press. Now I�m back to help out while Jennifer is on a six-month leave of absence.�
�Glad to be back?�
�Sometimes. And sometimes I think I was crazy to go back. When I�m not too busy to write, I�m too tired.� She picked up the cup of tea the waitress had poured for her and cradled it in her hands as if she were warming them.
�Am I interfering with your writing?�
Colleen blushed. �No.� Then she smiled at Steve. �My friends tell me that it�s about time I got out in the world again. And I have enjoyed our lunches and getting to know you.�
�I�m looking forward to Friday evening. We won�t have to watch the clock and go back to work. We can just eat, drink, and be merry.� The waitress approached with their lunches. Steve grinned. �How are you with chop sticks?�
Steve interrupted her thoughts, �Coll-llee-een.�
�What?�
�You were a million miles away.� Steve picked up his empty wine glass. �I ordered wine.�
�Oh.� Colleen saw Steve�s eyebrows go up and realized that her voice had sounded disapproving. She tried to soften the effect by smiling and adding, �I don�t need to drink wine in order to see stars among the treetops. Look.� She pointed out the window.
�This place has an excellent house wine. I order a bottle every time I come here.� Steve�s eyes lit up as he leaned forward. �You want to pretend it�s summer and go sit in the park and sip wine?�
�I don�t think it would be much fun to sit in the park alone with a bottle of wine. If you don�t mind, I�d rather stay here with you.� She waited.
�Oh, that�s a good one. You�d rather stay here with me.� Steve laughed. Nearby diners turned to look at them.
�Sh-h-h. It wasn�t that good.� The waiter chose that moment to deliver the wine.
Very carefully, Steve asked, �Would you like to pretend it�s summer and go out in the park with me to drink our wine?�
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