Page 25 of Bliss

Callie

Callie spent Wednesday feeling more nervous about dinner with her and Hannah’s parents than she’d felt before her blind date with Alex. Knowing how worried Callie was about how her parents would treat Alex tonight, Joselynn had come over to her desk to check in on her a few times, offering encouragement and support and a few funny stories to distract her. Hannah had also checked in with her several times through text message, assuring her everything would be fine. But it was Alex’s text messages and phone call during her lunch break that kept her from trying to devise an excuse to delay the dinner for another week or two. Alex was patient and promised that no matter what was said, she wouldn’t react poorly or allow it to affect their relationship.

She was further comforted when Alex arrived to pick her up at her apartment with a loving and confident smile already gracing her soft lips. And as Callie scanned her girlfriend from head to toe, desire flared in her core, reigniting her impulse to cancel dinner so she could have Alex to herself. Alex was wearing her dark brown hair half up in a neat bun at the back of her head, with the other half dusting the shoulders of her sexy slim-fit three-piece dark gray herringbone suit over a white button-down. She bit her bottom lip, admiring the way the vest formed to her trim torso and the way her strong, sculpted arms gently shaped the fabric of her sleeves.

“Damn, you look hot.”

Alex’s eyes were burning with the same level of desire that Callie felt inside, as she slowly shook her head and blazed her whiskey torches up and down the length of Callie’s body, making her head suddenly swim.

“Callie, my love, you are exquisite,” Alex revered, as she stepped across the threshold and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. “This dress makes your eyes and skin glow like a goddess.”

Biting her bottom lip, and slightly blushing, Callie glanced down at the dark caramel lace A-line dress with black trimming. When she met Alex’s sincere gaze, she stopped herself mid-leap as she was about to throw herself into Alex’s arms and kiss her with all the passion and love that all but quashed her nerves about tonight. But just a hint remained to keep her focused.

“Thanks, baby. I need you to pull me out of this apartment right now before I drag you to my bedroom or my fear wins out and I call to tell Hannah I’m sick and we have to postpone dinner.”

Suddenly looking concerned, Alex asked, “Are you sick?”

“No, but I kind of wish I was.” Callie released a snorting laugh, shaking her head at herself, and asked, “How crazy is that?”

Smiling gently, Alex took her hands, and after kissing both of them, she assured her, “It’s not crazy. It’s normal to be nervous. And because you’re a good person, you’d rather have a legitimate excuse to get out of a situation than have to lie, especially to people you love and respect, so it makes sense that you’d welcome being sick right now. Everything’s going to be fine, babe. More than fine. I believe we’re going to have a very nice evening.” Sliding her hands up Callie’s arms, she asked, “Do you have something to cover your arms in case you get cold in the restaurant?”

“Um…” Callie bit her bottom lip as she thought for a moment, then swiftly spun on her two-inch black heels, saying, “Be right back.”

She rushed down the hall to her bedroom, shuffled through the hangers in her closet, then returned with a black pashmina draped over her shoulders and arms.

“Does this look okay?”

“Looks perfect.” Alex held out her arm to her, and Callie smiled as she grabbed her clutch purse and keys, then looped her arm through Alex’s.

Emerson’s was an upscale three Michelin star restaurant, and one of only a handful of restaurants in the area with a dress code for service. It was next to impossible to get a table on a weekend without booking a reservation at least two weeks in advance, and even weeknights could be iffy. But the restaurant always kept a handful of tables reserved for the more well-known members of “high society” to be able to get in at the last minute. And because of their long lineage of highly-revered surgeons, the Rockfords were well-established on that elite list. With the average dinner plate costing over one-hundred dollars, Emerson’s wasn’t a place Callie would choose for a night out with her family or friends, or even for a date. However, the Rockfords were reminded every day just how precious life was and how quickly it could be snatched away or how an injury or illness could permanently limit a person’s ability to experience life. Their perspective — although enabled by their greater-than-average financial means — was that it was good to splurge on fine food and experiences when they had the time to do it. Because of how often their uniquely refined surgical skills were needed, nights like tonight didn’t happen as often as the Rockfords would have liked, but that made these experiences all the more special. Callie hoped her parents wouldn’t allow the memory of Britton to spoil the nice evening ahead of them.

They arrived at the restaurant fifteen minutes early for their 7 p.m. reservation, but when the hostess led them through the dimly-lit restaurant, and Callie saw everyone already seated at the round table, it made her feel like they were late and had disappointed everyone.

“Hello, everyone,” she shyly said. “I hope you haven’t been waiting too long.”

Her mother startled, then beamed as she looked up and saw Callie standing next to her chair. “Hi, sweetie.” She quickly stood from the table and pulled her into a hug. “We just sat down not even five minutes ago.” She pulled back some, holding her shoulders at arm’s length, and looked her up and down with a loving smile. “Just as beautiful as ever.”

Blushing and trying to tug down her smile, Callie thanked her, then motioned to Alex and introduced her to her parents. “Mom, Dad, this is Alex, my girlfriend.”

Alex extended her hand to Callie’s mother, and with a friendly smile, greeted, “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Davenport.”

They returned the polite greeting as they shook her hand in turn, then Isadora walked around the table to give Callie and Alex a brief hug, saying, “Lovely to see you both. Alex, you sure clean up nicely. Love the ensemble, dear.”

Lightly blushing, Alex shallowly bowed her head, saying, “Thank you, Dr. Rockford.”

Isadora clicked her tongue once and gently swatted her shoulder. “We’re not in the hospital. Call me Isadora. Now,” she motioned to the two chairs between Callie’s mother and Hannah, “let’s sit and order some drinks.”

As Isadora walked back to her seat between her husband and daughter, and Callie’s parents took their seats, Alex pulled out the chair next to Callie’s mother. Callie smiled as she briefly gripped her bicep, the hard muscle a reminder that Alex was strong and dependable, then tucked the skirt of her dress under her legs as she sat down. After helping her scoot her chair in closer to the table, Alex sat down between Callie and Hannah, and Callie couldn’t help but notice how everyone watched Alex’s every move. Just imagining the scales of judgment and approval teetering in each of their skulls was enough to make Callie’s heart beat a little faster.

Luckily, she was saved from the worrying thoughts by a server appearing at their table, saying, “Hello, I’m Henry and I’ll be your server this evening.” He ran through the evening’s specials, then asked, “Can I take your drink orders and maybe start you off with some shareable plates?”

Richard ordered a couple bottles of an early vintage of a private reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from California for the table that Callie swore made the server’s eyes flash dollar signs like in the cartoons she watched with her brother every Saturday morning when they were kids. After he left to retrieve the requested bottles from the restaurant’s wine cellar, they reviewed and discussed the appetizers and chose a few to share before he returned.

“For your approval, Dr. Rockford,” Henry said, while holding two dark bottles with cream labels in his palms out to Richard.

He scanned the labels and checked the seal around the necks, then answered, “Yes, thank you. You can decant both.”

Another server appeared next to him with two glass decanters with narrow necks and bulbous basins that were perfect for allowing the medium-bodied wine Richard selected to properly breathe. After the wines were decanted, the server recommended allowing the wine to sit for at least twenty minutes, before pouring their first glass for the best experience, then took their orders for appetizers and left them to decide on their entrées.

Hannah tried to reach for one of two bread boards in the center of the table, but it was just out of her range, so Alex leaned forward to grab the board for her, then moved her own water glass out of the way so she could set it as close to her as possible.

“Thank you,” Hannah said with a smile, and asked, “Would you like a slice? Callie,” she leaned over to see her best friend, “do you want a piece of bread?”

“Yes, please.”

“Bread would be great, thanks,” Alex answered, as she held the board in place so it didn’t slide on the white tablecloth while Hannah used the serrated knife to slice the rustic loaf of sourdough.

After cutting four slices, she buttered them, then placed one on her mother’s plate, which earned her a loving smile and a wink, then she took a slice for herself and motioned for Alex to take the other two. Alex placed a slice of bread on her and Callie’s plates, then moved the breadboard forward a few inches so it was out of their way.

Callie tried to only focus on her menu, but she couldn’t help spying on her parents trying to inconspicuously observe Alex over the top of their menus. She could tell they had a million questions burning their tongues, but no one spoke until after the server returned and took their entrée orders.

“So, Alex, you’re a personal trainer?”

Alex nodded at Mr. Davenport’s question, and answered, “Going on sixteen years.”

“Did you go to college, or did you just get one of those little certifications that only take a couple of months of training to get?”

Callie sucked in a breath and blushed beet red from the condescension in her father’s tone. She quickly turned to Alex, prepared to apologize, but Alex smiled patiently and placed a hand over hers on the table, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“I earned my associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in exercise science and kinesiology from Stanford University. I doubled up on my credits for the first year to finish my associate’s degree in half the time so I could start working for a local gym while I completed my bachelor’s degree, mostly for the experience, since my parents and a partial scholarship took care of my financial needs. When I came home, I had the education required plus years of experience that most college grads don’t have, so I was able to get a great job pretty quickly and start working toward my goal of going independent. I’ve had my own personal training business for a little over six years.”

Callie already knew everything Alex just revealed to the table, but it still impressed her, but her father didn’t appear moved, as he asked, “Everything is on the up and up?”

Again, Callie wanted to apologize to Alex, but her girlfriend seemed unphased by the rude interrogation, as she smiled and nodded.

“I’m certified, licensed, and insured and had one of the best lawyers in the country write my contracts, and I keep her on retainer for any possible issues. And before you ask, no, I’ve never been sued. I also have a fantastic accountant to keep my books balanced and make sure my taxes are done properly.”

“Health insurance?”

“Yes, I have great health insurance and I also have supplemental insurance in case I’m unable to work for any reason. And I have a life insurance policy so I’m not leaving my loved ones in the lurch if the worst happens. I can cook — though Callie’s skills in the kitchen are far superior to mine. I keep a clean house. I’m pretty adept in the outdoors. And if the part is somewhere I can reach without having to take half the car apart, I can repair my own vehicles.”

Callie’s father finally smiled and nodded. “All right, you can stay for the rest of dinner.”

While Callie quietly groaned and shook her head, Alex lightly chuckled, and said, “Well, I appreciate that.”

Callie’s mother lifted her water glass while continuing to eye Alex, and after taking a sip, she mused, “Sixteen years… That would put you in your thirties, at least.”

Alex nodded, and confirmed, “I’m thirty-five.”

When her mom asked, “What do your parents do?” Callie released the breath she was holding, relieved that her mom didn’t seem to think their seven-year age difference was a big deal because it wasn’t.

“My mom is a doctor specializing in sports medicine, and my dad is a professor of anthropology specializing in ancient Greek and Roman history.”

“Oh?” Isadora perked up. “What’s your mother’s name?”

“Evelyn Coleman. She works at West Point Medical.”

Beaming, Isadora said, “Oh, I know Evelyn! Professionally speaking. She’s a fantastic doctor. She’s always my first pick for referrals for patients or when friends and colleagues are looking for doctors of her specialty. We must do this again when your parents can join us.”

It wasn’t much of a surprise that Isadora knew Alex’s mom, nor was Callie surprised that the connection, even if just professional, helped her parents to relax their attitude of apprehension towards Alex. They continued to ask Alex questions about herself, her business, and her family, but she wasn’t the sole focus throughout dinner. They also discussed happenings in each of their lives and careers. The food was delicious, the wine was smooth and rich, and the night turned out to be pretty great in the end.

When their server delivered the bill to Richard, Callie noticed her parents share a glance, then look over at Alex, setting her nerves on edge again. Britton had always caused a scene about the bill when they’d gone out to eat as a group, never wanting to allow anyone to pay for her and Callie. It was embarrassing and disrespectful, and Callie hated it, so she eventually stopped accepting invitations for them to go out and instead offered to cook at home for everyone, or she only went out with her family when Britton was busy and couldn’t join them.

When Richard slid his credit card into the billfold, Alex didn’t reach for her wallet, but she did say, “Thank you for dinner, Richard. I’d love to be able to return the generosity one day.”

Richard smiled, and answered, “You’re welcome. However, splurging on those I love is one of my great joys, so I can’t allow you to pay for dinner. I would, however, love it if you showed me your favorite beginner to intermediate bike trail sometime soon. We bought some mountain bikes a few years ago to break out of the home gym from time to time, but we don’t use them as often as we’d like.”

“I can absolutely do that.”

Callie didn’t need to look at her parents to know they were satisfied with the exchange, and Callie knew she didn’t need to worry about Alex changing her tune when they left. Alex meant every word and she wasn’t offended by Richard saying he couldn’t allow her to pay for dinner.

When they walked out of the restaurant hand in hand, Callie breathed a breath of relief and happiness. She’d finally met someone who loved and respected her and brought her so much joy and peace. She knew this was just the first of many enjoyable get-togethers for the couple with her family.