by Leigh Smith
Blair was focusing on getting the packages to the car. As she walked through the mall, she could hear the rain pounding on the roof and wished she had parked a little closer. Now she was about to get drenched before she got to the car. As she reached the door she bumped into someone, causing her to drop one of the packages. As she bent to get it, she bumped heads with a great looking man who was trying to reach for her package too. He was about 6' 2" with blond hair and was dressed very casually in khakis and a blue Oxford cloth shirt with a sweater loosely draped around his shoulders. Blair could not believe how handsome he was, and when he handed her the package their fingers touched and she felt a jolt of electricity. She casually glanced at his hand to see if he was wearing a ring.
No ring, that's good, she thought. Blair tried to think of something to prolong this encounter. Her mind was furiously working to come up with a thought when he spoke.
"Hi, my name is David. Can I help you in getting these packages to your car?"
Blair was so tongue-tied she barely managed to introduce herself. "Yes, I really would appreciate another set of hands, but I don't want you to get soaked too."
"Want to get a cup of coffee?" he suggested. "Maybe by then the rain will have let up and neither of us will have to get wet."
Blair could not believe her luck. Here was a gorgeous man who just invited her for a cup of coffee.
Don't get too excited Blair warned herself. Just because he's not wearing a ring and he's offered to buy you coffee doesn't mean he's looking for a date. He could be just being gentlemanly.
They found a small table near the Starbuck's kiosk. David went to get the coffee as Blair deposited her packages.
David returned with the coffee. "I'm not sure if you take any cream or sugar, so I just brought it this way. I'll watch the packages if you need to get anything."
"No, I like it black," Blair replied.
"So do I," replied David.
"Good that's at least one thing we have in common," smiled Blair.
David could not believe his luck in meeting this girl. He was already smitten, there was something about her, he couldn't put his finger on it but it was smoldering just below the surface. She was about 5' 6" with beautiful green eyes and a smile that could light up a room. He had recently moved to the area, did not have many friends, and certainly had not dated anyone since his break-up with his last lady friend over three months ago. He wondered if Blair was married or in a relationship and figured the best thing was to just come out and ask.
"So, Blair, why don't you tell me about yourself? Are you married? In a relationship?"
"The answer is no to both questions. My husband died the year before last and since then I have only dated a few times. It was very difficult for us at first. One minute Jason was there and the next minute he was gone. It was so sudden I felt as if I was living in a fog for the first three months. I don't get out much and don't care for blind dates, so truthfully I haven't met anyone, at least anyone I would like to spend any time with."
"Us?" David queried.
"Yes. Us - I have a five year old daughter. Her name is Nora. She is visiting with her grandparents right now so I could get her Christmas presents without her being underfoot. She has been my anchor. I don't know what I would have done without her to care for. There is something to be said for having someone dependent on you."
Blair liked to be up front about Nora because some men didn't want to date a woman with a child. If David was like that, it was best he know right away ... but David did not seem fazed about her having a daughter.
"If she is half as cute as her mother she must be a knock out."
Blair blushed - she had not done that in a very long while. They continued to talk and after a while, Blair realized neither one of them had touched their coffee.
"I don't hear the rain pounding on the roof any more so I guess I better get going in case it starts up again." David helped her with the packages and walked with her to her car. "I would like to see you again if that would be alright, Blair?"
"I would like that too," she smiled and gave him her card. She hopped in the car and drove home with a smile on her face. She was excited about meeting a man that was interested in her and didn't seem bothered about Nora. She was ready to move on with her life. She loved Jason, would always love him, but he was gone and she was still here. It was lonely not having another adult to share your hopes and dreams with - someone to wake up with in the mornings, to talk about life, and someone to cuddle up to, or someone to hold you in his arms and tell you that you are beautiful and the most important thing in his life. She missed all that.
A week went by and Blair did not hear from David. She wondered why a man would go through making it a point that he would like to see her again, getting her number and then not calling. She was upset but there was not anything she could do about it so she decided to put it out of her mind.
Several days later, she was leaving the diner when she spotted David coming in with a woman. She was a tall willowy blonde and she was beautifully dressed. When David saw Blair, he smiled and waved.
Well, that explains that, thought Blair.
David caught up with her as she was getting into her car. "I'm so glad I ran into you. I've wanted to call but I couldn't find the paper with your number on."
What a likely story, Blair thought. "Maybe you should get back to your friend. You don't want to keep her waiting," said Blair. She knew she was being rather cool toward him. She started the car and drove off. When she looked in the rear view mirror she saw David just standing there scratching his head.
The next time she ran into David, Blair was at the mall with Nora.
"We seem to keep bumping into one another," David remarked.
"Yes," answered Blair, and said nothing else.
David crouched down, held out his hand and introduced himself to Nora. "You must be Nora. How are you? My name is David and I am a friend of your mom's."
Nora was a little shy but she seemed to respond to David immediately. Blair did not intend to prolong this meeting.
"Say goodbye to the gentleman, we need to be on our way," she told Nora.
David was a little annoyed with Blair's attitude. "Are you angry with me? I explained about losing your number. May I have it again?
"Why, so you can lose it again? Or did you lose the number of the lady you were with the other day?"
"So that's what this attitude is about. That woman happened to be my sister. Once again, I apologize but I really did lose your number. Can we start over?"
"How convenient to have your sister as an excuse?"
"I'm not in the habit of allowing people to call me a liar. I am a stickler for the truth."
"Well, there's always a first time for everything."
"Maybe it's a good idea that we didn't get together because your attitude needs adjusting."
"And just what do you mean by that, Mister?"
David got up very close and whispered in her ear. "What I mean is that maybe what you need is to be taken over someone's knee."
Blair could not believe what she heard. This was 2009 not 1950. She was a grown woman not a child and her attitude was just fine. She huffed, took Nora by the hand, and walked away. Suddenly, she saw this wall of a man in front of her.
"You're not getting away that easily," stated David. "I've apologized and would like to see you again, although I am not sure why."
"Why - so you can spank me?"
"Well, that could definitely be arranged if you continue acting like a spoiled brat."
Blair began to think that maybe he really had lost her number and that she should give him another chance. He seemed sincere and she could certainly understand losing the card. She had done it many times herself.
"Nora and I plan on attending the tree lighting ceremony in the town square tomorrow night. You are welcome to join us if you would like to."
David did not hesitate. "I would like that very much. I'll see you there."
David was looking forward to spending an evening with Blair and Nora. He had moved to this small community in late summer to take over a position at the local college. He was a history professor and the opportunity to teach at a small private college was just what he was looking for. He was tired of city life and at 36 years old wanted to settle down and have a family. Most of the women he dated in the city were more interested in their careers than a home and family. He had grown up with loving parents and siblings and that is what he wanted for himself.
His parents had made it look so easy. His father was a quiet, soft-spoken man but his mother ruled the roost - well at least you thought so, until you took a closer look. She always expressed her opinions in a respectful way but deferred to her husband for the final decisions. That is what David wanted for himself, and thought that maybe Blair could be someone with whom he could find that kind of happiness. At least he thought she might accept this type of relationship better than anyone else he had met in the last five years.
Friday night was unusually cool for their part of the country. The temperature was in the low 40s, and there were hundreds of people in the town square. After searching the crowds he finally managed to spot Blair and Nora. They joined the carolers and when the tree was about to be lit, David hoisted Nora on his shoulders so she would have a better view. Blair smiled at him, appreciating the gesture.
"Once the program is over, would you like to stop somewhere for some hot cocoa or something?
"That would be nice."
They stopped at the Town Diner and while Blair asked for tea, both Nora and David opted for hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream. When David took a sip of hot chocolate he made sure to get a whipped cream moustache. Nora giggled and Blair could tell she really liked being with David. Nora could be a little shy around strangers but Blair didn't see any signs of shyness with David. When Blair commented how comfortable he was with her daughter, he said it was probably because he spent a great deal of time with his nieces and nephews.
It was getting late and when Nora started yawning, Blair said, "I should be getting Nora home. She's had a long day."
David looked at his watch and it was only 8:30. He had hoped he would be able to spend more time with Blair but he did not want to overstep. He wanted to spend more time with Blair but he didn't want to push.
"Would you like to follow us home?! Suggested Blair. "Once Nora is in bed and asleep, we could have some time to ourselves and possibly get to know one another better."
"I was hoping you would ask. I definitely want to spend more time with you."
After that evening, Blair and David spent a lot of time either texting or talking on the phone. They usually spent part of the weekend together, with or without Nora. Luckily, Blair's parents were close by and they enjoyed taking Nora so that Blair and David could spend some time alone. They were thrilled that Blair had found someone. It was time she got on with her life and they helped in any way they could.
Since they were becoming a couple, David invited Blair to a Christmas Party being hosted by the Dean of his department. Blair was excited about going and also a little nervous. She decided to treat herself to a new outfit as well as a manicure, pedicure and facial on the day of the event.
When David picked her up, he whistled. "I am going to be escorting the most beautiful women at the party. Turn around so I can see the back too. That's my favorite part." He smiled that crooked little smile of his that sent chills up Blaire's spine.
"I think you are exaggerating. I'm sure there will be many more women more beautiful than me at the party."
"Stop belittling yourself. I don't like you making disparaging remarks about yourself. You do it much too often. The next time you do it, I might just take you to task."
Blair just let the statement slide; she was going to enjoy herself this evening and was not about to get into an argument now. The evening was too soon over - they both had a marvelous time. She enjoyed meeting his colleagues and found herself thinking about future outings with some of the couples she had met tonight. More and more, Blair found herself imaging what it would be like to be Mrs. David Devlin. She surprised herself - she was not sure she would ever find anyone she was as comfortable with as her late husband, but here she was enjoying being part of a couple again.
"Would you like to spend Christmas Eve with me and my family?" she asked David. "My parents always throw a large open house for friends and family. They have been anxious to meet you and this gives me a chance to show you off while introducing you to my parents and siblings.
"Yes, I would like to meet the rest of your family, especially if they are as great as you and Nora."
Everyone loved David. Her sister, Janet, whisked her aside. "He's definitely 'a keeper'. Between his good looks and his personality, I can't imagine anyone more perfect for you."
Blaire's brother, Scott, also commented on what a nice person David seemed to be and was glad to see his sister so happy again. Her mother told her he would be a perfect addition to the family. Even her stoic Dad commented on what a nice fellow David was.
When they were leaving the party, Blair's mother, Sarah, came over to tell David how much she enjoyed meeting him and to thank him for taking such an interest in Blair and Nora.
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