“I practice corporate law, primarily. I handle a range of contract negotiations, mostly in the entertainment industry, but I can handle almost any type of contract.” He told me about every type of contract he worked on…in great detail.
By the time the freshly baked bread and different olive oils appeared, I was hoping the combination would stop Darrin from talking, but nope. He kept talking as if I was a student in a law class. He talked about the intricacies of different legal cases and settlements. I did my best to smile and nod my head, looking for a way out of this disastrous date. I will say that, in retrospect, his choice of wine and food was top-notch. Too bad his conversational skills weren’t at the same level.
I ate the whole time, primarily out of boredom. He kept droning on, and I kept shoveling food into my mouth to keep myself entertained. At one point, I stopped listening and watched his lips move. He had gorgeous lips, and I could think of a few things I’d rather do with those lips than listen to them talk.
“What do you think, Erika?”
The question pulled me out of the internal monologue in my head. I smiled and said, “Uh-huh.”
He tilted his head to the side like a dog does when trying to hear better before asking, “What type of dessert would you like?”
Only then did I notice the server standing next to our table. Wow, I really had ventured into la-la land. “What would you recommend?”
“Personally, I think all their desserts here are amazing. The olive oil cake is a unique experience if you haven’t had it. And, of course, you can never go wrong with gelato. I always love the vanilla bean panna cotta. It comes with aged balsamic on the side.”
“I guess I’ll try the panna cotta then,” I said, looking at the server who jotted it down.
“Espresso?” the server asked.
“Yes,” both Darrin and I said simultaneously.
The server turned and left. Darrin’s lips started moving again. This time I was extolled on the virtues of balsamic vinegar and all the different types he’d tried during his travels across Europe. I couldn’t figure out if the man had zero social skills, was completely into hearing his own voice, or was as bored as I was on this date.
“Excuse me,” a woman said as she approached the table. “I hate being a bother, but would you mind signing my book?” She whipped out a copy ofBlinded by Faithand a pen.
I smiled at finally having something to do over dinner besides listening to Darrin drone on and on about whatever topic caught his fancy at any moment. “Who should I make it out to?”
“Margaret Johnson.” She handed me the book and a pen as she beamed. “I want you to know, I never believed those rumors about you on the Internet. I always assumed you were the wronged party in all this.”
“Thanks, Margaret. It’s nice that the truth about everything is getting out there,” I said. I took a second to think about what to write. I ultimately penned, “Thanks for believing in me and the healing power of faith. - Erika Lynsay Saunders”
I handed the book back to her. Mrs. Johnson beamed as she walked to the other side of the room to a table where four women sat. I watched as she showed everyone at her table the book.
“I take it you’re famous?” Darrin asked.
“I’m Broadway famous,” I admitted.
“What’s that mean?”
“People who love musical theater will know who I am. People who only watch television and movies do not know I exist. Sure, I’ve done a couple of episodes ofLaw and Order. Who hasn’t? But I’m known primarily in the musical theater and cabaret world.”
“I see,” he said, steepling his hands under his chin. “I have a few clients on Broadway. Nothing lately, but the firm works with a wide range of clients.”
The server showed up with our desserts and espressos. I gently dug into the panna cotta with my spoon. To get the full effect, I dipped the underside of my spoon in the balsamic before scooping up the panna cotta. I put the silky concoction in my mouth and was wowed by the burst of flavors. “Oh my gosh, this is amazing.”
“I’m glad you like it. If you’d like to taste the olive oil cake, I’d be happy to share it with you.”
“Just a small bite.” He used a leftover fork on the table and cut off a small corner and gave me the fork. I bit into the piece of cake. I wasn’t sure what an olive oil cake would taste like, but this wasn’t it. Sure, I could taste the olive oil. It had a slightly fruitier taste than the olive oils we’d tried with our bread, but it was coupled with a hint of almond and sugar. “Wow, that is pretty amazing too.”
“I would agree. That’s why I ordered it,” Darrin said without irony in his voice. We sat in silence for the first time as we ate our desserts. When I spooned the last bite of my panna cotta into my mouth, Darrin said, “Well, I hate ending our dinner short, but I do have to get back to the office.”
“I completely understand. You have work to do and clients to bill,” I joked.
“Yes, I do. It’s good that you understand,” Darrin said, completely missing any humor in my statement.
He flagged the server and got the check. He paid for the meal, saying it was the least he could do since I had come to him for our date. I opened the app and got an Uber sent to the restaurant for my journey home. Darrin walked out with me and offered to stay until Uber showed up.
“I’m good,” I said. “I’ll stand right outside the restaurant until Uber gets here.”
