Jack & Tammy's First Date

This is Tammy and Jack’s first date together. They met at the Christmas party last week and exchanged phone numbers.

Tammy is nervous. She hasn’t been on a first date in years. Neither has Jack, but he isn’t quite as nervous as Tammy. He’s halfway between feeling excitement at seeing Tammy again, and confused where in the hell to park his car. Good thing he left the house early.

He parks the car and it makes all those lovely crunching sounds as he switches off the ignition and pops open his door.

He bought a book for Tammy. It’s in the passenger’s seat with an ornately decorated bookmark stuffed in between the pages.

They meet on the sidewalk outside the cafe. Tammy’s poofy black coat is almost up to her nose. She bristles against the wind. Jack laughs.

“Are you really that cold?”

“I’m freezing! Also, hi.”

They share a small and shy embrace outside the entrance before Jack holds open the door for her to step inside.

Inside they’re seated at a perfectly round wooden table. They’re comfortable and each have enough room for their arms and legs, able to see one another clearly.

Tammy’s furry black coat hangs off the back of her chair.

They’ve completely ignored their menus and have forgotten to say anything to one another. Another minute passes of them smiling stupidly at one another. Then Jack remembers something.

“Oh, I got this for you.”

He slides the book across the vanilla wood over to Tammy’s water glass.

Juniper by Monica Furlong.

“I haven’t read this book since I was 10 years old. How did you find it?”

“I know a guy.” Jack smiles.

Tammy flips the pages, unable to contain her joy. She claps the book shut and sets it down, turning to reach into the pocket of her coat. She retrieves a small box, wrapped in crinkly gold foil. It’s tied with some tight elastic gold ribbon, like a candy box.

“I got you something too.” She slides the box over to Jack. He turns it over a few times in his hands.

“Can I shake it?”

“Sure, if you think it’ll help.”

Jack holds it to his ear and gives it a wiggle. Tammy notices his hands.

“Wait, how big are your hands?” She asks, extending her right palm forward to match his. “I have pretty big hands for someone my height.”

Jack’s free hand is wide open, fingers long and somewhat muscular. Some of the hair on his wrist escapes from the sleeve of his grey sweater. He presses his palm into Tammy's, the bones of his fingers feeling tense against her skin. Her palm is actually quite small in comparison to his. This never happens to Tammy. She’s always small, but large. His hand is larger and considerably warmer than hers, especially dead center at the palm. Heat radiates there. Something stirs in Tammy’s lower belly.

They both study their palms in contact and catch each other, still smiling, though their smiles have softened in the last 15 seconds or so.

This connection is interrupted by their server, James, a polite young man in his 20s.

“Have you two had a chance to look at the menu?” he asks.

Jack gently withdraws his hand and replies that they need just a little bit more time with the selection, but would be fine with coffees.

“Ok, I’m just gonna tear this open.” Jack says, pulling at the gold ribbon. Tammy watches Jack’s fingers easily dismantle the wrapping paper. His cuticles are trimmed, nails filed down. The package is open and his face erupts into an electric grin.

A new pack of Bicycle playing cards.

“You were saying it had been a while.” Tammy rubs the denim on her thigh. Jack peels away at the plastic. Dimples and lovely crinkles form around his eyes and cheeks.

“I’m touched you remember that from our conversation. I was worried that I was babbling.” He shuffles the cards a few times.

“Not at all. I was worried I was too noticeably tipsy.”

“You were a little wobbly for about the first five minutes.” He shuffles them again and cuts the deck between his grasp one handed. Something stirs again in Tammy’s lower belly.

“Ah jeez,” she winces. “I drank too fast that night.”

“But I thought it was funny, You were wobbling in those shoes.”

Tammy can’t think of any words. They smile in the comfortable silence. James returns with their coffee mugs. Tammy raises hers in toast.

“To Christmas parties.”

“Cheers.” Jack clinks his heavy mug against hers and they sip.

An hour later, Jack and Tammy sit comfortably in their chairs. They’re on cup number 3 and their plates have been cleared. It’s a happy window of time where the cafe’s early risers have evaporated, making way for the brunch rush.

Tammy empties 5 small disposable cups of half and half into her mug.

“Sheesh, I don’t know if I can handle going back outside. It’s so cozy in here.”

“Well, I mean, we don’t have to go.” Jack leans forward.

“We don’t?”

“Nah. We can just keep ordering. I don’t have any dinner plans, do you?”

“Nope.”

“Well then, it’s settled.”

“Let’s just live here.”

“At least until summertime.”

“Hang on, I’m just going to text everybody my new address.”

“I’m not. Don’t want anybody finding out about this sweet deal.”

“Good thinking, better just keep this between us.”

“No outsiders.”

“Can’t trust ‘em.”

Jack leans back in his chair and releases another happy smile. Tammy pulls from her coffee cup. What’s left inside is cool, but the flavor is just right. Some of the sweetener has lingered at the bottom and as it hits her tongue, her taste buds light up.

“You’ve got a nice smile.” Jack says.