Merlot

I walked into the small candlelit restaurant and looked around. It was beautiful and romantic almost cottage meets old Paris. Its been years since I have been on a date. Marvin and I were married for 15 years. He passed away two years ago from Cancer and I just knew I was nowhere near ready to get back on that horse. My little sister Ophelia insisted on meeting a fellow photographer she works with. All she gave me was a name and vague description. Alexander, and he's "tall dark and handsome!" She giggled. I was no nervous going over what we would talk about or if I could even still hold a conversation, I didn't even notice that waitress walk up. "Um, Mam?" she smiled sweetly as she looked at me. I looked up and smiled a small smile back. "My name is Adelaide and I will be your server this evening can I get you started with an appetizer or drink?" I explained I was on a blind date and was a little early and was waiting for my date and she offered me a bottle of water for the table. I said thanks and then thought about it. "Actually can you also bring me a wine menu?" I asked. "I sure can ! Give me just a moment." She hurried away. I was looking down at my phone when I heard a mans voice. " Evelyn? Evelyn Peirce?" I looked up and boy was my sisters description spot on. Alexander was at least 6'2", muscular and built, had olive skin, dark hair, and a kind smile. I immediately felt my cheeks get hot. I stood very quickly and shook his hand. "Sorry I'm late!" Alexander apologized. I explained that I was just a little early and we both took our seats. Just in time for the waitress to bring over the wine menu. "Here you go mam!" she handed us the menu introduced herself to Alexander then walked away. I sat perusing the menu and trying to decide what to get. I'm not normally a drinker but I was so nervous I felt like I needed some way to break the ice. "The Jetbird Merlot is a fantastic choice" Alexander suggested in a seductively sexy voice. I smiled and asked the waitress to bring a bottle. We both also placed our food orders and the waitress walked away. "So Evelyn what do you do for a living?" Alexander asked. "Oh, I am the Editor in Chief of a large travel magazine company. We sat discussing work for a little while and then our food came. The food was extraordinary. And the wine was an incredible choice. I thanked Alexander for picking it. We sat for hours chatting about work, my friends, my sister, his family. Then the tough question came. "If you don't mind me asking how are you not dating someone?" Alexander mused. I immediately felt my face get hot and a lump formed in my throat." My fiancé passed away two years ago, he had stage 4 lung cancer. It moved to his heart and they couldn't operate. I took care of him until he passed. I haven't dated or really spoke to another man until tonight. Alexander got up and hugged me and then thanked me for giving him the opportunity for the date. I told him I was had a great time. The waitress came over dropped off our bill and walked away. Alexander paid the bill we stood up he leaned in and whispered in my ear he'd like to kiss me. My nerves got the best of me and my heart started to race. He leaned in kissed me on the cheek and told me to have a good night. I sat back down at the table staring into my glass and chuckled to myself. "To think it started with a glass of Merlot!"