The Cure of Taste

He looked at his watch. The night was young he supposed. It was just one of those things. It was hard for him to imagine what it would be like. He had dated anyone in a long time. Yet a man in his 30s was in his prime. A looker. At least that was what was in his head.

The warm air felt nice in Chicago. It breathed life into a soulless night that might take him some place. It was at least a hope to the man waiting for something to happen. At least for something to happen. He could not remember the woman’s name. His friend had told him in an email, but not a text or phone call. He did not even know what she looked like.

“How do you find someone you do not know?” He asked. The person walking by gave him a strange look and just continued to walk on. He quickly turned his mind back to the possibility. He waited for at least fifteen more minutes.

Then he saw a figure. It was her. A tall woman, for a short man liked him, she was a sight to behold. She was blonde, red eyes, wavy hair, and a slim figure. He was stout, but proud. He approached her, and she looked at him.

“David?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Christine.” He snapped his fingers.

“That was it!” She smirked. Blood rushed to his cheeks. He motioned,

“Shall we go in?” She nodded and they walked into the hotel bar.

The place was glorious and stupendous. It was stupendously glorious. That was how she saw it. She looked at him and thought he was not much of a looker but had an interesting personality. They were soon seated at their table. The waiter asked what they wanted to drink,

“How about some Brandy…” He asked her. Christine liked that idea. The waiter brought them a small bottle of it. They tasted it. It was awful. They had to wait five minutes before he came back and request another drink. She poured over the dinner menu and knew what she wanted,

“This Markham Merlot please…” The man looked at the price, then at the woman…it was worth it.

The waiter nodded and into the kitchen to get the bottle they requested.

He wondered if she was enjoying this first date. They had started eating dinner but had hardly spoken any words. She looked at him, but he just bushy looked back at his meal.

The waiter looked at them with sad eyes. He had wondered about so many couples that came through. This one seemed different to him. He was not sure why. The waiter had an idea. He went back to the kitchen and grabbed another bottle. He knew this was the one. It would change everything.

The bottle was a Merlot but was a special brand; It was a Barkan Merlot, which was sure to please this first date. At least the waiter was sure it was. He approached the smooth light hanging over, the piano player in the corner playing a rather soothing tune. He handed them the bottle. They both looked up.

“Oh, we did not order a second bottle…” The waiter nodded and added,

“It’s on the house.” They both nodded in approval and he walked back to the kitchen. It was in this moment, that David looked at Christine. He hoped she was having a good time. Blind times were such a different experience to him. They both sipped their Merlot, clanked their glasses, and enjoying the lavish taste. She looked back at the kitchen. This was an excellent choice.

“So, what do you enjoy doing?”

She looked at him, almost forgetting the question.

“For fun?”

“Oh, well I suppose I enjoy gardening and fashion.” He smiled. David had no knowledge of gardening and fashion either but figure he would try to make conversation anyways. Christine just looked at the kitchen and wondered how the waiter knew to grab this particular bottle.

“I hear that Paris has some good fashion shows.” Christine realized he should concentrate on her date.

“Oh, just I have heard that too.” He waited for her to say more. Yet she just sipped more of her wine. He wondered where the food was.

The waiter came back about 20 minutes later.

“Ah, we are still finishing the main courses, we will have them out for you very soon. I am sorry for the wait.”

“It’s no problem…” Christine waited for an answer.

“Sorry, just call me Charlie.” She liked that name. He then headed back to check on other customers. David sat in his chair, still a nervous wreck. He wanted to say more but had started to run out of good topics.

“So, what is your favorite bottle of wine?” She turned back and said,

“I guess I always did like a Rose.” He smirked, and added,

“Me…” Yet once again her attention was turned in the other direction. David was not sure where her head was. He was not sure what he was doing wrong. He got up and excused himself, not that she was paying attention.

He went to the lavish bathroom and took some water and splashed his face with cold water. He wondered at what point he was making her lose interest. He looked at the mirror. David knew he was no James Bond or Cary Grant, but he had thought he was at least handsome for some people. Yet her mind had seemed to wonder later in the evening. The man could not put his finger on it.

David returned to the table, and by then the meal had been brought. Christine was eating hers in silence, and he joined her; David looked up and saw the Merlot. He wondered if it was that…or maybe…

“What do you think of this Merlot?” She paused her eating…

“Oh, it is great.” He smiled and she returned to her meal. He looked up again and saw the waiter approach them.

“How is your meal?” She paused and smiled,

“Everything is wonderful, Charlie, thank you.” He smiled and left. David watched this and then felt he understood.

“Of course…” She looked up.

“What?”

“Oh, Nothing.” She finished her meal and started looking at desserts. He knew he would pay for this. In more way than one.

Christine knew it was rude in a way. She was this looking to hitting on Charlie. She should be with David since they are supposed to be on a date. Her friend did go to a lot of trouble to set this date up. Yet as she took a sip of the Merlot, she thought about him. She really did not know anything about Charlie, but her intrigued her, simply because he had good taste.

She tried to engage David in conversation before the dessert came.

“So, you mentioned you like Van Gogh and the starry night painting?”

“I do.”

“What else did you like about it?”

“The stars themselves represent Angels I see, guiding and watching over a small town in a field…” She looked interested, but Christine was bored to tears with this conversation. She excused herself and figure she should pay for half at the very least.

The waiter looked at the one sitting alone. He was sure that the bottle of Merlot would be helpful and given them something to talk about. It seemed that was not happening. He headed over to the table.

“Do you need anything else for tonight?” David looked at Charlie. The waiter seemed like a nice enough guy.

“Yes, the bill when you get a chance.” He smiled. The waiter headed back. David did not think he would have competition already. Yet here he was on his first date with this lovely woman and someone had already stolen her heart. He looked at the bottle of Merlot. Maybe, there was some possibly with it.

She returned to the table and they finished their dessert. David had already paid at that moment.

“Oh, I got it.” Christine told him.

“Oh, I already took care of it.” She looked at him and he smiled back. Just then the waiter clocked out and excused himself. Charlie quickly decided to get out of there. He did not to miss what was on his streaming service tonight.

David looked at the busied waiter and hurried after him. He looked at him confused and asked,

“Is there something you forgot?”

“No…but I was hoping that maybe the woman I took…Ms. Christine might like the pleasure of your company.” The waiter was confused again.

“I thought you were on a date with her…”

“Well its over…and she really seems to like you…” He was about to say something when she stepped out of the restaurant and he saw her even better in the moon light.

David excused himself and walked out into the night. The stars showed bright. His first date may not have gone as he had hoped…but with his bottle of Merlot…the world was his oyster.