Call it Fate

I made an unnecessary loud sigh while looking out across the parking lot from my vehicle. I didn’t know how I let my friends convince me to go against what I said I would never do again. I flipped down the sun visor and slid open the mirror to examine my face for the umpteenth time. No pimples had popped up in the last 15 minutes. No puffiness around the eyes, nothing peeking from my nose. He seemed genuine enough when we talked on the phone and boy was, he patient. This is our third time trying to meet up…or should I say this is the third time I had agreed to meet him, and hopefully I could swallow my nerves enough to follow through. My mind went back to three years ago when I tried the online dating thing for the first time. Things were so different. For one, we were not dead smack in the middle of a pandemic and two I was way more optimistic then. I should have put things in perspective after filing the restraining order against the guy, even though it wasn’t really that much of a horrible ordeal. It was only one date and meeting up and finding a man that looks nothing like his profile, holding roses, a portfolio and a cat did nothing to make me question my judgement even a little bit. I could look past him being 5 inches shorter than I was. I could look past the beer belly. I mean I barely even flinched over what turned out to be nudie pictures in his portfolio. It was the cat that did me in. I hate cats. People got "Cat fished" all the time. It was my first go at it, I almost expected it. The only reason the restraining ordeal was filed was because he kept coming to my place of business apologizing for the cat.

It was the second attempt at online dating that made me vow to never look for love on the internet again. That one was the result of family pressure and my grandparent’s anniversary party. After hearing about a wager my family had started concerning if I would be dateless, as I had been the for the past 4 years, I was kind of desperate one could say. The wager had gotten up to $800 that year and my dad was the only one betting in my favor. This would be the fifth year in a row that I had been dateless for the grandest party of the year. I was knocking on 36, my biological clock had started to croak, and I belonged to a huge family that liked to remind me every year that I wasn’t getting any younger. Like duh, nobody gets younger, right? I had attended three weddings that year, twice as a bridesmaid and once as a guest that really shouldn’t have been a guest. The one where I was the guest was an ex, whose mother had a special place in her heart for me and added my name at the last minute. I further added injury to insult by proceeding to catch the bouquet from the woman I was replaced with.

I had no real bitterness towards my ex and the new misses. We tried and it simply didn’t work. The only thing I wish he would have done differently, was to break up with me before proposing to another woman. Not my proudest moment by far, but still it happened. Anyway, I digress…. I didn’t have to file a restraining order against this one because he was arrested. Turned out he was a big-time jewel thief and one of my least liked family members had recognized him from some crime stopper show. Like really. He not only stole my car, my favorite pink Movado watch, but insulted me by telling me I was the worst date he had been on in his entire life. Let’s just say I have a black belt in Judo and whipped his behind, in front of a strangers’ house. Yes, I chased him in heels for the two blocks he driven the car before it ran out of gas. I ruined a pair of expensive shoes, my pride, but gained $1000 for helping the cops capture a criminal. Even met a really cute cop who didn’t look at me with too much pity as I recapped the details of the night in the pouring rain, with running makeup, one shoe on, and hair all over my head. He even gave me his jacket that was still in my bedroom closet. I felt no judgement from him.

And now here I was again. Vow broken all because of a glass of Merlot and a girlfriend’s intervention. I reapplied lip gloss to my lips and then rested my head against the steering wheel. To be honest… all of my questionable choices started with a glass of Merlot. I took a deep breath and lifted my head. I grabbed my mask and made sure my keys were in my purse before gaining the courage to exit the car. I choose to meet at my favorite restaurant because the people there knew me and if I ended up missing, they would know the last person I was seen with. I make my way into the establishment and head straight for the bar and take a seat and wait. A few minutes turn into ten and I started to get the feeling I was being stood up. I break down and ask the bartender for a glass of Merlot before digging in my clutch for my phone. It never fails. No matter how small my purse is I still manage to lose stuff in it. Rather frustrating. I was so focused on my search that I didn’t realize someone had invaded my space.

“Hey! Don’t I know you?” Came a deep voice that sent a shiver down my spine.

I look up and I’ll be darn… it’s the cop from the ill-fated night of the anniversary party. Think quick. I look around before answering. “I think you have me confused with someone else.”

“I remember that night like it was yesterday. The highlight of my career in law enforcement if I’m being honest. Ma’am you changed my life.”

I quickly grabbed my glass and took a gulp. I have never been good at lying. I set my glass down and gave my award-winning smile.

“Yes, that was you wasn’t it? It’s a night I have been trying to forget for the last year or so. Not my finest moment by far. It’s good to see you again. Uh… my date should be here in any moment.” At least I hoped, while trying to not be rude.

“Are you here by chance to meet Kenny?” He asked in a serious tone.

Oh no. I took another gulp of wine which emptied the glass before answering. “Yes?” Last time I swear! God himself couldn’t even make me get on another online dating site. I’m done, strike three!

“About that, yeah, Kenny decided to work things out with his wife and didn’t want to cancel the date so sent me in his place. He only told me your name was Ryin spelled with a YI. It was either pay him the $500 I owed him or go on a blind date for him. Here I am with an extra $500 in my pocket!” He said with a smile that made me tingle inside, or maybe it was the glass of wine.

He never mentioned he was separated. In fact, he would have to mention that he was married to be separated. I had my pride. I was not going to be someone’s pity date. I took a deep breath and called the bartender back over. “How much is it to purchase a bottle of Merlot to go?”

He chuckled next to me. I was beyond embarrassed. Thank goodness the blush and the dim lights over the bar hide the redness of my cheeks. “Are you really going to leave without giving me a chance? I tried to contact you after the night, but your number had changed, and then the pandemic hit. Stay. Have dinner with me and if we don’t mesh, at least you will get a meal out of it.”

Embarrassment was replaced by surprise. I mean again I sensed no judgement from him. Why the heck not? He has already seen me at my worst and to still want to be in my company, who am I not to indulge him. I didn’t even remember his name, but I did still have his jacket in my closet, so technically he wasn’t a stranger. I wasn’t one to turn down a free meal. I nodded my head in agreement as he turned and signaled the hostess that we needed a table. I informed the bartender that for now to just bring me another glass of Merlot.

………………………..

One hour later over empty plates, nestled in a corner booth, I realized that I was glad that I stayed. I learned his name was Greylan, and he was no longer a police officer but now a detective. He was born and raised in the south and moved up north to be closer to his little sister after their parents died in a car wreck. She was attending NYU on scholarship and when she finally graduated, she decided to go across seas to teach English as a second language in Japan. He said her degree was in fashion and before she found her “passion” for teaching she was on her 7th year of undergrad. We even were able to laugh over the infamous night. I explained to him that I skipped this year’s festivities and sent my grandparents a large monetary gift in my place. No one complained.

At the end of the date, he walked me to my car, and opened my door. “To be honest Ryin, when I saw you at the bar, I made the decision to ditch Kenny’s date. I was just going to cash app him what I owed him. I felt like it was fate. You are beautiful now and you were beautiful then. Even with one of your eyelashes crawling down your cheek and your lipstick smeared. The way you pulled off that huge grass stain on the front of your dress, you carried yourself with such grace. I knew then you were one in a million. I would love to do this again.” He said as I slide into my seat. I smiled at him as he closed my door.

I rolled down my window. “I think I would like that as well.” This time I handled him one of my business cards. He took it and smiled and then put his pointer finger up. He quickly ran back into the restaurant. The stars aligned in my favor tonight. He remerged a few moments with a gift bag.

“I believe you forgot this.” He said handing me the bag with a twinkle in his eyes. “Get home safely and enjoy.”

I waited until he walked off before opening the bag. The smile that formed on my face caused my cheeks to hurt. A bottle of Merlot. It truly was fate.