First Dates and Flowers

"What's your favorite color?" Ellie looked up from her menu and across the table at her date, slightly caught off guard by the question. A small smile played at her lips as her eyes met the intense hazel eyes looking back at her. A grin slowly spread across her date's face as they made eye contact, causing a faint blush to color Ellie’s cheeks. Setting her menu down she maintained eye contact, ignoring the slow burn of red shading her cheeks. Her favorite color hadn't changed since she was a little kid, thankfully, which made it easy to answer in spite of the palpable energy buzzing between the two women.

"My favorite color is yellow, always has been." keeping her eyes trained on the woman sitting across from her, she continued "What about you, what’s your favorite color?” her date cocked her head slightly to the right at the returned question. Tucking a stray curly tendril behind her ear before answering, a half smirk formed on her lips, Lenny responded confidently

“Well usually I would say green, but the shade of blue that your eyes are is definitely overshadowing any green I’ve seen before”. The blush on Ellie’s cheeks quickly evolved from a light coral pink to more of a crimson color. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you! I just… your eyes are absolutely gorgeous and that was my lame way of telling you I thought so.” Lenny frowned, breaking the eye contact they had managed to keep until that point.

“Please don’t apologize!” Ellie blurted out before continuing “You didn’t embarrass me, I just don’t take compliments well. Thank you for the compliment, it was actually pretty smooth.” Ellie chuckled nervously, watching Lenny while she waited for the awkward moment to pass. Leave it to her to ruin such an electric start with her own insecurities. Lenny slowly raised her eyes to meet Ellie’s once again, a tiny hint of confusion on her face. Before thinking it through, Ellie spoke almost inaudibly “It’s something I’m working on changing, hopefully it doesn’t send you running.” An unexpected guffaw exploded from Lenny’s lips, catching Ellie by surprise. Her facial expression must have shown her surprise because Lenny started waving her hands in front of herself in such a way as to say please ignore me while I get my shit together.

“Sorry, that was just a gut reaction to you thinking something like that would send me hightailing it in the other direction,” Lenny smiled, “Honey, we’re both in our early thirties… if neither one of us had some baggage or damage from our pasts, that would probably send me running.” the corners of her eyes crinkled slightly as her smile broadened. Ellie let out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding in and smiled back at the woman across from her. That energy she initially felt between them had come back, now tenfold compared to earlier. The feeling was completely foreign to her, something she had never experienced with someone before now. It was almost like something pulling the two women together that couldn’t be seen, an invisible thread tethering and drawing them together. Beaming, she decided to ask the next question she had wanted to before she almost killed the mood with her poor self image.

“What's Lenny short for? Eleanor? Ellen? Something like that?" She absent mindedly fiddled with the top right corner of her plastic laminated menu.

"It's short for Lennox, but no one ever calls me that regularly anymore." One side of her mouth tugged up in a tiny, sad smile. "The only person that ever called me by my full name all the time was my grandma, she passed away about two years ago now.” Lenny’s eyes dropped to the table between them momentarily before reconnecting with Ellie’s.

“I am so sorry Lenny, were you two close?” Ellie’s anxious fingers continued toying with the corner of her menu. She wanted to reach across the table and hold Lenny’s hands in hers for comfort and had to remind herself that this was their first date, literally their first time meeting. There was just something so familiar and comfortable about being in her presence.

“Extremely, she practically raised me all by herself after my mom got pregnant at 14 and split when she turned 17.” Lenny shook her head slowly, breaking the eye contact between them again to look down at the table. If Ellie didn’t know any better, it almost seemed like Lenny was ashamed. “I miss her every single day,” Lenny raised her eyes to look at Ellie again, “I inherited her house when she passed though, and she’s everywhere around the property and house.” Ellie quirked an eyebrow in question, but before she could form the question it was already being answered. “I mean her energy, her tastes, her spirit… I can feel her all throughout, and honestly it makes it the tiniest bit easier to get through each day without her physically being here.” Lenny gave Ellie a small smile before lifting her menu back up. They both spent a few minutes surveying the menu options before either spoke again.

“Hey, I’m really sorry if talking about your grandma killed the whole first date vibe thing, leave it to me to ask such a loaded question without knowing.” Ellie half chuckled, half grimaced at the situation. Feeling like a complete mood killer once again, she forced her eyes back to her menu. Before she could get her mind to focus back on trying to decide what she wanted to eat, long feminine fingers were curling around the top of the menu and gently pulling it back down. Ellie’s eyes met Lenny’s, causing the smallest gasp to escape through her lips.

“This date is nowhere near being killed. I’m with a beautiful woman, who so far doesn’t seem crazy,” she paused and winked at Ellie, “ and as a nice surprise bonus, we have insane chemistry building between us.” the corners of her mouth twitched with the hint of a sly smile. “Trust me, I love and miss my grandma so damn much,” Lenny paused again, “but I’m beginning to think she’s still intervening in my love life from the spirit world by sending you my way.” The sly smile had transformed into a grin by the time Lenny had finished her sentence. Ellie tilted her head to the side in question to what Lenny had said. “I know that probably seems confusing, but I have an idea. I’d love to show you what I mean, if you’re up for it?” Ellie was curious and surprisingly not apprehensive in the least bit. The strange feeling of not knowing someone and still feeling like you could trust them made its way through Ellie.

“What did you have in mind?” she didn’t want to agree to anything until she knew at least some of what Lenny’s idea involved.

“Well, for starters, are you opposed to relocating this date elsewhere?” Lenny searched Ellie’s face with a hopeful expression.

“You’re not going to take me somewhere to murder me, right?” Ellie quipped, a playful smile adorning her face. Lenny laughed, shaking her head no in a wordless answer. “Okay then, as long as there is still food involved I’m in.”

“There will definitely still be food, just a change in venue that I really think you’ll appreciate.” a huge grin appeared on Lenny’s face as she flagged down their waitress. They put their order in with the waitress and asked for it to be boxed to go instead. Once the waitress brought their food over to them and it was paid for, the two women stood up and made their way to the exit. That tethering energy from Ellie to Lenny was only getting stronger, and Ellie found herself reaching for Lenny’s hand without thinking much about it. Without glancing back, Lenny threaded her fingers through Ellie’s and squeezed gently.

Ellie allowed herself to be led to Lenny’s truck, taking in the sun that was sinking lower in the sky and the hue of pink and purple clouds accompanying it. Lenny fumbled with her key fob before unlocking the doors and opening the passenger door for Ellie. “I can drive you back later to grab your car, if that’s okay?” Lenny looked even more gorgeous in the sunlight, her hazel eyes shining and chestnut curls falling around her shoulders. Ellie found herself speechless, so she nodded her agreement before climbing into the truck. Lenny gently shut the passenger door, then jogged around the front of the truck to get to the drivers side. She settled into her seat, turning to Ellie. “As soon as you said your favorite color was yellow I knew this needed to at least be part of our date… you just have to trust me, okay? I know that’s nuts because you don’t know me, but just try to have some trust in me when I ask you to close your eyes…” Lenny trailed off, still looking at Ellie.

“That’s a lot to ask of someone, but as long as you really aren’t going to murder me I’ll try my best.” Ellie winked at Lenny, then fastened her seatbelt. Lenny put the truck into gear and drove toward the exit of the parking lot. They had only been driving a little more than ten minutes when the request for Ellie to close her eyes came, and she obliged without protest. She felt the truck slow and turn, feeling the ground become a little bumpier as they went. Another turn was made, then the truck stopped briefly before moving in reverse.

“Okay, still keep them closed, but you’re going to have to put even more trust in me for a minute cause I’m going to help you out of the truck and around to the back.” Lenny was out of the truck and at her side before Ellie could even begin to ask what was going on. If she was being honest, she was kind of loving the mystery element of the date. Allowing herself to be helped out of the truck and led around to the back, Ellie’s other senses were slightly heightened. She could hear birds chirping, smell fresh cut grass and different floral notes with a hint of hay. Lenny came to an abrupt stop with Ellie almost bumping into her back. “Okay, give me one more minute and I’ll let you know when you can open your eyes. Ellie listened as the tailgate of the truck was lowered and Lenny rustled around in the back. She heard the gravel crunch announcing Lenny’s arrival at her side before she felt her gentle hands on her waist. Moving behind her and guiding Ellie a little to the right of where they were standing, Lenny’s warm breath on her cheek raised goosebumps on Ellie’s arms.

“Okay, you can open them now!” Ellie didn’t need to see Lenny’s face to know she was smiling.

Ellie slowly opened her eyes, allowing them to readjust to the sunlight before gasping in happy disbelief. Only a few feet in front of her were fields of flowers that went as far as the eye could see. Grass paths weaved their way between rows of flowers of all kinds, all differing shades of yellow. In the distance were tall sunshine yellow sunflowers that grew taller than her. The beds leading back to them were a mixture of luscious rows of golden marigolds that looked like a smattering of yellow and orange pom poms, clusters of canary yellow yarrow, buttery black eyed susans, pale yellow daylilies and daffodils and creamy lemon yellow tulips. The sight before her made her breath catch in her throat and rendered her speechless, she had never seen anything this remarkable before. Turning slowly, she realized Lenny’s eyes were on her as she took in the fields of flowers. Lenny had also set up some blankets and pillows in the bed of her truck with the take out they had gotten. Curiosity got the best of Ellie as she took in the scene in the back of the truck.

“Do you just keep blankets and pillows in the back of your truck in hopes of getting lucky on first dates?” she joked, turning her attention back to the woman beside her. Lenny chuckled before answering her, clearly understanding Ellie’s sarcasm.

“Not at all, I had originally tossed them in there in case our date went well and I didn’t want it to end right after dinner… I know a few really good spots for stargazing, I promise I wasn’t expecting anything more. Then, when you mentioned your favorite color, the first thing I thought of was that you might enjoy a picnic in my grandma’s fields. As you can see, her favorite color was yellow too.” Lenny had just described Ellie’s dream ending to a first date without even realizing it. She had no words that seemed good enough as an answer, so she gently took Lenny’s hand and tugged her closer. This woman she barely knew was more in tune with Ellie than any of her past girlfriends could have ever hoped to be.

“This is absolutely the most perfect first date I’ve ever been on, I don’t think I could have even dreamed of one this perfect.” Catching Lenny’s eye for a brief moment, Ellie allowed her eyes to drop to Lenny’s lips. Leaning in, she placed a tender kiss on the most perfect pair of warm, soft lips she had ever kissed. At the contact, butterflies began doing acrobats in Ellie’s stomach as a slow burning warmth worked its way up her body from her center. Lenny was sure her heart was going to beat right out of her chest as Ellie wrapped her arms around her neck, deepening the kiss they were sharing. Just as she was sure it was going to explode, Ellie reluctantly ended the kiss and took a small step back. Raising her hand slowly to her lips, Ellie gently touched where she was almost positive Lenny’s lips had seared her own. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she had to really focus on calming it before speaking.

“Well if that’s how you say thank you, I’ll have to make sure I keep doing things you’ll be thankful for.” Lenny wiggled her eyebrows at Ellie playfully as she reached for her hand. Relief washed over Ellie after Lenny’s response let her know that her rash decision to kiss her hadn’t been a mistake. Just because Ellie was feeling the things she was did not mean Lenny was too.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Are you ready to eat?” Lenny asked as she gestured toward the truck bed.

“Famished, let’s eat!” Ellie replied. They moved to the lowered tailgate, Lenny hoisting herself up first before turning to help Ellie up. After Lenny pulled her up into the truck bed, Ellie moved to one of the makeshift seats that were arranged and took in the now open containers in front of them. Everything looked so good, her mouth actually began to water. The slight chuckle from beside her broke her attention from the meal that was laid out.

“I figured we can just share everything, unless you’re set on not doing that…” Lenny’s words trailed off as she realized she might have assumed wrong. Ellie placed a hand on hers and squeezed gently.

“That sounds perfect.” Ellie smiled warmly. The two enjoyed their meal while watching the sun set lazily over the fields of flowers. As the different hues of the late afternoon sky turned to the black of night, the moon and a plethora of stars joined them. The makeshift seats were spread out to a makeshift stargazing bed, with extra blankets now that the sun was relieved of it’s duty to keep the women warm. With a full stomach, a warm body next to her, and the countless stars above, Ellie thanked Lenny’s grandmother silently for helping to bring them together.