Save this for me

“Is it just yourself, sir?”

“No, I’ll be meeting someone.” The sir replied with a smile.

“Oh! for two then!”

“Yes, please.”

The hostess led Mr. Morgan to his table, a fashionable oak round with two comfortable grey striped upholstered arm chairs. The table faced a piano and the empty chairs for a small band. Morgan took his seat.

“Thank you, Sarah!” a server said to the hostess.

“Of course! This is Joshua, he’ll be your server, the band is taking a break, they’ll be back in about fifteen minutes.”

“Thank you very much.” Morgan nodded.

“Good evening sir, have you been with us before?”

“Yes,” Morgan replied, “I have. Can I order something with you now, please?”

“Sure! What can I get for you?”

“Two waters, one with no ice, bottle of merlot, and how about your charcuterie board to start.”

“Certainly. We have several merlots, is there one you prefer?”

“How about a pretty bottle. Middle price range. I’m not picky.”

Joshua and Morgan chuckled together, “No problem, sir. I’ll take a look. Would you still like a menu or wine list?”

“Both please.” Morgan replied.

“Great. I’ll be back shortly.”

“Thanks!”

As Joshua departed, Morgan took a deep breath and settled into his chair. He brought his ankle to his knee and took careful inventory of the instruments on their stands as the band was away. A trumpet stood vertical on one stand, and Morgan reminisced when he played one just like it in school.

He looked all about his surroundings, admiring the amazing view his seat offered. The restaurant service of the hotel had been extended into the lobby for this special weekly event. The space was warmly lit with high chandeliers, the soft gold and cream walls reflecting and balancing the light evenly and beautifully. The pitch black roll out bar and tall black doors leading in and out of the lobby and to the patios added a remarkable noir-like contrast to the warm walls and light. It was perfect for evening dances and drinks.

An excellent local music group playing big band and swing rhythms performed each Thursday evening, and it was the hotel's best attended weekly event. All the men came dressed in their suits and hats, and their pretty girls all wore their best dresses and their victory rolls curled tight. It was a favorite event for Morgan, and he without a doubt knew this would be the right place and time for his date. It was a style that fit her perfectly. His date was a girl from the dance studio, and she attended the swing dance class schedule opposite his. He could never make time to see her there, but maybe here they could finally dance.

Morgan had initially arrived to this very point with optimism and confidence, but in the present stillness and silence, a pang of anxiety began to take hold of him. His past came whispering about, haunting him, taunting him. He became uncomfortable. He began to worry that this whole thing might be a big mistake. His chest felt sour.

“Here you are, sir.” Joshua had returned.

“Excellent, thank you. The ice is for me, please.”

Joshua placed the water with ice before Morgan, and slid the water without ice to the other seat. He carefully placed the charcuterie at the center, and presented the bottle of wine.

“Will this be okay, sir?”

“Yes, but let’s wait to open that. I’d like to see what my date thinks.”

"Of course,” Joshua replied, “I’ll just leave this here.”

“That's perfect. Thank you.”

“This is our dinner menu and beverage list, and I’ll keep stopping by to see if you need anything.”

“Thanks a ton, Joshua.”

The brief exchanges with the server helped keep Morgan focused. He shook away his anxiety as he drank his water. Morgan resolved that tonight would be not a night of anxieties, but a night of firsts. A great first date, a first pleasant evening in months, and a lovely, long anticipated first dance. No one had to know his secret. Not tonight. Tonight he was thrilled.

Morgan recognized Sarah’s voice from the host stand, “Yes, he’s already here with a table for you!”

He looked and smiled, knowing that must be Meryl. And there she was, so remarkably elegant with an unmistakable vintage charm. She wore black. All black. Black shoes, black nylons, a black tea length circle dress with a black belt, even black gloves and a black snood. Her ensemble included a petite gold watch and a shiny black clutch with a gold clasp. The buckle to her belt was gold. She didn’t miss a single detail to her outfit, including a gold brooch, pearl earrings and a pearl necklace. Her make up and lipstick was flawless. Morgan didn’t know it, but she was just as thrilled as he to be out this night. She brought only her very best.

“Meryl!” He stood and waved.

She smiled her gorgeous smile and waved in return.

“Morgan!”

As she arrived at the table they embraced, “Meryl it’s so good to finally meet you in person!” Morgan exclaimed.

“Yes yes yes it is! I’ve really been looking forward to this!” She replied.

“You look lovely as always, please sit down!”

“Aw, thank you, Morgan.”

He helped her take her seat, “Aww and the water, no ice.”

“Of course, darling.”

“Morgan, this place is beautiful!”

“Oh, wait 'til you hear the band!”

“Yea?”

“Yes, goodness, they’re great. This whole thing is right up your alley!”

“Really?” She smiled.

“Oh yes!”

She reached for the wine and inspected it carefully, “Ooh, and what is this?”

“I have no idea,” he answered, “I just asked for a pretty bottle of merlot.”

She laughed at his response, “That's something I would do! Morgan thank you so much, this is all very very nice.”

“My pleasure, Meryl. Thanks for coming out. I think you'll really enjoy this.”

He took his seat opposite her.

“So.” He began.

“So?”

“So, I’ve really been dying to ask you this in person.”

“Whats that?” She asked.

“How often do people call you Meryl Streep?”

She glared at him, holding back another laugh.

“Never,” she replied, “Not once.” Her sarcasm was everything but subtle.

“That often, huh?” They laughed together.

“It’s so cliche!”

“It’s a great comparison! The woman’s an icon!”

“I look nothing like her!”

“Yea, but you’ve got character and charm and charisma, a timeless elegance with a dash of whit…”

“Are you flirting with me, Mr. Morgan?”

“Have been for weeks, lovely,” he replied with a grin. She laughed in return.

“Well, how often do you get someone like Gene Kelly?” She fired back.

“Ah, thank you, for one, and two, my name isn’t Gene, and three, you and I are probably the only ones who even know who that is…”

She laughed again.

“…so never, to answer your question.” He finished with another smile.

They giggled together.

“You do bear a resemblance to Gene Kelly.” She continued.

“Gee, Meryl, are you flirting with me?”

“Im sorry, is that unladylike of me?” She grinned.

“Not in my opinion.” They smiled at each other. Neither could deny being attracted to the other, just as the universe could not deny their compatibility.

Do you practice any other dances at the studio?” Morgan asked.

Before she could answer, the band was coming back, “Thank you for letting us catch our breath everyone! Were going to start things up again real easy, now. Jersey Bounce. Piano Please!”

“Oh, Meryl! This is a foxtrot! You can foxtrot, right?”

“No! I was going to tell you that I only have time for the swing classes!”

“Well you look so great no one will notice you can’t foxtrot! C'mon!”

“MORGAN!” She laughed as they ran away from their table. The night was ready to begin.

Together, Morgan and Meryl danced and laughed and played on the dance floor. They would occasionally revisit their table, enjoying an ever satisfying sample of nuts, dried fruits, cheeses, meats, honey, and crackers. Morgan even ordered a second board. They would race finishing whole glasses of water, and Joshua was always on the spot refilling them. Then they would run back to the dance floor.It was back and forth, all evening long, like a dance within a dance. It seemed as though they had only just arrived when the night finally came to a close. The sun had already gone down and the two completely lost track of time, until the band leader made a closing announcement. The hours seemed like only minutes.

“Ladies and gentleman, we want to thank you so much for coming to see us tonight. Watching all of you dance along to our music was very special, and we love the energy you’ve brought with you. Please tip your servers, please tip your bartenders, and please tip the band."

The crowd offered cheers and applause.

The band leader continued, "We’re going to finish with a song you all might be familiar with; Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller. Again, thank you all for coming and have a wonderful night.”

“Bout ready?” Morgan asked.

“Yes, I think so.” Meryl replied.

“Come on, lets beat the traffic out of here. Can I walk you to your car?”

“Sure!”

They returned to the table to collect their things.

“And, this is going with you I take it?”

“It certainly is. I share a lot of things, darling, but a whole bottle of wine isn’t one of them.”

"Not even for a lady?!” she gasped.

“Especially not a lady!” He joked.

They laughed together.

“Well…” she huffed with a smile.

As they left the hotel lobby for the parking lot, an aprehensive attitude began to take over Meryl, and Morgan took notice.

“Hey,” he started, “If that makes you uncomfortable, its okay, we can just say goodbye here.”

“No! No no no, it isn’t that. I’d love for you to walk me.”

“Sure?”

“Yes.”

He offered his arm, and she took it with a nervous smile. Morgan became confused. He began to wonder if it was something he did or said that she had such a peculiar change of mood. He fumbled in his head for something to say, but his words escaped him. The walk to Meryl’s car was painfully silent.

“Morgan,” she started.

“Hey Meryl I’m very sorry if what I said about the wine hurt your feelings. I only meant to be playful, but sometimes I get a little carried away.” Morgan pleaded in defense.

“No no no, it isn’t that. There’s just something I need to tell you.”

“Is everything okay?”

Her voice shook, "It’s just, well, I really want there to be a next time, but I think it’s important to get this out of the way in the beginning. I just want to be very up front about something with you.”

Morgan's heart sank. He suddenly remembered his own deep dark secret that he felt would be a huge deal breaker. He understood the weight of a secret, to have something so important to say, but unsure it could even be said. And now, Meryl was showing the bravery to speak when he felt he couldn’t do the same.

“Next time? What is it Meryl?”

She took a deep breath and looked at him.

“I’m trans.” she said.

In the brief second it took Meryl to present herself so honestly and completely, Morgan had thought of a million and a half other things she might say, but this one took him completely by surprise. He hadn’t been prepared for, or even ever thought of, a date with a trans woman.

“Wow, Meryl.”

“Im really sorry…” she said as she looked away.

“No no no, not like, wow, I’m disappointed, I meant like, wow, I wasn’t expecting that.”

She looked to him again. An awkward silence hung between them, and Morgan tried feebly to break it.

“Meryl, I’m sorry, truly. It really never crossed my mind what to say or do in this situation.”

Her eyes wandered into her car. She found her keys in her clutch. She already knew how this was going to end.

“I know. It’s a lot. And I understand if this is as far as it goes. I would just rather say a final goodbye now instead of investing so much time and effort only to say goodbye anyways.”

“Yea...” he replied.

A tear fell from her eye, “Morgan I really did have such a wonderful night. Thank you for being so sweet to me.” She began to take her seat in her car to leave.

“Meryl, wait, hold on.”

She turned to look at him.

“Here, let me get the door for you.”

As she took her seat and buckled her belt, he rolled the window down. “Its warm out, this’ll feel nice.” He said as he closed the door.

She smiled at him.

“Can I,” he paused for a moment, “Can I just maybe think about it? It was just very unexpected is all. You understand, right?”

“Yes, I do. I know I’m different.”

“Yea, well, so am I, I guess.” He smiled. She politely smiled in return.

Morgan looked at the bottle of wine in is hand. Before he knew the truth about Meryl, he fully intended to share it with her this night, and the fact that they were having such a great time together that they never even opened it seemed to set all the precedence.

“Here,” he handed the merlot to her through the window, “Hold on to this. Save it for me. For next time.”

“Next time?”

“Yes,” he affirmed, “next time.”