Vin de la Vin à la Edgar

Her sister had tried to set her up before. Honestly, too many times before. Each had failed, and some more spectacularly than others. That’s just the way the world works.

When Miranda called with another set-up, Marie was reluctant. Marie was utter trash at standing up for herself; and telling her sister “no” seemed a lot like having boundaries. And that just wasn’t her style. Instead of hurting Miranda’s feelings with an outright “no,” she played passive-aggressive and asked questions designed to elicit responses that would make Miranda decide it wasn’t a good idea.

Manipulative? Absolutely. Done in good spirit for a win-win outcome? Absofrigginlutely.

Considering how successful this gambit had ever been, it was no surprise that it failed. Maria was going on a blind date with, Hank Chestermeyer on Thursday evening. Since he was apparently so on-board with the entire deal, he had already picked a restaurant.

She sighed as she hung up the phone. The dread was already welling up. Ever the silver-lining sleuth she thought to herself:

At least it’s burgers.

The week went by quickly. Marie forgot all about the date until Thursday morning. Her alarm sounded at the typical 3-minute point after she had already woken up. It was rare for the alarm to bring her to consciousness anymore. She rolled over and reached towards the corner of the bed, turning off the alarm. No snooze today. There was a slight urgency she felt; a mild anxiety she couldn’t place.

She did her morning business trying to place the cause for the feeling. She caught her reflection in the mirror and cackled. Her auburn curls were wild. Shuffling out of the bathroom and down the stairs, she ran through what she might not be thinking of.

She didn’t have a meeting, there was already a brief pow-wow on Tuesday. So there wouldn’t be another meeting for a while, but it felt like she needed to prepare for something.

No dentist. No doctor appointment. It wasn’t her weekend, so she didn’t need to pick up the boys. In typical fashion, because the boys weren’t home, the house was relatively clean. She glanced around the kitchen as she filled up the Pyrex measuring cup.

Yeah. It looks decent in here. What in the hell am I forgetting?

She walked to the stove, grabbing the tea kettle and pouring the water inside. She set the kettle down and turned the heat on high before going to grab a coffee filter from the cabinet. She focused into her morning coffee routine before noting the feeling again.

She placed dampened filtered in the Chemex and glanced in the laundry room. There was maybe a small load of laundry to do? That wasn’t it either.

The fridge closed as she replaced the Illy coffee and she leaned on the counter next to the stove. She pulled out her phone and checked her email and calendar: there was nothing there. Her mouth squinched up and pulled to the side in a disapproving sort of way, and then she shrugged and let it go.

It’ll come to me at some point!

She had just finished making her coffee and setting the kettle back on the cooled stove when her phone vibrated. Timing like that is no coincidence: it was Miranda.

Mirie (8:53a.m.) Are you excited?!!!

What?

She texted back

Marie (8:54a.m.): Excited about what? What am I forgetting?

Mirie (8:54 a.m.): Omfg. Your joking.

It was like a sitcom moment. Marie read the text and looked up from her phone in a deadpan and took in a deep breath. She was, quite clearly, not joking.

Marie (8:56 a.m.): hahaha, no. I woke up and I feel like I’m supposed to do something today, but I can’t remember what it is.

Mirie (8:57 a.m.): LOL. You have a date with Hank tonight!!!!

Mirie (8:57 a.m.): hahaha, your unbelievable.

Oh.

Marie (8:58 a.m.): Oh my GOD. Dude, I completely forgot! I could have totally stood him up! I was NEVER going to remember that! Yikes!

Mirie (9:00 a.m.): Good thing I said something!

She laughed to herself and set the phone down.

Well. That definitely explains it.

The excitement from remembering and placing the feeling wore off. She felt the opposition rise up and wondered if there was a nice, honest way to get out of it. Her phone vibrated again. She took a sip and glanced down.

Mirie (9:05 a.m.): So are you???

Am I wha- oohhhhh. Oh God.

Her mouth scrunched up again and her hand rose with a gentle hold of her cheek as she chewed the inside.

Marie (9:06 a.m.): I mean… Clearly I forgot, and now I just feel like a dummy for forgetting. Sooo…. Not particularly? Hahahaha

Marie (9:06 a.m.): Gimme a bit. I’m sure I’ll get excited.

She watched the typing bubble pop up and down a couple times. She took another sip of her coffee and tried to amp herself up. Miranda loved playing, Cupid. It wasn’t her job, but maybe it should be. She was definitely on some Hitch shit, and she’d had decent success with a couple of her friends. And, Marie reasoned, it was good to interact with other people and get out and have these experiences.

It was just a little difficult to get excited about something that is, as a rule, nerve-wracking. Blind dates aren’t known for their calming effects prior to meeting. And Marie had the added bonus of past evidence to show how these things tended to end: The date rarely made-up for the anxiety and work that went into getting herself there.

Mirie (9:12 a.m.): Mabes, I really think youll hit it off with him. Hes like an odd person around here, but hes real funny and likes horses and going on hikes and stuff. He’s a weirdo! I really think you will have fun and probably be friends! You two should be friends. So just think of it like that! It will be good for you! You don’t need to be nervous.

Mirie was also super sweet. Her heart was really in the right place when it came to these things, and Marie didn’t want to disrespect that.

Marie (9:12 a.m.): Well… We’re about to find out!

Marie (9:13 a.m.): Should I straighten my hair? It’s freakin’ wild this morning.

She sent a picture with her front teeth fully exposed and head pulled back to make double chins.

Marie (9:13 a.m.): Tell me I’m pretty.

Marie (9:14 a.m.): Hahahahahahhahahaha

She laughed and took another sip of coffee. This poor guy.

Mirie (9:16 a.m.): I mean… Your hair doesnt look bad. See what you think later? Sorry… I just got to work.

Marie (9:16 a.m.): Hahahaha! Suresure! But don’t worry about it! Go work and I’ll probably text you later as I’m trying on everything I own.

She set her phone down and walked away, chuckling to herself. It was no mystery why she was still single.

Not to say that she wasn’t a catch: Marie was a good woman who radiated beauty. In an unpretentious, unaware way: She was not typical. She laughed too easily and too boisterously to be normal. She was easy to entertain and please, but not because she lacked taste or class. She was a tall female, athletic and springy, with hair as unique as her personality. And she had vibrant, ecstatic energy that baffled. Fit and strong, she commanded a presence that invited and dazzled. She was a package deal-the real deal: as authentic as they come.

Without experiencing her, someone would look and think she was attractive, but not overtly so. On looks alone, Marie was an 8… on a good day. Good days required trying, though, and Marie didn’t often care enough to try and look attractive.

Marie was an experience. Unforgettable, no matter how fleeting.

Hank was about to experience the bursting package that was Marie, and she would be trying to look good.

Cup in hand, she wandered back upstairs. Outfit ideas were already coming to her.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hank pulled into the parking spot and stopped, tipping forward before recoiling back against his seat. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. His heart was pounding: He was over 30 minutes late. Miranda had never given him her sister’s number, so he’d had no way to let her know. He didn’t know if she was even there still. Any normal person would have left by then. 30 minutes seemed a pretty straightforward amount of time to indicate you’d been stood-up.

He took another deep breath and reached to turn the truck key. He paused, fingers on the key. She had probably left. He should just go.

Something pricked at him, though. He had to make sure. And if she hadn’t waited… well he couldn’t and wouldn’t blame her, and he’d be sure to never let something like that happen again. He snorted as he turned the key and got out. There was not likely to be an “again.”

Hands stuffed in his jeans, he walked with purpose to the entrance. He searched through the windows and tried peering around, but he didn’t see anyone that really looked like the picture. His heart fell and he felt like he had been gut-punched. The hostess was nowhere to be seen. A small break for him.

He turned to go but stopped to look around once more. His eye was drawn to the bar as a laugh rang out. He saw the bartender gesturing and smiling. The man was clearly laughing, but Hank couldn’t hear his laugh. The bartender pulled out a bottle of red wine as a guy got up, and then Hank saw the laugher. It was a girl with untamed, yet styled hair in a dark maroon skirt and a jean shirt. She was cute.

The hostess came around the corner and smiled.

“Thank you for waiting. I hope it wasn’t long. You caught us in a shift change. Is it just you?”

Hank came back to reality.

“Oh. I was supposed to meet a girl here about a half hour ago. I don’t think I see her, though.”

He half-heartedly smiled and the hostess returned the expression sympathetically.

“It’ll be alright. Do you still want a seat?”

He looked around the restaurant and then back towards the bar.

“Is it open seating at the bar?”

“Yeah! Feel free to go sit down and the bartender will get you a menu.”

She smiled and then looked down to evaluate the seating board. Hank hesitated and looked towards the bar again. He was definitely hungry, and he could do with a beer at this point as well. He started walking towards the bar and encouraged himself with the thought that it seemed like a good atmosphere anyway.

He couldn’t stop looking at the woman. He walked past her to sit around the corner of the bar, but still within eye shot. As he passed by, he noticed her hair was not styled at all. It was a mass of unruly, varied curls. There was even frizz outlined by the recessed lighting. Yet, her hair seemed perfect and right.

Hank sat down just as the bartender came around the corner with what was, apparently, the woman’s burger. She let out a high-pitched “Eeeee” and clapped her hands. He couldn’t help it, and neither could the bartender, they both laughed at her reaction.

I’m a real dick for standing up, Marie. But maybe it was for the best. I don’t see a date taking too kindly to a girl around like this. Seems like competition.

The girl was bouncing up and down on her seat as she arranged the plate just so. The bartender asked her if she needed anything else. She looked up briefly to smile and decline. Reaching forward she took a generous sip of her wine before turning her attention back to the burger. Hank chuckled quietly, thinking to himself:

That’s no girl at all. That’s a woman. Who eats burgers with wine.

He was smiling. He couldn’t help it. Hank was definitely glad his date had left because he realized that he was entranced by this woman.

“What can I get you, Man?”

Once again, Hank snapped back to reality, eliciting a small chuckle from him before he answered:

“Ummm What have you got on tap?”

The bartender, Dennis, pulled out beer and food menus as he started to rattle off the local brewery beers they had. Hank’s eye was caught by the glint of the wine glass being lifted back to the woman’s lips. He felt compelled.

“Uh, I’ll try the Witbier, please. And… could you tell me what she is drinking?”

The bartender looked to see who Hank meant and smiled.

“She’s a character, huh? That’s a merlot from a nearby winery she’s drinking. She said she’s done after that glass, though. If you were wanting to buy her a drink.”

Hank smiled, chagrined. Buying her a drink was part of the motivation to ask, but he was also just curious.

Merlot and burgers.

He wasn’t sure how he knew it was a normal thing about her. She took a huge bite from the burger and rubbed her fingers against her thumbs over the plate.

“I’ll just take the pint for now, please.”

Dennis nodded and patted the bar twice. He asked the woman how her burger was as he walked past. Mouth clearly full, she snorted and made the cutest scrunched up face before giving him a thumbs up. He grabbed a glass and filled it halfway with Hank’s beer before she finished chewing enough to reply:

“It’s awesome. Worth the wait! The burger definitely makes up for being stood up!”

Hank stiffened.

No way.

Dennis let out a cackle in response and said he was glad it had happened, because he probably wouldn’t have met her if her date had showed up. Still laughing, he came over and set down Hank’s beer.

“You wanting anything from the kitchen, tonight?”

Hank barely registered the question. He was staring at the girl and trying to discern if it was actually, Marie. It would have been one hell of a coincidence if it wasn’t. And Hank didn’t believe in coincidences at all, let alone coincidences of that magnitude.

“Uhh yeah…”

He idly flipped the menu over, darting glances down in a vain effort to not stare. Dennis offered to give him a couple minutes to look over the menu.

“Umm yeah… that would be great…Sorry... Did she just say she got stood up?”

Dennis frowned and mildly rolled his eyes before nodding.

“Yeeeeup! Sure did! That’s what I get for not having boundaries with my sister, though!”

She had heard Hank ask about her. He felt his cheeks warm.

She was smiling at him and raised the glass before taking another sip. She didn’t seem bothered at all. He couldn’t help but crack a smile.

Just as he was about to ask her identity, she covered her mouth to speak through her fingers, squinting at him:

“Why are you sitting alone? Why don’t you come and sit over here?”

Ope. Okay. My cheeks are actually getting red!

“Oh, well thank you!”

He hoped he didn’t look as flustered as he felt. Glancing over at Dennis, he confirmed that it was easy enough to serve him next to her. Hank grabbed his beer and headed to the empty seat next to her. As he settled in, with a broad smile stuck on his face, she grinned right back and lifted her glass for a real cheers.

“Seeeeee?” she teased “Isn’t that so much better?”

“Yeah. I have to admit that it is. Those air-clanks just don’t quite cut it. I’d almost say shame on your for tryin’ in the first place.”

She giggled and he felt relieved and unsurprised that she had taken so kindly to his reciprocated teasing. He felt so comfortable around her and so enlivened; he was jazzed up with energy with no apparent compulsion to tone it down.

“So what are you gonna eat? I can vouch for the burgers. They’re awesome.”

As if to prove her point she took an exaggerated bite out of hers. He had forgotten about the menu existing again. Taking advantage of the break in conversation, he looked over the burgers. Even without her recommendation, burgers sounded like a good choice. Fried egg on a brioche bun, burger? Hell yeah. He let the menu drop, and Dennis appeared like magic.

“You decide, my man?”

“I think so. The Hangover Burger sounds like the prize.”

There was a faint choking noise to his right.

“Nuh uh! Copy-cat!”

She had just cleared her mouth.

“That’s what I got!”

Hank guffawed in response. Which, of course, elicited a fit of contagion laughter. Dennis was the first to calm enough to move on. He tapped the counter twice and sighed loudly before walking away to put in the order. He had instigated a bit of order between the two of them.

They locked eyes while their full-bellied laughs calmed to an exchange of quieting giggles. He had a half-cocked smile on his face as he quieted all the way and just watched her. Her face was so expressive and energetic.

He must have had a look on his face because she adopted a pseudo-serious face and sighed. She smacked the counter, face bright and jovial as she demanded

“Dude! Who are you?”

It was an accusation of what they both apparently felt. Hank felt and knew they both felt that comforting electricity.

Realization dawned on Hank again and he smacked his forehead.

“Ah jeez. I meant to ask who you are before you invited me over here!”

In a fraction of a second, he tripped all over his thoughts and words trying to decide whether to tell her his name or ask her name. She took a big sip of her wine. He blurted out:

“You wouldn’t happen to be Marie, would you?”

Her hand shot up like she was cupping or catching something and the merlot nearly came out of her nose. Dennis arrived around the corner just in time to catch the spectacle. She half coughed and half laughed as Hank and Dennis both started outright laughing again.

She grabbed her napkin and dabbed away wine that had come out her nose. From behind the napkin, her eyes danced as she replied

“Oh my God. No way! Are you Hank?!”

Dennis chimed in “No WAY!”

They were all losing it. Marie started into another fit of laughter and neither her nor Hank could talk.

Dennis, barely able to talk, made the necessary observations:

“You’re her date that stood her up?” Dennis looked at the both of them, in turn. “You two really went on a Blind date!” Hank and Marie were rocking on their stools, unable to talk. Their hands had managed to find each other on the counter. “Then you stood her up, and now you’re apparently on that date after all?!” Dennis gestured wildly towards their hand holding right in front of him.

They gasped in tune as they registered that they were holding hands, then turned towards each other and found their faces a mirror of the other, which sent them laughing even more. Dennis was almost howling with laughter.

Marie was getting up, and Hank followed suit. It had to happen. It was meant to happen. Still laughing, he enveloped, Marie in his arms, pulling her off the stool rung as he did. She felt right in his arms. He couldn’t help but notice. Even shaking with laughter and a little woozy from embarrassment, it felt like coming home.