A Tempting Lunch.
I looked at the phone and saw Charles’ extension pop up on the caller ID. I picked up the phone and said hello. Charles said hello and asked me how I was doing. I responded that I was doing fine but the morning sickness was an experience. He grinned into the phone and said that he had heard but had no first-hand experience in the matter. I laughed a little and for the first in a while, I was enjoying out conversation. He asked if I had received the note that he left for me and I said yes. He then said ok and asked if I was free for lunch. I said that I had a lot of work to do but I thought that I could make it. He said ok and asked if he could come to meet me so that we could go together. I said that I had no problem with that. I asked if we were going to the cafeteria but he said that we would be going out off the premises.
We arrived at an Italian restaurant. It was a gorgeous little place with checked table cloths and fresh bread sticks on the table. It smelled of spaghetti sauce and garlic; it was heavenly. I settled at the table and looked over the menu for a few minutes when I caught Charles staring at me. I looked up and stared back. I did not know what was going on here but I guess that I would be soon finding out. I said “Everything here sounds delicious and boy am I hungry.” Having made my choice of lasagna, I felt like asking for some fries on the side and I decided to do just that when the waiter came. Charles started to explain the meaning of this lunch date when the waiter approached to take our orders. After I ordered my lasagna with fries, Charles picked up the conversation right where he left off.
“I invited you to lunch so that we could talk about relationship and about the baby. Since we started going out some time ago, I developed feelings for you. These feelings really took me by surprise because I did not expect to feel that way so soon. I tried to deny them but going out with somebody but it did not work. I am trying to tell you that I am in love with you. Not only do I want to be with you but I want you to marry. You do not have to answer this proposal now but please think about it; think really hard about it. I want us, you, me, the baby and James of course to be a family. I have never wanted anything more in this life. You are the right woman for me and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
I was shocked into silence. I was not expecting this at all. I could not speak for a minutes so Charles and I ended up just staring at each other waiting for the other one to speak. There were a lot of questions in my head like What about my Christian? How do I really fell about Charles? How did I get myself into this mess? I took a deep breath and tried to clear my head. Just then the waiter appeared with our lunch and proceeded to serve us. When he left, I took a bite of my lasagna and it tasted great. I still had responded to what Charles had said. I swallowed and cleared my throat. I said “Charles please understand first that I am already a married woman with a young son. I knew what could happen when we started going out with each other but I am not sure if I am ready for this. I have feelings for you as well and I do care about you very much. This is so confusing right now. I am going to have to take some time to sort out my feelings and I promise you that will have an answer to your question.”
I could not sit and finish my lunch so I called the waiter over and asked for a to-go box. He reappeared in two seconds with my wrapped food and I left Charles sitting at the table watching me leave.
