Apples for Pie

To those who find one to trust

------[]----[]------

"Do you prefer Gala or Fuji apples?"

I had never had a woman ask me a question in a grocery store, other than, "Could you reach that for me?"

"That depends. Are these apples for eating or baking?"

"Apple pie."

"Then neither. Use Braeburn apples. Or Granny Smith, although I prefer Braeburn."

"Why not Fuji or Gala?"

"They turn mushy when baked. You want an apple that will cook through, but the pieces will keep their shape."

"I'm glad I asked an expert!"

"I'm no expert, I just love recipes with baked apples. Just don't ask me about crusts."

"No good at crusts?"

"Mine usually fail. I haven't figured that part out yet."

"This is funny. I can make a great pie crust. I have an idea, though, if you don't mind me being a little bold..."

"Go right ahead!"

"How about if we combine our skills and bake an apple pie together?"

"That is bold! What if I told you I was married?"

"Are you?"

"No, and no serious relationship, either, but you didn't know that did you?"

"Nope. I figured if you were, you would tell me. Do you have any idea how much courage that took for me to ask?"

"My answer is yes."

"To which question?"

"To your invitation to bake a pie together. How do you know I'm not some drug dealer or serial rapist?"

"Are you?"

"No, but how..."

"Relax. I see you here all the time. Please don't tell me you've never noticed me, or I'll be really hurt."

"Of course, I've noticed you, but even now you're wearing a wedding ring. I checked you out months ago."

"My defense shield, to keep at least some guys from hitting on me."

"Does it work?"

"No. It stops guys like you I would like to have hit on me, but the jerks don't care and hit on me anyway."

"Can I look at it? I mean off your finger?"

She handed it to me, and I slipped it on my little finger. Just a little tight.

I handed it back to her and asked the obvious question, "How long have you wanted to hit on me?"

"A while. It took me a while to get up the courage."

"Let me guess, you probably make killer apple pies."

She looked at me with one of those shit-eating grins. Busted.

"How did you see through that?"

"I've seen you buy Granny Smiths here before."

"So, you've been watching me."

"Well, can you blame me? You're easily the most beautiful customer in this store."

"That's flattering, but exaggerated, I'm sure."

"No exaggeration in my view, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say. Can I suggest something?"

"Please. Spare me of further embarrassment, if you can."

"Since you don't know me, instead of inviting me to your home, may I take you to dinner?"

"I'd love to go to dinner with you. I'm available tonight."

"Tonight then. Meet me at 7?"

"No, pick me up. I really do trust you. I asked a friend of yours about you."

"How do you know a friend of mine?"

"You came in once with Wally Amblin. I met him in college, so I called him. That's why I know your name is Ted Morrison. I also swore him to silence about my call."

"Wally. Here I thought we told each other everything. We're fishing buddies! I just realized I don't know your name... "

"It's Sammi. Short for Samantha. I have two sisters, and Dad wanted boys, so he named us Robbie, Sammi and Mel---Roberta, Samantha and Melinda. What he wanted was athletes, so he coached us, and we all played D1 soccer in college."

"Alright, Sammi, 7 pm tonight. Let's make it casual. Text me your address?"

"I'll do it right now."

I waited until my phone chimed.

"I'll see you tonight and I'll leave my TV dinner in the freezer, for once."

"Stop! Please tell me that isn't true."

"It's not true. I already got it out."

Sammi was laughing as we parted, to continue shopping.

------[]----[]------

I went home and made a reservation at an upscale restaurant I like. The food is excellent, but not pretentious, and casual is the preferred dress as well. It was a Friday night, and I didn't want to wait forever for a table.

Sammi. I really needed to talk to Wally, but not before this date.

I thought about her a lot that evening as I was getting ready. I had never dated an African-American woman. That wasn't a choice on my part. It just happened that way, Sammi has that gorgeous caramel-colored skin, like Halle Berry, but a little darker. More like Harris Faulkner on Fox. And Sammi was just as pretty.

I wasn't lying when I told her I had checked her out. Great figure. Checks all my boxes. Then I saw her ring. "Too bad, I thought."

------[]----[]------

I drove to the address Sammi gave me. Upscale neighborhood, homes appearing to be 5-10 years old. I pulled into her driveway and rang her doorbell.

"Hi Ted, come on in for a minute. Thanks for asking me out and coming to pick me up."

"What made you decide to approach me?"

"Wally. He couldn't stop saying good things about you."

"It's surprising what five dollars will buy!"

Sammi was laughing over that.

"Why did you ask me out?"

"I figured if you were so interested in seeing me to make up that shtick about pies, you were worth getting to know. Also, I had checked you out myself, but the ring ended that. I see you're not wearing it tonight. Did you divorce the bum?"

"I did. Very sudden. Right after you asked me out."

"That's a disturbing lack of commitment on your part. However, I still want to taste one of your pies."

"It's a deal. Unless, of course, Wally was wrong about you. I'm ready to leave if you are."

I opened the car door for her, of course. We talked as I drove.

"Wally was right about one thing. He said you are a gentleman."

"Best five bucks I ever spent! I need to ask him about you."

"Don't bother. I paid him ten."

"I can see we're going to get along well."

------[]----[]------

After ordering, we talked while we waited for our food.

I learned her father was a career military man... retired from the army as a Lt. Colonel. She grew up all over the place but ultimately landed in northern Virginia when her dad was working in the Pentagon. Graduated from high school there and attended Georgetown and then law school at Duke. She's working for the largest law firm in the city--environmental law.

"Sammi, we have a lot in common, except for my pasty complexion and my gender, of course."

"We can work on your tan, and I happen to like your gender. It's my favorite."

"That's fortuitous, because I'm partial to yours. Did Wally tell you I'm also an attorney?"

"He did. I wanted to meet you anyway."

"Nice. I'm a partner in a firm that practices solely in the intellectual property area. We're all science geeks turned lawyers."

"That's funny! Wally said you were kind of a geek, but his best friend."

"Ok, I didn't pay him for that."

"Ted, I hope you don't mind me asking a nosy question. When I asked if you were single, Wally said you had been living with someone, but that ended. Can I ask about that?"

"I was in love and asked my girlfriend to move in with me. We were together for a year. Then I went and bought a ring and proposed to her, only to find out she had no interest at all in marriage and definitely didn't want children. She moved out the next day."

"You had no idea she felt that way?"

"I never asked. How stupid was I? I'm an attorney, and we were all taught not to assume anything, but to ask questions. I didn't apply that advice."

"What would you have done differently if you got a Mulligan?"

"I wouldn't have asked her to move in with me until I knew we wanted the same things."

Our food arrived, so we started eating and chatted about less serious things for a while. After we finished, I decided to ask an obvious question.

"Ok, since you made my personal life fair game, have you ever been married? I assume you didn't go out and buy a wedding ring as a prop."

"I didn't. That was from my marriage. It lasted all of two years, until he cheated on me."

"I'm sorry. That must have been awful."

"It wasn't fun."

"Had it been going on long?"

"With her, no. But I found out there were others, all the way back to a month after our marriage, and I'm all but certain he cheated on me while we were engaged. How could I have been so wrong about someone I loved?"

She was wiping away tears.

"Oh my! Sammi, that's terrible. How long ago was that?" I had tears in my eyes thinking about what she had gone through.

"I caught him eight years ago. I haven't dated since, until now."

"Why was that?"

"He abused my trust in the worst possible way. I felt I couldn't trust any man again."

"Why are you on a date with me?"

"Wally says I can trust you. Can I?"

"Sammi, let me tell you about my father. He was also an attorney, a litigator. One day, when I was about 15 years old, I stopped by his office. I don't remember why. He was busy with a client, so the receptionist suggested I have a seat and wait.

"While I was there, one of his partners walked in and saw me. We met a couple of times at the firm's annual family picnic. He came over and sat next to me. We talked for a couple of minutes and then he said this: 'Ted, I hope you already know this about your father, but I want you to know he's the most honest man I've ever met.'

"I thought a lot about that over the years. By the time I reached law school, I decided I would always be honest, no matter what. I wanted someone to say about me what his partner said about Dad. I hope I'm living up to that, and I certainly will with you."

Sammi was wiping away tears. That made my eyes fill with tears, as well.

"Ted, I trust Wally. He was a good friend in college. A straight shooter. I'm here because of what he said about you, but I love knowing why you can be trusted. I'd like to meet your father someday."

"I wish you could, but he passed away last year. Cancer. Mom is fine, but lonely. She's 59, so if you have a handsome older single friend... "

"I'll keep my eyes open."

"Maybe I should set her up with Wally."

"I was hoping you would thank him."

"Oh, I will.... Sammi, what would be your ideal outcome from going out with me? What are you looking for?"

"Wow, that's a big one, Unusual for a first date, but I really appreciate you asking. We've both been hurt and have reasons not to trust. Clarity up front is good.

"Ok, I'm going to go way out on a limb here, well out of my comfort zone. My only reason for dating is to find a wonderful husband. I want to be a wife and a mother. I refuse to date just to have something to do. I hope that doesn't scare you."

"On the contrary. I should have asked Megan early in our relationship if she was interested in marriage and becoming a mother. We were wildly out of sync because I didn't.

"To be clear, I was curious about you and that's why we're here tonight. I'll answer the same question I asked you. I already know I want to see you more. I'm focused on the same thing you are. Marriage and family. Honestly, if you hadn't answered that way, there wouldn't be a second date."

She was wiping away tears again.

"This is music to my ears, Ted. And yes, I hope you'll ask me out again and again....Can I ask another question, maybe one embarrassing for me to ask?"

"With that lead-in, I'm intrigued. Let's have it!"

"Are you attracted to me? I mean... I guess I'm asking whether you find me physically attractive."

"Do you have some reason to doubt that?"

She started crying.

"Sammi, what's wrong? Did I say something...?"

"No, it isn't you. I did go on one date after my divorce. A friend set me up on a blind date with a guy. We agreed to meet at a restaurant. When he walked in and discovered it was me, he said he didn't want to be seen with a Black girl."

The tears were still flowing.

"There are incredibly stupid people in the world! We've found two from your past. An ex who cheated on his beautiful wife, and a redneck who should be ashamed of himself. His loss may be my gain, though.

"Sammy, let me answer that as directly as possible. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever dated. I feel a huge physical attraction for you. I think your skin is beautiful.

"Since we seem to be in a pattern of asking similar questions... are you attracted to this pale, sunburn-waiting-to-happen guy?"

At least now she was smiling and wiping away her tears.

"Ted... maybe the best way for me to answer that is like this: I hope tonight when you take me home, you'll kiss me. The genuine, honest nature of what we've talked about tonight has got me a little emotional and feeling very attracted to you."

"That is such a relief. I hate the first couple of dates, before a first kiss. I stand there at the door wondering whether I should kiss her. Now I know!"

"Of course, now there's no suspense."

"No, but there is powerful anticipation."

"There is! My goodness, you're just irresistible to me. There's a part of me that wants to stand up, walk around this table, sit in your lap and kiss you for a long time."

"I hope that means if I ask you out again, you'll give it favorable consideration."

"I'll do better than that. Ted, will you go with me on a picnic tomorrow? I'll make up a picnic basket, and our topic will be common interests, or anything we think would make for a fun date."

"I love it! What time should I pick you up?"

"How about 10:30? We can stake out a table and talk. I'm talking about the big park. Good places to walk, too."

------[]----[]------

Driving home, Sammi held my hand.

When I opened her car door for her at her house, she got out and hugged me. We held hands as we walked to her door. She turned, looked me in the eyes, and smiled. I kissed her. It was a long, passionate kiss, unlike any first kiss I had ever had! We were both breathing heavily when it ended.

Then we both laughed.

"Well, that was a surprise," I said.

"I usually don't kiss on a first date. This wasn't just an exception; it was more like a 5th date kiss! But I loved it. Thank you for kissing me tonight. I'll undoubtedly dream about that. Good night, Ted."

"Good night."

------[]----[]------

I was lying in bed later, thinking about how different that day was than what I expected. I couldn't have predicted meeting someone like Sammi or kissing her that way!

I felt nothing but positive things about her. It was refreshing to meet someone willing to be open and communicate clearly. No games.

While I thought of it, I got online and looked her up in the state bar directory. I wanted to know her last name, without the embarrassment of having to ask. Then I closed that and realized there was a quicker way. I knew what law firm she was with, so I looked on that website. There was a page listing partners and associates, with photos. "Morgan. Samantha Morgan."

I also decided to make this second date more like a romantic date than our first.

------[]----[]------

When Sammi answered her door the next morning, I handed her a bouquet of flowers.

"I wanted to bring you flowers, so when I'm not with you, there will be something here to remind you of me." (It was a little corny, but she loved it!)

"Thank you, Ted. I need to put these in water before we leave. You have no idea how much I love flowers."

Her smile said it all.

We drove to the park, and as I drove, Sammi wanted to hold my hand.

"How did you sleep last night, Sammi?"

"It was wonderful. I thought about you before I slept and in my dreams. I hope that doesn't scare you."

"Not at all. You were in a starring role in my dreams, too. I watched you score the winning goal."

She started laughing. "My thoughts of you were a little more romantic."

"Oh, I didn't say it was a soccer game. I thought it was cleaner to use a metaphor."

That made her blush. And smile.

"I love your sense of humor. I like a man who can make me laugh."

We found a picnic table we liked. Not right by the parking lot, but by itself, about 50 yards away. We each grabbed a handle of the cooler and headed for the table.

"Would you like to go for a walk before we eat?"

"I'd like that. Let's talk about date ideas as we walk."

We held hands as we walked. We discovered we both like classical music, cooking, baseball games in the stadium (not on TV), college football, soccer (especially the women's team at the local university), hiking, streaming movies, and travel.

"You know," said Sammi, "one of the disadvantages of a concert is we just sit and listen. We don't have a chance to interact."

"We can always go somewhere and make out afterwards."

She was laughing but held up my hand she was holding and kissed it.

I invited her to my house Tuesday night for dinner that I cook. She promised to get tickets to the next home soccer game. That was Friday evening.

We decided to turn back and eat, but Sammi stopped me to kiss. Our tongues were all in on the action, so it was a hot kiss!

"I just wanted to kiss. You know, you really kiss well. I'm getting hooked on that."

"It takes two for a really great kiss, and that was a great kiss."

We sat at the picnic table and Sammi got out the ingredients to make sandwiches. She knows her stuff when it comes to sandwich preparation! Multiple slices of meat--I chose ham and turkey--mayo, a little Dijon, sat & pepper, and a sprinkling of vinegar. On my choice of bread, I picked rye. She actually had rye.

That cooler was a small sub shop. She even had sliced tomatoes, spinach leaves, sliced olives and two kinds of sliced peppers. I realized how high the bar had been set--after I volunteered to cook dinner.

Sammi sat next to me. We talked and joked in between mouthfuls of food and then started telling lawyer jokes. I started with my favorite:

Q: Why do the ethical rules prohibit sex between lawyers and their clients?

A: To prevent clients from being billed twice for essentially the same service.

Then Sammi told her favorite:

Q: What do you get when you cross a blonde and a lawyer?

A: No one knows. There are things even a blonde won't do.

"Is that a lawyer joke or a blonde joke?"

"I don't know, but it's not a joke about a Black babe like me!"

'Does that mean you

will

do what a blonde won't?"

"Depends on the lawyer. If it's you, I would."

I told another I thought of:

Q: What's the difference between a dead skunk in the road and a dead lawyer in the road?

A: There are skid marks in front of the skunk.

Then she had one for me:

Q: What does a lawyer use for birth-control?

A: His personality.

"Are you trying to tell me something?"

"Not at all. In your case, your personality is a form of seduction."

We were clearly well-matched.

We took the cooler to the car and then went for another walk. A long one around the perimeter of the park. We were holding hands, talking, laughing, stopping to look at flowers, Now and then stopping to kiss.

As we were driving home, Sammi spoke up:

"Does our date have to end? It's not even 3. I'd like to spend more time with you. I won't see you again until our dinner Tuesday."

"How about if we go stream something at my house? You haven't seen my home yet."

"That will keep me happy, at least for today."

We got out drinks and sat on the sofa, Sammi curled her legs to the side and leaned against me, so I put my arm around her.

"I think you like me."

"Hmmm. I do. A lot. What do you want to stream?"

"What have been some of your favorites in the past few years? I haven't watched much."

"Ok, have you at least watched

Ted Lasso

or

Virgin River

?"

"No. I told you, I haven't seen anything."

"

Outlander

?"

"No."