"Good morning, Ray," said the waitress, as she filled his cup with hot coffee. "The usual?"
"Yes, thank you," Ray said.
"Coming right up," she said, with a wink. "I put the order in when I saw you coming."
"You're good, Monica."
Ray smiled and watched her walk away, focusing on her perfect butt. Monica was a knockout, no other way to put it. Medium height, jet-black pony-tailed hair, deep dark intelligent eyes, slim sexy body with all the right curves. She was smart and witty and had a genuine, shy smile that could thaw ice. And that cute little wink that made him feel like they were sharing some long lost secret. He'd almost asked her out a dozen times, but he always wimped out. She didn't wear a wedding ring, but he assumed any gal that looked that damn good is sure to have a boyfriend, if not several. Or who knows these days, maybe a girlfriend or two.
Ray ate breakfast at Hal's & Sal's Restaurant most weekday mornings and always sat in Monica's station. He usually ordered the same thing: Hominy grits with salsa, sourdough toast, coffee and a small tomato juice. It came to about eleven bucks and he always left fifteen on the table.
"You're later today than usual," Monica said, as she set his food on the table.
"Yeah, I have an appointment with Hal at ten o'clock," Ray replied. "We're putting together some new ad copy. New specials, or something."
"Sounds like fun. You know Hal, he's always got something up his sleeve to drive his servers crazy."
"But we love him anyway, right?"
"That goes without saying," she said, and gave him another wink.
Ray was an account executive for a local radio station. Big Country 103. He never much cared for country music, but it had grown on him over the last couple years. And its audience delivered the ideal demographic for most advertisers.
Breakfast over, at a couple minutes before ten, Ray saw Hal waving him in from behind the counter. He placed a ten and a five on the table and grabbed up his satchel from the floor and followed Hal back through the kitchen to the office. They sat down and went to work. After he had gotten all the info he needed to write the ad copy for the next flight of commercials, Ray asked Hal about Monica.
"What's her story?" he asked.
"You like her?" Hal said.
"Sure, who wouldn't? What's not to like?"
"Better get in line."
"Oh, really?"
"No, I shouldn't say that, I really don't know. I don't think she's seeing anyone steadily, but guys hit on her all the time. She's a single mom, has a little girl, so I guess that scares most of them off. But she's sensational, I wish I had eight or ten more just like her. She's sharp, is a hard worker, and is the first one to pitch in and help someone else if they get into the weeds. You know, she's worked here more than three years and I don't think she's ever missed a shift, and she works breakfast and lunch six days a week. I remember she was late one time because her car wouldn't start. She's got an old beat-to-shit Honda Civic. She lives in a little house in that old neighborhood behind the legion hall."
"How old is she?"
"Twenty-six-or seven. Her daughter is eight, I think, and that little girl is all she cares about. Don't know the whole story, but she got knocked up in high school and the boyfriend took off when he found out, didn't give a shit about her or the baby and never gave her a dime."
"Hmm. Wow, that sucks. She's been through a lot. Strong lady."
"She is that. She's been loyal and reliable for us. I wish I could do more for her. We offer some benefits, I know the health insurance is important to her. It's not the best plan and it takes a chunk out of her pay, but it's better than many local businesses provide. I've tried to get her to work dinner, she could make more in tips, but she won't, she wants to be home when her daughter gets in from school."
"Sounds like a good mom."
"She is. Good person, too."
"Would you mind if I asked her out?"
"No. Why would I mind?"
"Oh, I dunno, just checking. You're a good client, I wouldn't want to make things awkward, or weird, or anything, ya know?"
"Yep, I know. But what the hell, Ray, go for it. Like John Lennon said, life is what happens when you're making other plans. You never know, so take a shot. Plus, she's gotta say yes first, right?"
"Right, there is that," Ray said with a hollow laugh, suddenly realizing he could easily be shot down. "And I wouldn't want to put her on the spot."
"Tell you what. I know she takes her little girl to the dog park behind the high school on Sunday mornings if the weather is good. Maybe catch her there."
Ray thought that sounded like a good idea, and told Hal as much. A laid-back, no pressure, fun atmosphere. It might just work. He knew then and there he would be staking out the dog park come Sunday.
----
Two days later on Sunday morning the weather was fair. The dog park was next to a big community park that had a playground, ball fields and tennis and basketball courts, as well as an asphalt hiking trail that encircled it and interconnected with the surrounding neighborhoods. Ray dressed to go running and parked his car at the far end of the lot. He planned to spend the morning running and walking the trail as he scoped out the landscape in hopes of spotting Monica.
He heard the dogs as soon as he got out of the car, barking and yelping and arfing down at the other end of the park. He did some stretching, then started jogging around the trail. Over the next hour he walk/ran about fifteen laps around the park perimeter, resting here and there, while keeping his eye out for a beat-up Honda. Finally, he spotted it driving onto the lot. He moved closer for a better look. He would observe for a bit, let them get into their routine before choosing a time to approach.
The car was a faded blue, had to be twelve or thirteen years old. Ray figured there would be three of them, Monica and her daughter and a dog, but there were just the two of them, no dog. Monica looked beautiful. She was dressed entirely in black: jeans, sneakers, shirt. And her long black hair was hanging loose and free over her shoulders and down her back, not tied back like it was when she was working. And the little girl was a cutie-pie, clad in a blue jumper and obviously eager to visit with the dogs.
They went through the double gates and the little girl made a hasty beeline for a corgi and a what looked like a beagle something-or-other that were interacting in the center of the fenced-in space. She obviously knew these dogs. The dogs knew her too, and excitedly surrounded her. The fun began.
Monica said hello and made conversation for a couple minutes with several dog owners, then made her way to a bench that backed up to the fence, sat down by herself, and watched her daughter play with the dogs. Ray took a deep breath. It was time. He walked over to where Monica was seated and approached her from behind.
"Monica, I'll have the usual," he said from over her left shoulder on the other side of the fence.
Startled, Monica turned around to face him, looked confused for a second before a smile formed on her face.
"Ray, Hi. What are you doing here?"
"I've finally gone to the dogs."
She laughed. "I guess we have too. My daughter loves dogs and has made friends with a few. Look at them."
He watched her little girl romping around with her friends for a moment.
"Looks like the doggies love her too."
