Bonnie didn't think it proper to be early but she needed a drink to steady her nerves. The excitement of meeting a stranger was bordering on paranoia. She began to wonder if she really knew enough about him. What if he was a mass murderer or a pervert?
More realistically she thought they would meet and the chemistry would be zero. That's why she told nobody about this meeting. A secret meeting with a man seemed so exciting a prospect whereas now it was a worry.
They had corresponded for about six months through emails and built up an understanding of each other that rivalled several years of marriage. While still reeling from her husband's death she met him on line. He had been patient and understanding and made her laugh.
Eventually they sent pictures of each other with the rules, no faces, and no naughty bits. He broke a rule by showing a back view with his bum. Such a cute bottom drew her attention forgiving the rule braking. He had a full head of hair too.
She was forty-nine and her friend's husbands were losing theirs. It wasn't an important point but she had to go back over six months of emails, to find one of the first, confirming he was forty-one. She laughed to herself thinking she had a toy-boy. Well almost!
Perhaps this was an earlier photo or maybe it wasn't even him. Well it was too late now. For better or for worse she was here. Her figure was good and everyone told her she looked young. Physical attraction would surely be secondary after all that they had shared in writing.
It was a most dreadful thought, wondering if this meeting might spoil what they had.
'I must stop calling it that, it's a date,' she reminded herself. A smile beamed out lighting up her face. She felt like a teenager again.
"Hi, can I join you," a young man asked.
Bonnie looked up at him still smiling. She felt young and daring tonight so continued to smile. "I'm sorry, I'm meeting someone," she said, while looking around the hotel restaurant.
"I hope you're not 'sorry' to be meeting them," he asked, with mock concern.
Bonnie laughed a light tinkling sound of amusement. The cheeky young man pulled the chair up and sat down. In embarrassment she looked down at her bust then the hem of the dress. Everything was in order, though the gesture had been a subconscious movement.
Bonnie had always been a little shy and was unused to being out unescorted. She was just out of the habit of going out. He certainly wouldn't have been so presumptuous if she were with a man or friends.
Had he joined her as a joke or for a bet with friends? There was no way he would have noticed her sitting here out of the way. Perhaps he was selling something, or worse, he was an evangelist. She was already nervous, now this young idiot might spoil things.
"I'd better introduce myself," he smiled. "I'm Darren and I hope your Bonnie, otherwise I've made a fool of myself," he smiled nervously.
"Darren!" she exclaimed. Trying to recover from the surprise she wondered what was happening. "Darren?" she repeated.
He nodded. She wondered if this too was some kind of joke being played on her. This young man wasn't forty-one or anywhere near. She blurted out, "How old are you?" Seeing the look of disappointment on his face she looked away.
She felt the years creeping back upon her. "I'm sorry," she said. There didn't seem much else to say. The lighting was low and maybe he hadn't caught sight of her properly until he sat down. He was looking at her now though.
She looked away again feeling a blush tint her cheeks. The waiter appeared and she automatically sat up straight. "Are you ready to order, madam?" he asked.
"I'll have a Martini," she ordered. When he waited, she suddenly realised why.
"I'll have a bud light," Darren interrupted.
The waiter looked at her and she nodded. Damn! The waiter thought she was his mother or something. Damn!
"You had better go easy, you're not used to drinking," he said gently.
"Are you? Are you old enough to be drinking," she asked with an acid tone. "I'm sorry; this has been a bit of a jolt," she added.
"I guess we should have established our ages at the start. I realised you were older than me but never thought about it really," he shrugged. From the look he gave her he added, "I'm twenty-two." He left the statement open inviting her to reply.
"I'm nearly twice that," she lied. She felt so foolish. She had been so excited at the prospect of meeting him. She thought he might be her soul mate. How terrible was fate. "I thought you were forty-one," she said anxiously, "your email said so," she added, as though explaining herself and the bad manners.
"It must have been a typo. You don't look it," he smiled.
"What?" she asked not listening. She was busy trying to think of a way out of this.
"You look young. When you smiled at me you looked so tender and innocent. You wouldn't send a proper photo so I was relieved when I saw you. You're a very attractive woman," he shyly smiled.
He was embarrassed and so he should be. She took a long hard look at him while he studied the menu. From his emails she knew he was sincere and a caring person but surely he was just being kind. He was handling the shock better she was. He looked honest and straight forward though. What a pity it could never be.
"I feel I know you so well. I want to get to know you even better," he said.
The earnest look in his eyes went straight to her heart. For a moment he was that slightly younger man she had fallen for. It shook her, admitting she had fallen for him through those emails. It was a privilege of the young to be honest. As you get older you have to be responsible and practical.
"Are you hungry?" she asked. Bonnie hadn't noticed slipping into caring mother mode.
"I guess I am. Couldn't eat anything all day," he laughed.