Blind Dates and Undeniable Love

Olivia entered the restaurant wearing her favorite black dress, her favorite floral perfume, and her favorite heart shaped dangling earrings. She scanned the room looking for a man sitting alone wearing his favorite burgundy button up shirt. The hostess approached her before she could spot him. 

“Table for two?” The hostess asked. 

“Oh, uh, yeah. I think my date should already be here,” Olivia said, as she pulled out a small handwritten note that reminded her of his name. “Henry Driver,” she said, feeling her cheeks burn. 

The hostess checked her tablet, smiled, and guided Oliva to Henry’s table. Her eyes caught his as she approached his table. He stood up, smiling gently. He was holding a small bouquet of white and pink roses.

“For you, Olivia,” Henry Driver said, handing her the bouquet. Olivia smiled brightly. As she took the flowers, she caught a whiff of his best cologne, which smelled wonderful to her. 

She lifted the flowers up to her nose and breathed in softly. The scent filled warm memories into her heart. 

The hostess placed her menu on the table as she sat down across from him. Henry was cuter than Brenda described him. He was clean shaven, showing off his square jawline. His brown eyes glistened in the light above their heads. There was something deeper in his eyes she didn’t understand, but it was soft and inviting. 

“I’m sorry I’m late. My hair was not cooperating with me this morning,” Olivia said, hoping that her curls were still holding strong. 

“Your hair looks amazing,” he said, with genuine awe. 

“Thank you,” Olivia said, blushing. She hid her face behind her menu. 

“I usually get the cheeseburger. It’s a classic just like me,” Henry said. 

“I think you’re actually a bit cheesy,” Olivia said, lowering her menu. 

“You’re probably right,” Henry said, chuckling. 

“Tell me more about yourself,” Olivia said.   

“Well, I am retired from my work as an engineer. Now I write poems, for myself mostly,” Henry said. 

“Poems? That’s so sweet! You think you’ll write one about me one day?” Oliva asked. 

“Of course,” Henry said with a smile, but something painful stung him with that question and she heard it when he cleared his throat. 

“What’s wrong? Is that not the kind of poems you write?” Olivia asked. 

“I write about what inspires me. I think that there will be many written about you, and somehow never enough, ” he said. 

“I would really like to read some of your work some day,” she said. 

“Enough about me, how about you tell me about yourself?” he said. 

“Alright. I was a high school math teacher for as long as I could be, then I transitioned to subbing because I couldn’t just let go of it. I just love it,” Olivia said. 

“Are we ready to order?” the waitress popped in. 

Henry looked to Olivia, unsure if she had chosen something. 

“Yes! I would like the chicken tenders with ranch dressing and fries, please,” Olivia told the waitress. 

“Sounds like you are a classic too,” he said to Olivia. She smiled. 

“And you, Sir?” the waitress asked. 

“Cheeseburger and fries, thank you,” he told the waitress. 

“You’re welcome!” the waitress said. She slid her notepad into her apron, grabbed the menus, and left in the direction of the kitchen. 

“I can’t get over the fact that I am sitting across the table from such a beautiful woman,” Henry said, bringing her attention back to their table. 

“Oh stop it, Henry! You’re too sweet,” Olivia said, a large grin on her face. 

“You should know how beautiful you are. Seriously,” Henry said. He reached his hand across the table, palm up, so she could hold his hand. 

She softly placed her hand in his. His thumb gently caressed her hand. A familiar, but distant feeling filled her heart with butterflies. Her fingers curled around his hand. 

“Henry? Where have you been all my life?” Olivia asked. 

Henry lifted her hand and kissed it softly. He wanted to give her an answer, it was sitting on the tip of his tongue, but it stayed locked away in his thoughts. 

“Have you seen the film Moonstruck?” Henry asked. 

Olivia lit up. “Oh! I love that film! I’ve been obsessed with it since I first watched it in theaters back in 1980… something. Do you like that film?” Olivia asked. 

“It’s my favorite. I got it on VHS so I can watch it every once in a while,” Henry said. 

“VHS? You really are a classic,” Olivia said, teasingly. 

Henry smiled, “Ouch”. 

The waitress interrupted their teasing by placing their orders on the table. They dug into their food in a healthy silence. 

“Did you ever travel when you were younger? I used to go with… with… one of my best friends every other summer to different states. I think maybe Colorado was my favorite, mostly because of the beautiful mountains,” Olivia said, struggling to remember who her travel companion was. 

“Ah, I thought it would have been Arizona because of the Grand Canyon. That’s the best big rock pit. I mean it’s got the limestone one, the sandstone one, shale, all the best ones right there,” Henry said. 

“It’s just prettier,” Olivia said, shrugging. 

Henry smiled, “Alright”. 

The background chatter of the restaurant was quieted into silence. Olivia looked out to the other tables, but everyone was gone and their tables were pushed back. Over the speaker, an orchestral song played. 

“What’s going on?” Olivia asked. 

Henry stood up and offered his hand to her, “Would you like a dance?”

“Henry… Did you set all this up?” Olivia asked, tears welled in her eyes. 

“I try to be romantic once in a while,” Henry said. 

Olivia took his hand and he whisked her away from the table. He brought her close, and placed his hand on the small of her back. She placed her hand on his shoulder and leaned her head on him. 

Olivia felt as if Henry had been in her life for years. She felt comfortable enough to be vulnerable with him even though it’s only been 45 minutes. Olivia believed this to be the magical feeling of love at first sight. It was undeniable. She could feel his heart moving in rhythm with hers. 

“I love you,” Olivia said, without thinking. Her cheeks started to burn, but before she could take it back…

“I love you too,” Henry said, without really thinking about it himself. 

“Really? H-how? We just met. Didn’t we?” Olivia questioned. 

Henry’s heart pounded in his chest. There was something he was afraid to say, and Olivia could feel it. 

“There’s just something in your beauty and your soul that makes me feel like I’ve known you for a lot longer,” Henry answered as truthfully as he could without revealing his secret. 

“I don’t understand,” Olivia said. Her head ached as if a hurricane had suddenly formed in her mind. 

Henry noticed the tone change in her facial expression. His plan was starting to dissolve. He needed to quickly save it before it was all gone, otherwise he’d be forced to reveal his secret. 

“Would you like to have dessert?” Henry asked. He gestured to their table where two ice-cream sundays were waiting for them. 

“N-no… I- I want to know who you are,” Olivia said, letting go of him. 

“Please, sit down, have some ice-cream, and I’ll tell you who I am,” Henry said. 

“I don’t want ice-cream! I want to know who you are!” Olivia said, agitated. 

“Okay, okay. Just please, sit down first,” Henry said. 

Henry guided Olivia back to her seat. The air deflated from his lungs in defeat as he sat in his chair. 

“What’s going on?” Olivia asked. 

“I just wanted to give you a special day. I wanted you to be happy, even if it was just for one day… So, I kept a secret from you tonight. This is not the first time we’ve met,” Henry said. 

“There’s no way. You’re crazy! You’ve got to be! Otherwise…” Olivia said. 

“You’re not crazy. You just… can’t remember… things,” Henry said, still trying to protect her from spiraling. 

“Who are you?” Olivia asked. 

“I’m your husband, Olivia, and today’s our anniversary,” Henry responded.