Something About Blending

Teddy ran across the hall excitedly and knocked on his godmother’s door. “Hello there, my favorite nephew!” Piper cried when she answered the door and ushered him in. “Well well Em, don’t we look nice,” Piper said when Emerson emerged from her place across the hall. Emerson rolled her eyes as she looked the door and walked over to her friend. “Thanks for watching Teddy tonight,” Emerson said. “Thanks for arranging your date around my show,” Piper responded with a bright smile. “Good luck and have fun,” Piper said as she pulled Emerson in for a hug. “Aunt Piper! I’m ready!” Teddy cried running out in overalls with paint spattered on them. “Hey we match!” Piper exclaimed pointing to her own paint stains. “You look pretty Mummy,” Teddy said looking up at Emerson. “Thank you love, be good for Aunt Piper tonight and I’ll see you in the morning,” she said bending down to hug him, not caring if he gets paint on her dress. Kissing the top of his head Emerson stood up and waved as she headed for the stairs. Taking a deep breath she stepped out the front door and started to make her way to her date.

Derick saw Emerson coming up the sidewalk towards him before she saw him. He took a moment to appreciate how she looked with her plum dress highlighting her slight tan and her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail keeping it off her face. “Hello,” he greeted with a smile. “You look great,” he continued making her cheeks turn pink. “Thank you, you clean up nice yourself,” she countered with a sincere smile. “Shall we?” Derick asked holding out his arm for to take and walk into the tapas bar. Arm-in-arm they walked in and Emerson’s mouth opened in shock. “This place is wonderful. I must admit I’ve never been to a tapas bar before so I was just expecting a bar nothing like this,” she told him to which he laughed. “I haven’t been either, a friend of mine suggested this place so I just went with it,” he admitted. Finding two seats at the bar on a Friday night was easier than Emerson anticipated, it seemed that people moved out of Derick’s way but stared as they did. After settling at the bar and ordering a drink Emerson turned to her date. “So this is a first date. I’m pretty we’re supposed to talk about what we do for work. Only you cheated and found out I’m an artist, a photographer really, prior to the first date. But what do you do?” Emerson asked looking at him over the rim of her wine glass. Derick smiled, he wasn’t sure what he was expecting of her once he told her. “Actually, when you said you recognized me I didn’t expect it to be through play group. I play for the New York Rangers,” Derick told. To his surprise she laughed. “You know if I was a Rangers fan I probably would’ve recognized you right off the bat. Only I’m not. I do like hockey though,” she told him still kind of laughing. “You live in New York City and you aren’t a Rangers fan?” he asked in mock horror. Emerson laughed again and Derick decided he liked the way she laughed. “You see, that starts a different conversation. That starts us talking about where we’re from and I’m not sure if that’s first date material,” she explained with a raised eyebrow. Matching her raised eyebrow Derick pulled out his phone and googled ‘things to talk about on a first date’. After reading for a moment he looked up at her with a grin. “You’re right. According to askmen.com I’m supposed to laugh if you’re funny, talk about your hobbies and show an interest but also mine, we’re supposed to talk about our goals and just general chit chat. But you’re right, it doesn’t say anything about talking about our backstories. So I suppose backstories will have to be date number two,” he told her with a resigned sigh.

Emerson snorted almost choking on her wine. “Date number two? I think you’re being presumptuous assuming that this date will end well,” she confessed. Derick raised both eyebrows as if to ask why. “Well say we talk about our hobbies and one of my hobbies is to photograph nude people in public. That could make you mighty uncomfortable. My goals, what if my goal is to marry rich, kill my husband and live a long happy life as a rich widow? Or what if you’re favorite hobby is, oh I don’t know, building things out of cotton swabs. I can tell you that if that’s the case I won’t be going to date number two,” Emerson finished doing her best to remain serious. She cracked a small smile and Derick lost it. Their hysterical laughter drew more curious looks Derick had when they walked in. “Well you’re certainly imaginative, you would get along great with my daughter,” he said still laughing. His slip sobered Emerson quickly. “Date number Derick. I’m pretty sure we don’t kids involved yet,” she told him softly but her words carried weight. She was right, just because their first date seemed to be going well didn’t mean that future dates would also go well and lead to meeting the kids. After agreeing to not talk of their kids yet they took turns ordering different tapas until they realized it was late. “You know, since your friend suggest this place maybe my friend could suggest the next place,” Emerson offered as they waited for the bill. “I told you there would be another date,” he said with a smirk. When the bill came they both reached for it. “askmen.com told me that I have to pay the bill if I want any more dates with you,” Derick said while she protested. Sticking her tongue out in a very mature way Emerson gave in and Derick laughed. “I’ll call you soon to figure out our next date,” he told her kissing her hand. “Until then,” she replied with a smile and stepped up to the curb where the taxi she had called was waiting.

Notes