Some Light Dinner Conversation

Suddenly this felt like a situation to be much more concerned about. It was bad enough that I felt like I was walking into the lions' den again but I had expected the lions to have more choices in prey than just myself and my lady fair.

While I had that in mind, Sarah Jean had other thoughts to discuss as we walked arm in arm. “I totally believed you were over-rating her but she is just so beautiful, like storybook pretty. She was chasing after you and you turned her down?”

“Yup.”

“Really?”

“Honestly.”

She gave my arm a squeeze. “That's impressive. Or insane.”

“Thank you.” I could really think of no better response at the time.

It was unsurprising to me that the dining room was of a chic style similar to the other rooms I'd seen. The table was long and shiny, made of glass and metal. The color scheme was simple, mostly shades of white and black. Decorations were minimal.

Sarah Jean and I were seated opposite another on the 'long' sides of the rectangle of the table, while Dr. Castillo and Ms. Romero sat on the 'short' ends. While separated, Sarah Jean and I were not so far away from each other. We could have played footsie if so inclined. The visibility provided by the glass tabletop pretty much stopped that possibility from becoming a reality.

I don't often dine while dressed up. Most of the time I've done so, its been in a relatively relaxed setting, like a wedding reception where I'm surrounded by friends that don't know which fork to use either. Despite the friendly nature of my hosts, I didn't want to offend due to my ignorance. I'd brushed up on my manners via the interwebs but those points were already fading. Just what I needed at this juncture, more stress.

Servants bustled around us, filling glasses, helping us adjust chairs and napkins, putting bowls of soup before us. In a snap, they were gone, with only the butler standing in the corner of the room, waiting. I started eating when everyone else did. I've no clue what it was but it was good. Sort of a sharp tangy flavor to it. A familiar flavor but I couldn't place it.

Ms. Romero continued to smile at Sarah Jean. Clearly directing her questions to Sarah Jean, she asked “How long have you two known each other?”

Sarah Jean considered this for a moment as she dealt with the soup in her mouth. “Its been a year and half, almost two years now.”

“Where did you first met?” was the follow-up question.

I answered this question. “In my dreams.” This earned me an “awww” from Ms. Romero as well as a “Good answer my friend” from Dr. Castillo. I love telling the truth, especially because people tend not to believe it. For the 'real' answer we mentioned the mall, and considering we went to the mall not long after physically meeting, that's close enough to count, right? Saying that she appeared on my doorstep one day would just generate more questions for which we had no good answers.

“And how long have you been dating?” Ms. Romero was keen to know.

I mentally reminded my friend of my earlier... exaggeration of our relationship when speaking with Ms. Romero. At the time I would have said it was a lie but was it really? I mean, afterwards I went right to Sarah Jean to tell her about it and she got all upset. At the time we weren't officially anything but we were certainly in a relationship of sorts. Wrapped up in these thoughts, I missed most of Sarah Jean's response but I caught “off and on” as well as mentioning travel as the primary reason reason for this intermittent state.

There was a brief moment of quiet, just long enough for me to wonder if it was our turn to ask for stories from them, but Ms. Romero was still curious. “How is the intercourse?”

I choked on my soup. Once the panic faded and I knew that this mis-swallowed soup would not kill me, I reflected that it could have been worse. I might have spat all over Sarah Jean. That would have been worse.

Sarah Jean stammered and stuttered. “Do you mean conversation?” she finally asked.

“Of course not my dear, I mean sex,” Ms. Romero clarified. “I imagine that Patrick would be a very generous lover.”

I managed to stop coughing enough to exchange a glance with Sarah Jean. She looked a bit lost. That's new, not sure I've seen her lost before. My mind lit up with communication from Sarah Jean, mostly confusion.

Dr. Castillo chuckled in a friendly manner. “Ah my dear, while I understand your thoughts on this matter, I fear it may be too early in the evening for such conversation. Let us save that for dessert.” Smoothly, calm as ever, he shifted gears. “My new friend, what occupation is it that takes you away from Patrick so frequently?”

Great. I had been looking forward to dessert.

Yes, Of Course

I dreaded every step up the driveway as we headed for the mansion. It wasn't so much that I was concerned about the quality of the food we would have or the company would be unpleasant as I knew those things would be fine. It was the concern that, once again, I was walking into a trap, a sexy sexy trap. At least this time I has Sarah Jean with me. She would protect me.

My other reason for concern was the lack of traffic. I was of the impression that this was meant to be a dinner party and there weren't any other cars lining the block like the first party I'd attended here. I was worried that we were early but Sarah Jean was very confident we were accurate in the timing of our arrival. The calm reaction of the butler to our presence seemed to confirm our timing. Then again, he's a butler; he's supposed to remain calm and detached, right?

It did please me to see Sarah Jean's eyes widen a bit as we entered the hallway. She lives in a mansion but she still gave me a quick thought of 'wow!' Now I don't feel like quite the bumpkin for being impressed my first time here.

We were directed into the main room where Dr. Castillo and Ms. Romero waited for us. For that moment before they moved to greet us, they were casually posed around the room in a manner that made me think of an advertisement for some fancy brand of alcohol or another. The warmth of the fireplace glowing over Ms. Romero, the manly way that Dr. Castillo leaned upon the mantelpiece, everything looked right.

Dr. Castillo beamed his smile at us, his white teeth gleaming in the flickering firelight. He approached, hand outstretched. “Patrick my friend. What a pleasure it is to see you again.”

Ms. Romero, clad in yet another dress that appeared to be defined more by its lack of presence than its presence, bounded from the couch to join in the greeting. For a moment, she leaned in as if to kiss my cheek, then receded quickly, as if suddenly remembering Sarah Jean's presence. Instead, she took my hand and joined her hands around it in an affectionate manner. I thought that was nice. She was trying anyway. “I agree with my husband; it is good to see you again Patrick, especially as you look so well.” While still holding onto my hand, she turned to smile at Sarah Jean, standing at my side. “This will be your lady friend?” I had planned a formal introduction and, well, sometimes I can take a hint. Now was the time and I took the opportunity to accomplish this task. Politely, Dr. Castillo took her hand and kissed it. Ms. Romero released my hand in order to embrace Sarah Jean. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” Ms. Romero expressed enthusiastically. “Patrick has spoken so highly of you.”

Sarah Jean, still somewhat intertwined with Ms. Romero, looked a bit dazed by this reception. “He's spoken highly of you as well.”

Ms. Romero's smile returned its destination to me. “Has he? How very sweet of him.” Sarah Jean was released in order for her to pat my cheek affectionately. Once again she was mindful of Sarah Jean as she patted the cheek on my face and not elsewhere. “Still, we have so many other things to discuss over dinner.” Taking my hand, she sought to drag me away.

I resisted. “Shouldn't we wait for the others?”

Ms. Romero's expression was a cross between confusion and innocence. “What others, my dear Patrick? This is our dinner with you and your very lovely lady.”

“It's just that we thought it was a dinner party,” I noted.

Dr. Castillo clamped a hand on my shoulder in a friendly manner. “Four can be a party my friend.”

“Yes. It can,” I agreed. There was little else to say at that point. We went to the dining room.