He was almost an hour late because of traffic. Serendipity would have it her way in the end. I needed that time to decompress anyway. It had been a long lovely full day of faces. I sat in the sunshine drinking my decaf. Beanie on and extra coat thrown over my lap couldn’t take away the post storm chill in the air. He arrived and there was nowhere to park. He put his hazards on and I made him get out of the car to get me. We hopped in and headed down the block. As always, our conversation comes with ease and flowed right away. I’m stricken again by his great smile and good looks. Instead of being intimidated it makes me smile. We get on the freeway and I causally ask where we are headed. It’s a surprise he says and we leave Sacramento. We pass Davis, then Vacaville, then Fairfield.. that’s when I realize.. we are headed to Napa. The sun is setting and the sky is purple and blue, gray and orange and yellow. Set against the newly wet green hills and cows grazing… it takes me breath away and I ask him if he planned this too with a giggle. Our journey takes us to Rutherford Grill in St. Helena and its cozy ambiance is perfect. We started with gin and tonics and the artichoke app. There was never a lull in the conversation or a moment of awkwardness. He gives me words of encouragement and affirmation in the simplest and sweetest way. We ended the night with a shared dessert and then headed home. He dropped my off at home there were mentions of having our dogs meet and even an adventure such as sky diving. A hug goodnight and he was gone. I fall to sleep with a smile.
