Ifthere was ever an afternoon whenI’vejust gone through the motions, it’s today.I’vebeen at the register taking orders and making small talk with customers, andIcan’t recall a single faceI’veseen all afternoon.Icouldn’t tell you what regulars came in or what facesI’dnever seen.Itseems that my mind can’t be on anything other thanOllie.
Well,Ollieandthe clock.BecauseI’vebeen counting down the minutes untilIam off work and can go find him, and those minutes are crawling by like a sloth on sleeping pills.
Then, at two minutes past five,Ilook up when the bell on the door sounds to seeOllie.Myheart is a helium balloon and my whole body feels lighter.Thelook on his face is one of joy, hopefulness, andIdon’teven know what else, but it’s making my heart beat faster and a smile spread across my face.
“Nora?”Isay asItake off my apron and set it on the shelf under the register. “Canyou cover for me for a minute?”
Igo around the counter and into the lobby.Ollieis dressed like he always is—a short-sleeved button-down, slacks, and dress shoes, yet he looks different somehow.Somethinghas changed.
Ollie’ssmile seems to grow the closerIget to him, and all my questions about whether he’s interested in me or not are answered by that look on his face.Heis taking me in likeI’ma double shot of espresso after an all-nighter.Iinstantly know he’s here to ask me out on a real date.Onethat doesn’t include espionage.
Heopens his mouth like he wants to say something and then hesitates.So, likeItold myselfIwould,Ijump in and say, “Ifit makes asking me out easier, just know thatI’mgoing to say yes.”
Onecorner of his mouth pulls up into a smile. “Iwas considering the best way to convey to you how much simply seeing your face makes me happy to my core.AndthenIwas going to ask you on a date.”
Ichuckle and can’t stop grinning. “Okay,I’lltake that, too.”
“Whatdo you say to a date tonight?Wecan go to the fall festival and look at all the things we missed yesterday, and we can do it without suits trying to find us.Maybeeven get something more than a pumpkin cookie to eat.Youknow, an actual dinner.”
“Dinnerandalsoa pumpkin cookie?”
Olliegrins the cutest grinI’veever seen. “Yes.Awhole bag of them.”
Ipractically dance over to the counter, grab a napkin, and reach around the register for a pen.ThenIwrite my address on it and give it toOllie. “Weclose at six, and then we clean up.Pickme up at seven, and we can walk over to the festival together?”
Hesmiles. “Adate it is.”Heglances down at what he’s wearing. “SinceI’mdressed eerily similar to whatIwore yesterday,I’mgoing to go home and change into the most fall clothesI’vegot, which so happens to be a sweater my grandma knitted for me.Somethingtells me that you’ll like it.”
CuriosityaboutOllie’sgrandma-knitted sweater is just one of the things that has built anticipation for this date.Bythe timeOllieknocks on my door—at seven o’clock, sharp—Ican barely wait to fling my front door open.Thesweater he’s wearing is mocha-colored and is the most precious thingI’veever seen.
Ilet out something that sounds partially like a laugh asIcheck it out.Igrab both of his arms and hold them out soIcan get a good look at it.Thereis a big tree with fall leaves knitted right into it, and it covers most of the front.
It’sgot so many details, too, like squirrels hidingnuts in the tree and an owl peeking out from behind some leaves.Afox is curled up at the base of the tree, nestled among fall leaves.Pumpkinsare scattered on the ground, and a small family of hedgehogs scurries near the tree’s roots.Thedetails are also knitted, or crocheted, but they’re on top of the tree, making it seem three-dimensional.
PrinceCharmingis checking it out along with me, barking like he’s trying to tell us all the things he’s seeing, too. “Ilove every single bit of this.Yourgrandma is one cool lady.”
Olliegrins.Ittakes a confident man to wear a sweater like this in public, andIrealize that confidence is what’s different about him.
Imight have thought about bringingPrinceCharmingwith us, butIwore him out at lunch and thenRuthiewore him out some more.He’sexcited to seeOllie, but he’s exhausted.SoIgive him a hug and take him to his bed before telling him thatI’llsee him later.
Whenwe get to the festival, we head toward the food trucks and booths first.AsOllielearned yesterday,I’mstarving by this time of day.
“So, what are you in the mood for?”Heasks.
“Dowe have more than seven food trucks or booths here?”Ido a quick count. “Yes!Okay, do you want to playSevenCourseMeal?”
Ican tell by the look on his face that he’s never played.Whichmakes sense because it’s not a real game—LaurelandImade it up as kids.Butstill, he grins and says, “Absolutely.”Andhe does look like he absolutely wants to play.Itmakes me excited for two reasons.Oneis that it has been so long sinceI’vehad someone whoIcan have fun with like this.
Andtwo, because it’s makingOlliesmile more thanI’veever seen him smile.
“Okay, this is how it works,”Itell him. “Ipick a food truck or booth, and then you choose one thing from their menu that seems interesting to you.Anythingat all.Itcan be a main dish, a side, a drink, a dessert—whatever.Thenyou choose the next place andIpick an item.Wekeep going until we’ve hit seven places and have seven items.Thenwe’ll take it over to those picnic tables and make a meal out of the items we got whether they naturally go together or not.”
Ican think of plenty of guysI’vedated who, ifIproposed something like this, would have emotions that ranged from amused to annoyed to confused.Thisis the first timeI’veever got anexcitedemotion from someone.Itmakes me even more excited myself.
Eventually, we make it to the picnic tables with our arms full of food after more laughing thanI’veexperienced in a while.Iswear, being aroundOlliejust makes me happy.Ridiculouslyhappy.All-is-right-with-the-world happy.Andbased on the looks on his face,I’mdoing the same for him.Alive band is playing not farfrom where we are, and community and excitement surrounds us.It’sa perfect night.
Olliedips a fried pickle into the spicy ranch dipping sauce, then looks surprised at the taste.Hedoesn’t seem to hate it, though.Infact, he has a second bite, soIthink it’s a winner. “Iapplied for a new job at my firm today.”
“Oh, yeah?”Isay, prodding for more information.ThenItake a big bite of one of the chicken and waffle bites drizzled with maple syrup and try not to moan at how good it is.
