Dinner for Two

"This is not going to work. It's absolutely going to be a nightmare," said Beth as she applied the last touches of her make-up and surveyed the results in the mirror.

Not bad, but not great, she thought, as she ran a comb through her hair and looked for any signs of gray. The divorce had definitely taken its toll and the lines on her face proved it.

Officially single for six months, Beth hadn't been on a date in twenty years and she felt as nervous as a sixteen-year-old on prom night. She didn't know if she was more annoyed with herself for being so anxious about the evening or for accepting Jonathan Burke's invitation to dinner in the first place.

The last thing she needed right now was a man in her life, she told herself. The pain of Dan's betrayal and the bitterness of their divorce left her wounded and wallowing in self-doubt. Her mind began to churn reasons for canceling the evening. She had forgotten she had a previous engagement. She had a headache. She couldn't find a babysitter.

"You are pathetic," she sighed. "Admit it, you are terrified of being hurt again -- and now you are talking to yourself too."

Just as she decided there was no way out, Josh, her ten-year-old son, poked his head into her room.

"Mom, you look great," he said as he leaped onto her bed, sending the half-dozen outfits she's tried on and rejected sliding across the floor.

"Oops, sorry," he said with a grin as he began throwing clothes back on the bed. His smile lit up the room and there was no way Beth could be angry with him even though he was the one who'd had a hand tonight's date with his best friend Ben's father.

Jonathan arrived promptly at 8:00 and chatted with Josh about his Little League baseball team and their upcoming game while Beth gave the babysitter last minute instructions.

"Have a great time and stay out as late as you want. I promise to be good," said Josh as they left. He flashed an impish smile that told Beth the babysitter was definitely going to earn her money tonight.

Jonathan had reservations at a lovely old inn in town, and once they were seated in the dining room he admitted he knew that Josh and Ben had conspired to have them sit together at the Parents without Partners pizza party. Smiling, he said he was glad.

Feeling flush with embarrassment, Beth looked away in the hopes he wouldn't see how red her face had become. It was then that she noticed the older woman seated at the table next to theirs. Dressed in an elegant black suit and wearing a string of pearls at her neck, her white hair in a perfect French twist, the woman smiled at the waiter and said she would have her usual.

"Of course, Mrs. Jarrett," said the waiter as he filled two water glasses. "And how many years is it now?" he asked.

"Fifty-nine," she replied with a smile.

Jonathan followed Beth's glance. "What's so interesting?"

"Oh, sorry, I just noticed that lovely woman at the next table. She must be waiting for her husband."

Jonathan lowered his voice, "Or her lover."

Beth rolled her eyes and laughed. "I think it is time to order," she said.

Dinner was delicious and conversation came easily, but Beth found herself increasingly more curious about the woman at the next table. Stealing quick glances throughout the meal, she saw that two salads had been replaced with two roast beef dinners and yet the woman remained alone, serenely enjoying her meal and sipping a glass of wine.

Jonathan noticed too. "Poor thing," he said. "Lover or husband, it looks like she's been stood up."

Beth looked her way. "But she doesn't seem at all upset. In fact, she appears to be quite happy."

As she spoke, the woman looked up and smiled at Beth. Feeling as if she had been caught spying, Beth returned the smile and was relieved when the waiter appeared and asked the woman if she was ready to order dessert.

"Of course. Two slices of apple pie, please," she said. "And two cups of tea."

Jonathan leaned over and whispered, "OK, this is getting too weird. What's with two of everything when she is the only one at the table?"

Beth looked over again and this time made eye contact with woman.

"I hope you two are enjoying your meal as much as I have enjoyed mine," she said. "I know this must seem strange, but you see, today is our fifty-ninth anniversary and we always dined here. My husband died four years ago, but I saw no reason to stop celebrating all those wonderful years we had together. I come here as we always did on our anniversary, order our favorite dinner, and Scott and I are together again on our special day. It is really quite lovely."

Beth's eyes filled with tears. "Yes it is. Happy anniversary," she said. "And thank you."

"Whatever for, my dear?"

"For reminding me that what's been lost can be found again."