Page 26 of Love's Home Run

She added another swipe of coral color to her lips and turned away. She’d opted to wear a short denim skirt and an orange top lined with lace and now had doubts about her choice.

She heard the sound of Dirk’s car, gazed out the window, saw his blue jeep, and realized it was too late to make any wardrobe changes.

She greeted him at the door and relaxed when he said, “Wow! You look nice!”

Telling herself to enjoy the evening, she followed Dirk to his car and climbed into the passenger seat as he stood by.

“Thanks for agreeing to go out at the last minute. Some days, that’s how it goes for me. I get so embroiled with my work that time slips away.”

“I don’t mind doing things without a lot of planning. My work consumes so much of my day that being flexible like this is the only way I get free time.”

Dirk turned to her. “I like that.”

Melissa returned his smile, silently chalking up another reason a relationship with him might work. “I love Mexican food, and Chica’s is the best in our area. They’ve won some state awards, too.”

“That’s what I’ve heard. I can’t wait to taste it,” said Dirk.

Melissa gazed out the car window as Dirk headed south to a small commercial area outside of town. She noticed the colored lanterns lighting the parking perimeter at Chica’s even before Dirk pulled into a parking space. The lanterns were part of the décor used inside and out to give the restaurant a festive feel. Seeing them always made her smile.

Dirk helped her out of the car and into the restaurant. The aroma of tomato, cilantro, and various spices swirled around them.

Mama Montoya greeted them, wearing a red-tiered skirt and a white blouse embroidered with colorful flowers, vines, and greenery. Her black hair had streaks of gray, but her face was unlined, and her dark-brown eyes warmed with friendliness.

“Melissa! So happy to see you!” Mama cried, hugging Melissa. She turned to Dirk. “And who is this handsome man?”

“This is Dirk McArthur, the new dentist in town,” Melissa responded and turned to him.

“Mama Montoya is why so many of us in Lilac Lake love Mexican food. Her recipes are the real deal.”

“Oh, yes. We use my mother’s recipes and her mother’s, too,” said Mama Montoya. “All natural. From one chef to another, we appreciate that. Right, Melissa?”

“Absolutely.” Melissa waved as a pretty, dark-haired young woman approached them.

“Hi, Melissa. I’ve fixed you a special table over by the window.” She glanced at Dirk and said, “It’s very romantic there.”

Mama Montoya laughed. “My granddaughter, Pilar, is always talking about romance. But go and enjoy yourselves.”

Dirk and Melissa exchanged shy glances and followed Pilar to the table.

“I think the occasion calls for a drink. What would you like?” Dirk asked her after they were seated.

“Chica’s makes the best margaritas by adding a touch of orange juice. That’s perfect for me.”

“I’m going to stick to beer,” Dirk said.

Pilar wrote down their order and said, “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

Melissa looked around the restaurant. It was crowded even for a weeknight. Tables were covered in red tablecloths, offsetting the bright turquoise-painted walls. The floor was terra cotta tile offset by the wooden tables and chairs. Mexican music played softly on the sound system, and each table held a large round flickering candle. Melissa sighed with appreciation.

Their drinks came, and after toasting one another, Melissa set down her glass. “Are you getting settled in Lilac Lake? You said things were chaotic at work, but do you like living here in this small town?”

“I really do. Growing up in the D.C. area, I was worried I’d find things too slow and too settled here. But I’ve seen how healthy it is to change pace, get outside, and enjoy sports. I don’t want to get too insular, which is why I want to continue to enjoy traveling. My family went to China once, and I found it fascinating, notwithstanding the politics. Have you done much traveling?”

“Not too much,” she said. “Not with my parents owning a restaurant. But when I was a child, they made sure we went to Disney World and visited Washington, D. C., and the west coast. But all our trips were in our country.”

“There’s so much to see in this world. I think you’d really like France and Italy for their food. You should go sometime.”

“That’s an enticing goal,” she responded, wishing he’d said ‘we’should go sometime. She reminded herself to slow down. This was only their first date.

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