Page 15 of Let Me

But, I already told Judah I’d meet him and I’m a woman of my word.So, here I am, pulling up in the crowded parking lot, shutting off my car and making my way toward the entrance.When I enter, I see Judah sitting at a table in the center of the restaurant.I take a moment to observe him.He’s just sitting there all statuesque, staring like he’s in another world.He is in another world.I can already tell that by the people he surrounds himself with and the way he talks to me.His voice is uniquely deep, yet calm.He hardly ever smiles and when he does, it’s so pinched, he may as well not even try.

I walk over to the table, pull out a chair and when he senses my presence, he stands and says, “My apologies.I didn’t see you walk in.”

“I know.You were too busy daydreaming.”

“I tend to do that a lot,” he says with his hand on the back of my chair.

When I sit down, he returns to his seat and looks at me with those glistening honey brown eyes of his.Behind them, there’s a story I’m not yet privy to.

I see confusion.

I see pain.

I see hope.

I see…love.

He has a lot to offer a woman – a relationship – but he’d rather settle for friendship.I’m glad I know that about him because, even though we’re out to dinner, I know that this – whateverthisis – is like an electric car with no charge stranded beside the road.It ain’t going nowhere.Moriah, Luna, and Tabitha already schooled me about him.He wants me to be another one of his lil’ friends.I’ve prepared myself for it.

Actually, I see nothing wrong with us being friends.I’m a woman of deep faith and I’m waiting for God.If this ain’t the one he wants me to be with, then friendship is just fine.

So, that’s where I am – what I’ve settled into.I’m having dinner –pizza– with my newfriend, Judah, with his handsome self.

“What’s your last name?”I ask.

“Westinghouse.I didn’t tell you that before?”

“No.”

“Oh.”

“I take it you know mine since you also know where I work now.”

“Yes, I do, but only because I saw it on one of your business cards in the card slot of your phone case on Saturday.”

“You pay attention to everything, huh?”

“I just notice things other people usually don’t.”

“Let’s test that theory.What have you noticed about me that most people wouldn’t?”

“You have those beautiful freckles on your face that you try to hide with makeup.”

I rummage through my purse to find my mirror.I open it and look at my face.I don’t see my freckles.I carefully applied makeup this evening to hide them.

I look up at him and ask, “How did you—?”

“I saw them on Friday.”

Oh, shoot…my makeup had probably worn off by then.

“Good evening, folks,” the waitress says, leaving a colossal-sized menu on the table and then asks, “What can I get you to drink?’

“I’ll have a sweet tea,” I say.

“Water for me, please,” Judah responds.

The waitress leaves us.

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