Page 30 of That Birthday in Barbados
“It’s a sipper.”
“But it’s so good,” I say, taking a longer sip than the first one.
“Hey, now. Remember that getting you drunk thing.”
“Actually, I don’t get drunk.”
“How you figure?”
“I never drink enough to get drunk.”
“Don’t say never until you’ve finished a rum punch or two.”
“I promise not to embarrass you,” I say, smiling.
“You might not get drunk, but I don’t get embarrassed.”
“Oh, really,” I say, taking another sip of the punch which by now has spread a very nice warmth from my midsection up my chest and down each of my arms. “Nothing ever embarrasses you?”
“Nope.”
“How is that possible?”
He shrugs. “Because I own my choices. I decided at some point along the way not to care if another person doesn’t approve of my choice. I need to know that I think it’s the right choice.”
“But me getting drunk wouldn’t be your choice?”
He smiles, shakes his head. “No, that would be your choice. Why would that embarrass me?”
The waiter appears at our table, asks if we’re ready to order.
“Hold that thought,” Anders says. And then, “What will you have?”
I open the menu to refresh my memory. Smiling at the waiter, I ask, “May I have the mushroom risotto and the sweet potato fries?”
Anders orders the sea bass and mushroom fricassée.
When the waiter heads for the kitchen, Anders picks up his phone and starts typing, saying out loud, “How to get to know someone on a date.”
“Are you Googling that?”
“Oh. Here we go. 200 questions to get to know someone.”
“Are we staying for breakfast as well?”
“Question number one.If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?”
“That’s easy. Write a book.”
“So you like to read?”
“I love to read. I don’t make enough time for it.”
“Favorite books?”
“Hmm. Books that make me think. Man’s Search for Meaning. Viktor Frankl. How to Win Friends and Influence People. Dale Carnegie. And The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Michael Pollan. That one made me a vegetarian.”
“So you’re really excited about that Sea Bass I just ordered.”
