It was a Friday morning. I went into work thinking I had a date with Russell in the evening. I still didn’t know what to wear what would Russell show up in? He said he’d pick the place. He said he’d drive me there too. Donna didn’t quit until Russell agreed to go out with me. It took more than a little push to get him to agree. He really wasn’t into me. Knowing Donna, he was definitely going to take me out. Over the past two days I’d played all sorts of scenarios of how our date will roll out.

‘Aww! I’m so happy for you Jenna.’ Marsha squealed. ‘Do we need to do last ditch shopping?’

I bit my thumb nail, ‘I think so. Who brought the flowers?’

A purple vase with tulips sat on my desk. They were beautiful, but not my first choice. They were fresh too, still had water dripping from them too.

Marsha shrugged, ‘I just brought them in.’

I stood and closed the door behind and leaned against it. Now flowers? Why couldn’t he just show himself?

‘You don’t know who sent them?’ I asked.

Her brows burrowed. ‘No, Jenna. What’s wrong? Is this about the necklace? Have you received more gifts?’

I shook my head. I was probably overreacting. It could be a mistake too, there was no need to scare Marsha.

‘No, sorry. I guess I’m nervous. I haven’t been on a date in a while. I don’t think Russell wants to go out with me anyway.’

Marsha frowned, ‘I’m sure that’s not true. You’re a catch Jenna. Now we have to dress you like one.’

After an hour of online shopping I found a casual dress. Marsha would have put me in a ball gown if she had her way. By the time the day ended I was even more nervous.

I ran into Ben on my way to the elevator. His tone with me the other day didn’t amuse me. We walked into the elevator together and didn’t utter a word to each other. We couldn’t go on like this we were business partners for goodness sakes. Ben hit the stop button on the elevator and it jolted to a stop. I gripped the handle bar.

‘What did you do that for?’ I gasped.

‘Listen, I’m sorry about the way I spoke to you the other day. I was upset with Neil and…’ He ruffled his hair.

‘There are other ways to talk about that Ben!’

‘I wasn’t sure you’d want to talk to me so soon.’ He hit the stop button again and the elevator continued its descent.

‘I was upset with Neil. You still get to me sometimes Jen. I got a little jealous that you were making plans with him.’

I stood up right still holding on to handle bar.

‘Like I said Ben, Neil and I are just friends. I appreciate your apology though. Just because we ended doesn’t mean we can’t hang out right?’

He nodded. Ben relaxed then smiled. ‘Yes, just like nothing ever happened.’

He closed the distance between us and enveloped me in his arms. His left hand wandered too close to my butt. I patted his back and breathed in his expensive scent. We broke apart as the elevator opened, Roy was standing outside. He caught us right as the hug ended. I bit my lip, because of a nosy Candice my entire staff knew Ben and I had an affair. I never confronted her about it, though it caused me a great deal of internal conflict.

Roy cleared his throat, ‘Hey guys.’ He said.

Ben nodded at him before wandering off to his car.

‘Hey Roy, shouldn’t you be heading home?’

He shook his head and shot me his famous boyish grin. ‘I’ve got some work I’ve got to unload.’

‘I love your dedication Roy,’ I smiled, checking the time. I had to get going before I was late. I hoped my dress had arrived.

‘Thanks Jenna, you’re a great boss.’ Roy said as I walked back to my car. I shot him an appreciative smile.

My dress had arrived and was seated outside. I had less than twenty minutes to get ready. My date lived next door he’d probably arrive early. I rushed in and out of the shower then I heard the doorbell ring.

‘Oh no.’ I slipped into my dress and black four inch heels.

The bell rang again. I found a pair of white stud earrings and snatched the emerald necklace. I wasn’t sure about wearing it, but I couldn’t go back and change it.

‘I’m ready!’ I declared.

Russell was about to start descending the stairs. He’d given up so quickly?

‘Were you about to leave?’ I asked.

He smirked, ‘Yup, I was off to tell my Mom you didn’t want to go out with me anymore.’

My face fell into shock and horror. He burst into laughter.

‘I’m kidding Jenna. I was going to grab my phone and give you a call.’

‘Oh, yes, right.’ I chuckled.

Russell wore white tennis shoes and grey jeans shorts that showed off his calves and a plain white T-shirt. He cleaned up nicely well he had since the day I met him. He must have been having a bad day then.

I looked at the snow and my heels that I thought wouldn’t give me hustles. I pulled my coat around myself, masking my dress.

‘What? Need me to carry you?’ Russ raised his brow.

I blinked and slightly shook my head at his question.

‘I think I’ll be fine.’

I wasn’t so sure when I looked at the snow then back at my shoes. Russ drove us in his white BMW with leather seats and thankful had a little pine tree dangling on the rearview mirror. Which reminded me about Hayley and I decorating the tree out front. The conversation was slight which made me concentrate on my wet feet. I knew I hadn’t underestimate that snow.

‘The fish shack?’ I asked.

The car came to a halt in front of a building with a red brick front. It had a tilted wooden sign with an image of a dead fish. I’d certainly never been here before.

‘Yeah, it’s a great place.’ He grinned.

Why did I doubt that?

I climbed out of the car. An irritating squishing sound came from my shoes. Russ held the door open for me and I smiled. The smell of fish hit me instantly and I fought the urge to gag. No air freshener?

Four tables were taken by couples and I wondered how they could stand the stench of raw fish.

‘Come on, I reserved the table on the deck.’ Russ said.

I released a sigh of relief. The dark red table had a single yellow flower in a vase and two menus in front of each seat. Russell took a seat first, well I wasn’t really expecting him to pull the chair out for me. He picked up the menu first. I stared over the little fence and saw weeds and overgrown grass. The owners weren’t big on landscaping.

I opened the menu and all I saw was fish. Fish stew, fried fish, fish sticks. Fish and chips looked promising.

‘They must really like fish,’ I muttered.

‘Got something against fish?’ Russ asked.

I blushed I didn’t mean for him to hear me.

‘No, no. A little variety wouldn’t be bad.’

‘What do you think of the place?’ A grin played on his lips. He was testing me that’s what this was.

‘It’s lovely, do you come here often?’ I wasn’t going to explode at him if that’s what he wanted.

‘No, I’ve never been here before.’

My jaw dropped. Maybe if he’d been here before he wouldn’t have thought about ever coming here again!

A waiter wearing a bright red shirt and black apron marched to our table, pen and pad in hands. He smiled nervously at us. Russ ordered the fresh hake. I was skeptical about how fresh it was. I placed my order.

‘We haven’t had chips since Wednesday would you mind cabbage inside of chips?’ The waiter grinned wider.

I looked at Russ who battled to kept his amusement hidden. I turned back to the waiter.

‘The fish sticks then?’

‘Ran out yesterday.’ He said through his smile. I could have sworn I saw sweat run down the side of his head.

‘The fresh hake then.’

‘Excellent choice Jenna.’ Russ exclaimed.

A part of me told me I would regret it. I didn’t want to be right a pleasant surprise wouldn’t hurt. The waiter left and I dreaded his return.

‘So, you never told me where you lived.’ I placed my palms on the table.

‘Texas. Grew up in Nashville my entire family still lives there.’

Nashville was only a few hours’ drive from Stable.

‘Why’d you move so far from home?’

He shrugged, ‘The job’s good, pay even better. I had no reason to say no.’

Until I met Russell I never appreciated a beard on a man the way I did now. Especially now that it was tamed. There was something about what he said that made me stop for a second. He moved miles away from his family, weren’t they reason enough not to leave? I wanted a family… I knew coming on this date Russ wasn’t fully interested yet I went along because of Donna. The bottom line was this wasn’t the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. He didn’t even bother to pretend I mean he brought me to the fish shack! If that doesn’t scream not interested, then I don’t know what does.

‘Listen, Russell I get that you didn’t want to come—’

‘Jenna…’ He ran a hand through his hair.

‘No, it’s okay. You’re clearly not interested. At least we tried right?’

He folded his arms and nodded.

‘We went out that’s should be good enough for Donna. Why don’t we call it a night?’ I smiled, though inside I knew this was horrible. I bought a new dress to go to the fish shack.

Russell nodded and flagged the waiter. He asked if we could get our food to go. I wish I had to pet to ‘share' my meal with.

I pushed my chair back, I couldn’t wait to get out of my shoes.

‘If it’s any consolation I had a decent—’ Gallons of water crashed down on me like a geyser opened above me. Brown water stained my coat, leaves or cabbage caught in my hair. Russell gripped the chair, his fist covering his mouth.

‘Oh shit.’ He muttered.

‘Oh no,’ I picked at my coat that was getting heavier as it soaked up the water.

‘Throw the other bucket in the river.’ A woman ordered above us.

‘There’s no river down here!’ I looked up.

Russell walked over and eyed the elderly lady standing on the balcony I hadn’t noticed.

‘Yeah, there’s no river down here ma'am.’

Then the waiter returned carrying a white plastic bag with two take away boxes and even bigger grin that last time.

‘The microwave broke down so the food’s a bit cold.’

I stormed out of there struggling to remove my coat damp coat. I had had a mind to toss it in a bin. I kicked off my shoes and stuffed them in the coat.

‘What Jenna,’ Russ chased after me and caught my arm, but he backs up because of the smell!

Whatever I was covered in would have me taking three baths a day for a week.

‘What, what?! Was this your plan all along?’

‘Oh come on of course not.’ He pressed his lips together to hide his smile but it wasn’t working.

‘This isn’t funny.’ I barked.

‘You’re totally right.’ He stared at the ground, but he was laughing inside.

‘Just take me home!’

He raised his hands and strolled to the passenger side to open the door for me. I marched in and slammed the door behind me. I held my face in my hands the entire ride home. Any attempt Russell made to speak to me landed on deaf ears.