"Diana? What a nice surprise." She turned to me like a deer in headlights. She obviously did not expect to see me after what had happened in her kitchen, or this soon for that matter.
"Aj! Hi, what are you doing here?"
"Doing some work. Yourself?
"I uhm, I'm just here getting some coffee. I work close by and I'm on my lunch break."
"Working on a Saturday? That's no fun. Well, when you get your coffee, how about we sit together. My tables right over there."
"Oh I couldn't impose, you should get back to your work. I would only distract you."
"You would be a welcome distraction. I insist."
"Okay, I'll be right over."
Diana was clearly nervous, she barely made eye contact with me. When she did, she'd look up and smile then go back to sipping her coffee or looking at the ground. Why was this woman so afraid of her own shadow?
"Do you come to this place often?"
"From time to time. One of my coworkers told me about it."
"What do you do?"
"I'm an accountant. Glamorous I know but it suits me."
"Why do you say that?"
"No reason. Just forget I said that. About the other day, I should apologize. It was inapropriate and wrong."
"Well nothing happened, so its fine. I shouldn't have been so forward, but I couldn't help myself."
"What do you mean?"
"There's something about you that I find myself drawn to. I can't put my finger on it. You intrigue the hell out of me, and I want to know more about you." I didn't mean to be so upfront with Diana, but I needed to tell her. She looked at me in bewilderment as if I had just grown three heads.
"I'm sorry if I offended you, Mrs. Fitzgerald. I should not have said all that." I was taken aback when she reached for my hand and made eye contact with me for longer than five seconds.
"No Aj, I was not offended. I honestly take that as a compliment. You're very sweet."
"Thank you. I hope you take what I say next as a compliment as well. Your eyes are stunning."
Diana's face turned bright red and she gave me the biggest smile I had ever seen. "No one has ever complimented me on my eyes, not even my husband."
"Is it because you always have your head down? You should show them off more."
I think I hit a nerve because the expression on her face quickly changed and she gathered her things and stormed out of the coffee shop. Nice going Aj. This was going to make things awkward next time I go in for work.
Work the next week was uneventful. I didn't see Diana at all and she stopped watching me work in the yard. I must've really upset her. I wanted to talk to her and apologize but the chance never arose. On Friday I went to their house to get paid and to my surprise Diana answered the door.
"Hello Aj, wait right here ill get you your money." I expected the cold shoulder, but I was glad she was home. I could use this chance to apologize.
"Here you go."
"Thank you. Mrs. Fitzgerald, I'd like to say I'm sorry for offending you the other day at the coffee shop. I feel really bad about it."
She stared at me for a few seconds, and I couldn't tell if she was angry or just didn't know what I was talking about.
"Its fine. Apology accepted. Would you like to come in? It's dreadfully hot out there."
"Sure. Thank you."
She led me to the living room, and we sat on opposite sides of the couch. Diana offered me a glass of water, and as I drank I noticed she seemed somewhat anxious.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes Aj, I'm fine. Actually there's something I would like to talk to you about." Diana took off her glasses and crossed her legs.
"I was very flattered when you said I should try and show myself off more often. I'm guessing you find me attractive."
"Very, Mrs. Fitzgerald."
"What did I tell you before young man?" Mrs. Fitzgerald let down her hair and moved closer to me and placed her hand gently on my leg. "Call me Diana."
"Okay, Diana. Where is all of this coming from?"
"A few places. My whole life I've been very timid. Always afraid to go after what I truly want, and allowing people to walk all over me and never truly being happy. My husband just wants a wife to say he has a wife. I thought things would get better over time but they haven't and I had begun to accept things for the way they were. He doesn't love me nor I him. He was the first man I had been with, and the last. He hasn't touched me in years Aj. After a while I came to the conclusion I wasn't good enough for my husband or anyone and I became a recluse. Until I met you. You showed interest in me as a person, you ask how my day is and you are generally interested in what I have to say. I cannot thank you enough for that."
As soon as she stopped talking I leaned in and we kissed.