Dare to Dream

13

(13)

Gina was organizing some bills in her office when a knock came to the door.

“Come in,” she said without looking up.

Sonja opened the door and walked into the office.

“Evening boss.”

Gina looked surprised.

“I didn't know you were working tonight.”

“Oh, I’m not,” Sonja said.

“Carly and I are here for dinner.”

Gina smiled. Carley was Sonja’s partner.

“How is Carley?”

“She is great, but that is not why I popped in.”

Gina was confused.

“Is something wrong?”

Sonja smiled.

“No, no, but remember that guy a couple weeks ago?”

Gina shrugged her shoulders.

“What guy? There are a lot of guys that pass through here.”

“Table 16,” Sonja reminded her.

Gina sat back in her chair.

“Dylan.”

“You remember his name,” Sonja said, a glint in her eye.

Gina blushed slightly, passing it off.

“Whatever.”

Sonja laughed.

“Well, I just came back to tell you that he is in the restaurant.”

Gina turned her attention back to the bills on her desk, picking up one and pretending to look at it. She was trying to ignore Sonja, but she could already hear her heart beating faster.

“I guess he liked the food.”

“That’s it,” Sonja quipped.

“I guess he liked the food? Oh, by the way, boss. You have the bill upside down.” Sonja said laughing.

“Get out,” Gina said playfully.

Sonja turned and opened the door.

“He has his daughter with him.”

Gina watched as Sonja closed the door.

“Shit,” she said aloud.

She was tempted to stay in the office, hidden, but the conversation she had with Elaine a couple weeks earlier, came back to her.

She took a deep breath.

“Shit.”

She got up from the desk, checking herself in the full length mirror on the office door.

Taking another deep breath, she opened the office door and headed for the restaurant.

Sonja was sitting two tables from Dylan. When she saw Gina, she smiled at her and pointed to Dylan’s table.

Gina shook her head slightly. 

She slowly walked to the table where Dylan was seated with his daughter.

“Hello,” she said as she neared the table.

Dylan looked up and smiled.

“Well, hello Gina.”

“Hi.”

She hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“I just wanted to say…”

Dylan shook his head.

“Its cool, really,” he said, anticipating the apology that was to follow.

He looked toward his daughter.

“This is my daughter, Tyla.”

Gina held out her hand to the girl.

“It is nice to meet you Tyla.”

Tyla smiled and shook her hand.

She then looked at her father.

“She is very pretty, Daddy.”

Dylan shook his head.

“Tyla?”

Tyla laughed.

“Daddy told me there was a very pretty woman that worked here.”

Dylan hung his head, shaking it slightly.

Gina laughed.

“Your Daddy is very kind.”

Dylan looked up.

“She is eleven, going on twenty. She is exactly like her mother used to be.”

A sad look came to Gina’s face.

“I’m sorry about your wife.”

Dylan nodded.

“It was a long time ago.”

He looked at Tyla.

“Besides I have her clone.”

Tyla laughed.

“Daddy always calls me that.”

Gina looked at Dylan. She felt like shit for having judged this man so quickly. He was obviously a wonderful man and a great father.

“I just wanted to say I am sorry for before.”