One Wish Left

CHAPTER 7: DATE

"I don't know why I'm so nervous about this," Laura was saying. She had Rachel on speakerphone while she tried to pick out an outfit for her first meeting with Jesse.

Meeting.

She didn't know what else to call it.

"Of course you're nervous! You're meeting with the long-lost cousin. Wait... are you attracted to him?!" Rachel guessed. "Not that it would be a bad thing. It's not like you're related by blood or anything."

"No!" Laura said too quickly. "Well, he is handsome, I'll give him that. And newsflash, Rachel, I have a boyfriend so, yes, it would be bad. But it's just surreal: getting ready to go out with Brodie's cousin. It's like bringing Brodie back to life in a way. I've just been thinking about him so much lately, more than usual."

She held up a little black dress under her chin but then chucked it on her bed. Too formal. And too much like a date.

"That seems completely understandable, Laura. What are you nervous about exactly? I mean, you don't need him to fall in love with you or anything," Rachel reasoned.

Laura chose a soft cream blouse with dark skinny jeans. This outfit was her go-to for any situation in which she felt at loss for appropriate attire.

"I understand that, Rach, but it's a fine line. I do want him to like me for Kieran's sake; I just don't want him to get the wrong impression. Besides, he's sort of already seen me in lingerie, so it adds a layer of awkwardness to the whole thing," Laura confessed.

"What?! How did that even happen?" Rachel practically screamed.

Laura sighed. "It's not what you think."

She proceeded to apply her makeup—light and classy with a soft pink lip—as she explained to her friend how the surprise-under-the-trench-coat snafu was the impetus for Jesse's seeing her Brodie tattoo and her eventually making the connection between the two.

"How have you not told me this already?" asked Rachel in mock outrage. "I mean, this is some seriously entertaining drama here."

"I'm glad my life is so amusing to you," Laura said through the bobby pins in her teeth. She decided to pull her hair into a low chignon and added her favorite pearl earrings. "It just feels a bit messy, and I guess I'm just worried about it becoming too complicated. The lingerie thing certainly doesn't help."

"Well I hate to break it to you, girl, but if this guy saw you in your sexy skivvies, there is no way he's going to be able to keep himself from being attracted to you."

Laura huffed out a laugh.

"Great! Thanks, Rach. This talk really helped my nerves," she sneered. "Anyway, I'd better get going. If you're a good girl, I'll let you know how it goes at work on Monday."

"Cruel! And rude! This is what I get for being the world's best friend. It's amazing really," Rachel complained.

"Goodbye, Rachel," Laura chuckled.

As soon as she ended the call, her stomach was gripped by nerves yet again. She took some deep breaths and closed her eyes.

Just think of this as another interview. You are a professional. You can do this. Just stay calm and breathe.

She was ready. She grabbed her keys, blew a kiss to her son and mother, and rushed out the door.

+++

Brodie checked his reflection in his rearview mirror as he parked in the driveway of the small, brick house. He wasn't a vain person, but he did want to make sure he didn't have food in his teeth or something similarly embarrassing. While he was at it, he decided to give his dark brown locks a once-over, too.