The dinner was delicious. For dessert, Julia had ordered chocolate soufflé and Tony had ice cream. As they were lingering over coffee, Julia thought, Is he going to ask me to his apartment, and if he does, will I go? No. I can’t do that. Not on the first date. He’ll think I’m cheap. When we go out the next time….
The check arrived. Tony scanned it and said, “It looks right.” He ticked off the items on the check. “You had the pâté and the lobster…”
“Yes.”
“And you had the French fries and salad, and the soufflé, right?”
She looked at him, puzzled. “That’s right…”
“Okay.” He did some quick addition. “Your share of the bill is fifty dollars and forty cents.”
Julia sat there in shock. “I beg your pardon?”
Tony grinned. “I know how independent you women are today. You won’t let guys do anything for you, will you? There,” he said magnanimously, “I’ll take care of your share of the tip.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” Sally apologized. “He’s really a honey. Are you going to see him again?”
“I can’t afford him,” Julia said bitterly.
“Well, I have someone else for you. You’ll love—”
“No. Sally, I really don’t want…”
“Trust me.”
Ted Riddle was a man in his late thirties and, Julia had to admit, quite attractive. He took her to Jennie’s Restaurant on Historic Strawberry Hill, famous for its authentic Croatian food.
“Sally really did me a favor,” Riddle said. “You’re very lovely.”
“Thank you.”
“Did Sally tell you I have an advertising agency?”
“No. She didn’t.”
“Oh, yes. I have one of the biggest firms in Kansas City. Everybody knows me.”
“That’s nice. I—”
“We handle some of the biggest clients in the country.”
“You do? I’m not—”
“Oh, yes. We handle celebrities, banks, big businesses, chain stores…”
“Well, I—”
“…supermarkets. You name it, we represent them all.”
“That’s—”
“Let me tell you how I got started…”
He never stopped talking during dinner, and the only subject was Ted Riddle.
“He was probably just nervous.” Sally apologized.
“Well, I can tell you, he made me nervous. If there’s anything you want to know about the life of Ted Riddle since the day he was born, just ask me!”
“Jerry McKinley.”
“What?”
“Jerry McKinley. I just remembered. He used to date a girlfriend of mine. She was absolutely crazy about him.”
“Thanks, Sally, but no.”
“I’m going to call him.”
The following night, Jerry McKinley appeared. He was nice-looking, and he had a sweet and engaging personality. When he walked in the door and looked at Julia, he said, “I know blind dates are always difficult. I’m rather shy myself, so I know how you must feel, Julia.”
She liked him immediately.
They went to the Evergreen Chinese Restaurant on State Avenue for dinner.
“You work for an architectural firm. That must be exciting. I don’t think people realize how important architects are.”
He’s sensitive, Julia thought happily. She smiled. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”
The evening was delightful, and the more they talked, the more Julia liked him. She decided to be bold.
“Would you like to come back to the apartment for a nightcap?” she asked.
“No. Let’s go back to my place.”
“Your place?”
He leaned forward and squeezed her hand. “That’s where I keep the whips and chains.”
Henry Wesson owned an accounting firm in the building where Peters, Eastman & Tolkin was quartered. Two or three mornings a week, Julia would find herself in the elevator with him. He seemed a pleasant-enough man. He was in his thirties, quietly intelligent-looking, sandy haired, and he wore black rimmed glasses.
The acquaintance began with polite nods, then “Good morning,” then “You’re looking very well today,” and after a few months, “I wonder if you’d like to have dinner with me some evening?” He was watching her eagerly, waiting for an answer.
Julia smiled. “All right.”
It was instant love on Henry’s part. On their first date, he took Julia to EBT, one of the top restaurants in Kansas City. He was obviously thrilled to be out with her.
He told her a little about himself. “I was born right here in good old KC. My father was born here, too. The acorn doesn’t fall far from the oak. You know what I mean?”