He’s back again, and again, and again
i love when i have a new story to tell my friends. it gives me such pleasure as i choose the words and listen to their reactions. even more, though, when they, too, see what i see: that life has a funny way of working in the background, making what i perceive as miracles, and though we feel hopeless and helpless at times, if only we could remember that there is a little miracle working its way even as the tears are falling, how much more we could all enjoy every second of life.
i have spent so many of my moments over the past couple of years filled with sorrow, broken-hearted, & lost. but today, i have a new story to tell, and even though i can’t tell you the outcome, i can share a tale of how life is always working little miracles in the background.
a year and a half ago, my friend susan invited me to a local pub called georges. i hadn’t been out since i’d moved here 2 years earlier. on this particular night, her boyfriend dana and his band were playing at the pub. i knew no one except susan and we sat at a large table in the band area which was sectioned off from the bar area by a waist-high wall.
throughout the night, i kept glancing at a man on the bar side who was sitting with a group of friends and i thought i caught him glancing a time or two at me. The band played, i talked with a few people at my table but mostly i sat quietly, feeling a bit lonely and out of place until….until i saw the man with whom i had my eye on get up and walk towards me. he came right up to my chair, bent down and whispered in my ear, “i think we have been exchanging glances all night and i had to come over and tell you that you are the most beautiful woman i have ever seen. i have a fiancee so i am going to leave now before i try to start something i shouldn’t.” he kissed my cheek and left.
i was stunned, turned on from his breath on my neck, and perplexed by the situation. but, it was over as quickly as it happened.
six months later, i was again at georges but this time sitting at the bar with a big group of friends i had cultivated over the months. he sat down next to me.
” do you remember me?” he asked.
“yes,” i said as my heart began pounding.
he leaned in to my ear, “i was hoping to see you here tonight. i haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since that night i first saw you.” (i swear, lol, this isn’t the dialog from some romantic comedy where the friends come in and create a diversion that causes a script queue of boy tries to get girl but people get in his way…oh wait, it is)
out of nowhere, my friend and self-appointed protector, jeannine starts giving him the third degree. who are you? do you have a girlfriend? oh, you just broke up, huh? well, do you still have feelings for her? you do? well why the hell are you here talking with nathalie, leading her on? go back to your girlfriend.
again, i was stunned. relieved to have gotten the information before i went out with him but none the less, stunned at the swiftness of her angered questioning and his calm responses. “i’m so sorry, nathalie. i honestly was not trying to lead you on or hurt you. i just think about you a lot but i’ll go.” and he did.
last night, a year after that incident, lol, again i was at georges drinking and talking with friends on the patio. it was so lovely outside. the truth is, earlier, i didnt even feel like going out but i did anyway. i knew everyone at the table except one man who began telling us a story about his numb foot and the operation he had had two months ago to remove a tumor. after the q&a from everyone, most from our table got up to go inside to do a shot. the storyteller, another guy and i were the only ones left.
“you’re nathalie, right? the storyteller asked me.
“yes,”
“i’ve only been here twice before but each time i have talked with only you.”
i couldn’t for the life of me recognize him. surely, i thought to myself, i would remember speaking with him. he’s so good looking. shit, how much do i drink when i’m out?
“i’m sorry i don’t remember.” i held out my hand, “what’s your name?”
“Nathan.”
“Nathan, yes, i remember you.” i did remember the name but not the man. we sat quietly for a moment and then everyone came back to the table.
“wait a minute,” i said in a mock angry voice. “now i remember, i gave you my phone number and you never called me.” oh yeah folks, im a laugh a minute when im uncomfortable.
“no, you never gave me your phone number. i can assure you, i would have called.”
“hmmm,” i replied intelligently.
i heard charlie, the d.j., call me up to sing with him so i dashed out. over the course of the night all was back to feeling comfortable and nathan and i ended up sitting at the bar talking. he told me about his art and at one point went out to his car to get photos to show me a few of his pieces. they were breathtaking. he asked about my life and i told him that i teach aerobics, have an online magazine, and that i was trying to finish a book called, 5 small steps to mend your broken heart. he told me that he had broken up with his girlfriend a few months ago and though it was hard, hes getting better. i didnt say anything about my broken heart. im sick of talking about it. we sang a song together on stage and the next thing i knew, the lights were all flipped on and last call was announced.
“what are you doing the rest of the weekend?’ he asked.
“just working on my book.”
“would you go out with me Sunday night?”
i thought a moment, “yes, that’d be nice.”
“well, i didn’t get your phone number last time (haha), could i get it tonight?”
we exchanged phone numbers and goodbyes and i went home and immediately fell asleep.
at 4:30am i awoke suddenly, thoughts were rushing through my head. nathan. artist. had talked to me twice before. could he be the guy who whispered in my ear? but i remember his hair being a little longer and curlier. i wonder if it’s him. i so wanted to call and ask but i figured the best thing to do would be to wait until sunday night to ask.
as you know, i am curious and impatient. by 12:30pm, saturday, i was dialing his number. i had to find out.
“hi nathan, it’s nathalie”
“hi, how are you?”
“good thanks. i have to ask you something.”
“sure, what is it?”
“does this mean anything to you, “i think we have been exchanging glances all night.”
“yes, it’s the first thing i said to you the night we met. then i told you that you are the most beautiful woman i have ever seen.”
“you cut you hair, didn’t you?”
“yes.”
“i’m so sorry i didn’t recognize you. i remember it all though.”
“i do too. can i still see you tomorrow night.”
“yes, i’d love to”
“good. i look forward to it.”
damn thats a fun story. don’t you think? xxx
the photo is of a piece of art nathan made for me.
Tags: photoblog