Finding True Love

Episode Three

Jake came awake slowly, opening his eyes and then closing them against the bright sunlight that shone on his face and hurt his eyes. He lay still and looked up at the ceiling above him. It was an unfamiliar one and as he processed this, the events of the previous night came flooding back to him. What exactly had he done? He had followed a stranger, called Shannon, or something like that to her house. As he thought about this, he sat up with the slowness of an old man whose back has carried his weight and the weight of his problems over decades. He wasn’t feeling as bad as he deserved after all that he had drunk, and he supposed that he should be grateful for that fact. Shaking his head a little, he looked around the room in which he was sitting. It was a spacious and tastefully decorated room, if you liked bright pink. Almost everything in it, including the curtains, rug, furniture, and even the television and stereo sets were pink…and expensive looking. As he was looking around, Shannon came over from what he assumed was the kitchen with a steaming mug of coffee.

“Hey. You’re awake. Morning.” She sang, all sunshine and cheer.

“Morning.” Jake replied and gratefully took the mug that she proffered. Even the mug was pink. “Listen, I’m very grateful to you for bringing me over to your house last night, especially with the state that I was in. I’m so sorry for how the night went. I was battling some issues and I guess I got carried away.” He did not add that he always got carried away every February 23rd for the past two years and drank until he got so drunk that someone could have carried him away in and dumped him in a furnace without knowing anything about it.

“It’s okay.” Shannon said with understanding and pity in her eyes. That pitiful look was what he couldn’t stand at all. It was the look many people had given him after the accident. ‘Poor, poor Jake whose fiancée had died so horribly in that awful motor accident just two weeks to their wedding.’ Jake hated that look with passion. What did she think? That he was an alcoholic who did not know how to control his drinking? He got up abruptly, thanked her again, and then left despite her protests and suggestions that he should at least have something to eat before leaving.

The next day was a Monday. Jake was back to his normal self, although the sadness still lingered somewhere within him. He was already used to it though and so, he kept himself busy with work until it was a little past lunchtime. By the time he got to the restaurant at which he and most of his work people ate, the majority of his colleagues had finished their meals and had gone back to the office. He sat down alone at a table, which was actually what he preferred and was slowly eating his food. After taking about three bites, he glanced up and was dismayed to see the lady from last night steadily making her way towards him with her tray of food, all smiles. Where on earth had she come from?

“Hello Jake. How are you doing today?” Shannon asked as she sat down with her food, not waiting for an invitation or asking for one.

"What on earth are you doing here?”  Jake asked in something akin to dismay, although he tried to hide it.

“Um, I work here.”

“Here? At the restaurant? I have never seen you here before.”

"No, I don't mean at the restaurant. My office is just a few blocks away from here. I saw you sitting alone and I decided to come over. I have seen you several times in this restaurant, though.” She said, and described where her office was, her mouth full of food.

“Oh okay. That's good. Our workplaces are opposite each other.”

They made polite chit-chat while they ate and then walked back together toward their offices. Shannon was very chatty the whole while, and Jake tried his best to be polite.

“Thanks for the company, both on Saturday night and this afternoon, although I must say I have not been a very impressive host.” Jake said ruefully as they paused in front of her office.

"I’m not complaining.”  Shannon said. "However, since you feel that way about it, you may make it up to me this evening by inviting me for dinner or taking me out to dinner. It's your call which one you want to do.”

Jake laughed a little and although he didn't think it was a good idea since he wasn't interested in a relationship of any sort, he decided to oblige her. She did not say she wanted a relationship anyway. She was probably trying to be nice.

“I’m not much of a cook, but I would like to thank you for your assistance the other night. So I'll put my best into preparing you a dish and then you can come over tonight.”

“That is great. I’ll like that.” Shannon beamed at him and they exchanged numbers after Jake described his house to her, before parting.

Shannon arrived at his house promptly by seven in the evening. Jake had prepared steak and baked potatoes and while it didn't taste like a world-renowned cook prepared it, it was still much better than many bachelors would have done. She assisted him in setting the table and then dug into the food as though it was the best thing that she had ever tasted. Also, she kept complimenting him as though he had treated her to a meal at the best restaurant in the world.

Jake watched her in amusement, thinking how very much like Grace she was. Grace was also a food enthusiast and he enjoyed cooking the few dishes he knew how to make for her. When they finished eating, she helped him with the dishes and then Jake brought out a bottle of wine which they sipped while sitting on the sofa and talking about different things. Jake began to relax a little. He could see himself easily becoming friends with someone like Shannon. She was quite intelligent and also funny holding a conversation was easy with her. They were on their second glasses of wine when Shannon leaned in and planted her lips against Jake’s own.