I'm sitting at the table near the window. Trust Parker to book a table with such a lovely view. The first time I read his profile on Match, I knew he would be a man of taste. I can look out into the landscaped garden to my left, and if I look to my right I can see the door. I wonder if this was Parker's intention, to sit here and watch me make my entrance. Of course, Parker would need to be here first, and he's not. Still, he's only seven minutes late. He couldn't have known I'd be early due to nerves. He's probably parking the car right now.
7:15pm.
The waiter brings me my first glass of wine - a heady merlot. I think he's relieved I've finally ordered something. I'm sure Parker won't mind when he gets here. After all, it's only one drink, just to be polite. I leave it on the table, intending to drink it when Parker gets here. He'll be here soon.
7:25pm.The waiter whisks my empty glass away. I wonder where Parker is. It must be the right date and time, or they would never have shown me to his table. I check my phone in case he's tried to call to say he's been held up. Wasn't his big presentation today? I try to think back to the last email he sent. Yes, maybe he's just been held up.
7:35pm.
The waiter brings me a second glass of merlot. Still no word from Parker. Is it too soon to call and ask if he's coming? I don't know what the protocol is. I haven't dated in fifteen years, and this is the first date I've had from an Internet site. It wasn't like this when I met Ben. Back then, it was having to share a table in a busy cafe, swapping phone numbers, and then marriage six months later. I send Parker a brief text, saying I hope the presentation went well, and that he can tell me about it over dinner. I wonder if he's forgotten our date. Ben never forgot anything.
7:45pm.
The waiter whisks away my empty glass. I gaze around the room. The other tables are occupied by gossiping women guzzling wine in between courses, happy couples, or loud businessmen discussing deals over their steak. Only one other person is here on his own, and he scribbles in a notebook after every forkful. Maybe he's a food critic.
7:50pm
The waiter just came back to ask if I want another glass of wine. I tell him I don't - I should really wait for Parker. As soon as he leaves I want to call him back, just for someone to talk to. I look around the other tables and imagine that they're all staring at me. I bet they're thinking I look pathetic, sat here by myself. Is it okay if I have a third glass of wine, or does that just mean I'll go from waiting for a date to drinking alone? The waiter glares at me, and I consider ordering dinner. I can't bring myself to. If I do, then Parker will arrive and think less of me for not waiting. Then again, if I don't order anything, he won't show.
8pm
Parker is an hour late and there is still no word from him. A third glass of merlot sits on the table in front of me. The smell turns my stomach. I check my phone again. Nothing. I find the email app and log into my account. There, in black and white, is today's date, 7pm, and the name of this restaurant. I didn't get it wrong after all. I wondered if he'd taken one look at me and decided not to come in. I hope not. He's seen my picture online, and I took care to use the nicest photo I have. I don't think I look all that different in person.
8:10pm
The waiters are getting angry with me. I pull up Parker's number, and my finger hovers over the 'Call' button. Who am I kidding? Parker isn't running late - he just isn't coming. I think of Tex, my old labrador, who is no doubt sat in the living room patiently waiting for me to come home. I get the urge to pay my bill and go home. There's a pizza in the freezer that I can have for dinner. If I leave now, I can be home in time to curl up on the couch with Tex and watch The Mentalist. Still, I can't leave. Not alone. Everyone will know I was stood up. The waiter glares at me. I have to make a decision. I either order more drinks, have dinner, or leave.
8:20pm
I work up the courage to call Parker. His phone rings for what feels like an eternity, before I'm put through to voicemail. I hang up, knowing my voice will crack and betray my disappointment if I try to leave a message. I look out of the window, keen to face away from everyone in case they see me welling up. I think of going home, and I picture Tex greeting me at the door and wagging his tail when I give him a cuddle.
A couple walk past the window. The woman is a stunning blonde with the kind of bombshell figure you only get with surgery and a personal trainer. She's wearing a clingy gold dress and I suddenly feel very dowdy in my burgundy blouse and cream skirt. My eye is drawn to her companion. He's tall, and grey streaks through his dark brown hair. He has his arm around her waist. The man briefly looks in my direction, and looks away just as quickly.
I signal to the waiter for the bill, and try not to think about how much the man outside looked like Parker.
* * *
This story came from a prompt from Tony Noland about an empty wine glass. Tony's just released his first short fiction anthology, Blood Picnic, which is a bargain at $2.99 over on Smashwords!
However, the story did give rise to two endings. After throwing open the voting for a happy ending on Twitter, more people wanted the unhappy ending you see here, although I'll be posting the alternative happy ending next week!
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