Everything and a Cherry on Top? (Part 3 of A True Love Story)

Sometimes you wait years for prayers to be answers and other times you feel like you have a hotline to heaven.  This was a hotline time.  My friends began to urge me to go back to the dating service and pick out some names and "get back into the swing of things."  I was ready, but I went back just wanting to have fun and meet some nice people.  I really didn't think Mr. Right was waiting just around the corner.

I poured through the books reading profiles and looking at pictures.  I picked out two men who seemed nice.  I was about to put the book away when the receptionist came by.  She leaned over my shoulder and flipped the book to a page that I had studied earlier.  "This one." She said, "He's so cute and so nice.  Put his name down."  Now  this guy was handsome with great dimples.  I could tell from the picture that he was tall.  His profile was articulate and that he was committed to his faith.  There  was only one reason I hadn't written his  name down.  I was sure someone so amazing would never want to meet me.  Aww, what the heck.  He  could only say no and it wouldn't be to my face, right?  So I wrote down his name and left.

I went on with my life and I was quite content.  I caught up with girl friends who I hadn't had time to spend much time with.  I worked hard at my new position as lead teacher at a local junior high school.  Lead teacher is actually code for "the person who will take on twice the  responsibility for almost no extra money."  I didn't care, though.  I loved teaching and I loved "my" kids.  I was at school from 7:00 am until 4:30 and  then I still had a couple  of hours of grading and planning.

Two weeks after I'd gone to the dating service, I got a call. I had been grading so I was a little distracted  when I answered the phone.  A man's voice on the other end of the phone confused  me  for a moment.  Then as the man introduced himself I realized he was one of  the  men whose name  I had chosen from the dating service--but  who?  After another minute I realized it was the one who I NEVER thought would call!  I have never had such a fun, easy conversation with someone I didn't know.  We talked for a long time until I caught sight of the time and weighed the remaining evening against the stack of papers in front of me. 

I didn't have to say anything.  He said, "I'd really like to meet you.  Where would you like to have dinner?" Test time "There is an Arabic Restaurant I've been wanting  to go back to.  Are you game?" He laughed, "I'd love to.  My Uncle  and Aunt used  to live  in Saudi Arabia.  It would be fun to try the food."  A comfortable pause, "Now how will I know you?"  "Umm, I look a lot  like my picture."  "Oh well, I haven't been able to get by the service since I've been working  so much.  So I haven't seen your picture."  "Oh I see.  I have a hump back and a wart on the end of  my nose." We  both laughed.  "I'll just  look for  the  most  beautiful woman in the room."   What do you say to that?

The night  of the date came.  I arrived early.  What can I say, it's a hangover from being a teacher.  I was frankly horrified.  The same place that was fun and unusual at lunch with a girlfriend had been turned romantic and exotic.  Oh no!  He was going to think I was some desperate woman on the hunt. ARGH! To make it worse, the place was deserted except for a pair of  middle aged Arabic gentlemen enjoying their coffee across the room from the table where the friendly waitress had seated me.  I wanted to crawl under the table.  As the minutes passed, I was beginning to wonder if I was going to be stood  up.  I was almost  eager to be stood up since I was so nervous.  What I forgot was that I had set my watch fast so I would always be early to school. 

Exactly on the dot, the door opened and the tall handsome man walked in.  He  caught sight of me immediately and gave  me this megawatt smile.  My stomach jumped.  He was absolutely gorgeous.  When he reached  the table, he took my hand in his and said, "You forgot your hump and wart." I smiled,"They're in the shop."

We talked and talked.  We ordered different things so we could try everything.  When our food came, he reached across the table and took my hand.  Then he said, "Let's pray." I bowed my head  and inside I was thinking "YES!"  Number one on my list was a commited Christian who was not  ashamed of his faith.  We were on the right track. 

We talked more.  In fact we closed the place down. When he walked me to my car, I was nervous.  I had promised myself  no kisses  on the first date.  I wanted  to know someone a little longer before  I started getting  tangled up emotionally with him.  But  I  almost  wished he would try.  I was very attracted to him.  He gave me a quick hug, but the look in  his eyes told me that he liked me very much indeed even if he  didn't try to kiss me. 

"I'd like to call you.  Would that be okay?"

"Yes, I'd  like that."

Was he for real?  Only time would tell.  Right  now he looked like everthing with a cherry on top.  I don't know how I got  home  driving in that cloud of dreams.

(continued in Part 4--Where's the Ring?)

Part 1--Making the List

Part 2--Will the Real Me Please  Stand Up?