Their Double Blessing

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Patricia got a call from George requesting an impromptu date. He was leaving overseas the next day and wanted to see her, suggesting they meet at his penthouse. Back at work, she would have to take the night off. She hesitated but he promised it would only be this once. Even her sister said she was crazy to even hesitate. With everyone egging her on she decided to take two nights off. It felt strange doing it and even her supervisor was shocked. Once it was done however it felt good taking time to be with her boyfriend. She wasn’t the first person to do that in history.

She decided to wear her own clothes this time. A blue pantsuit with a pink silk blouse and laced shoes. Mary groaned at the dress choice but she ignored that. If George was going to beg her to go off the usual path then Patricia was going to that on her terms. The independent streak in her was more powerful than ever. At the end of the day these dates were something both she and George decided to do. Anything else would be done the same way; with the pair consenting and moving forward with acceptance and love.

Plus, meeting George at his penthouse was a big deal. He tried to be blase about it but she wasn’t stupid. He hadn’t been to her place yet for good reason. Inviting a steady partner to your place was crossing a threshold no one could come back from. It was declaring they were a permanent fixture in your world. He clearly thought she was with this invite just before he was leaving. Mary had suggested he never needed to see her dumpy apartment. Which had her tell off the one who had the nerve to say that while sleeping on the sofa bed.

Patricia decided to take a taxi and Mary walked her down. Unusual but much appreciated. She wanted them to stay close with Ronald in the picture. As long as their bond still had some pull then perhaps he could try to make sure Mary didn’t run off at random. After all, despite all the money Mary kept returning to her apartment, that had to mean there was still something good between them as sisters. What other reason would there be to stick around that small apartment when Ronald could put her up somewhere bigger. Deep down Mary knew better.

Upon reaching the hotel she met with a pair of bodyguards at the entrance, slipping a scarf over her face when exiting the car to hide her identity somewhat. It was cold so it didn’t look that unusual. The men led her to the elevator which took them where they needed to go. She was escorted to the right room and allowed to enter alone. A smile formed on her lips when she saw George in a shirt and Bermuda shorts with sandals. Suddenly she seemed overdressed.

“Thank goodness you didn’t wear one of the dresses.” George hugged her. “Sorry I was dressed up at first then a pipe burst and I dressed in something more comfortable. Then I just didn’t want to change. These are my favorite shorts,” he summarized and she laughed. He sounded like such an ordinary guy right now. Happy to be out of his formal attire and just relaxing. It was interesting seeing him like this while standing in his fancy penthouse. “How rude of me. Do you want a tour? I told the bodyguards to stay outside so we could have privacy.”

Patricia patted his arm. He was trying so hard to make her feel at home. “I know what you’re doing. George, I never agreed to date because you’re rich. There’s no need to try and hide that. When you come to my tiny apartment I promise to leave it as is. I’m here for you and I hope there’s food because I was too nervous to eat dinner.” That last part about not eating wasn’t what she’d meant to let slip out and she felt her face grow warm.

“Great, I cooked something special for us. I thought sharing my culinary skills might be a good idea.” George dragged her into the kitchen. “I made sushi, veal and meatballs to commemorate our first meeting and there are a few sides including potato salad and brown rice. So what do you think?” He looked like a kid waiting to get a good grade on their test.

“You have raw fish and baby cows?” Patricia’s voice raised several octaves. All attempts to act nice flew out the window. Outside the meatball and sides she found the eating options outright appalling. She was never a fan of any animal being eaten raw or not well done. Worse she would never eat veal that was made from cows as young as five to six months.

“Fine, we can just stick with meatballs and the sides. Veal isn’t that bad, I knew you wouldn’t want to eat rabbit or swan,” George said and went to get their plates. He looked like the same kid who just got a fail because the teacher couldn’t see through his ‘art’. Their different lifestyles becoming more apparent by the second. Not even their eating habits matched!

“Swan? Oh my goodness, I don’t know you at all.” Patricia had heard of some of the elaborate eating habits of the rich, going after animals they considered more exotic. What was wrong with enjoying chicken or beef like normal people? No they had to gulp down amazing things like caviar, which was just unhatched fish eggs. What was with them eating the baby versions of animals? Veal was more than terrible enough already.

“Swans are vicious. People only defend them because they look majestic. Just so you know I was kidnapped by a swan when I was just three years old. My nanny enjoyed dressing me up in animal costumes and one thought I was their baby and took off with me in their beak. The park staff had to call in animal control to get me back because that monster took me to its nest with other swans,” George recalled.

Patricia burst out laughing. She heard a few stories in the past about swans chasing people who wandered too close but never of one actually making off with someone’s child. It was awful but also too amusing to hear. “I can never look at you the same, my swan man.”

“Yes, make fun of my traumatizing childhood,” George mumbled but a small smile formed.

They ate meatballs with potato salad and wine. At first it was somewhat somber because of their disagreement. Both soon started laughing over the swan story. Agreeing to inform each other on their eating habits another time to avoid any more meal mishaps. After their meal Patricia went to the bathroom to wash up. It was nice being with George in a casual setting. Even if it was in a penthouse with a man who ate veal and swan. She pushed the thought that he also tore through innocent bunnies to the back of her mind.

But there was still the real question of what she was doing here. George had opened a door inviting her to his penthouse. She had no doubt this was an impromptu decision, he was too nervous for it not to be. Plus his security probably fought tooth and nail about not being in the room. A part of her wondered if that meant they were under some other form of surveillance.

Patricia re-entered the kitchen in time to catch George pigging out on sushi. Clearly trying to rush in a few before she returned. The look of guilt on his face was too much. Imagine a grown man having to hide his eating habits from his date? Now she was the one feeling a bit bad about her behavior before. He should eat whatever he wanted. With a laugh she walked up and kissed him on the nose. “I had a great time, we should do this more often.”