Goldie's Date with Brian

If you’re a new reader to my blog, you can start the story HERE with Chapter One.

Chapter Thirteen

At the Kaffee Klatch on Monday evening, a silent sigh escaped Goldie’s lips. She sat across from Brian Choderski, or whatever his name was, at the exact same table she had shared with Ryan Collins on Friday night.

Goldie concentrated on the menu, even though she knew it by heart, because every time she looked up, Brian’s dark eyes connected with hers and he flashed her a toothy grin.  

         It was unnerving.

Frieda walked out of the kitchen and raised an eyebrow at Goldie.

“Hey, Frieda.” Goldie motioned her to their table. “This is Brian, um… Brian—” She looked at him. “Sorry, I forgot your last name.”

His teeth shone in the overhead lights. “Chodakowski.”

Frieda stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet ya.” Her smile was conspicuously absent.

Brian shook her hand. He didn’t stand up, and his handshake looked pretty limp, especially for a construction worker.

Frieda glanced at Goldie. With a barely undetectable shake of her head, she walked away.

Goldie cleared her throat. “Frieda attends my church. We’re good friends.”

Brian just smiled and looked back at his menu.

“Um, you mentioned you’ve never been here before, Brian. If you have any questions about the Pennsylvania Dutch dishes, I’d be glad to answer them for you.”

No comment.

“I suppose you’re wondering about the Dutch Goose. It’s really pig’s stomach.”

His eyes scanned the menu.

“Dutch Goose is at the top.” She touched his menu. “And Souse is directly below it. That’s the meat from the head, ears, and feet of the pig.” She laughed. “They really do use the whole animal!”

Brian glanced up, once again showing off his pearly whites.

Lori stopped by their table. “What would yous like to order tonight?” She whipped out a small pad of paper.

“I’ll take the Dutch Goose.” Goldie handed her menu to Lori. Ryan had raved about that dish on Friday night, and Goldie hadn’t tasted it for years. She would see if it was as good as he claimed.

She glanced at Brian, who still studied his menu. Hmm…what new and interesting Pennsylvania Dutch dish would he choose?

“A hamburger for me.” He handed Lori his menu, and she left.

Goldie raised an eyebrow. “A hamburger?”

Brian shrugged, then glanced around at the Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs that decorated the walls. For once, he wasn’t smiling.

Goldie’s gaze followed his. “I love the way Frieda decorated this place, don’t you? It’s so nostalgic.”

Brian grunted. “Don’t like it. Superstitious.”

Goldie sighed under her breath. “It’s just Folk Art.”

He said nothing.

“So, um, Brian, do you have any siblings?”

“Five brothers.”

“Wow, a big family. I just have one brother, Mike.”

Brian’s grin came back.

Goldie thought he looked better without the smile. “I suppose you know that Mike is an endocrinologist.”

         “Yep, knew that. I don’t like doctors.”

Goldie leaned forward. “Are you saying you don’t like Mike?”

“No, no.” Brian lifted one thick hand. “As a group.”

She frowned. “You don’t like doctors as a group?”

“I hated being in the hospital. So many doctors. Poking and prodding.” He shrugged.

“But they helped you get well.”

“Nah.” He pushed out his lower lip. “I’ve been hurt worse than that. But seeing as I was unconscious, they called an ambulance. I had no say-so in the matter.”

Goldie heard the restaurant’s door open, and she glanced toward the front of the Kaffee Klatch. Ryan Collins walked in, looking tall and handsome.

Sitting up straighter, Goldie turned to Brian. “That is just terrible!” She raised her voice several decibels, enough for a deaf man to hear. “I’m so sorry that happened to you!” She glanced toward the front of the building.

Ryan looked at her, then glanced at Brian before he turned away and walked into the kitchen.

She followed him with her eyes, watching through the serving window as he greeted Dirk. The two men shook hands.

“Yeah, well thanks.” Brian grinned at her. “Glad that’s over.”

Goldie sighed. If only this date were over!

Lori brought out their food, and somehow Goldie made it through the silent meal. Brian leaned over his plate to chow down on his hamburger, barely taking a breath between bites.

At least he wasn’t smiling.

         Goldie took tiny bites of her Dutch Goose. The dish was just as tasty as Ryan claimed. Too bad he wasn’t sitting across from her.

When Brian finished his hamburger, he wiped his mouth with his napkin and smiled.

         “Well!” Goldie stood. “I guess we’re done! Thanks for taking me out, Brian.”

         For a second he looked startled, then he grinned. “Yeah, it was good.”

         Frieda took his money at the cash register (no free meal for him!) and they walked outside together. 

         “Good night.” Brian climbed into his truck and started the engine.

         Standing beside her Volkswagen, Goldie waved as he drove off. As his tail lights disappeared, she let out the tremendous sigh that had threatened to escape all evening.

         Ryan would never have left her standing by her car in the parking lot. He would have never driven off without seeing her home.

         And he was still inside the Kaffee Klatch with Dirk.

         For a moment, Goldie was tempted to go back into the restaurant and talk to Frieda. If she just happened to run into Ryan, she would be civil, sweet, kind. 

         And she would look totally desperate.

         Getting into her car, she slammed the door and laid her head against the steering wheel. “A fine mess I’ve made!”

         Ryan Collins was the best date she ever had, and she let him go. Yelled him right out of her life!

         “Lord, I’m sorry,” she prayed. “But what can I do?”

* * *

Until tomorrow, God bless!