Daniel knew he couldn't walk into that family dinner unprepared. Before facing them, he needed to be sure the woman who would stand beside him could meet every expectation. He understood Deanna didn't move in the same circles he did. That didn't bother him, but it would matter to his family. They would notice everything.
With that in mind, he turned to Harry and asked him to let her know that he wanted to have dinner with her, just the two of them.
"Why don't you tell her yourself?"
"I don't have her number."
"You drove her home and didn't ask for it?"
"It didn't seem important at the time. Call her and tell her I'll pick her up at eight."
Going out to dinner wasn't new to him, and neither was picking someone up from her place. Still, as the evening approached, that same unfamiliar tension returned. It sat low in his stomach, just like the night they first met. Since they were heading somewhere formal, he chose a three-piece suit. The vest stayed, as it always did, giving him a look that set him apart without trying.
Back in her apartment, Deanna stood by the bed, looking at the dress Laura had chosen for her. She liked it, there was no denying that, but something about it felt overly formal. It didn't seem like the right fit for a simple dinner. Maybe Laura had misunderstood and pictured something more elaborate. Even so, the dress carried a refined look. It fell below the knee, modest and classic, the kind of piece meant for formal settings.
By the time she stepped outside, she waited near the entrance of her building. A quiet tension settled in her chest. She understood what this was. He wanted to see if she could play the part. The thought made her wonder what her grandmother would say if she saw her like this.
A small smile touched her lips.
She wore a coat over the dress, and at least the shoes didn't add to her discomfort. Her makeup stayed light, and her hair rested over one shoulder. The whole look felt restrained, almost understated.
After pulling up to the curb, Daniel stepped out of the car, and for a moment, he paused. What he saw caught him off guard. Laura had clearly put in effort to refine her appearance, but it went beyond that. Deanna didn't just look well-dressed. She stood there with a presence that drew attention.
"Deanna..."
"Hi, Daniel."
"Shall we?" He gestured toward the car. Then he moved ahead and opened the door for her.
Before leaving, Deanna had already prepared herself. She knew how he could be, and she decided she wouldn't react the same way as before. Sarcasm wouldn't help. Letting things pass would be easier. If they were going to spend a year like this, constant conflict wasn't an option.
Once inside, he tried to start a conversation. "How have you been?"
"I've been fine. What about you?"
"Fine."
That was it. The silence that followed stretched longer than he liked. Normally, he didn't mind quiet, but this time it felt different. He wasn't sure how to continue.
"Harry mentioned you work at your family's company."
"Yes, that's right."
"And what about you? What do you do?"
"I handle operations and take care of the company's major decisions."
That didn't help the situation. Daniel realized his responses sounded too clipped, but he didn't know how to stretch them further. He had always kept things direct. It worked for him, but now it only made things awkward. That same uneasy feeling crept back in.
Turning her attention away, Deanna looked out the window. Maybe it was better to let things settle on their own. At some point, something would come up, or they would simply sit through the evening with nothing much to say.
When they reached the restaurant, she took it in with a quiet pause. The place felt far removed from anything she was used to. Everything about it spoke of refinement, more than she was comfortable with. A hint of nerves set in. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to act in a setting like this. Laura had gone over a few basics, but she still expected to slip up. Most of her meals were quick and simple, grabbed near the university.
As Daniel stepped ahead to speak with the host about their reservation, someone approached her quietly.
"May I take your coat, miss?" For a second, she didn't react.
"Oh, yes. Of course. Thank you." He took the coat from her with ease.
The manager stepped forward next. "If you'll come with me, I'll take you to your table."
As Daniel turned to follow the host, his gaze landed on her, and he stopped for a brief moment. The dress revealed most of her back, the fabric dipping low enough to trace the line of her spine. It wasn't excessive, yet it was enough to catch his attention. What held his focus even more were the small freckles scattered across her skin.
They made their way through the dining area, and he quickly noticed the looks they drew. A few people greeted him once he met their eyes, while others exchanged knowing smiles. It irritated him. The table was set across the room, which meant nearly everyone had watched them walk by.
Once seated, Daniel asked for the wine list and made the selection without consulting her. Meanwhile, Deanna took in her surroundings. The atmosphere felt refined but calm, the kind of place that kept voices low.
"That dress..."
"Laura picked it out. Is there something wrong with it?"
His tone stayed even. "The back is more open than what's appropriate for a place like this."
"I'm sorry. I followed her advice. I didn't know what to choose. I've never been somewhere like this before..."
"It's not a bad dress. It looks good... but it drew attention."
"You mean people were staring at me because of it."
He corrected her without pause. "They noticed the dress." He didn't mention what he actually saw.
She gave a small, uncertain response. "Alright..."
A brief silence followed before he added, "Either way, it's better to avoid dresses that show that much."
"Alright, then I won't wear something like this again."
"That's not what I meant. You can wear it, just not in places this crowded."
That only left her more confused. When exactly would it be acceptable, then? The way he explained things didn't quite add up. Still, he was talking more than before, and that counted for something. She just hoped he wouldn't pick apart the rest of her appearance as the night went on.
As the meal continued, the conversation settled into something lighter. They talked about her time at university and what she planned to do after finishing. The upcoming family gathering also came up, along with where it would take place and who would be there. At one point, he asked whether anyone from her family would attend. She answered without hesitation, saying they lived too far away.
Things remained calm until dessert was served. That's when he noticed her. A few tables away, Lynda sat with her sister. Out of all nights, they ended up in the same place. She was the daughter of one of his mother's friends, someone who had shown interest in him before. She had known about his children and didn't mind. He had turned her down, politely but clearly.
On their way out, he chose to stop by her table.
"Daniel, it's been a while. How are you?"
"Lynda."
"I didn't expect to see you here tonight."
From where she stood, Deanna watched the exchange. It didn't take much to notice that Lynda paid little attention to her. Daniel didn't add anything else, as if he wanted to keep the moment short and move on. That didn't seem to be Lynda's plan.
