Page 12 of The Wild Side
They had no trouble finding things to talk about on the ride to the Arboretum. Melanie was pleasantly relaxed. She silently reminded herself she was looking for companionship, not romance.
Wayne pulled into the New York Avenue entrance and parked the car near the visitor center. From there, they strolled to the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, which featured the legendary miniature Chinese and Japanese trees.
Melanie began to recite what she remembered about the trees. “The art of Bonsai originated over 1,000 years ago. Legend has it that an emperor from the Han Dynasty had a miniature replica made of his domain so he could look at it every day.”
“You are a walking encyclopedia.” Wayne grinned.
Except when it comes to the letter M and men, Melanie thought to herself. So this is what I missed in high school. “I am also a magician.” Melanie thought it would be fun to drop her hobby into the conversation. Take him off guard.
“Are you going to make me disappear?” Wayne assumed she was joking.
“No. Not yet.” She raised her eyebrows. In hindsight, she wished she had.
After the Bonsai Museum, they walked down the beautifully landscaped path that led to the twenty-two National Capitol Columns. The massive pillars loomed ahead in a meadow atop a hill. A large rectangular reflecting pool lay at the bottom of the steps that led up to the columns. The image in the water looked surreal. On the other side was a meadow of lavender, creating a purple haze over the scenery. And it was quiet. A peaceful place for contemplation.
The rest of the afternoon was easy. A few casual shoulder bumps between them, but no hand holding. Simply two friends enjoying an afternoon at the National Arboretum. It was around four o’clock when Wayne suggested they grab a bite and start their journey home. If traffic cooperated, the drive back to Dale City, where Melanie lived, would take around ninety minutes.
They stopped at a pub halfway. Burgers, fries, and nonalcoholic beer. Melanie wondered if she should offer to split the check. That would make it not a date. But before she could open her mouth, Wayne handed the waitress his credit card without even looking at the bill.
“Thanks for a lovely day. Burgers, fries, and all.” Melanie was smiling from ear to ear.
“My pleasure. We should do it again,” Wayne said as he signed the dinner check.
“Yes. That would be nice.” Melanie decided it really was a date, and another was in the future.
When they arrived at her apartment, she didn’t know what to do. One thing was certain—she wasn’t inviting him in. She figured a quick getaway would avoid an awkward moment. He’d barely stepped on the brakes when Melanie opened the passenger door. She quickly unbuckled her seat belt and turned toward him. “Thanks again. It was a great day!” She hurriedly grabbed her bag and bolted out of the car. A few steps later, she realized she’d been a bit rude, so she turned and gave him a big wave and a smile. No kiss blowing. Not yet anyway.
The next day, Melanie made certain she stuck to her routine and went to her cubicle. She nodded at her coworkers, but made no special acknowledgement of Wayne. Her personal life was not going to spill into her professional life, or vice versa.
She spent Monday and Tuesday at her desk, only pausing to use the bathroom. She deliberately timed her lunch break after Wayne took his. She knew she was being foolish, but she honestly didn’t know what the next move should be. If there was one.
Finally by Wednesday, Wayne approached Melanie at her desk. “Was it something I said?” he asked.
She looked up. “What? No.”
“I got the impression you were avoiding me.”
“No. Not at all.” She lowered her voice. “I have a thing about people knowing my personal business.” She finally admitted to herself it had been a date. Not simply two people enjoying an afternoon in a park. Now what?
Wayne screwed up his mouth. “Personal?”
“Well, I mean, it was just the two of us this time.” Melanie was referring to the usual group meetings for drinks.
“Right.” Wayne seemed to get the message, but wanted clarity. “Does this mean you won’t go out with me again, or you won’t go out with the gang again?”
Melanie snickered. “I haven’t thought it through.”
“How about dinner Saturday, and we can talk about it?”
Melanie finally let out the breath she was holding. “Sounds good.”
“Pick you up at six?” he asked, and then bent his head down and whispered, “Pick you up at six?” He placed his finger over his lips.
Melanie laughed and then whispered, “Yes.”
Beale watched Wayne Howell leave Melanie’s cubicle and walk back to his. She was concerned for Melanie. She didn’t want to tell her that Wayne had a reputation for breaking hearts. Melanie Drake was surely a paradox. She was one of the brightest candidates to enter the program. She was a quick study, had an exceptional vocabulary, and was an excellent communicator. How she could be so naïve when it came to the opposite sex was a little baffling. You can’t be brilliant at everything, she thought to herself.
The rest of the week moved at a snail’s pace until Saturday finally rolled around. Once again, Melanie was tense about her wardrobe. Black tunic-length silk jacket, with a black camisole, black-and-white-striped pleated pants. Black slingback kitten heels, and a white peony pinned to her lapel. Her shiny black pageboy haircut danced along her collarbones when she moved her head. She applied slightly more makeup than she wore to work, including black eyeliner that made her steel-blue eyes even more intense. She took a long look in the mirror. Yes, MelDrake was expanding her usual confidence-building technique to include the opposite sex.