The First Date Secret

 Since Katie had moved into this new community, she had developed a routine. Today though was not going to be the same. She got ready for work and walked outside to get into her car for work but it did not start. She had enough time she called for a ride share and made moments after the start of her shift. 

 She tried to avoid dealing with her boss but shortly after she started, the store manager approached her. The store was a small health food store which, was nice because normally they were not busy all day. The holidays were different though. Katie heard the sound of her shoes that were for nurses and turned to see her approaching. Her dark greying hair and cold grey eyes sent shivers down Katie’s spine.  

 “You were late today.” Valerie, the manager, stated

 “Sorry my car wouldn’t start.” Katie replied  

 “I will let this one time go but next time do not bother even showing up.” The manager said.

 “Yes ma’am.” Katie said letting a low breath out as the manager turned and walked away. 

 Katie tried to keep focus and get through the day. In the process of dealing with her manager she saw him there, Kent. He is quiet and keeps to him self but was attractive. He gave her a smile and she got to work. She did not want to be there and she did not want to deal with the customers so close to a holiday. Each customer was more surly than the last and each had something they wanted to complain about to her. She could only say she was sorry to them, ring them up and pack the items into bags and say have a nice day or something similar. The day went by slow and she was glad when it was finally over. 

 The desire to get home and have dinner was strong after the day she had. She felt too tired to cook that evening so she picked up dinner from the deli and requesyed a ride to head home. It felt good to be home when the driver pulled up to the front of the building. She got out and grabbed her belongings to carry them inside to relax before having to go back to work. 

 As she climbed the stairs, she noticed the door to her apartment appeared slightly open. She brushed it off cause no one was there when she left and no one should be there. She got closer and the sinking feeling started to come over her. The door was open. She approached the door slowing, having dozens of thoughts running through her mind. Could that person still be inside, what did they take, or why did they pick her? She could not stop thinking about it so she opened the door slowly then she saw the empty tv stand and realized the truth. She had been robbed. She called the police and filed a policy report. The manager, Jenson, came and replaced the door and the lock. She wanted this day to end fast. 

 With the police gone, she decided to sit and eat the food she had brought home. It had become cold so she warmed it up and tried to enjoy it as best as she could. She felt a bath might make things better. It did help her feel a little relaxed so she got ready and went to bed. 

 The morning she was apprehensive on how the day would but she got up, got ready and headed to work. She still had no working vehicle and decided to call the shop to make sure they had it before the break in occurred. They did. That was one thing she did not have to worry about. She gave herself time and took the bus into work. As she walked up she saw a co worker smiling to see her. His light brown hair and warm brown eyes stood out to her. He was tall and muscular. She saw him wave at her. 

      “Good morning Katie.” He said

      “Hi Kent. How is today going?” She asked

      “It has not been bad but it is early. I usually get more people in the bakery later in the day.” He replied

      “I hope it stays a little slow today or at least the people a little nicer.” She whispered to him with a chuckle

      “I understand. The holidays can be tough for people.” He explained

      “I better get inside and get to work so I do not get into more trouble.” She said

 She smiled and him and said goodbye heading into the store. She could see the line of customer building up. She hurried and jumped onto a register. Helping each customer as best as she can. Each customer had similar complaints about the holiday or getting ready for it and the people who they will celebrate it with. She enjoyed each break and was glad when the day was over. As she left the store, she say Kent waiting outside. 

    “Kent are you waiting for a ride?” She asked

    “No just trying to figure out something for dinner. He answered

    “Have a good night.” She told him

    “You too.” He said to her

 It was nice to talk to someone who was not a customer and she did not have to watch how she said things to him. She was able to relax and laugh a little while talking to him. She woke up the next day trying to hold on to that feeling of euphoria to get through the day today. It was Christmas eve and it would be busy until the doors closed. People would be in a hurry and many will have no patience. 

 For today and tomorrow she had shorter days at least. Today she is off at 4pm and tomorrow she is off at 2pm or whenever they get the last customer out of the building. That is a task that is never easy. Each employee had to follow the customers to shuffle them along or walk the aisles to make sure there was not anyone there. With group showing up at the last moment and has a long list of things to buy but they want to take their time to get it all, be rung up, bagged and leave. 

 She enjoyed the shorter day at work and the pay helped her get things caught up or paid off for the month but dreaded the experiences with the customers. She got ready and headed into work. The good part of today was that her car was fixed. She could drive in and drive home. She got to work early for a change to give time to be ready for the day. She walked in and looked around the lines of customers where already there. The noise level was starting to rise. She huried to the back and put her belongings away in her locker. Kent was in the break room. He walked up slowly to approach her. 

     “Hi Katie do you have any plans tomorrow after we close?” He asked

     “No, I was just going to go home. This week has been crazy.” She replied

      “How about you let me cook you dinner?” He asked

 She was surprised by the question and had to take a moment to think about the answer.

      “You don’t have any family you want to spend the holiday with?” She asked

       “No, what about you?” He questioned

       “I moved here for a new start and my family is too far away to visit for the holidays. I get back and stay for a couple of weeks once or twice a year.” She explained

      “So you like to travel?” He questioned

      “No, I wanted somewhere new away from my family. I have not traveled far from home before. I want to though.” She told him.

       “I travel a lot with my family for business. It can become tiresome, sometimes. Since both of our familes are far away and neither of us has plans then we are meant to have dinner together.” He said.

 She laughed at his response.  

       “Yes, to dinner then and I will drive myself there and home. Just give me the address.” She requested

 He grabbed a sticky note and wrote the address down and gave her the time to be there. She thanked him and left the break room to start her shift. As she walked out she first noticed the crowd was getting bigger but could not stop thinking about that dinner for tomorrow. He seemed like one of those people who wanted to keep work life and personal life separate. 

 She took a deep breath and approached her register. The line built up quickly and she worked as fast as she could to get through it. The busy store kept her on her toes and the time moving. She wanted it to slow down a little so she could take a mental break but the customers kept coming in. 

 The day zipped by with each break being fully appreciated. Once the day was over she headed to the break room to grab her belongings to head home the tension in her shoulders eased off. She was glad the day was over. That allowed her to get some rest before the next work day.

 Work the next day flew as the crowds of customers filled the store for last minute shopping for the holiday. There were plenty of grumbles from dissatisfied customers who became impatient in the checkout lines. Kent stocked and retrieved items for customers to get what they needed and to return home. As Katie filled bags with a customer’s groceries she noticed a man dressed in all black walk into the store. He was looking around and did not move from the front of the store. 

        “Can I help you sir?” She asked him

        “Um I am looking for Kent.” He replied

        “I will call him to the front for you.” She told him

 Over the intercom she called Kent to the front and return to ringing up customers. He took a moment to arrive since he was assisting customers throughout the store. Once he saw the man he became frustrated and grabbed him by the arm to escort him outside to talk. The conversation was brief and Kent said nothing once he returned. 

 As the day came to an end they shuffled all the customers to the front to empty the store. All the employees collected their things to go home for the day to enjoy their holiday. As she walked back to the front she could see a car waiting along with the man in black. 

      “Katie, wait up. I need to tell you something.” She heard yelled from the back by Kent.

 She went outside and waited from him to get there. 

      “What did you need to tell me that could not wait till later?” She asked

      “I can’t go to dinner. I have to leave and go to the airport. My brother was injured and I have to go home to help my father with the business. I am sorry. We can have dinner when I return.” He emotionally explained.

      “Is he going to be okay? How long will you be gone?” She asked

 She had several emotions occurring at once from disbelief to feeling bad for his brother through wondering if he would be back but understood how important it was that he leave. 

       “I understand have a safe trip. I hope he is able to get better soon. I will take you up on that dinner when you return.” She replied trying not to show the feeling she was feeling with this new information and change of plans.

 He turned and got into the waiting car and the car drove away. She hurried to her car to go home. The week went by quick with everyone preparing for yet another holiday. She was ready for them to be over. The holidays were draining on her body and her energy along with her mental health. 

 Kent did not return for a few weeks. There was a point she thought maybe he was not coming back. She hoped everything was okay. She kept to her normal routine and got through each day miraculously uninjured from the crowds of people. Glad to see the holiday over. She was surprised to see him outside waiting for her to walk out.          

       “You’re back?” She said with surprise in her voice.

       “I can’t be here long but I wanted to talk to you about something.” He said somberly. 

 Her smile disappeared at the thoughts of what he needed to tell her. What could it be so important he came back to tell her? What could not be said over a phone or Facetime? 

He followed her in his car to her home. Her mind kept pondering what happened and what was going on. Had she misspoke and his brother was not okay. 

 She pulled up in front of her building getting out she looked to see if his car was behind hers’ still. She waited for him to get out of his car so they could walk in together. They walked into her apartment and sat down in her livingroom. He cleared his throat to tell her something.

       “I am only her to collect my belongings and I have to return home. My brother was in a serious accident and my father can’t run the family business alone. The business is complex.” He told her

       “What kind of business is it? Will you not be back?” She asked

       “I will be once everything is taken care of and my brother is back on his feet but there is something else I have to tell you.” He voice became softer. 

 Her mind wondered what could it be?

        “I am not from the United States and..he voice trailing off, my family are the leaders of my country, we are royalty.” He said slowly in hopes to not scare her or make her feel different about him. He wanted to see if there could be a relationship with her.

        “Um so where are you from?” She asked

        “Andorra. It is between France and Spain. It is small but is a popular destination for the rich and famous to relax and have fun.” He answered

        “So does that mean you will be a king someday?” She question hesitantly

        “I hope is does not come to that since there are several others in front of me for the job. It is why I came to the United States in the first place. To keep out of the public eye and have my own life. My brother will take over after my father. He has his own family to follow him should something happen but with his current injury and hospitalization my family realized there is more to be done if something were to happen. That is why I have to go back.” He explained

       “How did you come to choose here? Why the store? You could have done something more interesting or fun.” She asked

       “I like the quiet and though the store has busy moments I get to live more simpler than my life at home along with wearing my own clothing choice and speaking differently.” He said 

       “Do you have internet access there so we can keep in touch at least?” She questioned

       “Of course. Just because we are small country and are high in the mountains does not mean we are not in this century. If you visit I will show it all to you.” He replied at the question. He stood up and walked to the door. He provided her his social media information ask before he left her apartment. He stopped before exiting.

       “Maybe one day you can come visit.” He offered

       “If I can get away I will take you up on that opportunity. I have not done a lot of traveling except moving here so that will give me a chance to see the rest of the world. See a new place.” She stated

       “Great. You can let me know when you are ready and I will let you know when there is a good time.” He said

 She opened the door to see him out. She hoped they would talk more in the future. This new information gave her something to look forward to and a possible new adventure, visiting him.

 She walked in the door after her work day to check her mail. Her new neighbor, Melody, was standing there looking threw her own mail. She was a youger woman with brownish blonde hair and beautiful green eyes. 

     “Hi Katie. How was work?” She asked

     “It was okay not too busy since holidays are over for now.” Katie replied

 Katie opened her mail box and pulled out the large envelop.

      “What is that?” Melody asked

      “My passport. Just in case I have an opportunity and invite visit another country.” She explained to Melody.

  Katie closed her mailbox and went home to her apartment telling her neighbor goodbye as she walked away. 

 She walked into the apartment, set her things down, except the envelope, and opened it. She opened it slowly and pulled her documents out and filled them away for safe keeping. She stood there a moment staring at the brand new passport. It made her a little excited since she had never had one before. Suddenly the notifications ring tone went off. She looked and saw his name. 

       “Hi. Look what just came in the mail today.” She held the passport up to the camera with excitement. “Great. I will keep you posted on when the best time to visit is once you know when you can. It will be great to see you and show you my country.” He told her.

 They caught up a little and thoughts of future plans.