The Deli Accident

Chapter 4- Deli collision

   

^{June 17th 2008}                                                                                                     Looking both ways for a break in afternoon grid lock, I finally manage to  dash  across four lanes of traffic all at once,  not an easy feat at 4pm Tuesday afternoon, in trendy Kitsilano Vancouver. Traffic is  thick, everyone needs to get home, to cook dinner, to pick up kids, to meet friends. I “need” to restock our completely bare pantry. As usual it’s empty and I’m still not sure what I want for dinner.   Plodding into Whole Foods Market, walk directly to the back deli counter and study their selection of prepackaged foods. Wrong time of day to be doing this, I’m so hungry!  I grab a number from the ticket machine   move closer to the glass of the display  case and wait my turn.  Because I’m eating alone tonight, I can choose anything for dinner. The butternut pasta salad looks   intriguing, peppers, some kind of white cheese, tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil. No maybe the cold garlic prawns, they are so delicious. Both, I’ll take both.  My mouth salivates a little.

“Number 24.”

“That’s me!” I hand her my ticket. “I’d like a small container of the pasta salad, and a small container of the garlic prawns, thank you” She fills the containers and hands the to me, yum. I place them in my basket, and fight my thought to sample them  and proceed to the dairy aisle, in search of milk. Jazz music rattles in the background, I think its Diana Krall the cheap speakers are distort the sound.  Making my way through a maze of people, dodging in and out, I try to hurray a little feeling a growl coming from my stomach. What did I eat today?  A snickers bar for lunch and 3 cups of coffee, no wonder I’m starving.   If GQ,  had taken my number Saturday night or given me his, maybe we’d be out to dinner right now, chuckle in my mind, amused by the thought. Not fucking likely, don’t kid yourself letting out a real giggle. My overactive mind begins to gallop through recent events, the big break up, the scene in the bar, and GQ saving me, what an incredible dancer. Check one on the list …he can dance. Talking to him was pretty easy as well, I felt quite at relaxed. Who are you, GQ? At least I know his last name. He has so much magnetism. My mouth starts to smile, he was so handsome, Brad Cooper GQ handsome. We actually talked for quite a while; I wish he would have asked me for my number. I’ll give you my number, baby and maybe a little more than that. I snicker to again... Turning the corner I look down and cover my smirk with my hand. Bang!  My basket slams onto the floor, contents scatter and pasta salad garlic prawns spilling open.  Damn it! Thank god I didn’t have the milk yet. 

“Oh my, I’m so sorry I didn’t look where….” apologizing I look directly up into Jack  Darcy’s  eyes, his hands are coupled around my shoulders, holding me still. I’m frozen as a hot flush spreads from zero to sixty over my face, and  I’m covered in  goose bumps. I’m so embarrassed, I want to disappear. 

“Jack, I’m….”

“Libby, what a surprise running into you, literary. Are you ok?” tightening his grip.  His face harboring the biggest smile.

“Yes, I’m fine but, dinner isn’t.” I laugh nervously as I look at spoils on the ground, shit, how embarrassing, did that really just happen?  I start to laugh a little more. I reach down to start to clean up the mess, he pulls me back, “here I’ll get that, sweetie” I glance back at him. He just called me Sweetie; I love the sound of that. A clerk comes to our rescue and takes over cleaning up my Chernoble disaster. 

“I guess I’ll have to start dinner over,” I try and make light of the situation with a giggle. He’s still holding my arm. Nice. “Sorry I feel greatly responsible for the ruin of you meal Miss Whyte.”

My “crashmeal” I snicker, looking down.

“Crashmeal, I like that.” Smiling with a mischievous grin, he looks like the Cheshire cat.  “I know this great place around the corner; please allow me to make it up to you, to save face. Would you have dinner with me, Libbie?” What! Ok calm down girl, yes he did just ask you to dinner, calm!

“Dinner? I do believe the crash was my fault. I should be the one to try and save face.” I’m flushed.

“Ok, so that’s a yes, you will have dinner with me.” He demands.  It’s more of a statement than a question. “I hope you like Italian.” His face lights up! I glance down at what I’m wearing; I guess I’ll do, feeling slightly inadiquate.  I can’t believe he remembered my  name.

“You look terrific except for, what looks like some sauce on your cheek,” he leans closer and wipes my face with his index finger, then pops it in his mouth. “Mm but, you taste delicious.” He grins with a wink. I feel weak in the knees, and excited all at once he just winked at me, wow that was thrilling. Turning to the clerk he puts his hand on the boy’s shoulder “thanks man for looking after that, sorry for the mess.” He puts his elbow out urging me to grab hold,  A gentleman , I’m liking this divine  tragedy  more and more.