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Aurora berated herself the entire day. Why had she agreed to a date with a total stranger? She must have drunk more than she realized. That was the only explanation that she could think of. The more logical side of her brain said that she couldn’t get to know someone without them first being a stranger. Aurora quickly hushed that side though.

Eli of course had been excited when Aurora arrived home last night. She had not been gone long but he did not like to go many hours without her. They were their own little family and Aurora was blessed to have a strong bond with her son. 

Aurora's mother, Faith, gave her a knowing look. Had her mother smelt the alcohol on her breath? Aurora didn’t think so. She only had one drink. Aurora picked up her son and carried him into his room. When they had first moved into this home, Aurora made sure that the first thing she decorated was Eli's room. She wanted him to have everything a little boy could want. 

He had a full-size bed, with his favorite character on it. Along with a large tote full of stuffed dinosaurs and characters. There was a large toy box and dresser on the other side of the room as well. Aurora laid Eli down in bed and sat on the edge. She turned on his galaxy night light and leaned on his pillow and kissed his cheek. 

"Did you have fun with grandma?" Aurora asked. Eli nodded enthusiastically. 

"She let me paint and color and we played outside for a very long time." Eli recanted his day to Aurora. She smiled down at her son and poked the tip of his nose lightly. 

"Did you take a bath by chance?" 

"Yes momma." Eli rolled his eyes at the mention of a bath. Eli always gave a hard time, but once he was in the bath, he never wanted to get out. Aurora chuckled and gave her son another kiss. 

"I will see you in the morning. Good nigh E. I love you." Aurora stood up from the full-size bed and stopped at the doorway. Her hand hovered over the switch. 

"Good night momma. I love you too." Eli said as he rolled over and hugged one of his stuffed dinosaurs to his body. Aurora smiled to herself and closed the door behind her. She always left it open a crack so that she could peek in on Eli before she went to bed herself. 

Aurora walked back into the kitchen and began to clean up their dinner. Faith sat at the small table on the other side of the kitchen. Her arms crossed in front of her. She had been flipping through a magazine before Aurora came into the room. 

"What happened at the meeting?" Faith asked her daughter. Her light eyes bore into Aurora's back. How was it that her mother could possibly know? Aurora sighed as she turned around. 

"It was not as expected, and my meeting was cut short." Aurora could think of no vaguer answer than that. Faith was not appeased by Aurora's response. 

"Care to elaborate?" Was all Faith asked. Aurora crossed her own arms in front of her chest and looked down at the ground. She had long taken her shoes off. Her dark colored tights were a dark contrast to the light-colored linoleum floor in the kitchen. 

"You were right. It was not a good situation to put myself in. But I did not give it a chance to go sour any more than it had. I left right away and did not stop until I was almost home." 

"Almost home?" Faith asked. It was not an accusatory tone but one of general curiosity. 

"I stopped at a bar. It was actually a very nice one. Downtown as soon as you exit the highway. I needed a moment to come to terms with what happened. I also did not want Eli to witness me flustered from what happened." Faith nodded in understanding. Faith knew that above everything, Eli was Aurora's first thought. She was an amazing mother who did everything for her son. 

"If you believe that it helps, then I am glad you did." Faith looked down at her magazine as she was about to start reading again. She had gotten the truth from her daughter and thought there was no other reason to continue to question her. 

Aurora cleared her through and looked down at the floor once more. "Are you able to watch Eli for a few hours tomorrow night?" At Faith's raised eyebrow, Aurora explained. "I may have been asked out on a date." Faith’s eyes widened at what had just come out of her daughter’s mouth. A date? Her daughter had not so much as looked at a man since she got pregnant with Eli. Not that Faith blamed her around the circumstances of his birth. 

"Are you sure?" Faith asked. She wanted her daughter to start dating someday. She deserved to be happy and to have someone in her life treat her the way that she deserved, but she also did not want Aurora to feel rushed into it either. 

Aurora nodded her head slowly. "I think so. He seems like a nice enough man to have a first date with." She was still unsure. Being out of the dating pool for five years will set your confidence back a little. 

"No problem, honey. I can watch Eli tomorrow." Faith gave Aurora a smile as she went back to reading her magazine.

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Aurora stood outside of the bar that she had stopped at the night before. She decided to keep it semi casual as the bar was in the middle of the road for sophistication. She had on jeans that fit her perfectly and flared a bit at the bottom and a black shirt with a V-neck and slightly puffy sleeves. She kept her jewelry simple with a mother necklace that had Eli's name etched into it. A gift curtesy of her mother a few mother's days back. 

Aurora didn’t see any other cars in the parking lot as she walked to the front doors. When she put her hand on the door, she noticed that the sign said closed. Really? Was this a joke. The bar was closed. Why would Arden want to meet her here then? She could have saved time and went to the place he was taking her.

As Aurora was about to turn around, she noticed movement in the corner of her eye inside the bar. Arden was rushing to the front door and unlocked it. "I am sorry. I probably should have told you it would be locked. I had to check on the food real fast otherwise I would have already been up here." Arden rushed to explain. Aurora smiled. He seemed slightly nervous as well. 

"It is alright. I didn’t realize it would be closed on a weeknight." Aurora handed her bag to Arden who placed it on the coat rack inside the door. 

"Normally it is." He spoke. "You can follow me back to the kitchen. Food should be done soon." Aurora looked around the bar as she followed Arden. There were a few rows of benches on the opposite side of the bar and the stools. The lighting was dim but not dim enough that you couldn’t see everything. The vibe was rustic but elegant at the same time if that was possible. 

"Why is it closed today?" Aurora asked. Did it just so happen to be closed on their date?

"I closed it." Arden said. Aurora's gaze snapped to his back as he walked through the doors of the kitchen. Aurora followed as was met with the most delicious smells. The kitchen was clean and there was silver everywhere. It was probably one of the cleanest kitchens in the entire town. Not that she would know. Aurora hardly ate out except if it was a customer meeting. 

"Won't the owner be upset you closed their bar for a night?" Aurora had not even thought of the possibility that the bar might be Arden’s.

Arden looked at her and smiled a sly grin. "I promised myself I wouldn’t be mad." He laughed as he saw the realization hit Aurora. She chuckled as well. 

"I am sorry. I should remember my mother's favorite saying. I know what assuming does." Arden lifted the lid of one of the pots on the stove. 

"Ah yes. Makes an ass out of you and me." Arden chuckled as he replaced the lid on top of turned the burners off. "It is ready. Would you care to eat out in the bar or in here?" 

"In here is fine. I don’t mind." Aurora could feel her stomach growling. She had not eaten much during the day. Mainly from keeping busy. She had been nervous about her date that she had accepted. 

Arden grabbed a couple of plates and began to place the food in an expert way on each other them. It was some sort of pasta dish with a rich creamy sauce, along with sauced mushrooms and asparagus. There also looked to be homemade rolls in a basket nearby as well. 

Aurora sat across from Arden and took a bit of the plate that he had set in front of her. Her taste buds screamed marry him with her first bite. It was delicious. She closed her eyes and enjoyed every bite. 

Arden chuckled as he began to eat his own food. He liked that she ate like a normal girl. In the past he has met some that barely ate to make sure that they did not gain any weight. Arden was all for a healthy lifestyle but a bit of meat on their bones wouldn’t hurt them. 

Aurora's pace began to slow. She forgot how much pasta could expand in one’s stomach. She looked up to see Arden slowing as well. She looked around the kitchen once more.

"When did you open the bar?" She asked to make conversation. 

"About three years ago. It did well right off the bat. I was thankful for that." Aurora understood. No one wanted to wait around forever to see if something was going to be fruitful. 

"And you are it's only owner?" Aurora was curious if he had a partner, or an ex that he had gone in on it with. 

"I have a silent partner. He stops in every now and then. But mainly me, yes." Arden smiled. He knew that she was a businesswoman. She also did not seem like the type who took man risks. 

"Where did you learn to cook? The food is amazing by the way." Aurora said as she picked up another fork full of noodles. 

"I actually went to culinary school for a short time. I picked up a few things to help me in my business." Arden stood from his chair and walked to the warmers that were on the other side of the kitchen. He returned with their dessert. 

"Of course, you made Creme Brulee." Aurora chuckled more to herself in response to what she said. 

"Is there something wrong?" Arden asked. He knew that she was thinking. That he was trying to impress her, and the truth was, yes, he was.