Single and Ready

Whenever I’m excited, I find it very difficult to sleep. That’s why I’m not surprised that I didn’t get much sleep overnight and that I’m awake and sharp even before dawn.

I tiptoe past the twins’ bedroom on my way downstairs so as not to wake them up. I stroll to the kitchen to make myself a hot cup of mint tea, with hopes that it will calm my buzzing nerves.

By 9 a.m. Mrs B shows up to resume her duties as I serve up scrambled eggs, fried sausages, and toast for my girls. They’re now awake and coming to join me in the kitchen. I’m not hungry this morning, so I’m not having breakfast with the twins.

Mrs B had let herself in earlier because she had a spare key to our apartment. She’s practically a member of our family. I don’t know what I would do without her.

“Good morning, Mrs B,” I greet her cheerfully. “You came right on time. Breakfast is ready!”

“Good morning, Eunice. Hello, girls,” she greets with her signature warm smile.

“Good morning, Nanny B!” The girls greet her in unison.

“And thank you for the offer, but I’ll settle for a coffee instead,” Mrs B tells me. “I seem to have caught a stomach bug this morning.”

“Ouch,” I say. “Sorry about that. Is it serious?”

“No, it’s nothing to worry about,” she responds with a reassuring smile. “My granddaughter made the spiciest beef stew I have ever eaten in my entire life last night. I woke up this morning with a rumbling stomach, but it’s nothing a good cup of strong coffee can’t fix.”

Despite her reassurance, I worry a little. Mrs B has a habit of downplaying her ailments.

“I could cancel my outing, you know,” I tell her softly.

“What? No! Go get dressed and get out of here,” she says and begins to push me towards the kitchen exit.

“Where are you going?” Zeena asks me with a quizzical look.

“To the store,” I answer promptly.

“But Nanny B said ‘outing’. That means you’re going somewhere other than the store.”

“That’s a great observation, Sherlock Holmes,” I laugh and pop a piece of sausage into my mouth.

“So, where are you going?” Krissy asks this time.

“Uh, well… I’m hanging out with a friend,” I say carefully.

“Is it the same friend you were texting last night?” Zeena asks.

“Yes,” I admit and look to Mrs B for help.

She gets my signal and says, “Don’t talk while eating, girls. You’re delaying your mom with all those questions.”

“Speaking of questions, Mrs B, are you sure you’ll be able to handle the girls today until I get back? I’ll try not to stay out too late.”

“I said I’m fine, and that’s the truth,” she replies tartly. “Now go on and have a great time, ok?”

I smile at her and say, “Ok, ma’am.”

I kiss the girls before going upstairs to my bedroom. Instead of my usual quick morning shower, I take a leisurely bath in the tub with bath salts and my beautifully scented body wash and oils.

I’m in the mood to pamper my skin and get it glowing like polished mahogany. After all, it’s not every day that I get to go on a date with a handsome billionaire, is it?

That thought makes me giggle. I shave my legs and debate whether to shave down there too or not. There’s a fine layer of hair already growing there since the last time I shaved, which was two weeks ago.

Besides, Sam and I will not even have sex today, anyway. It’s only our first date. Do people actually have sex on first dates?

Whatever…

I skip the southside shaving and shave my underarms instead. I finally finish my bath, and I wrap my body with my softest towel. It’s the one that I only use after a home pamper session like the one I’ve just had.

After doing my facial skincare routine, I apply a lavish amount of my favorite shea-cocoa butter lotion on my body. Then I rub my legs with almond oil to give them some extra sheen.

Sunscreen goes on next, and then my matching underwear, and finally the dress. It’s a figure-hugging silk red dress that Jessica chose for me. Even though she had initially agreed to let me choose any dress I wanted, the final decision had been hers.

Honestly, I wasn’t mad at her for going against our agreement and choosing the dress for me. Because when I tried it on, I couldn’t argue with her choice.

The dress is perfect in every way, hugging my body in all the right places and making me look like a sweet sixteen girl. I even feel like a different person in it.

Now looking at the dress again, I wonder if it’s too much. It would be embarrassing to show up at a lunch date looking overdressed, especially if my host ended up only wearing something simple.

Maybe I should wear a regular top with denim pants instead? Or one of my comfy wax print dresses? Ugh!

Why are you second-guessing yourself? I yell at myself internally. It’s not that deep; Sam’s words come back to me, and like magic, they calm me down.

Feeling reassured, I go on to apply my makeup and don my chic ombré bob wig. I spray myself from head to toe with a generous mist of my favorite Bvlgari Roman Night perfume. It smells so divine that I only wear it on special occasions, just like today.

I opt for a pair of tan wedge sandals with a matching purse, to tone down my look to a classy casual, as Jessica would say. I then check myself one last time in my full-length mirror to make sure the look is giving everything it’s supposed to give.

Satisfied with my appearance, I make my way downstairs.

The moment I enter the kitchen, I hear gasps and ‘wows’ from my girls and Mrs B.

I grin and say, “Thank you, ladies.”

“Are you going to a party?” Krissy asks me with huge eyes.

“No, darling. Just lunch with my friend,” I reply smoothly.

“Who goes to lunch looking like that?” Zeena asks in awe.

“Well, apparently, I do. You don’t like it?” I ask, feeling self-conscious. Children are known to be very honest when giving reviews.

“It’s nice for like a dinner, but not lunch,” Zeena says like a certified fashion expert.

“It’s lovely, Eunice,” Mrs B chimes in. “Grown-ups can dress however they want for lunch. Especially when there’s no particular dress code required.”

“That’s very correct,” I agree with relief.

“But why do grown-ups get to do whatever they want, and then tell us, children, what to do?” Krissy complains.

“I’m sure you will figure that out when you grow up, Krissy,” says Mrs B. “Now say goodbye to your Mummy and let her go on her lunch date.”

“It’s not lunchtime yet!” Zeena informs us.

“Yes, the lunch is happening later,” I explain.

“But then why - ?”

“Seriously, Krissy. Let your mum go,” Mrs B cut her off with a pleading tone in her voice.

I send her a smile of gratitude for rescuing me from a rapidly deteriorating conversation with the girls.

“Ok… Bye, girls!” I say with a big smile.

“Bye, Mum,” they say in unison.

I give them each a kiss on the head before making my way out.

“I’ll see you all later tonight. Don’t forget to be good girls, ok?”

“We’re always good girls,” Zeena says and rolls her eyes.

“No eye-rolling, Zee,” I tell her. “Bye!”

Outside, I heave a sigh of relief and walk to my car. I enjoy hanging out with my children, but sometimes, they can be a handful,ful and today is one such time.

Ok, now it’s time to begin my adventure, I say to myself mentally.

As I start my car and back out of the garage, I can’t help but notice the thrill of anticipation that is running through my body. I’m on my way to my first date as a newly single woman!

“Gosh, this is crazy,” I tell myself as I get on the road. I’m so giddy with excitement.

When my phone begins to ring and I see Jessica’s name displayed there, I roll my eyes. My friend is determined to participate in this date whether I like it or not.

I quickly put my phone in the suction holder on my dashboard before answering the call.

“Good morning, Jessica. To what do I owe this early morning herald?”

“Don’t get sassy with me, girly,” she says in a dramatic tone. “Has he called you today?”

“Who?”

“Who else? Sam, of course!”

Her agitation amuses me. “Relax, babe. He hasn’t called me today.”

“Oh my gosh! Is he ghosting you?”

“No. We talked last night. He’s going to send his driver to pick me up for the date.”

“Ooh! Yas, girl. Get it!”

“Simmer down!” I laugh heartily. Jessica’s excitement is infectious.

“That is so sweet of him,” she continues. “Wait, where are you?”

“In my car, on my way to my store. You know I still run a business, right?”

“Come on, Nicey! Couldn’t you take today off to prepare for your date?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Jess. It’s just a date, not a job interview.”

“You’re a piece of work, Eunice. You’re acting like this isn’t a big deal.”

“Maybe it isn’t.”

“I’m sure you don’t believe that. So, can I tell the girls about it now? I’m literally going to explode if I don’t tell someone that my baby girl is going on a date with the hottest billionaire in SF!”

I think about her request for a few seconds before responding. “OK, you can tell them. But please let them know this should be kept under wraps for now. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“OK, Ms Reticent. I hear you. So, are you going to put on your dress at the store?”

“It’s on already. I love it, Jess. It’s perfect.”

“I told you so, didn’t I?”

“You sure did.”

“I wish I could see you in it right now. How did you style it?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take a photo when I get to the store and send it to you. Now, buzz off so I can focus on the road.”

“OK, bye!”

When I finally get to my store, Jamie and the two sales girls are all full of oohs and aahs as I walk in. They wouldn’t let me go into my office until I let them take pictures of me.

“This banging dress needs to be immortalized!” Jamie gushes breathlessly as he takes multiple photos of me with his iPhone.

“You look like a movie star!” Tina declares.

“Yes, like a young AngeBassettset,” says Joy, my second salesgirl.

“Ha, ha. Very funny,” I say dryly. “OK, the party’s over. Let’s all get back to work, shall we?”

“Come on…” Jamie groans as he returns to his spot at the front desk.

The girls also disperse while still stealing glances at me. Who knew a sexy dress and the right wig were enough to transform me from a boring wallflower to a beautiful swan?

I sashay to my office, but before I can even sit down at my desk, my phone begins to buzz restlessly. It’s my friends sending me texts via our private W******p group chat.

Jessica has given them the 4-,1-1 and now they want to hear more. How did I end up becoming friends with such nosy women?

“Ladies, don’t get your knickers in a bunch,” I text them. “I’ll give you guys a detailed brief when I return. Now, stop distracting me and go about your lives!”

I quickly turn off the notification sound and place my phone face down on my desk. With that little drama sorted out, I sit on my comfy office chair and await my chariot.