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Canal Square building on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.  “Hope you like seafood,” he said as he opened her car door.
    “I love seafood!”  She reached for his outstretched hand.  “You picked the perfect place.  How did you know?”
    “A little birdie might have told me.”  He gently folded his arm around her waist, and they headed toward the entrance.  “I was hoping you would be pleased.”
    The maître d’ led them to a table in front of a stone fireplace.  Brian stood as the maître d’ seated Stephanie, and then he took his own seat.  What a romantic restaurant, she thought as she noticed violet orchids on the table.  With the dimly lit room, the soft romantic music, and the glow of the blazing fireplace, this, Stephanie thought, is a night made for falling in love.
    Stephanie noticed how relaxed and confident Brian was.  He definitely knows how to treat a woman, but he’s probably had lots of practice.  Kyle was the only man she had known and she had been comfortable with him.  Now she felt like all of the rules had changed.  Is this how it feels after a divorce? she wondered.
    “Your home is quite remarkable,” Brian began.  “Quite a neighborhood, too.”
    “Yes, it was my mother’s home.  She came from a wealthy family.”
    “And it will all pass to you one day, no doubt?”
    “Yes, but right now it’s locked up in a trust.”  Stephanie had a large inheritance coming, but she would gladly trade it all for just one more day with her mother.
    “How did your mother die?  I asked your dad once, but he wouldn’t say much.”
    “I’m not surprised.  He avoids talking about her, probably because it’s too painful.  She died in a fiery car crash.  The brakes failed and she slammed into a semi.  Dad never understood how it could have happened because it was a brand new car, but that’s what the police report said.  For some reason, though, he still blames himself for her death.  It’s a mystery to me.”
    “Is that why he never remarried?”  The waiter came and Brian ordered a bottle of Chardonnay.
    “I would hate to think that’s the reason.  Dad means the world to me.  I want him to be happy.”
    “I’m sure he is, but now I want to know more about you.  What do you like to do?”
    “Lots of things,” she said with enthusiasm.  “My favorite place to be is the ocean.  When I’m there, I enjoy boating, and my dad and I scuba dive, too.  Once we even went to Bali for a diving vacation.  It was spectacular.  I also enjoy hiking scenic trails, especially when I pack cheese and wine in my backpack,” she giggled.  “And I love any movie with Bette Davis.  It would be difficult to choose my favorite, but Mr. Skeffington is right up there.  Have you seen it?”
    “Never,” Brian said as he nodded at the waiter to leave after he poured their wine.  “Maybe we could see it sometime.”
    “That would be fun,” she said as she sipped her wine.  It tasted sweet and light.  “But I have to warn you – I always cry at the end.  Guess I’m a hopeless romantic.”
    “Oh no,” Brian teased.  “I didn’t just get roped in to seeing a chick flick?”
    Stephanie could see the firelight dancing in Brian’s eyes and she wondered if her eyes were as bewitching to him.  “You don’t have to watch a chick flick with me if you don’t want, but if you do, it will earn extra bonus points.”  She giggled and took a sip of her wine.  She watched him focus on her glass when she covered the rim with her full mouth and she was sure that the flickering light dancing across her face was captivating him.  Is he letting himself fall in love, or is it just the romantic music playing in background?
    The waiter came and took their order.  Then Brian leaned in closer to Stephanie.  “So why did you choose journalism, do you like to write?”
    “Some, but mostly my specialty is communications.  I want to do hardcore interviews out in the field.  I took Arabic