No matter what Tina says, Ana can't completely suppress her fear that this Osmond Marshall guy might be seriously flawed. She's never been on a blind date. She doesn't know exactly why but she's very nervous, more nervous than she had ever been for a date. She has to fight the urge to call and cancel several times.
He calls her to set up the time and place of their date. He asks how he'll know who she is. She tells him she'll be wearing a red dress.
When she arrives at the restaurant she sees a man sitting near the bar. He seems to be by himself. Perhaps waiting on someone? Her first though: I sure hope that's him, because....swoon!
He calls her to set up the time and place of their date. He asks how he'll know who she is. She tells him she'll be wearing a red dress.
When she arrives at the restaurant she sees a man sitting near the bar. He seems to be by himself. Perhaps waiting on someone? Her first though: I sure hope that's him, because....swoon!
He's definitely not hard on the eyes. As soon as the man sees Ana in her red dress. He stands.
"Ana?" He asks.
Thank you Watcher. Ana thinks then answers his question. "Yes. Nice to meet you Osmond."
"The pleasure is all mine, Ana." His voice rolls over her in a pleasurable wave. "Well, shall we?" He gestures her forward.
"Ana?" He asks.
Thank you Watcher. Ana thinks then answers his question. "Yes. Nice to meet you Osmond."
"The pleasure is all mine, Ana." His voice rolls over her in a pleasurable wave. "Well, shall we?" He gestures her forward.
Ana notices Osmond's eyes on her as they walk upstairs to the main floor of the venue. Looks like he appreciates her curves. And obviously doesn't think she isn't thin enough, like the jerk at the gym.
Ana finds it impossible stop herself from taking peeks at him too. She's feeling pretty appreciative of his looks as well.
She does notices that he's dress more casually than her, and that makes her feel a little over dressed. But honestly she hasn't forgotten her ex, Mitchell's days of running around town in a tux all the time, so she doesn't mind Osmond's casual style. Nope she doesn't mind it at all, especially when the sweater he's wearing hugs him just right.
They have to wait a few minutes for a table. They stand beside each other not saying much; they're both noticeably nervous.
Then Osmond breaks the ice. "Silly of me to feel nervous, but you walked in and I just felt a little tongue-tied. Didn't even give you a proper "Hello."
She does notices that he's dress more casually than her, and that makes her feel a little over dressed. But honestly she hasn't forgotten her ex, Mitchell's days of running around town in a tux all the time, so she doesn't mind Osmond's casual style. Nope she doesn't mind it at all, especially when the sweater he's wearing hugs him just right.
They have to wait a few minutes for a table. They stand beside each other not saying much; they're both noticeably nervous.
Then Osmond breaks the ice. "Silly of me to feel nervous, but you walked in and I just felt a little tongue-tied. Didn't even give you a proper "Hello."
With that he gives her a big hug.
Ana is surprised, caught off guard. But she is pleased. Flattered that he said she made him speechless. Not to mention she really likes the way his broad shoulders feel under her hands. And they way his strong arms feel wrapped around her.
The moment was brief, but it leaves an impression with Ana. Her initial nervousness has passed, but now she on edge for a whole different reason.
Ana is surprised, caught off guard. But she is pleased. Flattered that he said she made him speechless. Not to mention she really likes the way his broad shoulders feel under her hands. And they way his strong arms feel wrapped around her.
The moment was brief, but it leaves an impression with Ana. Her initial nervousness has passed, but now she on edge for a whole different reason.
They have a very enjoyable dinner. Conversation comes easy for the two of them. They cover all the basics.
Ana learns that Osmond is a writer. He was very close to his parents before they passed away. He's an only child. But he has a few cousins that he's pretty close to. He came close to marrying once, but it didn't work out. Not wanting get into the details of past relationships on the first date, he doesn't elaborate.
Ana tells him she's a painter. She tells him that her mother has passed away as well, and that her father was never really in the picture. She too is an only child. She has one cousin that she hasn't spoken to in a very long time. And of course she tells him about her kids, but doesn't go on and on about them, not wanting to scare him off.
But he doesn't seem shocked by her having seven kids. He doesn't even make the usual comment about her having a lot of kids. He just says that her home must be a lively place.
Ana learns that Osmond is a writer. He was very close to his parents before they passed away. He's an only child. But he has a few cousins that he's pretty close to. He came close to marrying once, but it didn't work out. Not wanting get into the details of past relationships on the first date, he doesn't elaborate.
Ana tells him she's a painter. She tells him that her mother has passed away as well, and that her father was never really in the picture. She too is an only child. She has one cousin that she hasn't spoken to in a very long time. And of course she tells him about her kids, but doesn't go on and on about them, not wanting to scare him off.
But he doesn't seem shocked by her having seven kids. He doesn't even make the usual comment about her having a lot of kids. He just says that her home must be a lively place.
When they finish their meal it is still pretty early. Osmond suggest they take a stroll in a park near Ana's place. Not wanting the date to end just yet, Ana eagerly agrees.
Somehow the garden seems so much more romantic than the restaurant. After a very short walk Osmond asks Ana to sit with him near one of the beautiful gardens.
Ana is actually grateful for the chance to rest her feet. The mother of seven is definitely not used to wearing high heels. But she decides to tease her date just a little.
Ana is actually grateful for the chance to rest her feet. The mother of seven is definitely not used to wearing high heels. But she decides to tease her date just a little.
"So... this your move? Take your date to a beautiful park. Find a bench. Ask the girl if she wants to rest her feet. Then you really turn the charm on."
He chuckles and says, "Ana, honestly I haven't dated much in a long time; I'm not practiced in charming the ladies. Plus I think you're the one with all the moves here. I'm definitely the one being charmed."
Flattered again, Ana doesn't argue, but she knows he's wrong. She's definitely charmed by him.
They sit there for a long while. Part of the time they don't even talk; they just admire the scenery in companionable silence. And they hold hands. Ana doesn't even know who reached for whose hand first. She just knows she hasn't felt butterflies in her stomach from such a simple touch since she was a teenager.
She loses track of time.
He chuckles and says, "Ana, honestly I haven't dated much in a long time; I'm not practiced in charming the ladies. Plus I think you're the one with all the moves here. I'm definitely the one being charmed."
Flattered again, Ana doesn't argue, but she knows he's wrong. She's definitely charmed by him.
They sit there for a long while. Part of the time they don't even talk; they just admire the scenery in companionable silence. And they hold hands. Ana doesn't even know who reached for whose hand first. She just knows she hasn't felt butterflies in her stomach from such a simple touch since she was a teenager.
She loses track of time.
Suddenly she realizes how late it is, and she jumps up. "I told my oldest daughter I'd be home twenty minutes ago. I've got to get home."
"Okay, Ana. Before you go, I just want you to know that I had a wonderful time tonight. And I would love to see you again sometime." And he hugs her goodbye.
"Okay, Ana. Before you go, I just want you to know that I had a wonderful time tonight. And I would love to see you again sometime." And he hugs her goodbye.
It's a longer hug than the hug from earlier. They both hold on for a few seconds longer, trying to delay the inevitable end of the evening.
During that hug, Ana again feels those butterflies. Her heart is racing. Her hands are shaking. And she decides to act on her feelings.
During that hug, Ana again feels those butterflies. Her heart is racing. Her hands are shaking. And she decides to act on her feelings.
She surprises Osmond with a quick kiss.
Then she waves goodbye, and hurries off towards home saying, "Call me!" over her shoulder to the stunned but obviously pleased man behind her.
When Ana gets home she feels like she's glowing with happiness. Okay maybe the glow is from the street light. But still she filled with an intense feeling of happiness and anticipation. She's almost giddy.
She feels like woman on top of the world. She's never had such a strong feeling about a man before in her life. She loved Arthur of course, a part of her always will. But their relationship began more like a business partnership than anything else. She has a feeling that what her and Osmond could share is something entirely different. She feels passion.