by Glory Lennon

Created on: December 18, 2009

The Perfect Date. 

Throughout the first date each question Epiphany asked Shane he answered with a carelessly, unrestrained, honest manner she only ever had seen in very small children. He seemed honest to a fault. Perhaps he didn’t know how to lie or when it would be more prudent to do so. This charmed her as did his solicitousness. He often asked if she was warm enough or too cold, if she wanted more wine, if everything was to her liking and even if she’d like to try a taste of his food.

He was absolutely darling. But the kicker was his asking about her kids and not just in passing. He seemed genuinely interested much to her astonishment. What man would spend most of a first date asking about his date’s kids? She knew then Shane was an odd duck, albeit a very adorable one.

"You speak of your brothers. How many do you have?" she asked after saying far more about her kids than she ever remembered doing at one sitting.

"Four and I have two sisters. All older. I’m an afterthought," he replied casually.

"Afterthought?"she asked intrigued.

"Yeah, cuz there’s a gap of five years between me and Tommy. He was the baby before I came around. That’s why we’re always fighting. He thinks I usurped his position. Guess I did but it wasn’t my doing. All the rest of my brothers are only one year apart, you see. They love to say that Dad let one slip by Mom and got me by accident."

"Surely you don’t believe that," she said disapprovingly. "No children are accidents. I like to call unplanned babies happy surprises."

He grinned. "That’s a nice way of putting it. I’m a happy surprise. I’ll have to tell Tommy that one. He won’t like it!"he said with a gleeful chuckle.

"Does it bother you when they say that?" she asked curiously. She wondered not for the first time if anything got him down.

"No, it’s just teasing. Dad probably did let one slip. He’s a lusty guy who won’t take no for an answer especially from Mom. He’s still hot for her some fifty years later, if you can believe it,"he said seemingly delighted at the thought.

She laughed and found herself gazing adoringly at him as he finished his creme brulee. He suddenly looked up and stared back at her as if he’d never seen her before. Feeling foolish she looked away.

"Wait, look at me," he said excitedly.

"Something wrong, Shane?"

"Your eyes, they’re different."

She frowned slightly. "Well, it must be the makeup.

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