“Alexander...” Somehow, his knowing her in advance didn't phase her; it seemed somehow comfortable, and—after all—hadn't Sheknown He? “Hello; it's so good to finally meet you in person. “She meant it, too, as at this point anything was possible, and that was just the sort of dreamy potential that gave her such a rush of excitement, a sense of what's over the nexthilladventure.
By his smile, he shared the sentiment; the two shook hands, at first, and then he offered her his arm. The gesture was smooth and seamless, and his warm smile never wavered: “it's a lovely place, this street... but the City offers so much more; would you care to take a walk someplace a little more colorful? There's an avenue nearby, with a lovely little coffeehouse, which really shows off the best of what springtime has to offer.”
It sounded delightful; she smiled, and nodded, which left him looking all the more pleased as he led her slowly down the street.
This time of the year the city was especially beautiful and romantic. They were chatting about life, looking at the widows of expensive boutiques in the centre of this city. As they walked, the tasteful gray avenue and its scattered, colorful boutiques became a small neighborhood park with a variety of statues—some of them simple and pleasing, while others were potentially controversial, but it was as if the entire park was designed to encourage peaceful contentment without leaving a void in place of anything interesting. Lisa could easily see how a person might spend hours at a time just relaxing on one of the many artistically-placed benches, looking around, and wondering. Slowly, the park became a residential neighborhood, with stately old houses; it was a side-street lined with cherry trees. At this time of the year, they filled the view above with beautiful pink blossoms.
Lisa was enjoying a slower pace of life than the one she was accustomed to leading. It wasn't simply relaxing; it was pleasant, and it left her wanting to get to know the man at her side a little better. She shifted in her step, to move just a little bit closer to him; a calculated move, showing her interest without being too forward. “Tell me about your work, Alexander?”
“It's alright, most days; I work with our architects and direct the progress of building projects. It probably looks exciting, with the dizzying heights and the powerful machinery, but there really isn't much of a rush anymore—unless, of course, something goes wrong, which we—” he chuckled a bit, not unkindly, “—we actively try to avoid.”
Lisa smiled. She briefly imagined Alexander working 12 hours a day, sweating after a long working day, renting a little room with his co-workers, and then drinking beer in the evening. “Whom could one expect to meet on the internet?” Lisa thought and innerly giggled. A construction foreman; I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. It would be surprising to meet a millionaire in the internet. She just wanted to improve her language skills with a native speaker.
Eventually, the pleasant cherry-tree-lined street came to an end in a picturesque cul de sac, and—after Lisa paused, to take a few pictures with her phone, Alexander led her back down the street again, back to the park. She was eager enough to return; she had found the park intriguing, and now there were new things to be taken in as welclass="underline" there was music, courtesy a pair of street performers, and groups of children laughing—chasing each other, playing tag, and doing all the other things that children like to do when nothing is expected of them.
“Shall we?” Alexander gestured to a bench under a relaxing willow tree; Lisa smiled and nodded, and they sat down to take in the sights and the sounds around them. And, of course, to talk.
“Have you ever met anyone else from the website,” she asked?
“My friends; several of them had met women from the same Website before I made my profile.
“But... your friends; do you mind if I ask what went wrong?”
He shrugged, looking a bit uncomfortable.
“They met women who were only interested in their money; most of my friends have done quite well for themselves.
“How did they know the girls were after their money?”.
“You understand it from the first minute” Alexander replied.
Lisa thought that Alexander would not have such a problem, as he is a poor constructor. And Lisa thought at this moment, that she was better than all these gold-digging women from the website, as she was sitting and speaking with a simple constructor. It is not strange to meet a constructor on the internet, it would be strange to meet a millionaire on the internet.
They slowly were walking along the pavement, enjoying the spring weather.
Lisa thought, that Alexander would definitely not have such a problem, as he is a poor constructor. And Lisa thought at this moment, that she was better than all these gold-digging women from the website, as she was sitting and speaking with a simple constructor. It is not strange to meet a constructor in the internet, it would be strange to meet a millionaire in the internet.
They slowly were walking along the pavement, enjoying the spring weather.
After half an hour they approached some Festival for kids. Children‘s laughter, sweets, marry-go-rounds, songs... People were enjoying their life and weather.
“Let’s go somewhere else,” Lisa suggested.
“As you wish. You are a Boss today, “Alexander told.
Lisa smiled.
Having passed a couple meters, they approached a park. People were picnicking in that place, grilled meat. In this warm spring Sunday there were many people, who wanted to enjoy nature, sitting on the grass, laughing and relaxing from the routine of a big city.
Alexander, however, was interrupted mid-sentence by an older gentleman who was out barbecuing with his grandchildren. He brought each of them a simple paper plate, either one bearing a piece of steak and a thick slice of honey-apple bread.
“Oh, that really isn’t—” This was outside of Lisa’s experience; she tried to protest, even as Alexander moved to intercept both plates, chuckling softly as he did.
“Oh, I insist.” The old man smiled, and his eyes bespoke a kind and simple regard for life on such a pleasant spring day. “You mustn’t insult me.”
“Wow, there is someone in the world who is not as greedy as my host family and not thinking about numbers all the time”, Lisa thought.
The meal thoroughly derailed the conversation, if in a pleasant way; it left both of them feeling fulfilled and contented—the barbecue was excellent, and the bread was deliciously sweet, almost a dessert in itself.
Alexander and Lisa sat on a bench near one big grilling family and continued talking.
- I am so happy, - Alexander said. The food, the music, and a beautiful accompaniment.
Lisa asked Alexander a little more about his life and found that he liked to go diving, and would do so on boating trips to a chain of islands offshore.
“Tell me about your adventures,” she stated. She settled back, anxious to hear all about it.
“I like diving.”
“What about your mother?”
“She lives in another city,” he paused, before continuing, “When I was little, my father passed away, and she had to raise us alone. I don't want to talk about it. I did a lot of bad things as a child and she used to beat me. Now I understand why.
Lisa kept silent and looked at the tourists going by. It was a sad story, she could almost feel his pain.
At least he isn’t a momma’s boy...
The two of them made plans to meet again on a Thursday afternoon, some two weeks away, and then they parted. Lisa was thinking that Alexander was charming and sophisticated, despite his hands-on work.