Madeline hadn't been home in years.
Two, to be exact. London had lost its shine the very second her ex-husband decided that work was more important than her.
Ex-husband. The word hovered perilously above her, like a perpetual little black rain cloud. At the time, Ernie had been her be all and end all. She couldn't see just how stupid she was. She wouldn't listen. She hadn't dated anyone since the divorce, some eighteen months ago. She was only twenty years old and already so jaded.
The name Abercrombie rung a bell but nothing that she knew of first hand. It had been raining in London. Her high heels beat a steady rhythm as she strode over the broken and worn pavements, dodging puddles as her long legs walked quickly in the darkness. It wasn't as cold as Paris and that was clear in her
outfit. Cute, short and pastel pink, it went well with her skin and hair. She wore it in her natural curls, shiny and sleek. Her honey coloured eyes were made up with the softest of brown shadow, a shimmering gold in the inner corners to bring in more light and her plump lips were carefully painted in a dark nude. She was so used to chef whites and ripped jeans, she felt like an impostor.
Madeline almost hadn't made it tonight. She'd been inches from cancelling. But she needed to do this, for herself. Even if the date was awful, she'd still be moving on. It was an experience.
Stepping inside, she lingered by the entrance, her eyes flickering anxiously as she smiled at the greeter. Giving in Terrence's name, she swallowed her nerves as she was lead over to a lone man and she blinked. He was handsome, she noticed and tall too as he stood. He knew her name and she offered a sunny smile, her shoulders visibly relaxing; he hadn't stood her up. Thank goodness.
"Terrence?" The tall blonde asked, just to double check and she flushed pink as he pulled a chair out for her. "Oh thank you," she said quickly. Who said chivalry was dead? She sat down, forcing herself to relax as she placed her bag on the floor and adjusted her dress, laughing gently. "Can they?" Madeline asked, interested. "I wouldn't know. This is my very first blind date," she admitted sheepishly.
She shook her head. No, this place wasn't too hard to find. It had just taken her a bit of a while to get used to the layout of the city, having been so familiar with the grid format of London. As the waitress appeared, Madeline spoke. "Could I have a glass of dry white wine, please?" A modern girl, she was going to split the bill with Terrence. Madeline's accent was soft and crisp. Her time in Paris had made her speak clearer but a little faster and she hadn't shed her plummy tone completely yet.
Maddie's head shot upwards. "You have?" She asked, surprised. Instantly, she was on edge. Whomever had set them up better now have told Terrence lies. She hoped he wasn't expecting something that she was not. Her nose turned pink in embarrassment as she offered him a shy smile. "Okay," she said slowly, placing her hand on her lap to stop herself from anxiously fidgeting with the stem of her wine glass.
"Well, I'm a baker. I was offered an apprenticeship in Paris by someone who was willing to take a chance on me and now I run my own kitchen," she said, humbly with a smile. That was one thing that she allowed herself to feel proud about. "Born in Oxford, allergic to flowers and horses, my favourite food is linguine, any type of linguine," she added with a smile. "My favourite colours is pale blue, I love the outdoors and I'm left handed. I love the rain," she added as an afterthought. "And my crappy apartment." She smiled at him. "Your surname sounds familiar. I haven't baked anything for your family before, have I?"
