7-14-97, 5:46 PM – I Should Have Stayed At Home

Colt and I walked into Kourtnee’s office. She was hanging up the phone. That’s when she began fussing at both Colt and I.

Kourtnee: Where have you been?

Colt: I had her wait on me.

Kourtnee: Colt, I was not talking to you! LaDawnya, I told you to come up here right after the meeting was over! It should not have taken you twenty minutes to get up here.

LaDawnya: Colt told me to wait on him so he could walk me up here.

Colt: Kourtnee, it’s my fault. She told me what you said. I apologize. It was my fault.

Kourtnee: LaDawnya, the next time I tell you to do something, I expect you to do it. Do you understand me?

LaDawnya: Yes, mame.

Kourtnee: Go over there and finish filing.

(There was a long pause.)

Kourtnee: Colt, do you need something else?

Colt: Do you all want to have dinner with me tonight?

I looked up from my filing. Kourtnee looked at me. I smiled quickly and put my head back down.

Kourtnee: Yes, what time?

Colt: At 8:00. We can meet at Lombard’s off the Dorinda Expressway.

Kourtnee: That’s fine. Colt, please be on time!

Colt: Goodness woman, you act like I am always late.

Kourtnee: Practically.

Colt: Alright. Quit talking about me.

Kourtnee: We’ll see you later. Bye.

Colt: Bye. See you girls, later.

LaDawnya: Bye.

Colt left. I was waiting for Kourtnee to let me have it, but she never did. She didn’t look up. She didn’t look at me. She just continued working.

8:00 PM, I Can’t Believe He’s Late

Kourtnee and I arrived at Lombard’s at 8:00 PM exactly. Lombard’s is a restaurant that began in the city of Lombard’s Way. It was a popular restaurant in the state. There was one in almost every city in Maddocha.

I had never been eaten at Lombard’s before. I was looking forward to the experience. I had heard good things about Lombard’s. The building was quaint and elegant. The exterior was made of bricks. There were Windsor Phonamie Trees outlining the building. The interior of the building was just as nice as the outside. There were wooden benches in the waiting area along with a small rock crested water garden. There were people all over the restaurant.

Kourtnee and I waited for Colt for 12 minutes before Kourtnee called him on her phone. When she hung up the phone, she had a look of disgust on her face. About three minutes later, Colt walked in the door. He apologized repeatedly for being late. Kourtnee still had that look of disgust on her face.

We were seated. Kourtnee looked upset. Colt was quiet. There was tension at the table. I decided to go to the restroom and wash my hands. That would leave Kourtnee and Colt alone. I felt sorry for Colt, Kourtnee was probably gonna tell him off.

At the Table

Kourtnee looked at Colt. Colt smiled as he said, “Something came up.” Kourtnee sharply said, “Something always comes up with you.” Colt leaned forward and whispered, “What is your problem? If you didn’t want to come to dinner with me, you should have said you didn’t want to come.”

Kourtnee: Did I say anything about not wanting to come?

Colt: No you didn’t, but I don’t like the attitude that I am getting from you. You never acted like this before when I was late. Are you acting like this because LaDawnya likes me or something? She found me. I did not do anything to look for her.

Kourtnee: (She scowls.) Are you serious? This has nothing to do with LaDawnya. This has to do with you always being late. You are always late. I got tired of waiting around for you when we were dating. You were always late. It worked my last nerve.

Colt: Why didn’t you say anything before now?

Kourtnee: I don’t know.

Colt: I apologize. I will try harder from now on to be on time when I have plans with you and LaDawnya. Are we alright now?

Kourtnee: Yes.

Colt: Are you sure?

Kourtnee: Yes. Don’t start being cute.

Colt: I can’t help being cute. I look good, baby. (He smoothed out his mustache and goatee.)

Kourtnee: (Smiling.) Out of all the people at Shimmers, LaDawnya finds you.

Colt: Hey, the girl has good taste. Maybe her finding me is a divine sign.

Kourtnee: This from a guy who hasn’t been to church in half past forever.

Colt: Alright, Monica Austin. Don’t start in on me. Besides, I went to church last month.

Kourtnee: Maybe if you went to church people wouldn’t start in on you. The funeral doesn’t count.

Colt: Why doesn’t it count? It was at a church.

Kourtnee: It just doesn’t.

Colt: Has LaDawnya mention Mrs. Johnson lately?

Kourtnee: No, she hasn’t. Quit changing the subject.

Colt: I didn’t change the subject. Have you asked her about Mrs. Johnson?

Kourtnee: No, if she wants to talk about Mrs. Johnson, she will say something to me. I haven’t felt the need to talk to her about Mrs. Johnson.

Colt: I am concerned about LaDawnya.

Kourtnee: Sure, you are concerned about her. If you were concerned, you would start going to church more often.

Colt: You must still love me. You have to love someone to care about their soul.

Kourtnee: (She rolls her eyes.) LaDawnya is directing at church on the 27th. You are gonna have to come to church.

Colt: (He frowns.) Maybe she won’t ask me to come to church with her.

Kourtnee: You need to come anyway, even if she doesn’t ask you.

Colt: What are those church folk gonna think if I come to church and sit right next to you? Fine as I am I might start a riot. (He winks.)

Kourtnee: You need Jesus. (She laughs.)

I returned from the restroom. Everything seemed ok. I was still sure that Kourtnee had said a few choice words to Colt, but neither of them showed any signs. They looked at each other and then at me. I looked at the both of them. Colt smiled. Kourtnee smiled. I thought to myself, “They got history.”