“What? Me mind that you knew I would be hungry? Not at all. Do I have time to freshen up?’
“Yes, that is if you do not mind leaving the photo work alone for now. We can delve into it after dinner, okay?”
“You bet.”
The drive over to Balboa Park was only fifteen minutes. When we arrived at the restaurant I was thankful that Alex had a reservation. There were over a dozen patrons waiting to be seated.
We sat at a corner table in the courtyard room of The Prado. In this room the overall look was of a warm fresco honeyed hues on the walls that were, as Alex mentioned, decorated with an array of framed art from local artists. Our corner table faced the room and on each wall, to our backs, we had a fantastic view from large arched windows. It was a lively crowd of eclectic patrons, just what I would expect on a Saturday night. After our waitress took our order, Alex leaned in close to me and discreetly pointed out patrons he knew.
“That gentlemen with gray hair and the trimmed beard, the one sitting straight ahead four tables down, to your left, he is the curator for sculptural art at the museum next door. Oh, the lady with him, she is the archivist in the gallery of paintings for the museum. She would be a good contact to help us identify the artist of the Ruby paintings.”
“What are their names?” I asked.
“She is Geraldine Markowitz and he is David Rutger.”
“Are they a couple?” I asked.
“I believe so.” Alex smiled and added, “if not, they should be. I see them everywhere together. Rather like us.”
His last comment caught me off guard and made me wonder if, and how many, people automatically think of Alex and myself as couple? I chanced asking Alex, “Do you think people think of us as a couple, just because we are often together?”
“I know they do.”
“Alex? How do you know?”
“Because I am asked, often, very often, if you are dating anyone. And the person asking me that question is always some guy who has you in his crosshairs.”
“No way, Alex when did this happen?”
“Hmm, most recently at the opening for the Museum of Mystery. Remember when you stepped up to the front to ask the question about the coin-operated fortune teller machine? The man who had been standing in the back of the crowd, and was taking notes, turns out he is a reporter, he came over to me on the premise of wanting to know more about the you. So, I gave him the brief details, name, age, occupation and such. He jotted a few notes and then in a low voice asked me if I knew if you were currently with anyone.”
“I remember him, tall, black hair, dark eyes, quite attractive. So, he was interested in me, personally? Hmm, sounds like a prospect.”
“No, he isn’t,” Alex said.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because I told him you were with me.”
I drew a blank. Then a strategy bubbled up inside of me. “That was bold of you, Alex,”
“Yes it was.” Alex smiled and then added, “and I will continue to be bold if it means keeping competition away.”
Before I could rebuke Alex, our meals were served. “Lucky for you that hunger and having food in front of me will save you from my rebuttal.”
“Good thing you can’t argue with your mouth full.”
I chewed in thoughtful meditation of Alex’s behavior. I have him exactly where I want him to be. I remained quiet to see how long it would take before Alex would break the silence. It took all of three minutes.
“How’s your wild mushroom risotto?” He asked.
“Scrumptious. And your dill-crusted salmon?”
“Delicious.” He looked over at the table where Geraldine and David were. “It looks like they are getting ready to leave. I’m going over to say hello and ask about you contacting her, okay?”
“Sure.” I watched Alex approach them and tap David on his shoulder. Geraldine and David were pleasantly surprised to see Alex, they all shook hands and quickly Alex cut to the chase. I could not hear the conversation, but it was
“Yes, that is if you do not mind leaving the photo work alone for now. We can delve into it after dinner, okay?”
“You bet.”
The drive over to Balboa Park was only fifteen minutes. When we arrived at the restaurant I was thankful that Alex had a reservation. There were over a dozen patrons waiting to be seated.
We sat at a corner table in the courtyard room of The Prado. In this room the overall look was of a warm fresco honeyed hues on the walls that were, as Alex mentioned, decorated with an array of framed art from local artists. Our corner table faced the room and on each wall, to our backs, we had a fantastic view from large arched windows. It was a lively crowd of eclectic patrons, just what I would expect on a Saturday night. After our waitress took our order, Alex leaned in close to me and discreetly pointed out patrons he knew.
“That gentlemen with gray hair and the trimmed beard, the one sitting straight ahead four tables down, to your left, he is the curator for sculptural art at the museum next door. Oh, the lady with him, she is the archivist in the gallery of paintings for the museum. She would be a good contact to help us identify the artist of the Ruby paintings.”
“What are their names?” I asked.
“She is Geraldine Markowitz and he is David Rutger.”
“Are they a couple?” I asked.
“I believe so.” Alex smiled and added, “if not, they should be. I see them everywhere together. Rather like us.”
His last comment caught me off guard and made me wonder if, and how many, people automatically think of Alex and myself as couple? I chanced asking Alex, “Do you think people think of us as a couple, just because we are often together?”
“I know they do.”
“Alex? How do you know?”
“Because I am asked, often, very often, if you are dating anyone. And the person asking me that question is always some guy who has you in his crosshairs.”
“No way, Alex when did this happen?”
“Hmm, most recently at the opening for the Museum of Mystery. Remember when you stepped up to the front to ask the question about the coin-operated fortune teller machine? The man who had been standing in the back of the crowd, and was taking notes, turns out he is a reporter, he came over to me on the premise of wanting to know more about the you. So, I gave him the brief details, name, age, occupation and such. He jotted a few notes and then in a low voice asked me if I knew if you were currently with anyone.”
“I remember him, tall, black hair, dark eyes, quite attractive. So, he was interested in me, personally? Hmm, sounds like a prospect.”
“No, he isn’t,” Alex said.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because I told him you were with me.”
I drew a blank. Then a strategy bubbled up inside of me. “That was bold of you, Alex,”
“Yes it was.” Alex smiled and then added, “and I will continue to be bold if it means keeping competition away.”
Before I could rebuke Alex, our meals were served. “Lucky for you that hunger and having food in front of me will save you from my rebuttal.”
“Good thing you can’t argue with your mouth full.”
I chewed in thoughtful meditation of Alex’s behavior. I have him exactly where I want him to be. I remained quiet to see how long it would take before Alex would break the silence. It took all of three minutes.
“How’s your wild mushroom risotto?” He asked.
“Scrumptious. And your dill-crusted salmon?”
“Delicious.” He looked over at the table where Geraldine and David were. “It looks like they are getting ready to leave. I’m going over to say hello and ask about you contacting her, okay?”
“Sure.” I watched Alex approach them and tap David on his shoulder. Geraldine and David were pleasantly surprised to see Alex, they all shook hands and quickly Alex cut to the chase. I could not hear the conversation, but it was
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