Prelude to Dinner

[Guest Cdr Dacotah]

She watched the airlock doors close and let out a ragged sigh, pressing her fingers to the inside corners of her eyes. "Are you all right, Commander?" the security officer asked. She squared her shoulders and turned around, giving him a brief nod. "Of course. You may return to your duties." He quickly came to attention, gave a smart about face and strode down the corridor never once looking back.

 

Hayden remained by the airlock for a few moments watching him leave, but not really seeing him. She was thinking about Will, and his wives, and their children. Once the gates opened it was difficult to keep the memories at bay. The bad outnumbered the good and it was impossible to be selective. To only remember the happy, joy filled times, and not remember how those times were ripped away from you, brought to an end far too quickly. With another sad sigh, she gave the airlock one last look and then returned to her quarters. It was easier to focus on the here and now than to worry about events and actions that she couldn't forsee. That she couldn't change.

 

She entered her quarters and checked the chronometer. Forty-five minutes. She checked the message again, "We could discuss all of this over dinner. Say, 9:00pm at El Cuarto De Collonade?" She closed the message, noted that her mother had sent her two more reminders about their meeting in the morning, and strolled over to her closet, "El Cuarto De Collonade, huh? Leave it to him to pick the swankiest place on the station." She let her hands move over the hangers, mentally going over the positives or negatives of each outfit. "Can't go wrong with black," she said out loud selecting the garment from the rack.

 

Hayden finished buckling the strap around her ankle and gave her reflection one last look, refastened the long silver hoop earrings she had chosen, and strolled from her quarters toward the station. The soft material swayed against her legs as she moved through the station. Her mind was already moving ahead, going over personnel, positional changes, so focused on the internal dialog that she nearly missed the entrance to the restaurant. She completely missed the second and sometimes third glances that came her way.

 

"Hayden Dacotah," she said to the maitre'd. "Ah yes, Commander. Your dining companion has not yet arrived and your table is not quite ready. May I suggest you take a seat at the bar? Javier, your server, will come fetch you as soon at the table is ready." Hayden didn't really have much of a choice as the matre'd escorted her to a small table in the bar, pulled out her chair, seated her and waved the bartender over. "Uhh, yes. That will be fine. Thank you."

 

"Orvieto, please," she smiled up at the bartender. She looked about the expansive interior, noting the luxurious fabric contrasting the black metal of the furnishings. The bartender returned with her glass of wine, "Compliments of the gentleman at the bar," he said quietly, giving a discreet nod toward the bearded man sitting at the bar, staring boldly at her. She gave him a brief smile of thank you, and took a sip of the wine.

 

The stranger got up, and moved toward her, "Beautiful women should never drink alone. May I?" he asked, indicating the vacant chair next to her.

 

Hayden set her wine glass down and looked up into the strangers hazel eyes, a glib response on the tip of her tongue. "Commander?" she turned toward the maitre'd materialized at her side, "your dinner companion has arrived, and your table is ready. If you would follow me?" She stood and picked up her wine glass, noting that with her three inch heels on she was the same height as the stranger that bought her the drink. She gave him a smile, "Thank you for the wine, and the compliment."

 

"My pleasure," he said in a low voice, "perhaps we will meet again."

 

Hayden raised an eyebrow at him and then turned to follow the maitre'd to table.