"It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction.  Fiction has to make sense." -Twain

It was Easter Sunday many years ago during my struggling to survive single years. Church was letting out. I was with some friends who were in the same situation I was in, single with family far away or otherwise not available. They were going out to lunch at a Chinese restaurant down the street that was open. They invited me to join them. I didn't have the money to spend, and I was an introvert who'd already had my fill of people for the day. I declined with the lack of funds being an honest excuse. There was a guy there with auburn hair, a well manicured red beard, and the bluest eyes I think I had ever seen. He said, "I'll loan you the money."  I knew him because I was friends with some of his roommates. I don't know if we had ever had a conversation beyond small talk and pleasantries. I was hesitant, but everyone was urging me to come. I agreed and of course ended up sitting next to the guy who had offered to pay for me.

I didn't know when I would next see him, but I knew where he worked. He owned an auto repair shop. I stopped by his shop later that week to pay him back for my Easter lunch.  He suggested, "Instead of paying me back, how about if we go out to dinner and you can pay for it. I'll cover the tip."

Honestly, I was paying him back with money I could barely afford to give up. I was recovering from a back injury and was only working part-time. My excuse for not wanting to go to lunch because of financial constraints was sincere. But dinner for two -- how was I going to manage that? I was doing calculations in my head sorting through how I could possibly afford it. Then, he smiled with a mischievous glint in those beautiful blue eyes, and I said yes.

We went to dinner. We had the early-bird special at The Little Venice Italian Restaurant. After dinner, we went for a drive in downtown Washington DC. It was springtime, the cherry trees were in bloom and were lit up all around the Tidal Basin. It almost looked like they were glowing. It was beautiful.

Image from Washington Post

Well, that was many years ago. Now when hubby and I are asked about our first date, or how we met, I smile and say, "He asked me out and made me pay for it."

I've included our first date story as the story of the first date for a couple in one of my novels. I've had some people say they love it. I've also had people say the scene is overdone and unbelievable because no guy would do that and no woman would respond to it if they did. Oh yeah? Hubby says if someone wants to be with you, they will say yes to any opportunity that is offered.

Sometimes the truth makes the best fiction.