Blind Date Adventures: A Journey into Unexpected Connections

After a row with Emma, I still felt a little guilty. My marriage had collapsed a few years earlier, and I had started seeing Emma, a coworker, but the peace we pretended to have was anything but real. Emma was flighty and always managed to pick a fight.

I could have let that argument die, but Im fed up with Emmas whims, I thought as I drove home in my old Ford from the office in London. If wed only argued in private it would have been easier, but shes always making a scene in the open-plan office and the others cant stop snickering. They all wonder how I got herself. Good thing I deleted her number

That evening I tried to unwind: I ate, sat on the sofa with the TV flickering, and stared at my phone. Something about the night felt off.

Eleanor was already asleep when her phone rang. The call came from an unknown number, but she answered automatically in a halfasleep voice.

Yes?

Hey, a male voice said, still angry with me?

No, she replied, halfawake, realizing the voice wasnt hers.

Sorry, I lost my temper. Its rude to start a scene in front of everyone, and I was hurt too. I even erased your number straight away, but I seem to know it by heart now. How about I swing by?

Now? she glanced at the clock it was barely one in the morning.

She was desperate for sleep and didnt bother to tell him hed dialed the wrong number. She simply said, Come over, and hung up.

She didnt even bother thinking about the caller, only smirked at the thought that he might have bolted off to his own girlfriend and fell back asleep.

In the morning, after finishing her coffee and putting the cup away, her phone buzzed again.

Oh God, who could be calling at the crack of dawn? Ive got to get to work Ah, its that same unknown number from last night, she said.

Hey, the same voice greeted.

Hey.

My girl threw me out last night and slammed the door in my face, he said cheerfully.

And you dont even look upset, she replied, surprised.

Right, but now you, being a decent lady, owe me some moral compensation, he said.

She burst out laughing, then asked, Me? What do you mean? I shouldve remembered the number better.

Why didnt you tell me straightaway youd got the wrong number?

Because I wanted to sleep. Proper people dont bother their girlfriends at night.

Fine, Ill agree, but youll have to buy me a date.

Thats a bit much, she muttered.

Why not? We met that night, didnt we? It cant have been for nothing.

We never really met, he replied.

Then Im Graham. Whats yours?

Eleanor, she said automatically.

Lovely name, I like it, I laughed. How about we meet at the Luck Café around six this evening?

My word, youve never even seen my face and youre already asking me out I must look like an old hag.

From your voice you sound young and pretty, I chuckled. Im in the prime of my life, too. Im actually a bit of a seer, I can see a lot I already like you.

She giggled.

Whyd you ask my name then?

Well, even seers get it wrong sometimes. So, the date? Ill be waiting at the Luck Café.

No, Im not meeting you. Youre far too cocky, she said.

Im not begging, but Id strongly suggest you give it some thought. You still have the whole afternoon, I said before hanging up.

She drove to the office, still puzzling over what had happened.

What on earth was that? Who was he?

The whole day Eleanor ran around with paperwork like a hamster on a wheel, while everyone in the firm prepared for an audit and tried to get everything in order.

She was thirtythree, two years out of a divorce. She never had children; her exhusband never wanted them, though shed begged. Hed eventually left, saying he couldnt stand kids. When her younger sister arrived with twin toddlers, he stormed out, came back later in a rage and shouted, I cant stand those little brats, theyre always squealing. Tell your sister not to drop by when Im home. They split soon after, with no regrets on either side.

At work there was no time to think about Grahams earlymorning call. She never took such encounters seriously, especially not a blind date.

Eleanor, bring me the file you showed me yesterday, the boss called, popping his head into her cubicle. Im starting to have doubts

She was regarded as reliable, so the boss piled on heavy tasks, promising a nice bonus. Some colleagues, especially the women, whispered enviously:

What does she do that even gets our boss, Boris, to chase after her paperwork? Were not daft He even throws a bonus her way.

Rita complained the most, and Tim, the offices resident joker, always replied:

Envys a dirty business, Rita. You cant even do your own maths without slipping. Our boss sees right through everyone.

Oi, Tim, not you again Whats that lightbeam thing youre on about?

Tim never argued with the ladies; he just explained things fairly.

Finally the workday ended. Eleanor breathed a sigh of relief; itd been a productive day. She got into her car, drove out of the car park, and, on a whim, turned toward the Luck Café and stopped, still in the vehicle.

She watched people drift in and out of the café. Near the entrance a young man stood holding a bouquet of white roses, halfturned toward the pavement as if waiting for someone to appear.

He finally turned fully toward her, and she gasped.

Its Graham, my first love! she exclaimed.

She never saw him again after that.

Back in school, Graham had been a popular lad in Year 11, while Eleanor was in Year 9. Lots of girls fancied him, and his friends swarmed around him. He never paid her any attention because she was younger. Hed hung out with Charlotte, a snobbish classmate whose father was the mayor, and she liked to put other girls down.

She often thought, I wonder if Grahams waiting for someone else, or if its really me. I dont even remember his voice, we never really talked. He left for university after school and vanished. She never saw him againuntil that night.

Graham was twisting his head, clearly waiting for someone, looking nervous. Eleanor stepped out of her car and walked toward the café. The moment he saw her, his face broke into a wide grin.

No mistake, he thought. Thats her, exactly how I imagined.

He hurried over and handed her the roses.

Eleanor, these are for you.

How do you know I like white roses?

I pictured you that way, and it just felt right. Its a gut feeling, I didnt have to think twice.

You remind me of someone, but I know youre Graham, we went to the same school, I was younger. You never noticed me then.

Eleanor, you were our schools top volleyball player. I remember your serves, how few could return them. You were small in age, but I admired you. Youve grown into a stunning womanlong, slender legs, just like in those matches, he said, recalling the sport theyd both played.

They lingered in the café until late, then went their separate ways, promising to meet again the next evening. From then on they kept seeing each other, chatting, and regretting the years lost.

Six months later Graham and Eleanor married, and a year after that they welcomed a healthy daughter, followed by a son. They were happy and often reminisced about their school days. That fateful nighttime encounter had turned into a blinddate that led to a blissful marriage, even though they had known each other once upon a time. Life had scattered them, but destiny eventually brought them back together.