’Nice restaurant.’ Bette said. The, golden lights casting a mystic glow over her face. ’When did you come back from Bordeaux?’

’After midnight.’ I took a sip of wine.

Cindy had worked her quiet magic that had cut my Bordeaux trip very short. It had been an empty feeling flying over l’Aquittane in the middle of the night, like racing through a dark tunnel. When nearing, the lights of Paris had welcomed me back. At least I had done one thing right, I had been home on time. Dressed I had crashed on the couch until the doorbell had woken me up from a deep sleep.

I still do, Bette.

The words, penned on a card in her elegant handwriting, that accompanied an expansive bouquet of vivid red roses, had said.

But on our way to the restaurant she had been quiet. We both had been.

Bette’s hair cascaded in soft waves, a lustrous frame that accentuated the delicate curve of her neck and the elegant slope of her shoulders. Each strand seemed to catch the light just right. The dark blue cocktail dress complement her in every way, highlighting her stunning features, without overpowering her presence. ’You look beautiful.’ I tried, it sounded lame. Such a cliche. An understatement.

She smiled. It was a slow smile that didn’t fully reach her eyes.

Bette was different. Different from any woman I’d ever met. It weren’t her looks, nor her intelligence, nor her fierce sense of loyalty or charm why I ultimately fell for her. It was the way she loved. All or nothing. When she loved she loved with everything she had; in such a way that my happiness was always hers.

I wish I could find the words to tell her that I still did too.

The attentive waiter moved gracefully, as he rolled up a small cart next to our table.

’Would you like me to fillet your fish?’ He asked.

’Please.’ Bette said and then her eyes followed the entire ritual of separating the flesh from the bone, with precision, that began with a delicate incision along the top edge of the fish – just behind the head, and skillfully navigating the contours of the fish so the main skeleton and pin bones would be separated. It took a while. During the process, the waiter engaged us in a light conversation, taking his sweet time presenting the fish and adding the finishing touches. I imagined she needed this time with the waiter, because he brought more conversation to our table than we had done since we arrived.