CEO’s Blind Date Cancelled by Shy Caregiver—Until He Found Her Crying in the Parking Lot with 2 Kids

A Change of Plans and A Simple Pizza Dinner

The little boy tugged on her sleeve. “mommy don’t cry it’s okay we can walk home.”

Brandon looked at this small family. He saw the mother trying so hard to have one evening for herself.

He saw the children who were scared because their mother was upset. He looked at the old car that had chosen tonight to die.

He made a decision. “how about this?” he said, crouching down so he was closer to their level.

“i’m going to call a tow truck for your car then I’m going to give you and your kids a ride home.” “And on the way we can stop and get pizza or whatever the kids like and we can all eat together.”

“it won’t be the fancy restaurant date your friends set up but it’ll be dinner what do you say?” Sophia stared at him like he’d suggested they fly to the moon.

“you can’t be serious i just ruined your evening you don’t have to.” “i know I don’t have to i want to unless you’d rather wait here for a tow truck and then figure out how to get home.”

Sophia looked at her crying daughter and at her worried son. She looked at the dead car and at this strange man who was offering help when he had every right to just leave.

“why would you do this?” “because you’re clearly having a hard night because your kids are scared and because honestly eating pizza with a family sounds a lot better.”

“It sounds better than sitting alone in a fancy restaurant making small talk with a stranger.” The little boy perked up.

“can we get cheese pizza with extra cheese?” Brandon smiled at him.

“we can get whatever kind you want buddy what’s your name.” “i’m Lucas i’m six and this is my sister Maya she’s four she cries a lot.”

“i do not,” maya protested, lifting her tear stained face from her mother’s shoulder. “i only cry when I’m sad or scared or hungry or tired.”

“so a lot,” Lucas said matter-of-factly. Despite everything Sophia laughed.

It was a small watery laugh but it was something. “okay,” she said to Brandon.

“okay thank you i accept your help but only if you let me pay you back somehow.” “We’ll figure that out later right now let’s get you all somewhere warm and fed.”

Brandon called a tow truck service and arranged for Sophia’s car to be taken to a reputable mechanic. Then he led the small family to his car.

It was a nice sedan, clean and well-maintained but not ostentatiously expensive. He’d learned early that driving something too flashy just invited assumptions and unwanted attention.

Lucas and Maya piled into the back seat and Brandon helped them with their seat belts. Sophia sat in the front passenger seat still looking shell shocked by the turn her evening had taken.

“there’s a good pizza place about 10 minutes from here,” Brandon said as he started the car. “they have arcade games the kids can play while we wait for the food does that sound good.”

“yes,” Lucas shouted. “mommy can we please.”

Sophia smiled tiredly. “yes honey we can.”

The pizza place was exactly what Brandon had described. It was casual and family-friendly with red checkered tablecloths and an arcade area.

It immediately drew Lucas and Maya like moths to a flame. Brandon handed them a cup of tokens and they ran off.

Sophia called after them to stay where she could see them. “you don’t have to do all this,” Sophia said as they settled into a booth with a view of the arcade.

“the tokens the pizza the tow truck this is way beyond any normal first date.” “this is definitely not a normal first date,” Brandon agreed.

“but I’m kind of enjoying it more than I thought I would.” “when was the last time you got to just sit and relax for a few minutes.”

Sophia’s laugh was bitter. “i don’t remember working full-time as a home health aid while raising two kids alone doesn’t leave a lot of time for relaxation.”

“their father left when I got pregnant with Maya said he wasn’t ready for two kids.” “turns out he wasn’t ready for any kids but Lucas was already here though.”

She shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, but Brandon could see the hurt underneath. “we’ve been on our own for 4 years now.”

“that must be incredibly hard.” “it is but we manage i work as much as I can and the kids are in a good daycare and we have a tiny apartment.”

“that’s not much but it’s ours.” “most days I feel like I’m barely keeping my head above water but we’re surviving.”

She looked at him, then really looked at him as if seeing him for the first time. “i appreciate what you’re doing tonight but I need you to know I’m not looking for a rescuer.”

“i agreed to this date because my friend Kate your assistant thought we might actually like each other.” “I did not agree because I need someone to save me.”

Brandon respected that. “i’m not trying to save you i’m just trying to have pizza with an interesting person and her kids.”

“although I have to admit Kate was pretty mysterious about who she was setting me up with.” “she just said you were kind and hardworking and deserved a nice evening out.”

“kate is one of my clients,” Sophia explained. “or was I guess since she’s recovered now i took care of her after her surgery last year.”

“we became friends she’s been trying to get me to date someone for months.” “She said I need to have a life outside of work and kids.”

“kate means well though her matchmaking skills might need some work given how tonight started.” Sophia laughed and this time it sounded more genuine.

“yeah this definitely didn’t go according to plan.” They ordered pizza and when it arrived Brandon called Lucas and Maya back to the table.

The children attacked the food with enthusiasm. Brandon found himself entertained by their running commentary.

Lucas told him about school and his teacher who looked like a dragon. Maya showed him her favorite toy, a small stuffed rabbit that had clearly been well-loved.

“what do you do Mr brandon?” Lucas asked between bites of pizza. “i work with computers i help companies use technology better.”

“that sounds boring,” Lucas said. Sophia scolded him, embarrassed, but Brandon laughed.

“you know what sometimes it is boring but other times it’s like solving a really complicated puzzle.” “do you like puzzles?”

“i love puzzles mommy got me one with dinosaurs for my birthday.” “dinosaurs are cool what’s your favorite?”

Lucas launched into an enthusiastic description of various dinosaur species and their relative awesomeness. Brandon caught Sophia’s eye.

She was watching him with an expression he couldn’t quite read. It was surprise maybe or gratitude or something more complicated.