Single Dad CEO Took His Daughter on a Blind Date—Poor Waitress Fed the Girl First & Stole His Heart…

 

The Disastrous Blind Date

The Grand Meridian was the kind of restaurant where reservations were made weeks in advance and the wait staff could identify good silver from across the room. Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over white tablecloths and the soft murmur of conversation mixed with the delicate clink of expensive glassware.

Lucas Hayes stood in the entrance straightening his navy suit jacket and trying to quiet the nervous flutter in his stomach. At 38 he was the CEO of Haze Tech Solutions, comfortable commanding boardrooms and negotiating multi-million dollar deals.

But this, a blind date arranged by his well-meaning sister, this had him completely off balance. “Daddy, my tummy hurts,” Lucas looked down at his 4-year-old daughter Emma whose blonde curls framed a face that was growing pale.

She wore a pink dress that she’d insisted on for this special dinner and she clutched his hand tightly. “We’ll get you some food soon, sweetheart,” Lucas said glancing at his watch.

They were 15 minutes early but Emma had been so excited about going to a fancy restaurant that they’d left the house ahead of schedule., She’d skipped her afternoon snack in anticipation, which Lucas was now realizing had been a mistake.

“But it hurts now,” Emma said, her voice small and wavering in that way that suggested tears weren’t far behind. Lucas felt a familiar surge of panic.

He’d been a single father since Emma was 6 months old when his wife Jennifer had decided that motherhood and marriage weren’t what she wanted after all. She’d left, moved across the country, and sent cards twice a year with generic messages.

Lucas had learned to manage bedtimes and tantrums and doctor visits, but he still sometimes felt like he was fumbling through parenthood with insufficient preparation. “Mr. Hayes,” the hostess approached with a professional smile.

“Your table is ready. Miss Peterson hasn’t arrived yet, but we can seat you now if you’d like.” “Yes, thank you,” Lucas said gently guiding Emma forward.

The hostess led them through the elegant dining room to a table by the window with a view of the city lights beginning to twinkle as dusk approached., It was a perfect spot for a romantic dinner.

It was also, Lucas realized with a sinking feeling, completely inappropriate for a 4-year-old who was hungry and getting fussier by the minute. What had he been thinking?

His sister Rachel had been so insistent that he needed to start dating again, that Emma needed to see him building a life beyond just work and parenting. Victoria Peterson, a colleague from a partner firm, had seemed like a safe choice: accomplished, intelligent, sophisticated.

Rachel had arranged it all and Lucas had agreed mostly to get his sister to stop worrying about him. But bringing Emma along, that had been Rachel’s idea too.

“You’re a package deal,” she’d said. “Any woman who’s going to be in your life needs to be comfortable with Emma, might as well be upfront about it.”

Now sitting in this upscale restaurant with his daughter looking miserable, Lucas wondered if there was such a thing as being too upfront. “Can I have bread?” Emma asked looking at the empty table with disappointment.

“You said there would be food.” “Honey, we have to wait for the menus,” Lucas explained scanning the room for their server.

Emma’s lower lip trembled. “But my tummy really hurts, Daddy.”