Single Dad Helped His Boss Fix Her Dating Profile — Then She Smiled and Said, ‘Why Not Take Me Out
The Surprise of New Beginnings
“Emma’s going to think this is hilarious,” Daniel said, standing up. “My boss helping me with work projects, and now… now what?”
Margaret asked, her eyes bright.
Daniel took a breath, feeling like a teenager and a grown man all at once—nervous and certain, hesitant and brave.
“Margaret Chen, would you like to have dinner with me somewhere not work-related? Where we can talk about butterscotch candies and farmers markets and terrible puns?”
She laughed that genuine laugh he’d always loved hearing.
“I’d like that very much. But Daniel?”
“Yes?”
“Let’s not tell the office just yet. I don’t think HR has a protocol for boss dates employee after he helps her fix dating profile.”
“Our secret,” he agreed, smiling as they walked out of the office together.
The evening sun painted the parking lot in shades of amber and rose. Daniel thought about all the ways life surprised you. He thought about how kindness could be its own reward, and how sometimes the person you’re meant to find has been there all along.
Margaret paused by her car, turning to face him.
“Friday night? That little Italian place on Maple Street?”
“Perfect. 7:00.”
“It’s a date.”
She hesitated, then added, “Thank you, Daniel, for seeing me. The real me.”
“Thank you for letting me,” he replied.
Driving to pick up Emma, Daniel found himself smiling at nothing in particular. He smiled at the way the light caught the trees, at the song on the radio, and at the gentle surprise of new beginnings.
When he pulled up to the soccer field, Emma bounced into the car, sweaty and glowing.
“Dad, we won! Three to two, and I made a goal!”
“That’s wonderful, sweetheart.”
He pulled back onto the road, still smiling. Emma studied him with the shrewd perception of teenagers everywhere.
“Why are you so happy? You look like you won the lottery or something.”
“Do I need a reason to be happy?”
“Dad, you have that look. The goofy one. What happened?”
Daniel glanced at his daughter, this miracle of a person he and Clare had created. She had given him a reason to keep going on the hardest days.
“I have a date on Friday.”
Emma’s eyes went wide.
“Seriously? With who? Someone I work with? Someone nice?”
“Is it Margaret?” Emma asked far too knowingly.
Daniel nearly swerved.
“How did you…?”
“Dad, please. You talk about her constantly. ‘Margaret said this funny thing.’ ‘Margaret appreciated my work on the Henderson project.’ You light up every time you mention her.”
Emma grinned.
“I think it’s great. She sounds awesome.”
“She is,” Daniel admitted. “And yes, it’s Margaret.”
They drove in comfortable silence for a moment before Emma spoke again, her voice softer now.
“Mom would have liked her, I think. She always said, ‘You had good taste.'”
Daniel reached over and squeezed his daughter’s hand.
“Yeah, she would have.”
That Friday, Daniel stood in front of his closet trying to decide between shirts, while Emma offered commentary from his bed.
“The blue one. Definitely the blue one. It makes your eyes look nice.”
“Since when do you care about what makes my eyes look nice?”
“Since you’re dating my boss’s boss,” Emma said, laughing. “I have a reputation to maintain.”
He chose the blue shirt and tried not to think too hard about what the evening might bring. Hope felt dangerous and thrilling all at once.
Margaret was already seated when he arrived at the restaurant. For a moment, Daniel just looked at her. She’d worn a simple dress in deep green, her hair down instead of up in its usual twist. She looked radiant, nervous, real.
“Hi,” he said, sliding into the booth across from…
