The night had all the makings of a perfect date—candlelight, wine, and the possibility of something deeper. I had everything planned, down to the cozy little Italian restaurant with its dim lighting and soft music. It was my third date with Susan, and I was convinced this could be the start of something real.
We had met on Tinder, and from the very first conversation, she had this effortless charm. Witty, confident, and stunningly beautiful. After two amazing dates and a dreamy walk through the park, I felt ready to take things to the next level.
She walked into the restaurant wearing a navy dress that hugged her figure just right, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. The second she smiled at me, my heart skipped a beat.
“You look… incredible,” I said, pulling out her chair.
“You clean up nicely yourself,” she teased, her eyes twinkling in the candlelight.
We had just started chatting, the waiter had set down a basket of warm, fresh bread, and I was reaching for a breadstick when the restaurant door swung open with a loud bang.
“Oh, hey, Rob! Fancy seeing you here!”
I froze mid-reach. That voice was unmistakable.
Linda. From accounting.
I turned my head slowly, hoping I was imagining things. But no, there she was, in a bright floral dress, standing at the entrance. And she wasn’t alone. Three kids clung to her, each armed with sticky hands and wild energy.
“Linda?” I managed, blinking.
She strode toward our table like she belonged there. “You didn’t tell me you were coming here tonight!” she said, sliding into the booth beside me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Susan frowned, glancing between us. “Friend of yours?” she asked, her tone laced with caution.
“Colleague,” I corrected, forcing a smile.
Linda wasn’t fazed. She casually stole a breadstick from the basket and gestured toward her kids. “It’s packed tonight, so I figured we’d just join you. Hope you don’t mind!”
I absolutely minded.
Linda had always been a bit of a mystery. A single mom of three kids—ages two, eight, and twelve—from two failed relationships, she was a force of nature. At the office, she was sharp, confident, and always in control. I admired her resilience, but that admiration was from afar. Strictly professional.
But now? Sitting beside me? With her kids treating the breadbasket like an all-you-can-eat buffet? That admiration turned to sheer panic.
“Linda, what are you doing here?” I hissed, my voice low.
She placed a hand on mine. I instinctively pulled away.
“You promised to watch the kids tonight,” she said, her voice light but firm. “And here you are… having dinner with her?” She glanced at Susan as if she were an afterthought.
Susan stiffened. “Excuse me?” she said, her voice sharp.
Linda shrugged. “I mean, we’re a family,” she said, gesturing to her kids, who were now happily munching away. “The kids were so excited to see you tonight!”
“Linda, I never promised—”
She cut me off. “Really, Rob? You’re going to pretend this isn’t a thing? In front of her?”
Susan slammed her napkin onto the table. “Pretend what isn’t a thing?!” she snapped.
Linda leaned back, her smirk growing. “I didn’t mean to ruin your date, Susan. But you should know the kind of man you’re seeing. He’s been leading me and the kids on for months.”
My heart stopped.
“What?!” I sputtered. “Linda, stop this!”
Susan grabbed her purse. “You two clearly have… unfinished business,” she said icily before storming out.
I stood to follow her, but Linda’s toddler grabbed my leg, giggling.
The restaurant went silent.
I turned to Linda, my jaw clenched. “You just ruined my date!”
She didn’t even flinch. Instead, she pulled out her phone and scrolled through it.
“You should be thanking me,” she said calmly.
“Thanking you?!” I nearly laughed. “For what? Publicly humiliating me?”
She flipped her phone around. “Recognize this?”
I squinted at the screen. It was a mugshot.
Susan’s mugshot.
“What the…? Why are you showing me this?”
Linda’s voice softened. “My brother’s a cop. I stopped by the station last night, and guess who I saw on the bulletin board? Susan. She’s wanted for fraud. She cons men, gains their trust, and scams them out of thousands. When I saw the picture you posted before your date, I panicked. I had to stop you before she took you for everything you have.”
I swayed on my feet, my mind struggling to catch up. “You’re serious?”
“Dead serious,” she said. “You’re a good guy, Rob. I couldn’t just let you walk into a disaster.”
I rubbed my temples, the anger draining from me. “Why didn’t you just call me?”
“I did. You didn’t answer. So, I improvised.”
I sat down, exhaling heavily.
Linda’s eldest son broke the silence. “Are we getting pizza or what?”
I blinked. Then, against all odds, I laughed. A real, unfiltered laugh that cut through the chaos.
Linda smirked. “See? I saved you. You should thank me.”
I shook my head, half-amused, half-exasperated. “You’re unbelievable.”
She grinned. “And yet, here you are. Not scammed out of your life savings.”
I studied her for a long moment. “Linda,” I said slowly, “let me buy you dinner. All of you.”
She blinked. “After all this?”
“Yeah,” I said, glancing at the kids. “I think you’ve earned it.”
Her oldest cheered. “Pizza!”
Linda laughed, then nodded. “Alright, Rob. But you’re buying dessert too.”
“Deal,” I said, grinning.
Two years later, Linda and I are still together. I adopted her kids, and every day, they remind me what it means to love and be loved.
And every single day, I thank her for that night.
