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A short while later she emerged from the bathroom dressed in navy slacks, matching heels and a white silk blouse.“ Your turn,” she said, running a brush through her straight blond hair.“ Your friend wouldn’ t happen to have a blow dryer?” she asked.“ I’ ll check,” Eddie said, and pictured Rodney blow drying his wig, dressed in his tie-dyed shirt.“ There are beverages in the fridge. Help yourself,” he yelled, as he walked into the bedroom’ s walk-in closet. He found a compact hair dryer on the shelf.“ Always prepared.” Eddie thought and pulled his suit from the hanging bag. Handing the simple unit to Mandy, he headed for the shower.
Eddie stepped from the bathroom well groomed and dressed.“ Where would you like to go?” he asked, and watched the once over he received from Mandy.“ What do you like?”“ Anything from steak to vegetarian. I’ m not familiar with the restaurants in the area. You look very nice by the way. Someplace appropriate, you are not dressed for pizza,” Eddie suggested.“ Thank you. Seafood?”“ You navigate and I’ ll drive,” he said, as he picked up her bag and opened the door. He locked the apartment and she took his arm as he passed.
The restaurant offered valet parking. Eddie pulled up, took the tag from the attendant and joined Mandy at the door. Candles lit the cloth covered tables. Napkins were artistically folded and the silverware glistened. The maitre d ' sat them at a secluded table. The place was not busy on a week night. The waiter and the wine steward arrived a few seconds later. Brian recited the chef’ s specials. Mandy looked at the menu, then at Eddie who left his closed on the table.“ What are you going to have?” she asked.“ I find the chefs like to showcase their talents in the specials.”“ Could you repeat the first special?” she asked Brian. He nodded and elaborated on the first of the three choices originally offered.“ That sounds wonderful,” she said, as Brian removed the menus from the table. Brian turned to Eddie.“ I have to agree with the lady. I’ ll have the same,” Eddie said as the wine steward stepped forward, stating they had made an excellent choice. He suggested a couple of wines to compliment the meal and pointed them out on the wine list.“ Do you have a preference?” Eddie asked Mandy. She shook her head. Eddie chose the California over the import. The steward returned a minute later and presented the bottle.“ Is that the only year you have from that vineyard?” Eddie asked.“ No sir,” the steward smiled.“ Let’ s try a different year please.”“ Certainly,” he said, left and returned a moment later.“ Much better,” Eddie said, reading the label.
The bottle was opened and a small portion offered for tasting. The wine was perfect. Eddie nodded, the glasses were filled. The wine was deposited into an ice bucket, and placed near Eddie. Mandy sipped the chilled, white wine.“ That’ s so good. What was wrong with the first bottle?”“ Not a good year,” Eddie stated the obvious. She offered a puzzled look. Her carefully applied make-up made her look slightly older than she stated. He wondered at the purpose.
Eddie had a friend who’ s family was in the wine business. He received an excellent, quick education and learned what he liked. He kept a short list of wine information