3. I'd Prefer to go to a Restaurant. In Public. Just in Case.

"We could do the regular dinner and a movie thing," Danton said as he sped past a Corvette in his Lexus GS F Sport, "but I think you'd prefer a more personal experience. I'd like us to get to know each other better." Mira didn't know what to do. She was pretty much paralyzed from the shock of going on a date with Danton, whom she just met earlier that day. As she looked over at him, she saw he wasn't watching the road, but instead looking directly at her. I really wish he wouldn't stare at me with those eyes. As if he read her mind, Danton quickly turned back to the road just in time to do a sharp right hand turn into a long, secluded driveway. "Where are we going, Danton?" She realized that maybe this was a mistake. What if he's a psycho? He could kill me out here and no one would know. "I think maybe I'd prefer to go to a restaurant." In public, just in case. "Are you sure? I cooked. I know it's not as fancy, but I thought we could enjoy the evening without worrying about other people. I want you to know where I live, so you might get to know me better. I really like you, Mira." As they pulled past the driveway gates, and onto the circular driveway, Mira gawked at the huge mansion before her. It stood 3 stories high and was long enough to get lost in. Even though the front yard had a few leaves on the ground, it was kept in immaculate shape. The topiaries were symmetrical and the hedges were perfect enough to give a toddler's geometry lesson. The five stone stairs leading up to the front entry way had twin statues of strange looking animals on either side. What really confused Mira was that the statue on her left had a sad, longing face and the other had a mad, fighting face. It took Mira a moment to realize that she was being led gently up the stairs, and to the front doors by Danton. He had such a soft, gentle look on his rough face, that Mira couldn't help but feel at ease. He turned the doorway and they walked into the biggest entry hallway Mira had ever seen. There was a stone fountain on the marble tile directly in front of them that had an angel standing over a man with a thick pointed staff directly over the fearful man's heart. The angel didn't look mad or evil in any way, but in fact he looked sad. There was water trickling out of the angel's eye and dripping down onto the scared man. As they continued walking, Mira saw other statues in the hallway depicting scenes where the man has some sort of weapon and the assailant is sad for him. The last statue in the hallway though, depicts the man covered in a cloak holding a woman that looked as though she was sleeping very deeply in his arms. "You have been very quiet, Mira. Are you OK?" "I had no idea that this place was even here. It is so.... so..... big! Do you live here with your friends or family?" "Actually, no. We all live separately, but as I said, they are only an adopted family. My blood family left this house to me when my father died many years ago. It's been vacant up until about 3 years ago when I returned to my hometown from traveling. Only the caretaker stayed on the grounds while I was away, but now he is old and can no longer care for the place by himself, so I've allowed him to live out the rest of his life as he wishes and have come home to care for my family's house." Danton seemed uneasy that Mira was looking at the artwork. "Did you paint any of these pieces yourself?" Mira asked. "No. They were done many years ago by my Grandfather. The statues were as well. The fountain was his inspiration for all the artwork. He inherited it from a family in Europe during his travels there." "There is so much pain and suffering on the faces of the man. Even when he is not being attacked, he is in pain," Mira noted. "Yes. It is something my family can relate to." Danton looked troubled, so Mira didn't push it, even though his answer made her even more curious. As they proceeded into the front room, he seated her on a luscious couch and asked her to wait while he fetched dinner. Just a few moments later, Danton arrived with a decadent salad and then went back to get the bread. This time, Danton came out with a basket filled with gourmet breads followed by a man carrying out two covered plates on a tray. "Will there be anything else I can do for you and the lady, Mr. Tompkins?" the man asked. "No, thank you, John. I appreciate your help this evening. You are free to go." With a nod, John walked back the way he came and a short while later Mira heard the faint closing of a door somewhere in the house. "John comes by here twice a week and helps me catch up on things around here. He helps with keeping things in order and anything else I happen to need while he's here. I asked him earlier today to help me with tonight, and he thankfully obliged. I, honestly, cannot cook, and you would have been very hungry here," Danton let out a small chuckle. "Lucky for me, John knows a few tricks in the kitchen. He usually cooks a few meals while he's here and leaves them in the refrigerator for me. Your dinner is getting cold." "Danton, thank you for this, but I must confess, that I'm not really all that hungry now. Uh, um, but maybe a little taste wouldn't hurt though," Mira amended when she saw the hurt look start on his face. "It has been a few hours, I guess. I just didn't realize that the time has gone by so fast!" When Danton put his napkin on his plate, Mira looked down and was surprised that she ate the last bite. I must have been hungry. I do feel better though. Danton cleared away the plates while Mira used the restroom that was adjacent to the room they were in. Thankfully, or I'd probably get lost! When she returned, Mira noticed that there was a fire blazing in the fireplace and Danton was leaning on a pillow in front of it. "I always find a controlled fire very comforting, don't you, Mira?" "I do. Reminds me of home," she said as she got down onto a pillow next to him. "I haven't been back for a few years now, I forgot how comforting some of these small things can be when you're alone." They sat in silence for a few minutes watching the flames dance, when Danton said, "Mira, I don't want to be alone anymore." He looked so deep into Mira's eyes that she felt he could see her soul, "I don't want you to be alone anymore, either."