It took 312 strides, one elevator and 13 individual steps down the stairs from the hotel room to the front entrance to the restaurant. A restaurant in Omaha Nebraska that features sinfully fresh fish in the heart of corn and cow country probably has the right to slightly pretentious. Societal elites and lawyers crowded the place even for the late seating as the Husker and Donna were escorted to their table away from the open hallway at the front of the establishment. It had been a long but victorious game day and the buzz in the city reflected the Victory. When your only true sport is college football many fans live and die game by game. Dinner was good but the conversation was rare, the Husker sat unusually quiet, his sport coat draped open, his manner odd. Donna wondered why all of a sudden he had changed. She ate the appetizer he’d comment but didn’t converse. She talked about his family and ask about so and so whom she had met at the game, he answered but didn’t elaborate in his usual manner. Here she was again, in a place not so different form where she came trying to forget who she once was and maybe even a little bit of who she had recently been and the man whose company she kept seemed to be inexplicable withdrawing. Just then ask the waiter put down the main course and stepped away he broke his silence. His eye contact had been steady even though his words were few. “I need to tell you something” as the Husker began her heart sank into her throat as the husker continued “I did something yesterday”. Yesterday she thought how could he have possibly done something yesterday the thought of another woman crossed her mind, how could she be so stupid. How could she have not seen, but she couldn’t have he was so good at keeping her from others why would she think she was the only one. “I hated to keep it a secret, but now it’s ok for you to know.”

Donna was puzzled she was lost perhaps it wasn’t another woman but if it wasn’t then what could it be, what could be causing him such trepidation and guilt. She looked on wondering what could be coming next “so I might as well say it” pausing not sure how to tell her “I had Christy resign. I made sure she had another job, more money but not part of my staff.” Donna between bites of swordfish inquired “why” the answer was not one she expected as the husker nervously said “because I love you.” Somewhere in the dimly lit restaurant over two partially eaten pieces of cooked fish Donna realized she was not a poor little country whore anymore, and even if she was it didn’t matter because after all of the years of searching for someone, a man told her he loved her and for once there was no other reason or motive other than the fact that he really meant it.

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