Only a couple of degrees kept the rain from being sleet, and a robust wind drove it nearly sideways. Maliha resisted the urge to run to Jake’s apartment in the McKinley Park neighborhood for the dinner date, and took a taxi instead. Better to arrive dry when having dinner at a guy’s place. Saves awkward questions. His place was on the second story of a four-flat building a couple of blocks from the neighborhood’s namesake park. She asked the taxi driver to let her off at the park. “You sure, lady? Too dark for park.” “I’ll be fine.” Just in time for her arrival, the rain stopped and the clouds began breaking up. She had some time to kill and spent it walking through the park to the lagoon. Wet leaves glistened on the path and pale light danced on the water of the lagoon as the wind sent ripples across the surface. She wondered how the evening at Jake’s would end. Could be nothing but a dull meal and a peck on the cheek. We each take the off ramp.
