Greg took Carla ’s hand and led her to his car. He opened the door and watched her slide in, loving the view it gave him of her shapely legs. He adjusted the crotch of his pants as he walked around to the driver side of the car.

He started the car and soft jazz music played as he drove away.
“Carla, how many brothers and sisters do you have?” Dr. Miller asked.
“I have an older brother and a sister,” Carla replied.
“Is your sister older or younger than you?”
“Actually, I’m not sure.”
“You’re not sure?” Dr. Miller questioned.
“My father had an affair and he has a daughter from the situation,” Carla said.
“Wow, I’m sure that was a real shock for your whole family.”
“Yes, it was.”
“Are your parents still together?”
“It doesn’t matter what my father does. My mother would never leave him.”
Dr. Miller could hear the anger in her voice. He reached out and took her hand in his and squeezed it.
“What about your family? How many sisters and brothers do you have?” Carla asked.
“I have three sisters. I’m the youngest,” he replied. “So you’re the spoiled baby boy.”
“I don’t know about all of that, but it was interesting being around that many women growing up.” 

Dr. Miller turned down Oakwood Street and headed west. When he saw the Greenfield Village sign he turned right into the parking lot.

“I’ve never been to Greenfield Village,” Carla said.
“You’re going to love it,” Dr. Miller told her.
On his way out of the car, he pushed the button that opened his trunk and walked around to get the door for Carla. Carla smiled from ear to ear when she saw the wicker basket and plaid blanket Dr. Miller pulled from the trunk. He had already planned this outing for them.

“All this for me,” she said coyly.
Dr. Miller reached out and pulled her to him, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss.
“This is just the beginning,” he told her.
Greg and Carla walked hand in hand through the gates of Greenfield Village. Carla gasped as she took in the festive Christmas decor. The park was decorated in a manner that immediately took her back to a Christmas in a kinder and more civilized time in American history. They walked the park taking in the sights, sounds and smells of a bygone era. As they traveled further on into the park, they came upon a vintage style photography studio.

“What do you think? Do you want to take a picture?” Greg asked her.
“Sure. It looks like fun,” Carla replied.
They went inside the small house and picked out the costumes they wanted to wear. Dressed in their chosen outfits, the photographer positioned them in front of the canvas. Carla stood next to Greg in a round collared blue-and-white seersucker dress. The layered crinoline under the skirt of the old-fashioned dress created a puffiness that was pushed outward when she stood next to the chair that Greg was seated in. Thegrowing photographer placed her hands together on top of Greg’s shoulder.

Greg looked up at her and smiled his approval. Together they were a handsome couple dressed in their period outfits. Greg’s simple outfit of a brown pair of pants and matching jacket with a cotton button up no collar shirt was reminiscent of the time they could only imagine.

Greg kept looking up into Carla’s eyes and smiling. She was what he had been looking for all his life and he knew it. The flash from the camera pulled him out of his thoughts. The photographer took picture after picture, repositioning the couple until he finally said, “All done. You can change back into your clothes and meet me up front.”

When they arrived up front, the photographer had their pictures up on a screen for them to review.
They scrolled through the pictures, commenting as they went. Giggling like high school kids.

“How much for all of them?” Greg finally asked.
“If you purchase all of them in 5×7’s, it will be $278,” the photographer replied.
“We’ll take them all.”
“Greg, that’s too expensive,” Carla told him.
“There’s nothing too expensive when it comes to you.”
Carla looked down and away as her face turned red with embarrassment. Greg lifted her head and kissed her. Carla responded by opening her mouth and entangling her tongue with his.

“Ah, hum mm,” the photographer interjected.
Greg and Carla reluctantly separated and looked at the photographer. Carla’s face turned beet red with embarrassment causing her to look down and away.

“How will you be paying for this today?” the photographer asked sheepishly. Greg reached into his back pocket and pulled out his Visa Black Card and handed it to the photographer and replied, “Charge.”

Once outside the photography studio the couple clasped hands once again and strolled further down the paved street to a crowd of people sitting near a bonfire watching a silent movie from 1915. Greg found them seats on a bench. They huddled together and watch the movie. They smiled and laughed together until the movie was over. This was the best date Greg had ever been on and the only date for Carla.

When the movie ended, Greg grabbed Carla’s hand and led her to a restaurant he had noticed on the park map when they first arrived called the Eagle Tavern. They were greeted by a waitress dressed in a simple dress covered in a white pinafore apron and white bonnet. She sat them at a wooden table with a hurricane pillar candle lamp as the centerpiece. The menu was printed on a sheet of paper printed in old style type setting. On one side there was the history of the Eagle Tavern and information about the original owner, Calvin Wood. The complete menu was printed on the other side, which included food, wine, and dessert. The Tavern also sold alcohol as there was no prohibition in the early 1900’s.

They each studied the menu trying to figure out what to order.
“What are you doing for Christmas?” Greg asked.

“Working and hanging out with my friend Andrea. What are you doing?” Carla replied.

“I usually go home for Christmas. Why don’t you come with me?”
“I think it’s a little early to meet the family, don’t you think?”
“No. I don’t.”

“This whole thing between us is very new. Don’t you think we should wait a little while and see how things work out?”

“I already know how things are going to work out. You are exactly what I’ve been
praying for.”

Carla looked at him skeptically. She had friends who were in relationships for years before they met their mates family. She also wasn’t good at meeting new people. She never knew what to say. She was just getting used to talking openly with Greg.

“Please come with me,” Greg pleaded.
“Let me see if I can get the time off from work,” Carla replied. She knew her chances of getting the time off was slim to none, which helped to lowered her level of anxiety. “I have faith. I can’t wait for my family to meet you. My mom will love you and so will my sisters.”

“Can I take your order,” a pale white woman said.
They each placed their order and after they were finished eating they headed back outside to take in more of the sites in Greenfield Village.
Back on Main Street, they took a ride around the Village in a Model T car. They even rode on a horse-drawn wagon and sang Christmas carols with everyone else on board. Greg found a picnic table and placed the basket he had been carrying on it. He pulled out a bottle of wine, some cheese, crackers, and wine glasses, and placed them in front of Carla. He also pulled out a wool blanket to keep them warm while they enjoyed their snack. He sat down next to her and wrapped the plaid blanket around them and pulled her close. They smiled at each other like teenagers and fed each other the cheese and crackers and drank the wine. Once they had their fill, they decided to call it a day and head home. 

On the walk to his car, Greg invited Carla to come back to his place and listen to his extensive collection of Jazz.

Feeling nervous and excited about being alone with Greg once again, Carla leaned over and kissed Greg on the lips and said, “Of course.”