Both were happy and anxious when Friday evening arrived. Max picked her up and thought she looked stunning in her silky, brown leopard jumpsuit with her tanned arms and shoulders exposed. He took her to a popular seafood restaurant and they were seated on the deck overlooking the town dock. They drank beer from a pitcher and munched on an appetizer while they talked and watched the boaters come and go.
Dinner was served, broiled platters, along with another pitcher, and the nonstop conversation continued as the sun went down. They ordered after-dinner drinks.
A couple from a nearby table asked them if they would mind taking their picture. Ella obliged, hopped up and snapped a couple shots with their smart phone. Then Max held out his own phone and asked if they would return the favor, which of course they did.
They looked at their photo together. It wasn’t too bad for an impromptu moment on a first date.
“Well, would you look at this handsome couple,” Max said. “The woman is a knockout!”
Ella smiled shyly. “Yes, not bad. The guy’s pretty damn cute, too.”
“I don’t know what made me ask them to do that,” he said. “I’m usually camera-shy. I don’t photograph very well.”
“I know what you mean. I’m rarely happy with pictures taken of me. But often the best ones are the ones you aren’t expecting. Spur-of-the-moment, like this one.”
“Right. Whenever I pose for a photo, it always looks phony. Say cheese, and all that crap.”
“Yes. Like school portraits. Or your driver’s license.”
“Oh yeah” Max said. “What worse setting is there for a photo-op than the Department of Motor Vehicles?”
After a short pause, Ella said, “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”
“Show what?”
“Our driver’s licenses.” She started digging in her purse.
“Okay.”
Max took his wallet out of his pocket and removed his license. He handed it to Ella, and she handed over hers.
“You look pretty good here, Max, you handsome devil. Wore a tie and everything.”
“I went there on the way to work.” He looked at Ella’s face on the license. It looked fine to him. “Your mugshot is beautiful, I must say,” he added.
“Oh, please,” she said.
Ella scanned over the data on Max’s license: Address, age, height, weight, organ donor. Then she saw his date-of-birth.
“Max!” she barked, and turned to look at him with twisted lips. “Today’s your birthday!”
“Yup. Guilty as charged. Twenty-nine and holding,” he said with a cringe, and raised his drink. “A toast! To my extreme good fortune to share my day with such a smart, beautiful lady!” They clinked glasses.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It wasn’t important. I wanted to be with you. And I wanted you to be with me. But I didn’t want you to feel any obligation. Not that you would…”
“But to be out with you on your birthday. I should do something. We should celebrate.”
“I am celebrating! I’m with you.”
“But I should give you a gift or something.”
“No, Ella. This is why I first asked you out for tomorrow night, so my birthday would be over with. I never thought we would scrutinize our driver’s licenses.”