Writing Challenge #1

Source: Creative Writing Prompts
Prompt: Write about a man who got stood up on a date.

  Pulling into the drive was a relief. The nervousness he'd begun the evening with had turned quickly to self-doubt and then to concern followed by embarrassment, annoyance, even a touch of anger. But now, he was home and again relaxing into the familiar.
  The memories were thick, heavy as he walked easily up the old, worn-in porch steps before turning to lean against the entry post, grateful for the solidity of the wood against his shoulder as he gazed out across the forested mountain backed fields. It was deep into the Fall and cold but all he saw and felt was the heat of summer as he walked with her through the sunlit greenery to the tiny hidden pond just beyond the treeline. He could hear her laughter, could feel the giggle-quakes rushing through her as he wrapped his arm even tighter about her shoulders. How he wished he could remember what he'd said to make her laugh that time.
  Almost two years had passed but her still wasn't sure he was ready to try again, to start over with someone new, someone who could never be her. Why he had finally agreed to this blind date set up by the wife of his best friend, he hadn't a clue but it was a mistake he would be certain to not make again. Dating, blindly or otherwise, just obviously was not for him. The woman he'd been supposed to meet had actually done him a kindness by standing him up. She had shown him that the world and all the people in it were as cold and as ruthless as he'd come to believe through the pain of his heart so shattered.
  The telephone was ringing, he could hear it from where he stood but he wasn't ready to go inside and instead moved to the far end of the porch, easing his long, defeated body down into the old wicker swing. How many hours had they spent there together? How many dreams and plans had they shared?
  It wasn't until the sun had entirely set that he finally pulled himself up out of that old swing and started inside. He was turning the key in the lock when the phone started, yet again, to ring. He considered just getting back into his truck and driving as far and as fast as he could, but he didn't. He didn't want to answer the call or the questions he knew his best friend would rattle off at him and he definitely didn't want the pity that was sure to follow his answers. He didn't want to answer the call, but he did answer.
  "Hello?"
  "Hi..." the voice was timid mixed with, was it hopefulness? "Is, um... is this Shaun?"
  "It is."
  "Oh, good, I tried a few times but was starting to worry I might have the wrong number! It's Marley, Marley Jacobson... Mel and Joe's friend..."
  "Oh, hi... Sorry I missed your calls, I was outside, guess I didn't hear the phone," he lied. His rejection was still fresh but the nervousness he heard in her voice gentled his mood.
  "Well, uh, I just wanted to call and check whether you're still good to meet for dinner tomorrow."
  "Tomorrow?"
  "I'm sorry, weren't we supposed to meet on Friday? Did I get the date mixed up?"
  "What? Date mixed..." he frantically glanced over to the wall calendar and then down to his watch before taking in a long, deep breath of self-exasperation. "No, you didn't, but I think I sure did."
  "Ohhh, okay, do you... need to reschedule? Or..."
  He could hear her disappointment as her voice trailed softly off and his spirit actually felt a little lighter at the 'out' she had just offered him but suddenly, the lighter side didn't look quite as inviting. Tonights mistake, his own mistake, had somehow shown him how open his heart had tried to be, despite his mindset.
  "No, no... If you're still okay with tomorrow night, it completely works for me."
  "Six-thirty at Mondelli's?"
  "I'm looking forward to it."
  "Great! So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. "
  "See you tomorrow."