She gave him the address. He loaded it into his GPS, and she settled back in the seat as he maneuvered through the downtown Washington, DC, traffic. “I did a takeout order. I remember you and Bill talking about finding the best hamburger. I thought I would give you a taste of my favorite.”

He grinned as he glanced in her direction. “That sounds like a perfect date.”

About forty-five minutes later, they sat under a blooming cherry tree in Yards Park. Spread before them on the table sat four different kinds of burgers. She’d ordered a bison, a lamb, and two kinds of beef. She also had toppings, grilled veggies, and condiments.

“Sorry if I went a bit overboard,” she said. “I should have just let you order.”

He cut all the burgers into quarters. “This is better than ordering myself. What a good idea.”

As they made their plates, she asked him, “How did the burger tradition begin?”

He smeared mayonnaise on a bun. “It seems to be the thing that other countries can’t do well. I love exploring different food cultures and always try to immerse myself in local spices and flavors, but I only eat burgers in the States. I think I’ve become a bit of a snob that way.”

She laughed. “What is your favorite culture for food?”

He sprinkled some black pepper on a Parmesan cheese fry. “There was a place we stayed at in Kuwait that had this incredible buffet. It was magazine perfect every night. It wouldn’t break my heart to live there and eat only that for the rest of my life.”

She picked up a sweet potato fry and pointed it at him. “As long as you come home to get a burger?”

He winked. “Exactly.” He looked up and pointed at the pink blossoms on the tree. “The cherry trees are incredible.”

Cynthia looked out at the park, at the sea of pink trees and the paths turned pink from falling blossoms. “I’m so happy you were able to come while the blooms are at their peak. It’s truly the best week of the year.”

After a few quiet moments he said, “After what happened with your fiancé, tell me what caused you to run away from everything and go to the jungle.”

Her eyes widened, and she thought back to standing among all those people with gin running down her face. “Why?”

He shrugged. “Because I only know what the report said. I don’t know what happened to you. I’d like to hear it from you.”