Todd wished he could do something about it, but there was nothing he could do or say except for giving her a few platitudes. For all the time he’d spent with her, and in all his efforts to treat her special, Shannon only thought of him as a friend and nothing more. He would have approached her on bended knee to propose love and marriage if he thought it would have helped. But he’d been on bended knee once before, singing “Happy Birthday” at the top of his lungs in the middle of a crowded restaurant to get her a free piece of cake. She didn’t take him seriously then; she wouldn’t take him seriously this time, even if he meant it from the bottom of his heart.
Last night he’d also thought about revealing himself as the Secret Admirer after the close of work today, whether or not he was still employed. That plan had also been squelched. After Gary treated her as little better than a piece of fluff in front of her work friends, she needed the Secret Admirer to hold her up and tell her how special she was more than ever. If she found out now that he was the Secret Admirer, the joy she’d received from the notes would only be a disappointment.
As the day continued, the phones eventually quieted down, and most of the drivers were told to start coming in as everything began to wind down for the close of business. Todd took advantage of a rare moment of silence to go to the supply closet for a computer disk to back up his work for the day.
When he walked into the closet, it suddenly dawned on him how quiet it was and how alone he was.
No one was in the closet except him and God.
Todd closed his eyes and prayed. He thanked God for Shannon’s friendship, for the improvement in their relationship, and that she had put the past behind them. He praised God that Gary hadn’t made a big scene or thrown his corporate weight around. After lunch, everything had gone on as usual, indicating no harm had been done, except the pain in Shannon’s heart. He prayed for God to show him a way to help her deal with it, even if it meant continuing to be her Secret Admirer and hold her up. It wasn’t what he wanted to do; but if that was what Shannon needed right now, then he would do it.
He wasn’t quite finished when he heard someone coming. He opened his eyes, reached onto the shelf, and wrapped his fingers around a new disk just as Faye stepped into the closet.
She squeaked when she saw him. “Todd! You scared me!”
He scrambled to clear his thoughts, turned around, disk in hand, and grinned impishly. “Boo.”
Faye giggled. “It’s almost time to go home now. I guess I’ll see you Sunday at church. Craig wants to go out for lunch afterward. Will you be coming?”
Todd shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t feel like watching Craig and Faye cuddle up to each other when he couldn’t be doing the same with Shannon, who would be at her own church. Gary wouldn’t be with her, but she hadn’t asked Todd to join her, as he had hoped she would. The lack of an invitation told him everything he needed to know. “Not sure. I might just go home after the service. Three can sometimes be a crowd.”
Her smile widened. “As much as I enjoy your company, I won’t argue with you there. We’ll see what happens.”
Todd nodded and left the room to get back to his job, feeling more alone than he had for years.
Shannon glanced up at the clock. It was ten minutes past Todd’s quitting time. Everyone in the main office had gone home, but Todd still hadn’t appeared from the dispatch area.
If he wouldn’t come to her, then she would go to him.
She found him bundling the last of the pickup sheets for the day. Bryan was on the phone, and Rick was leaning toward the opening to the drivers’ area, talking to one of the casual drivers. Since Todd was the first person to start in the morning, he was first to go home while the others stayed to receive the paperwork from the drivers as they brought their shipments into the building for distribution.
Shannon stepped behind him as he bent over to toss the bundle into the box. “Are you ready to go, Todd?”
“Go? Go where?”
Shannon smiled. “Home, silly. Let’s walk out to the parking lot together. Actually, I’m hungry because I didn’t finish my lunch. How would you like to join me, and we’ll go grab an early dinner someplace? I’ll buy. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“I … uh …” Todd blinked, looked up at the clock, then back to her. “Sure.”
Shannon waited until he tidied up his area, and they walked out of the building together.
Instead of laughing and telling jokes, Todd’s mood was somber. They had reached his car before he finally spoke.
“I don’t know if this is the right time or place to say this, but I’m going to say it anyway. I think you made the right decision about not seeing Gary anymore. If the day ever comes when he wants to search for God, he knows where to go and who to ask. I hope one day that will happen. I really do. In a way, I feel sorry for him. I don’t know how he ever thought you wouldn’t find out he was only leading you on. The big loser here is Gary, not you.”
“Thanks. I appreciate your saying that.” After thinking about Gary’s rebuff, she’d come to terms with it quickly. Her ego was still bruised, but the big loser truly was Gary. Worse than turning down Shannon’s offers of friendship, Gary had rejected God.
Todd reached to pull on the handle to his car door, which of course was locked. “Oops,” he muttered.
Shannon smiled at what she knew was going to happen. She could have counted the seconds each stage took as he performed his routine.
Todd straightened and stuck his right hand in his right pocket. He pulled his hand out, empty, then stuck his left hand in his left pocket. Again, when he removed his hand, it was empty. He began to pat all his pockets, but Shannon knew his attempts to find his keys would be futile.
“I have to go back inside. Wait here for me. I’ll be right back.”
Shannon reached out to touch his arm, barely able to hold back her grin.
When he turned around and looked at her, Shannon had to nibble on her bottom lip in an effort to keep a straight face. “Why don’t you check the back pocket of your jeans? I think you’ll find your keys there.”
Todd reached behind him and patted both back pockets with both hands. “Well. How about that? You’re a genius.”
She couldn’t hold back her grin anymore. “Not really. But you’re the one who’s going to have to be a genius to figure out another excuse to go back inside the building while you leave me here outside. I’ve got you figured out. I know what you’re doing.”
Todd’s face paled instantly. He froze with his hands still covering his back pockets.
“Every time you’ve gone back inside for your keys, you’ve known where they were. Your keys weren’t the issue. You’ve gone back to my desk when you knew I wouldn’t see what you were doing.”
“But …” Todd’s voice trailed off.
Shannon reached forward and rested her hands on his arms and looked up into his eyes. Eyes that showed so many things—now his hesitation and uncertainty. Above all, his eyes showed depth of character—a man who was sweet and sensitive, despite the display of bravado he put on for the rest of the world. She mentally kicked herself for taking so long to see it.
Her voice dropped to a whisper. “It’s you. It’s been you all along.”
Todd looked down at her hands. He stood, frozen, not moving a muscle. “I …” His voice trailed off again.
Shannon shuffled closer, not caring if anyone else they worked with saw them. “You might as well give me the note right here instead of making me wait until morning.” Leaving her left hand still on his arm, she reached into her own pocket and withdrew a piece of paper. “But first, this is for you.”
Todd accepted the paper from her hand. “What’s this?”
“It’s a note, silly. Read it.”
Todd’s hand was shaking as he read what she’d written.
Dearest Secret Admirer,
I have no chocolate kiss to share
All I have are my words and a prayer.
It’s been hard to rhyme when my mind meanders
Because I’m in love with you, too, Todd Sanders.
Yours forever, Shannon
Todd stared at the note, read it a second time, and gulped. “I’m speechless.” Still clutching the paper, he brushed his fingers against her cheek and looked deep into her eyes.
The parking lot, the vans, the traffic on the street behind her—the whole world around her faded into oblivion. Todd’s beautiful brown eyes were warm and inviting and as sweet as the chocolate he had given her every day.
He cleared his throat, but his voice still came out so low and husky she could barely understand him. “Do you mean this?”
Shannon’s heart pounded so hard she wondered if he could hear it. “As much as you’ve meant your notes to me.”
He cupped both her cheeks with his palms. “I love you so much that words are inadequate.”
Shannon started to open her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, Todd’s mouth covered hers. He kissed her passionately but still cupped her cheeks gently, using no force to keep her there except for her own compelling need to kiss him back. His gentle touch emphasized that his kiss came entirely from his heart and that he truly loved her as much as his notes had said.
Shannon slipped her arms around him to embrace him fully. She kissed him the same way he was kissing her, because she loved him, too.
“Woo hoo! Go, Todd!” a male voice called out from somewhere in the parking lot. From the other side of the lot, a horn honked.
Todd drew back slightly, his face red. “I guess the drivers are starting to come in. We should go someplace else. You said something about supper?”
Shannon knew her own face had to be as red as Todd’s. “Yes. Where do you want to go?”
He brushed a light but lingering kiss on her lips then released her completely. “I don’t know. I’m so mixed up right now I can’t think. I want to go someplace quiet and romantic so I can ask you to marry me, but it’s probably too soon for that.”
Shannon giggled. “I don’t know about that, but if you wanted that tidbit to be a secret, you blew it. Now I won’t answer until you ask me properly.”
His cheeks flushed again. “Oops.” They walked in silence to her car. Todd spoke as Shannon inserted the key into the lock.
“It’s not very romantic, especially since we’re taking separate cars, but there’s a great place to eat not far from my apartment. It’s called Joe’s Diner. It’s small, and it isn’t fancy, but the food’s great. The owners just got married, and the local paper said they’ve decorated the place like a wedding. The bride is wearing her veil all week, the groom is wearing a top hat, and the waiters and waitresses are wearing their wedding gear. They’re also offering dinners for two at half price and giving away free cake, like wedding cake, to everyone for dessert.”
“That sounds like your kind of place. I’ll meet you there.”
Shannon was so happy she felt lightheaded. As strange as it sounded, she couldn’t think of a more romantic atmosphere for Todd to propose than in the midst of wedding decorations, even if the recent bride and groom were serving hamburgers. She could hardly wait to give him her answer.
Shannon pulled the car door open.
“Wait.”
Before she could slide in, Todd’s hands slipped around her waist. She turned around and rested her hands on his waist as well. They were hugging loosely, so that no one they worked with would tease or interrupt them.
Todd brushed a kiss on her temple, backed up a little, but didn’t release her. “I have to tell you this now, or I’ll forget. That was a good poem you wrote, especially in a short time.”
Shannon felt her face grow warm at his compliment. “Thanks. I found out writing poetry isn’t easy. Do you know how difficult it was to think of something that rhymed with Sanders?”
Todd grinned, stepped back, covered his heart with his hand, and cleared his throat.
“Finding rhymes is easy when you know where to look. All it takes is to love a special woman, and then go buy a book.”
What’s Cooking?
by Gail Sattler
Dedication
To Sandie, my friend and critique bud extraordinaire.
Chapter 1
What are you trying to do, poison me?”
Mitchell Farris watched as Jake covered his mouth with his hand, ran across the room, and leaned over the sink. Jake spat, turned the tap on full blast, filled a large glass with water, rinsed his mouth, then spat again.
“Come on, Jake, you’re my best friend.”
“With friends like you, who needs enemies?” Jake sputtered, standing over the sink with his head bowed, still gasping.
Mitchell tried not to look hurt. “I did my best.”
Jake straightened and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “What was that supposed to be?”
Mitchell skimmed his finger down the page of the cookbook on the counter. “Crab snaps.”
All the color drained from Jake’s face. “You fed me diseased seafood. I’m going to die of salmonella poisoning, and it will be all your fault!”
“I don’t think you can get salmonella from seafood. And it wasn’t that bad.” At least he hoped it wasn’t that bad.
“Did you try it?”
“Well, no …”
“Since you’re soon going to be my brother-in-law, I’m going to save your life. Don’t touch them. And don’t give any to the dog, either, unless she has a horrible disease and you want to put her out of her misery.”
Mitchell didn’t find Jake’s comments very amusing.
“Whatever possessed you to try this?” Jake waved his arm to encompass the array of dirty bowls and utensils scattered over every flat surface of the small kitchen.
“Ellen said I couldn’t do it.”
“Ellen was right.”
Mitchell snorted. “Ellen and Mom and I were talking about the rehearsal party and what it’s going to cost to have everything catered since Mom can’t do very much with her arm in a cast. So I said I would do the cooking.”
“We’ve been roommates for four years, Mitch, and I’ve seen the extent of your cooking talents. I’m not having hot dogs at my wedding rehearsal.”
“I know. That’s why I’m making these, uh …” Mitchell checked the cookbook one more time. “Crab snaps.”
“I changed my mind. Take your life in your hands. Try one.” Jake extended his arm toward the soggy blobs, still in neat rows on the cookie sheet. “Sorry, Mitch. I know how you cook. There is no way you can ever make these edible, much less in seven weeks.”
“It’s too late. I said I’d do it. My personal honor is at stake.”
Jake disappeared into the living room and returned with the community newspaper. “If you’re really going to insist on doing this, you should take a night class.”
“Night school? Me?”
Jake nodded and opened the newspaper about two-thirds of the way through. “Look. Here’s one. Creative Cooking for Entertaining. It’s an eight-week course, and it starts in an hour. I’ll bet you could still make it if you phone right away.”
Mitchell glanced up at the clock, then the calendar. The session ended after Jake and Ellen’s wedding, but he figured he could learn enough to do what he needed for the rehearsal. He’d made a promise, but he certainly didn’t want to poison the wedding party. They were his friends, too.
“I’ll do it. What’s the number?”
Mitchell arrived at the classroom door with one minute to spare. As he entered, the teacher raised her eyebrows at the sight of him, smiled a polite greeting, and shuffled a piece of paper on the table in front of her.
He scanned the room, looking for an empty chair.
A group of young girls who looked like they’d just graduated from high school filled the back area, about a dozen fortyish ladies filled the rest of the room, and center front, an elderly lady sat primly with her hands folded in her lap.
There was no one
there his own age, and he was the only man present.
The last empty chair was in the very center of the classroom. Trying to act casual, he aimed himself for it and smiled at everyone as those in his path pulled up their knees to allow him access. He slid into the seat. Because he was a head taller than everyone around him, he slouched and leaned back, rested one ankle on the opposite knee, and tried to make himself as comfortable as possible.
The teacher frowned and ran her finger along a paper in front of her. “Excuse me, but I think you’re in the wrong class.”
Mitchell smiled. “I’m in the right class. I just signed up, and they said I wouldn’t appear on your list. My name is Mitchell Farris. Stella at the office told me to tell you she’d fax a new list in the morning. I promise I’ll be on it.” He waited for a response, but she only stared back at him. “Stella gave me a registration number,” he said.
The teacher blushed and scribbled something on the paper. The group of young ladies in the back row giggled.
“That’s fine.” The teacher checked her watch. “I think it’s time we started. My name is Carolyn Rutherford, and I’m the home economics teacher here at Central High. This class is Creative Cooking for Entertaining.” She paused for a few seconds and scanned the room, making brief eye contact with everyone except him. “Your original teacher, Edith Ramsey, had to go out of town for urgent family business, so I agreed to take her place. Today, we’re going to prepare a few fancy finger foods, favorites at any gathering, casual or formal. We’ll start with something basic so I can see the skill levels of everyone here. Let’s get started.”
Mitchell couldn’t believe he was doing this. Jake had railroaded him into signing up so fast it hadn’t occurred to him that only women would take such a class. And now that he was here, he didn’t want to look like a coward and walk out.
The teacher donned her apron, opened her cookbook, and started explaining what she called “basics.” She explained to everyone about putting the beaters in the freezer for a few minutes before whipping the cream, but he really didn’t need to know why, only that he was supposed to do it. Instead of studying her food processor and all its wonderful features, he studied the teacher.
Time to Laugh Romance Collection Page 45