by Ellerbe, Lyn
As the strains of Pomp and Circumstance echoed in the small auditorium, Rori’s eyes searched for a tall figure among the line of professors. There were almost as many instructors present as there were graduates.
She saw him, towering above the petite Spanish teacher next to him. Jake was on his other side. This being the smallest graduation of the school year, the instructors traditionally lined their exit path and greeted each of their students. Rori was not looking forward to walking that gauntlet after the ceremony.
Thankfully, the speaker was funny and quite inspirational. And succinct, she was sure her father would add. The professor had endured more boring graduation speakers than he could count. As the graduates filed into the center aisle, their instructors now lining the right side, the realization that this may be the last time she would see Marcus MacRae suddenly dawned on Rori. Fighting tears, she walked past the first few instructors, not having had them for any class. She smiled at one or two she recognized from church or as parents of her school students. The art instructors all greeted her warmly, Professor Smith giving her a big bear hug.
“I’m very proud of you and wish you the best, Aurora,” he said sincerely.
“Thank you, Dr. Smith,” Rori didn’t trust herself to say more. She would miss this school and these people very much.
Facing Marcus was her last obstacle. She was hoping to pass right by him, since technically the class had been an elective, only showing up as a footnote on her transcript. Maybe he wouldn’t notice her. No such luck. His hand shot out and stopped her in mid-stride.
“Miss Sinclair?” His eyebrow arched in question. “Did you forget me so quickly?”
“No, Chef MacRae,” Rori’s stomach flipped. He would laugh to know, or maybe be mad instead, that she had skipped breakfast.
“Congratulations, Princess,” he said quietly as he placed a chaste kiss on her cheek and passed her onto to Jake. In the stands, Professor Sinclair was watching intensely.
“Way to go, son,” he said quietly.
Jake saw the interchange and the shocked look on Rori’s face. He gave her a big hug, hoping to steady her.
“Congrats, brat,” he added to snap her back to reality. “We’ll see you tomorrow, won’t we?” The church had planned a Memorial Day picnic and she had tentative plans to attend, if her packing was mostly done by then. Her parents were leaving early in the morning.
“Hope so,” she answered noncommittally as she moved out onto the front lawn to wait for her parents.
As the families and faculty exited the arena, there was no sign of Marcus. Her parents and Jess’s family took everyone out to a fancy dinner at the local country club. They all attributed Rori’s quietness to the fatigue of the last few days.
The rest of the day was spent packing up Rori’s things in the small rental trailer she had rented to accommodate all her art supplies. They said their goodbyes early Monday morning with her dad giving her an enigmatic statement of encouragement.
“Don’t be afraid of the future, Princess. And don’t forget that our God is an awesomely powerful God who often works in mysterious ways,” he said seriously. “Don’t be afraid to follow your heart.”
-------------------------
Rori checked her email quickly before returning to the little bit of packing she had left. A message from her sister reminded her again of the missed opportunity of her Europe trip. Gwen was preparing for her own graduation and making plans for her new job. The school was an unusual hybrid of a charter school and parochial system, and there were some mandatory training sessions for all new teachers.
Then she saw the familiar name. Still confused over his graduation kiss she wondered what on earth he could possibly want.
Dear Miss Sinclair: Could you please stop by my office sometime this morning. I have some handouts from the last class to give you and some papers I need you to sign. Any time before 11 am, so I can make it to the church picnic. Thank you. ~Chef MacRae.
She looked at the clock. It was a little after nine o’clock. His email had been sent two hours ago. Would he still be there or would he have given up on hearing back from her? And what had happened to the Marcus and Princess Aurora? Why were we back to Miss Sinclair and Chef MacRae?
I’ll show him, she thought.
Dear Chef Charming: Your wish is my command. I’m on my way. ~Princess Aurora.
Knowing she would never see him again gave her the courage to be petty. Way to go, Rori. Rise to the occasion and show your true colors. She felt guilty for her childish display, but it was too late. The email was on its way.
Instead of making him mad, the message made Marcus laugh and gave him great hope at the same time.
He had stepped out when she arrived. She plopped herself down in one of the worn leather chairs. She was in her faithful painting overalls, planning to spend the morning cleaning out the rest of her art supplies and packing up her car. Knowing now that ‘Charming’ would be at the picnic, she was considering skipping it.
Coming through the food lab to his office had brought back so many memories. And she could even smell his aftershave in the air. She needed to find out what brand it was so she made sure any future boyfriends stayed away from it. She slumped further into the chair, arms folded, wanting to get whatever torture he had planned over quickly.
Marcus had been standing in the doorway for close to a minute before she realized he was there. Even an untrained eye such as his could read her body language. She was frustrated and wanted to be anywhere but here. And she would have to be wearing those stupid overalls, he thought. She looks about sixteen years old. I feel like a cradle robber. Add that to her hair being down and it’s going to take every ounce of self-control to get through this.
“Hello, Aurora,” he said quietly, not wanting to startle her too badly. He needed her to trust him, quickly and completely.
“Chef,” Rori jumped. “So, I’m here as summoned.” Her tone was definitely defensive. His job would be a tough one.
“I’m sorry I startled you,” he continued, ignoring her jibe. “You appeared to be deep in thought.”
He moved to sit on the edge of his desk, one long leg swinging perilously close to her knee. What is this game he’s playing? Rori wondered.
“You said you had some papers for me?” She sat up straighter in the chair trying to put distance between them.
“I have your final handouts and some things I’d like your signature on.” Marcus sat where he was, just watching the emotions play across her face. For the first time since he met her, just two weeks ago, he was completely at ease. Normally he felt like a tongue-tied schoolboy with his first crush.
Finally knowing his heart, and having his dreams so close to being fulfilled, gave him unbelievable confidence. Even more importantly, he knew Jake, Carla, and Jess were praying for him and Aurora.
“Well?” Rori was beginning to feel trapped. She did not want to be here but at the same time did not want to leave.
“I know this was just an elective and you were just taking it for fun, but you did do very well.” Marcus reached back across his desk and picked up her critique sheet. “Thank you for enduring my lack of manners and bad moods.”
“No problem,” Rori mumbled, folding the papers and stuffing them into her bag. Her hand brushed against her sketchbook and the humiliation of his sketch came back in a wave. Before she changed her mind she blurted out, “I’m sorry about the sketch of you in my sketchbook. It was started out of frustration and I should have never kept it. I wish you hadn’t had to see it.”
“No problem,” Marcus smiled and mimicked her words and tone, almost identically. How does he do that? She thought. “But actually, I’m glad I saw it. Not only did you capture my natural manliness, your commentary on scripture was spot-on. Perfect description of a stubborn oaf.”
“Oh, please,” Rori buried her head in her hands. “Don’t remind me of my rudeness that night. I was just mad that you were too proud to get into my dumpy little c
ar.”
“Aurora Grace,” Marcus used the name her father had let slip at the gallery show. “Do you know why I really called you in today?”
“Retribution? Secret torture chamber in the basement? To do an oil portrait for your medieval Scottish mansion?” Rori was grasping at straws emotionally and as normal, her strange and bizarre sense of humor took over.
“Very funny,” Marcus moved his large frame to sit directly in front of her chair. Now just resting against the side of the desk, he continued. “I have of couple of things I need to clear up. Did you know that I only read the first two sentences of your sketchbook entry? My reaction was to the picture and your apparent dread of the class, nothing else. Do you understand?”
“You didn’t read the whole thing?” Rori was starting to panic.
“Not then,” he said.
“Not then?” she echoed his words.
“No,” Marcus smiled as she started to understand. “But I have practically memorized it since then.”
“Jake.” Rori groaned then muttered. “The traitor.”
Marcus ignored her and continued, still completely relaxed.
“Secondly, did you know that I spoke at length to your father last night, and again this morning?”
“Is he writing me out of the will?” Rori now felt totally at his mercy. Even if she wanted to escape, she would have to climb over his long legs to get away, or bolt over the back of the chair. Either choice was not very appealing. And for some reason her heart decided to misbehave as it normally did in the presence of Chef Marcus MacRae.
“No,” Marcus indulged her verbal horseplay, deciding to turn it against her. “But he’s thinking about adding me to it.” He watched as Aurora tried to wrap her mind around his meaning.
“He’s taking your side over mine?” She had made the only conclusion she would allow her heart to make at this time. “That seems a little unfair after all I’ve had to put up with the last two weeks.”
“Do you really not understand what I’m trying to say to you?” Marcus leaned forward, slightly. Instead of pulling away as he expected, for some reason she appeared to lean towards him also.
“No, I don’t,” Rori whispered. “You have me totally baffled.”
He leaned back abruptly. “Let me put it another way,” he folded his arms and leveled his next salvo. “What would you say to some company on your European trip?” The much-loved blush spread across her cheekbones.
“You know someone who can go with me?” She purposely let him think she misunderstood. Surely he doesn’t mean he and I go together? That would be disastrous. Her thoughts were flying. Or heavenly.
“Now you are being purposefully obtuse, young lady,” Marcus scolded her. “You know exactly what I mean.” He unfolded his arms, and in one fluid motion took her hands and pulled her up to face him.
For once, I’m glad I am tall, Rori thought, only having to tilt her head slightly to look directly into clear green eyes.
“Your father thinks it’s a great idea for me to take your sister’s place,” he continued, “but with one condition.”
“Condition?”
“Marry me, Aurora,” His simple words hung in the air. “I love you.”
“Aurora? Did you hear me?” He rubbed his thumb along the palm of her hand, trying to break the spell. She was simply staring at him, wide-eyed. Was it disbelief or disgust? He couldn’t tell and was beginning to worry.
She finally spoke. “You love me?” Tears were forming in her eyes. “I thought you could barely stand me. From the first day of class, everything I did seemed to annoy and irritate you. I don’t understand.”
“It was a simple and childish defense mechanism,” Marcus explained, still only touching her where her hands rested in his.
When she continued her silence, he brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, longing to hear her response to his bombshell.
“Oh, Marcus.” She buried her head on his chest, crying gentle sobs.
“Why are you crying?” Marcus wrapped his arms around her. “You know that men freak out when their women cry, don’t you?”
She giggled. “I love you, too, Marcus.” She could feel his sigh against her ear. “But I suspect you already knew that, right?”
“The possibility seemed too good to be true, coming only from very biased and decidedly interested observers. I wanted desperately to believe it.” He tilted her head back and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Hearing you say it has made my world come completely in focus.”
“Princess Aurora Grace Sinclair,” Marcus asked in his most serious, gallant tone. “Will you take this poor humble, not-so-charming prince as your husband?”
She answered him with a kiss that was tender but held the promise of a lifetime of love and passion.
“Thank you, Lord,” Marcus whispered.
“Amen,” Rori smiled.
Kiss the Cook
“About our European trip,” he murmured into her golden locks several minutes later. “I know it’s not what most young ladies wish for, a quick wedding that is, but could we possibly make the trip our Honeymoon? I’m too old to wait any longer than necessary now that I’ve found you.”
She smiled and snuggled closer. “No offense to my sister, but that sounds so much more inviting than what I had originally planned.”
He rewarded his princess with a kiss.
“I have a confession,” Marcus said as he gently broke away from Aurora’s embrace. He swallowed hard at the sight of her languid eyes and the sound of her innocent sigh.
“What?” Rori asked, still half in a dreamy fog. “Are you really a Scottish prince and I’ll have to go live in a faraway castle or are you a frog under a spell that turns you into a handsome prince?”
“No such luck, Princess.” He pulled her out of the privacy of his office, led her down the hall and into the brightness of the afternoon sun.
“Where are we going?”
“That’s part of the confession.” A slightly guilty look crossed his face. “All your stuff is at my place.”
“At your place?”
“Yes.” His grin widened as he watched her quick mind make the jump to the only logical conclusion.
“Awfully sure of yourself weren’t you?” She stopped and yanked her hand loose from his. Her mock indignation accented by folded arms and a tapping foot.
“Well,” Marcus had the wisdom to at least act a little humble, and then proceeded to defend himself. “It was your father’s idea!”
“Oh, really?” Rori was laughing now as they continued down the block to his apartment building.
“Before we go up, I have a call to make,” Marcus said as he stopped in the lobby and dialed Jake’s number.
“Well?” Jake asked anxiously, “What did she say? The suspense is killing us here!”
Marcus could almost see Carla’s dark curls bouncing as he heard her in the background, “Tell us!”
“Yes,” Marcus laughed. “She said yes.” He held the phone up so Aurora could hear the screams of delight. He loved how she blushed. Life with this woman was going to be a sweet adventure.
Turning back to Jake, Marcus continued. “Could you guys stop by in a few minutes? We might need help arranging some boxes.”
Jake laughed. “Yeah, how did she react to that little trick?”
“Still pretending to be mad, I think,” Marcus winked at Rori as she rolled her eyes. Jake promised to bring Carla and Zoe over in a few minutes, since they lived just a couple streets away. He, John Liu, and Calvin had all helped unload the trailer Rori’s dad had secretly brought by early this morning.
Unlocking the door of his unit, Marcus stepped in front of Rori. His look was serious and she watched him intently, her eyes wide.
“I didn’t imagine it, did I?” he asked quietly apprehensive. “You did say yes, right?”
Rori smiled and nodded. His nervous question would surprise most people that knew this lion of a man. Then, just as quickly as his serious tone h
ad come, it disappeared. He scooped her up in his arms and kicked open his door.
“Your castle, my lady,” he said as he carried her over the threshold.
“I love how you’ve decorated the place,” she giggled, looking at the mound of boxes and art supplies plopped unceremoniously in the middle of his living room. Knowing how neat he normally was, this was probably driving him crazy, she thought.
“Very funny,” Marcus said as he set her down on one of the stacks of boxes and kissed her soundly. He had promised himself to enjoy all the affection he could steal today, with the assurance that Jake and his family would be here soon to keep his attentions in check. He valued his integrity too much to let his desire for this woman ruin their reputations. It’s going to be a long four weeks, though, he thought.
They discussed her having the second bedroom as a studio, unless she wanted to rent a space at the Downtown Gallery, or even at the school, as Professor Smith had mentioned to Marcus earlier that morning while helping stash Rori’s art supplies.
“Dr. Smith was in on this too?” Rori asked. “Was I the only one in the dark?”
“Well,” Marcus said, sheepishly. “I didn’t want you to have to move your art supplies home and then back again. Dr. Smith graciously overlooked the fact that I had been skulking around the art studio last week, and seemed genuinely pleased to help my little adventure.”
“You were skulking?” Rori laughed. “Is that anything like stalking?” As she teased him, she looked around the extra bedroom. It had a large window that offered plenty of light and would be perfect for a studio. As they came back into the living room, Rori stopped suddenly.
“That’s my painting!” She was staring at Aurora’s Castle now proudly displayed over the fireplace. “You bid on it?”
“Of course I did.” Marcus smiled, proud that he had surprised her. “I’m glad I won it outright, because if I hadn’t I would have had to hunt down the winner and uh…” he hesitated for emphasis, “persuade them to sell it to me.”