Recipe for Trouble

by Jackie Griffey

  "Just a minute, someone's at the door." Katie put the phone down before Mattie could object and ran to let Eugene in.

  "Pizza Delivery!" Eugene was all smiles, brandishing a large pizza in the air as he kissed her cheek.

  Katie gave him a quick hug. "Come in. I'll be right with you, I'm on the phone."

  Eugene put the pizza on the table and waited as Katie smiled at him over the mouthpiece, trying to get her mind back on her conversation with Mattie.

  "Okay, you said you forgot your cosmetic case. Where did you leave it?"

  "It's upstairs in my bathroom. I set it on the vanity to put everything in it. The last thing I stuck in was my magnifying mirror on top. But then before I got it closed, Mayme and Minnie got there. In all the excitement, I forgot to go back and get it and my cream is in there."

  "You left your cosmetics case and your cream is in it?" Katie repeated, distracted by Eugene.

  Katie held the phone trying to figure out what Eugene was trying to tell her. He was making gestures Katie couldn't understand. She finally gave up.

  "Hold on a minute." Covering the mouthpiece, she raised her eyebrows at Eugene.

  "I was trying to tell you I will be up that way tomorrow," Eugene explained. "If you'll give me directions I'll take it to her. I know she wants that cream."

  "Oh, that's wonderful!" Katie beamed at him. "I know she needs it, and the other things, too."

  Eugene looked proud of himself for making points and Katie went back to her conversation with Mattie.

  "What was that?"

  "It was Eugene. He was the one who was at the door, and he's just told me he can bring your case up to you tomorrow. I know you need your cream."

  Mattie was appalled at the idea. The last person in the world she wanted to see was Eugene Austin. She tried franticly to think up excuses.

  "But, I don't want him to go to all that trouble, or to take him away from his work," Mattie objected as soon as she could get a word in.

  "It's all right. He won't have to take any time off. He's going to be working up that way, so I'll give him directions."

  "But, ah, I," Mattie murmured uncomfortably. Suddenly she didn't want to give Eugene directions. The feeling was so strong, she couldn't think fast enough to give Katie a logical sounding excuse. She gripped the phone, frustrated and silent.

  "Now, don't you worry about it." Katie's voice rattled on, unaware of Mattie's panic. "Since he's going to be working, you know I can't tell you what time he'll be there. But," she wound up sounding pleased. "But you'll have your cosmetics case sometime tomorrow."

  Mattie sighed, giving up. "All right then, tell him I appreciate it."

  For a couple of seconds Mattie tried in vain to think of something to say about Eugene that would sound somewhat complimentary that she wouldn't gag on, given her gut feeling about him. It was impossible. Her hand gripped the phone like the neck of a stray cat she would like to throw out. She glared at it, speechless, and only made a low grunting sound.

  "It's beginning to look as if I'd have to move off the planet to get rid of Eugene." Mattie just groaned at the thought of his having directions. She tried to calm down, knowing at least she would have her cream and other things tomorrow. He meant well. Somehow, telling herself he meant well never helped.

  Mattie pictured him and his sappy smirk, making himself at home in their new kitchen. He and Katie seated at the table having their coffee or perhaps dinner, Katie smiling happily at him.

  Her brows drew together, "I hope I haven't made a mistake in coming up here to work."

  Katie's voice broke into her worries. "Is everything else all right? Is the cabin warm enough at night?"

  Mattie found her voice. "Yes, everything is fine, even better than I was hoping for." She chuckled then, glad to change the subject. "And there's not anyone around to comment on my breath until I can get to my toothbrush," she added, sounding in a better mood.

  Katie laughed. "Oh, that's right, all that toothbrush and morning stuff was in the bag. Well, I'll give Eugene directions and he'll be there some time tomorrow. Let me know if you need anything else."

  "I will. Katie." Mattie asked quickly, "How did he happen to be there? Eugene, I mean?"

  "He called and brought pizza over after work, wasn't that lucky timing?"

  "I guess so," Mattie acknowledged another small defeat at the hands of that oaf she had come to regard as the enemy.

  "I would have probably scrounged around for something to make a sandwich or settled for an egg and some toast, if he hadn't."

  "Well, you be sure to show him the door in time to get your rest, and take care of yourself."

  "I will. And you do the same." She added affectionately. "Goodnight, Mattie."

  The pizza and the rest of the evening, Katie and Eugene enjoyed blissfully alone. Their time alone so far had always been in a public place like a movie or restaurant, or sometimes a trip to the mall to window shop. Eugene's intelligence had not made much of an impression on Mattie, but he was smart enough to make the most of this advantage. He was on his best and most considerate behavior and promptly got up to leave after the ten o'clock news.

  Katie got the cosmetic case and went to the door with him, prolonging the leave taking, favorably impressed with all his good points all over again. She had enjoyed the evening and knew Mattie was all right. She looked up at Eugene with her heart in her eyes, very much aware of his arm around her waist.

  Eugene took the cosmetics case and put his other arm around Katie. He pushed the door almost closed in case some nosy neighbor might be watching, and tightening his arm around Katie, gave her a more passionate kiss than he had dared to before.

  For Katie, it was the perfect end of an already good day.

  * * *

  At Gina's, Hannah glanced at the clock. "I enjoyed the burgers. I didn't know you were going to splurge, but they were so good, they should call the place Hamburger Heaven," she laughed.

  "The customers probably do. The prices are sort of steep, but the variety and trimmings make it worth it to splurge sometimes, and their mushrooms are to die for!"

  "Flora will be here pretty soon. Let's make some hot chocolate to fortify us for our shopping safari," Gina suggested.

  "You do mean make, don't you? I use those low calorie envelopes sometimes, but they're just to have something quick and hot."

  "Of course, make, like we used to before you moved away. I can't believe it's been two years, or is it three now? Get the cups while I stir."

  As Gina turned off the heat under the chocolate pan, the door chimes sounded. "That's Flora, right on time!"

  Hannah followed her to the door.

  Gina introduced them as Flora warmed her hands in front of the fire.

  Flora was about five two, a few years older than Hannah and Gina, and clad in elegant casual for their shopping trip. Her smile accepted the whole world and made Hannah feel good.

  She noticed Flora's dark hair had a wide streak of white over the left side of her forehead that set off her fair skin and dark brows. Hannah held out her hand to her with a smile, remembering how she had healed Gina's hand.

  "I'm glad to meet you, Flora."

  "I'm happy to meet you, too." Flora smiled back, looking at Hannah with interest as she took the extended hand. Flora's large dark eyes met Hannah's green ones as she spoke. Sympathy and peace seemed to radiate from her as their hands touched.

  The illusion of snowy white wings framing the serene and beautiful countenance seemed for just an instant so real, Hannah shook her head slightly to break the spell.

  It was a good visit. The hot chocolate, the fun of shopping together, and perhaps having gifts and problems in common, brought the three of them close quickly. By the time they returned to Gina's house, Hannah felt as comfortable with Flora as she did with Gina.

  "This has been like a break from the human race." Gina laughed, heading for the kitchen as she took off her jacket.

  "We're having left over roast beef a
nd wieners for dinner. Any objections?"

  "None," came back like a Greek chorus accompanied by giggles as Hannah and Flora stood in front of the fire to warm their hands..

  "Let's make sandwiches so there won't be any dishes to wash," Hannah suggested as she looked at all the things Gina had set on the table.

  "My kind of company. Dig in!" Gina added a couple of things and got out drinks for them.

  Flora wiped a smear of mustard from her lower lip and demanded of Hannah, "Now, tell me about the fellow you got that pink stripped blouse to impress."

  Hannah pretended to be irritated, "I can see how having gifted friends can be a mixed blessing."

  "Has he got things to hide?" Flora teased. "A mean streak? Hates kids? Bald spot? WARTS?"

  Hannah rocked with laughter at Flora's comical nosy expression. "Not even close! He doesn't have any of those problems. In fact, he's pretty good in all departments from what I've seen and heard of him."

  As they listened, Hannah's face sobered without her knowing it as she pictured Tim.

  "Tell us about him," Flora insisted.

  "Yes, do. You haven't told me about him either. And I notice you didn't deny buying that blouse to impress him," Gina pointed out.

  "His name is Tim Carpenter."

  "You mean the lawyer who was elected Pine County Judge? How old is he?" Gina frowned, remembering only the name.

  "He's not much older than I am," Hannah told her quickly. "And he's nice looking. And he's as nice as he is nice looking. I don't know yet how he feels about dogs and kids," she frowned at Gina. "But I'm sure it would have come out when he was trying to get elected if he was that unpleasant and antisocial."

  Flora raised her eyebrows and her smile wrinkles deepened at Hannah's defensive stance about Tim.

  "So," she looked steadily at Hannah, "If there's a problem, it's not with him. Who does that leave?"

  "You do get right to the core of it, don't you?" Hannah hugged herself, still not warm from the cold outdoors and feeling somehow exposed even among friends when it came to discussing Tim.

  "Would you rather not talk about it," Flora relented gently.

  "No, I'd like to talk about it," Hannah decided. "To see what you think." They listened, their sandwiches forgotten.

  "You're right about the problem being me. I guess I'm scared. Not of him. Of being different. Of being rejected and misunderstood. When we first met, we liked each other and we both knew it. But thinking about it later, I got cold feet. I'm afraid it might not work out for us. You really hit the nail on the head when you said the problem is me. He might not be able to accept me the way I am."

  "Was the ability to see things a problem in your first marriage?"

  "Not at all," Hannah smiled, noting Flora knew things about her she hadn't been told. "Of course I told him about it, but he didn't seem to take it seriously. And it never happened, not at a time when it was a problem. It never happened, I mean, at a time when we were together. And too, we were both very young," Hannah explained.

  "Maybe Tim Carpenter being older will make him more understanding," Gina offered hopefully.

  Hannah didn't answer, thinking of Tim. Wondering briefly if Flora could see him through her thoughts as she'd seen his face at home when she didn't answer the phone..

  "You really like and admire him, don't you? He's very important to you." Flora stated facts.

  "Yes," Hannah answered honestly from her heart. "He is. I'm afraid for myself. But more than that, I don't want to hurt him."

  "You won't," Flora assured her. "Believe me, you won't. Simply slow your getting acquainted down a little. Get to know each other and spend time together. You have the rest of your lives. You'll know when the time comes to tell him about your visions."

  "You think it would be all right to keep seeing him, then?"

  "Of course. Follow your heart, but at a slower pace," Flora smiled. "Give yourself and him time to get to know each other, feel comfortable together."

  "I will," Hannah made up her mind. "I wanted to keep seeing him, and I think he knew it. And I know he could feel it when I drew away from him. I could hear it in his voice."

  Hannah's eyes widened, "Suppose it's too late? Suppose he doesn't call or ask me out again?"

  "Then I guess you're just stuck with that new blouse!" Gina poked her in the ribs. "Reach me another coke before you crawl off and die."

  Flora laughed, squeezing Hannah's hand. "He will ask, Hannah. He will call and he will ask."

  * * *

  "Who was that on the phone?" Miss Mayme stuck her head into the office.

  "It was Katie. I can't believe it's been more than a month since we moved Mattie and all her things to the lake. She said she and Eugene are going up there Tuesday, and since it's a weekday, they're going to stop by here for a few minutes."

  "Tuesday. I seem to remember Katie saying that's her day off."

  "Yes, I think so. She and Eugene seem to be getting along like a house afire since Mattie's not always underfoot."

  "No doubt that was a calculated risk on Mattie's part. She doesn't make much effort to hide that she doesn't like him much. And to tell the truth, I don't think I do either. He seems more than a little too goody-goody to me. Remember how he ran right up there with that cosmetic case Mattie forgot?"

  "He's not on my worry list this week," Miss Minnie airily dismissed him. "I wonder if Connie ever bought that cookbook for Missy."

  "I don't recall her saying anything else about it, why?"

  "Since she forgot to take it with her when we moved Mattie's stuff to the lake, It would be a good time to send it to Mattie to sign. And Katie and Eugene are going to stop by here anyway."

  "That's a good idea. I'll call and tell her, or do you want to do it?"

  "You go ahead, I'm in the middle of a balancing act with this stack of ribbon."

  * * *

  At the cabin Mattie paced with her hands behind her back, waiting for her lunch to warm in the small microwave the cabin boasted. Her thin figure moved around the small space, her mind racing faster than her sock clad feet as she waited for the microwave's ding.

  "Katie said Eugene was taking a personal holiday since Tuesday is one of her days off. He does seem to be good to her, and considerate. He's just so sickeningly anxious to please. It's not natural, somehow. And some of his remarks sound like his IQ must be about the same as his shoe size. I wonder if he's qualified for any other kind of work besides the kind he's doing now? We don't know anything about his background and he seems to be fairly new here. And he's always working overtime. Must be anxious to please at work too, not that that's a bad thing, I guess."

  The bell on the microwave broke into her thoughts. She reminded herself that Katie was in her mid forties now. She would have to do her own thinking and make her own decisions. She thought it, but she didn't believe it. She went right on worrying.

  As Mattie sat down at the table she glanced out the window at the neat little stack of wood Eugene had brought. He got it for her when he came to bring her the cosmetic case. He had met a man selling wood at the truck stop and took time to lead him to her cabin and stack the wood for her.

  "Haven't had the time to build a fire, but he meant well. Or maybe he just wants the rest of the world to think he means well." Mattie was still suspicious of him and unlike Katie, wouldn't trust him as far as she could throw him or even one of those pieces of firewood.

  * * *

  Business was slow Tuesday. Miss Mayme looked through the glass in one of the display coolers then drifted away without opening it to look out the front again.

  "Mayme, that's around forty times in the last half hour you've gone to look out the front window. Watching is not going to get them here any faster."

  "I don't want to start anything until they've come and gone. And Connie will be here with her book, too. She said she'd park and walk over with Cas when they get here."

  "On the phone Katie sounded so pleased about Eugene going with her on her
day off, you'd think he was a character in a novel or soap opera instead of a mere human being. How long has she known Eugene Austin anyway, has she said?"

  "No, but I get the feeling it's not all that long. She said he came into the bookstore where she works. They met, when someone told him she was Mattie Carrington's sister. Mattie's books were on display and he was impressed with that. He seems to have been courting her ever since."

  "That's right, I remember now. Oh well, at least he doesn't seem to mind taking Katie to check on Mattie."

  "Maybe it's because he sees her as a celebrity. He can't help but know Mattie doesn't like him very much."

  "She's never been one to hide her feelings," Miss Minnie chuckled.

  "He's so bent on making brownie points he does anything Mattie wants done. And she can think of more errands and penny-ante jobs than anyone I've ever seen."

  By the time Katie and Eugene finally arrived Miss Minnie had her head in a ledger and Miss Mayme had given up and started on a flower arrangement, a couple more garlands of ribbon draped around her neck.

  Cas and Connie had decided to go over and wait in the flower shop and were getting the cookbook out of Connie's car when Eugene's car stopped in front of the flower shop.

  They retrieved the book and walked over, Cas smothering a grin. He was watching Eugene park.

  He shook his head slightly, winking at Connie, entertained by the spectacle of a parking job done exactly right.

  Eugene backed up twice to straighten the car then headed in just right for the limited parking slot, centering the car in the space.

  Cas wondered silently if Eugene had parked beside one of those handicapped slips with the lined area for getting a wheel chair out of a handicapped van, if Eugene would have gotten out and measured the space. He smothered a laugh picturing Rhodes's reaction to such precision parking.

  Katie and Eugene were getting out of the car as Cas and Connie walked up to meet them.

  After the usual greetings, Connie held out the cookbook. "Here's the book I got for my daughter, Miss Mayme asked you about it, didn't she?"

  Katie took the cookbook and smiled. "Yes, she did."