Five Minutes Late: A Romantic Comedy

by Rich Amooi

  “District one, there you are.” He read the designation on the map.

  The receptionist hung up the phone. “Can I help you?”

  Cedric spun around. “I’d like to speak to the Supervisor for District One.”

  “Do you have an appointment?”

  “No.”

  “Can I ask what this is regarding?”

  “I’m inquiring about a farm in Gilroy that’s going to be sold by the county.”

  “Just one moment.” She picked up the phone and pressed an extension. “There’s someone here inquiring about a farm in Gilroy.” She hung up the phone. “You can head back. It’s the second office on the right.”

  “Thank you.” Cedric smiled and walked to the office, feeling hopeful. There had to be a way to stop the sale. Someone had to understand the history there and why a garlic museum was such a great idea and a wonderful tribute to the region known for its garlic.

  Cedric peeked inside the office and saw a man with his head down, working on his laptop. “Come in.” The man closed his laptop.

  “Hi, my name is Cedric Johnson and I’m inquiring about a property in—”

  Cedric froze after he spotted the desk nameplate.

  It said Dominic Cunnings.

  “You okay?” asked Dominic.

  Cedric took a moment to speak. “Yeah. It’s just … your name.”

  “Ah, that. I was named after a famous World War II pilot.” He shrugged. “My dad is ex-military.”

  “No, I meant your last name. Would you happen to be related to Vlad Cunnings?”

  Please say no.

  “That’s my brother, you know him?”

  Yes. He’s the biggest A-hole I’ve ever met. “He’s a friend of a friend.”

  “What’s your name again?” asked Dominic, now looking suspicious.

  “Cedric Johnson.”

  “Cedric Johnson.” Dominic sounded like he was trying to memorize the name. “You came about the farm in Gilroy, right?”

  “Yeah. My grandfather originally owned the property. I’d like to buy it back and keep it in the family.”

  “Sorry, that property has already been slated to sell to a local contractor in order to pay the lien of delinquent unsecured taxes. You’re too late.”

  “But it hasn’t happened yet.”

  “No, but—”

  “Look.” Cedric let out a loud breath. “That property has sentimental value, as you probably might know. And there is historical significance not only for our family, but for the county, and the city of Gilroy as well. I want to build a garlic museum there and make it a historic landmark, since that’s what it is. The garlic revolution started in that house.”

  Dominic seemed to be considering Cedric’s plea. “Well, getting a property designated a historical landmark is not as easy as you think. It needs to be recommended by the State Historical Resource Commission and be officially designated by the Director of California State Parks. That’s a detailed process, for sure.”

  “But it’s possible.”

  Dominic nodded. “Yes, of course. It’s possible.” Dominic smiled and grabbed a pad and pen from his desk “I’ll tell you what, give me your contact info and let me check into this. I can’t make any promises. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”

  “Great. Thank you, I appreciate it.” Cedric smiled as he wrote his name and phone number on the pad and handed it to Dominic.

  That’s all he wanted. A chance.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “I think I’ve lost track of how many books you’ve dropped in the last hour,” said Julio.

  Ellie stared at the book on the floor, let out a loud breath, and picked it up. She placed it on the desk and removed another from the box. “I’m having a hard time concentrating.”

  “Thinking of Derek?”

  “No, oddly enough. That was supposed to happen for a reason, a reason I may never know. And I may have another breakdown, but for the moment, I feel peace with what happened.”

  “I like that. Peace is good.”

  “Yeah. I was actually thinking about being Branch Manager.”

  “Ah.” Julio sorted through a box of books. “You’re the best person for the job and more than qualified. I’ve got every part of my body crossed for you. Quit worrying.”

  “Thanks, you’re the best.”

  Ellie let out a deep breath and relaxed, her mind now back on Cedric.

  The man looked so sweet and innocent as she watched him reading to the children a couple of days ago. As she watched him, she realized he was a natural, and the children seemed to be hypnotized by him. And when he asked the children a question, every hand in the room shot to the ceiling, ready to answer. Cedric was amazing and he surprised Ellie more and more.

  She had a dream about him last night where they were both on the porch of their ranch-style home with his-and-her rocking chairs, smiling, holding hands, and reminiscing about the wonderful life they had together, their children, and their rapidly approaching fiftieth wedding anniversary. Just the thought of that dream put a big smile on her face and a warm feeling in her heart.

  “I like that smile,” said Peggy.

  “Thanks.”

  “But I need to tell you something.”

  Good news, good news, good news.

  “Based on the latest total you gave me, you and Margaret Rossewood are tied.”

  Pickles!

  Peggy rubbed her shoulders. “You still have time. Don’t give up.”

  Ellie was on a roll with the list of donors who committed to buying bricks and thought she was doing well. Not well enough. But the worst part was she was running out of people to ask for donations.

  “You have two wild cards you haven’t used,” said Julio, after Peggy walked away. “You need to use them.”

  Ellie narrowed her eyes. “What are you talking about?”

  “Vlad and Cedric. They both have money. Ask them for it.”

  “No way. Not going to happen.”

  Julio handed her back the document. “What other options do you have?”

  Ellie shrugged her shoulders.

  “Honey, you know they would be happy to write you a check.”

  “I know that, but it’s not the point. That check comes with strings attached. If I take money from Vlad, he’ll assume we are back together. And I would rather be homeless and jobless before that happens. Actually, I’d rather be dead.”

  “Okay, then. What about Cedric? The man is loaded and he likes you.”

  “That would be taking advantage of the situation. I can’t do that.”

  “You’re not taking advantage. He’s got plenty of money and he loves the library. You’re simply asking him if he’d like to help replace the vandalized books.”

  “Look,” Ellie said, letting out a loud breath. “Yes, technically, the money goes to replace the books. I get that, of course. But I’m trying to raise more money than Margaret to get promoted, so I have an ulterior motive.”

  “You’re making a big mistake.”

  She couldn’t argue with that. Maybe she was.

  Julio smiled.

  “What?” Ellie was not in the mood.

  “Now’s your chance to ask him. He’s here.”

  She looked up and there he was, talking with Peggy.

  Cedric.

  With that sexy grin.

  Her heart raced as she dropped another book, this time on Julio’s foot.

  “Ouch!”

  Ellie picked up the book and brushed it off. “Sorry. I don’t know why I’m so nervous, but I am. I have the sudden urge to pee.”

  Julio stepped back. “Here?”

  “No, not here!” Ellie stepped sideways, did a quick turn, took ten steps, and then entered the women’s bathroom. Once inside, she put her body weight against the door, forcing it to close faster than it normally would.

  She let out a huge breath and then entered the stall. After she went pee, she washed her hands. Twice. Then she decided to help o
ut the janitorial staff by picking up some tissue from the floor and wiping down the counter. Probably a good idea to clean the mirror too.

  People can be so messy.

  Ten minutes later, Ellie was tired of being in the bathroom, which was now practically spotless. She had to get back to her fundraising. She had a job to win, but her heart was still racing. Why was she so nervous?

  It was just Cedric! No big deal! Just act calm and go back out there!

  She checked her hair and her teeth in the mirror. All good. She slowly opened the door—barely an inch—and peeked through the opening.

  Cedric sat on the edge of the desk, waiting. He looked in her direction and Ellie shut the bathroom door. She felt like she had to pee again.

  Cedric stared at the bathroom door. He could have sworn he saw it open just a little. Ellie had been in there for well over ten minutes. What the hell was she doing in there? She had enough time to go number one and number two more than a few times. What did she have for lunch?

  He watched as a large woman came from around the corner and pushed on the bathroom door to enter. The door only opened slightly and then it shut again. A loud thud echoed from inside the bathroom. The woman tried opening the door again, this time pushing hard and managing to get it open.

  “Oh my God,” she yelled, looking down at the floor. “Are you okay?”

  Cedric jumped off the desk and ran to the bathroom, where he found Ellie on the floor with her eyes closed, grimacing. He squatted down to get closer to her. “Ellie. Are you okay? Ellie, talk to me.”

  Cedric noticed the red spot on her forehead; she’d obviously hit her head on something. He turned to the large woman. “Can you please go to the front desk and ask for an ice pack? And a first aid kit.”

  “Of course.”

  The woman hurried away as Cedric turned his attention back to Ellie on the floor. “Ellie, you hit your head. Can you hear me okay?”

  With her eyes closed, she lifted her hand to her forehead and touched a bump that was growing over the red spot. “Ouch. Yes, I can hear you. Am I dead?”

  Cedric laughed. “No.”

  “Well, this is embarrassing, so why don’t you kill me then.”

  He touched her cheek and smiled. “You’re going to be okay.”

  Ellie’s eyes suddenly sprung open with a look of horror. “You have something growing out of your forehead.”

  “Look who’s talking.”

  Ellie touched her forehead again. “Ouch.” She started to lift herself up, but slid back to the floor.

  “Whoa, whoa, not so fast. We’re getting an ice pack for your forehead so just relax. There’s no hurry.”

  “I want to sit up.”

  “Okay, but let me help you, though. Take it slowly and grab my hands.”

  Ellie let out a loud breath. “It’s not necessary.”

  “I don’t have cooties … if that’s what you’re worried about.” Cedric grinned and pointed to her mouth. “You were almost going to smile.”

  “No I wasn’t.”

  “I saw it.”

  “You’re mistaken.”

  “Take my hands or you’re not getting up.”

  “Fine.”

  “Thank you.”

  She grabbed both of his hands and Cedric felt a pleasant zap rocketing through his body. There it was again. Yeah, they definitely had something strong happening between them, no doubt. He felt it good this time. By the look on her face, she felt it too.

  “You’re …” Ellie didn’t finish her sentence.

  “Welcome?”

  “… A very stubborn man.”

  “Ha!” said Cedric as the woman returned with an ice pack and Peggy at her side.

  “You’re the one who is stubborn.”

  “Are you two married?” asked the woman.

  “No,” said Ellie and Cedric at the same time.

  “Ellie, are you okay?” asked Peggy. “What happened?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m okay.”

  The woman handed the ice pack to Cedric. “I opened the door into her head, that’s what happened. Knocked her right to the floor.”

  Cedric took the ice pack from the woman, broke the seal, and shook it to even out the ice inside. “She’s going to be fine. Let’s just put this against the bump. It may sting.” Cedric leaned in to press the ice pack to her forehead. “Looks like we’re going to have matching bumps. What are the chances?”

  He adjusted the ice pack and she winced. “Ouch.”

  “Sorry.”

  “I can do it.” She grabbed the ice pack from Cedric. “You can go.”

  “Looks like someone is in a hurry to get rid of me.”

  Peggy touched Ellie on the hand. “Ellie, he’s just trying to help.”

  “It’s okay, Peggy,” said Cedric. “What Miss Stubborn doesn’t know is that I’m taking her to urgent care.”

  “What? I don’t think so,” said Ellie. “I said I’m fine.”

  “I wouldn’t doubt it since you’re so hardheaded, but when I got hit in the head at the golf course, I was warned that no matter how good I felt, if I had foggy thoughts, any bit of nausea, a headache, anything, I needed to go get checked out. So, I went straight to the emergency. Better safe than sorry, right?”

  “Absolutely, I agree,” said Peggy. “Have you had any of those symptoms, Ellie?”

  Ellie’s eyes traveled from Peggy to Cedric, and then back to Peggy. She opened her mouth and then closed it.

  “I don’t have a headache,” Ellie answered. “Just some pain in my forehead.”

  “That’s good. Difficulty thinking? That’s another one to watch out for.”

  She thought for a second and shrugged. “Not sure.”

  “Take my hands, Miss Stubborn. We’re leaving. And don’t say no.”

  Ellie stared at Cedric’s outstretched hands. “No.”

  “Okay then. We do this the hard way.”

  Cedric reached down and with one swift motion, lifted Ellie off the floor and into his arms. Peggy and the other woman smiled as Ellie tried to climb out of his arms. He shouldn’t have been having the thoughts he was having, considering she wasn’t feeling well. But how could he not want to kiss the most beautiful, stubborn woman in the world? Even with that third eye growing on her forehead, she was amazing.

  Cedric’s left hand was on the outside of her right thigh, and his right hand supported her upper body on the side of her rib cage. She felt good.

  “Watch your hands, mister.” She glanced at his lips.

  Cedric laughed. “Quit squirming or I’ll throw you over my shoulder, or worse, drop you. You don’t want a second bump on your head, do you?”

  “Put me down, Mr. Stubborn.”

  “Not a chance, Miss Stubborn. Unless you promise me you’ll walk quietly to my car so we can go. There’s an urgent care clinic not too far from here.”

  “No!”

  “Ellie,” said Peggy. “There’s no discussion here. You need to go. It’s a precaution and I insist.”

  “Fine. Can you tell the caveman to put me down?”

  Cedric laughed. “You promise you’re going?”

  “Promise.”

  “Good girl.” Cedric put her down gently, and she immediately ironed her clothes with her hands.

  “You’re impossible.”

  “On the contrary,” said Cedric. “I’m much easier than you think.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Ellie was not a happy camper. She should have been concentrating on fundraising, but instead of contacting people, she was on her way to urgent care. All because she was playing hide-and-seek like a five-year-old. She wanted that promotion and there wasn’t time to waste.

  “This is inconvenient,” said Ellie as they walked to the downtown parking garage. “I have a lot to do.”

  “It won’t take long. I just want to be sure you’re okay.”

  “Why do you care?”

  Ellie felt his stare, but kept looking forward as they walked.
>
  “I just do,” he answered.

  Ellie wondered what type of car Cedric drove. Based on Julio’s Google search, the guy was loaded. Nothing worse than a materialistic man on a mission to have the most toys before he died.

  He probably had a Ferrari or maybe a Maserati.

  Cedric pointed in front of them. “That’s me at the end on the right.”

  Ellie came to a halt and jerked her head back after she saw his car. “Oh …”

  Cedric stopped and turned to her. “What?”

  “Nothing,” she lied.

  No Ferrari. No Maserati. His car choice was a big surprise. A Toyota Rav4. Cute. Practical. Reliable. As they approached the car, Ellie stopped again and leaned an ear toward the car.

  Cedric squished his eyebrows. “You sure you’re doing okay?”

  She pointed to the car. “You left your engine running?”

  He cleared his throat. “I … uh … like to have the air conditioning on so it’s a comfortable temperature inside for my boy.”

  Pickles!

  Cedric had a kid. He never mentioned it. But what’s worse was, he left him in the car! The man needed to be put in jail for child abuse. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

  “Why would I kid about that?” He gestured to the back window. “See for yourself.”

  Ellie peaked through the backseat window of the car and let out a big breath. She was staring at the cutest white dog, his tail swinging back and forth, obviously happy to see his owner. “Pickles! It’s a dog.”

  Thank God.

  “Of course it’s a dog. What did you think it was?”

  “I—”

  “Wait a minute … did you say pickles?”

  She ignored the question. “What a cute dog.”

  “Careful. He’ll use his cuteness to extract things from you. Cookies, treats, belly rubs …”

  Ellie smiled as Cedric opened the passenger door for her. She slid onto the soft leather seat and felt a lick on the back of her arm. And another. Then, more licks in rapid-fire succession. Ellie turned toward the backseat and was eye to eye with his dog, who was obviously pleased to meet her. “Aren’t you a cute boy?”

  Cedric got in and strapped on his seat belt. “His name is Tofu.”