Winter Season

Chicken pot pie

She wiggled. Oh, how he wanted to be part of that wiggle. “Since you haven’t eaten,” she snapped him back into reality. “Come.” They went to the kitchen. She pulled a piping hot casserole dish from the oven.

“That smells amazing.” His stomach growled.

“Have you had anything to eat today?” He sat at the table watching her. He loved what she had done with the kitchen. It was now a yellowish beige around the top part of the wall. The bottom was a muted burgundy with a black stripe running around the center of the room. Even though he had helped paint; when all the pieces fall into place, it looked so different.

“What are the names of the colors you have used?”

Changing the topic, she thought. “The top is honeysuckle and the bottom is Japanese Maple.”

“I like it.”

“Thanks.” She had used the Chef Man theme to decorate. It was very tastefully done. He yawned a great big yawn. “Tough day?”

“Wild. It was the last day of school before Christmas Break and they were wild.”

“I would make a horrible teacher. You’re a better person than me.”

He smiled, “what would make you say that?”

“Oh, I would get fired the first day. Well for one, I hate children. I have no patience. And if you smart off to me, I’m gonna smart back.”

“You can’t be all of that.”

“Of course I can.” She got two bowls out of the cabinet and two spoons while she talked. The bowls had little chef men on them as well. “Why do you think I went into law enforcement? I got to be a bully and pack a weapon,” she winked.

He laughed.

When she broke the crust on the casserole, the whole kitchen filled with the wonderful aroma of, “Chicken Pot Pie.” He moaned as his stomach growled even louder. She giggled. “Are you giggling at me?” He playfully acted offended.

“Yeah. I hope it tastes every bit as good as it smells. It was my grandmother’s recipe. And not spicy.” She stopped looking at him. “Will you tell me something?”

“I’ll try.”

“What is your beef with food?”

He looked confused at first. “It’s one of those very real side effects I was telling you about. Plus my ulcer.”

“What would you like to drink?”

“Whatever you’re drinking?”

She got out two Coke Zeroes. She stopped suddenly looking at the can, “I’m sure you shouldn’t drink this.”

“I think I’ll be okay.”

“Will you tell me if you’re not? I’ll get you some water or milk.”

He blushed, “promise.” It was nice having someone care. He thought for a moment that it might be a pretense. But it was a fleeting thought.

“You might need salt. I don’t cook with a lot of it.”

He looked at the salt grinder, “where does one buy pink Himalayan sea salt?”

“From the tone of your question, I’m assumin’ not here.”

“No.” They sat and ate in silence. She didn’t know what to say to get a conversation started. He seemed to be enjoying his food. Knowing that he didn’t eat the way that he should, she decided she would let him eat.

After they ate, she excused herself. He wondered onto the back porch. It was small and cozy. Just the way he knew it could be. Unlike his, her porch had a roof.

He was lost in thought when she set a hot cup next to him. “Hot chocolate.” She set down sipping carefully at her cups hot contents. “Where are you?”

He held out his hand for her. It was super warm despite the cold and snow that surrounded them. “How do you feel about thunder storms?”

“They are amazing. Why?”

“Water?”

“Like to take a shower or the lake?”

“Lake?”

“I love water. Though, I don’t spend as much time around it as I would like. I hope that when I am able to retire, I can retire to the lake on a house boat.” She looked at him.

He had his head tilted up looking at the stars.

“Can you dance?” She asked.

He leaned up to look at her shocked. “What?”

“Can you dance?”

“I took ball room dancing in college. Why?”

“Dance with me.”

“Here? Now?”

“Why not?” She smiled. “We both love snow. It’s just you and me. Dance with me.”

He reached into his pocket and took out his phone before long a soft slow song started playing. He led her out into the yard, pulled her close and they danced under the stars in the snow. It was a great feeling dancing with him. “Ball room dancing served you well.”

“Thank you.” He pulled her closer.

She didn’t know the name of the song but she did realize it was Kenny Chesney. Oscar reached down and kissed her. It felt wonderful to be this close to someone again. She was struggling inside herself. But in the end, she decided to just let go. This was a new place, a new life, time to let go of the jaded hurt. And so far, Oscar wasn’t like them!

Winter Season