Sunshine Valley

TaTa

     Dillon knocked on Evie’s door with his heart in his hands. He should have called first? Yes, you fool. You should have called first. He was about to walk off the porch when she answered the door. His stomach fell directly to his feet. She was wearing a pair of exercise shorts. The kind they wore in gym class that was cut around the curve of your butt and slit to the waist ban. And a skin tight matching shirt with a big sun printed on the front. Instantly, a smile lit his face. She was wearing a pair of thick fuzzy socks that came up at least 3 inches above her ankles. 

     She was talking as she motioned for him to come in, smiling a big tooth filled smile. “This is your story not mine. Tell me what you want to do.” Her voice was calm, even, yet authoritative. It was then that he noticed the headset that was almost bigger than her face and the protruding mic.

     She motioned for him to follow her with the wave of her hand. His stomach growled as she stifled a giggle. “I’m sorry. This is about you. Remember?” A timer went off in the background. “Yes.” She spoke. 

     Whatever she had in the oven, it smelt divine. Dillon suddenly realized he hadn’t ate anything since breakfast. Evie got a box out of the freezer, dumped it on a pan, stuck it in the oven before setting a new timer. 

     A laptop was open on the counter. “Let me look please.” She swiped a couple times. “That will be fine. Yes Simon. Thank you.” She did something on her laptop and took off her headset. 

     Dillon nodded as to direct attention across the road, “Simon?”

     “I have no idea. Clients are discouraged from using their real names. For example,” she touched her chest. “I’m TaTa.”

     He raised an eyebrow, “TaTa.”

     She laughed explaining, “talk talk. TaTa.”

     “That is not where my head went,” he blushed. 

     “It is a great icebreaker and you’re not alone. Most folks minds go there. I’ve gotten every reaction from straight up laughter to hung up on.”

     “TaTa.” It rolled off his tongue. “I can’t call you that in public?”

     A new timer went off. She pulled 2 trays out of the oven. His stomach growled again. “Hungry Mr. Pace?”

     He blushed, “starving.”

     “We can sit on the front porch or in the floor.”

     He thought about her offer. Taking longer than he should have. He really didn’t want to sit outside. Outside is where he had been all day. Pretty much on his stomach, glued to a pair of binoculars. “Inside.” Came his sheepish answer. 

     “Help yourself.” While he was thinking about what he should do next, she had gotten plates and utensils out. Was now filling two glasses with ice then water.  He finally blurted out, “you cooked.”

     “You are my guest.” 

     He scooped a big helping of lasagna on his plate. “What are these?” He asked, holding up one of the little pieces of bread.

     “Garlic knots.”

Sunshine Valley