Free Chef Charming by Lyn Ellerbe

pointedly asked, “What
are you trying to hide?” She felt obligated and strangely comforted by the
accountability. Rori knew that her sense of humor and quirky view of life did
not always translate well into other people’s language. Especially
tall, handsome Scottish ones.
    “Yes, I did, right before we
left,” Rori assured her . “He probably
won’t get it until after church.” Of course, what she didn’t tell Jessica was
that her curt email simply said, ‘ Sorry,’ in response to the childish one she
had sent earlier. No telling how he’ll take that one, Rori thought.
    Sitting on the opposite side
of the sanctuary, Rori was unaware that Marcus had come to church with the Hamptons. He, on the other hand, had been
diligently watching the doorway for her arrival. Now that he knew she was
safely as far away from him as possible, he was relieved. At least he told
himself he was relieved, but he didn’t remember relief ever feeling like
desolation before.
    As the song portion of
worship ended, the pastor dismissed the children for their separate Bible study time. Rori made her way across the front
of the church gathering a following of four and five-years-olds like a pied
piper. As the pastor announced a time of greeting for the
adults, Rori and her entourage headed down an aisle just as Marcus stepped into
it. He had moved aside to allow Zoe to join the throng. Turning to rein
in one of the excited youngsters, Rori accidently plowed into Marcus.
    “Oh, I’m so sorry,” she
spoke to the person she had bumped into,
bending down to pick up her craft and lesson plans that had dropped in the
process. “I was trying to keep Jimmy from running, and wasn’t watching where I
was going.”
    A familiar hand reached down
and pulled her to her feet . Marcus then
bent and scooped up her supplies and handed them to her quickly. As he did, he
saw her brightly colored bandage and froze. It seemed to mock him and his
treatment of her and brought to mind the derisive email he read this morning.
An email he remembered had been sent at two in the
morning.
    He retreated once again
behind the curtain of aloofness that had become his only defense around this young
creature.
    “Your bounty, Princess,” he
said, his tone cold, aloof, and slightly sarcastic.
    He was mocking her! At church!
    “Thank you, Chef,” she
bowed, adding a n ironic ‘ Charming’ to the end of his name in her mind.
    -------------------------
    One last try, he promised
himself. Hoping she was at her computer so she would respond right away, he
quickly typed a message.
    Dear Aurora:  I hope you made it to your children’s
class without any further mishaps. I apologize for my part in the catastrophe.
I couldn’t help but notice the bandage on your finger. Is it healing well?
    Confusion ruled her
thoughts. She was sure she had not mistaken his tone of voice when he helped her to her feet. Well, if he
wants to play make believe, I’ll join right in. She thought.
    Dear Marcus:  Yes,
thank you . I apologize for almost plowing
you down.
    He smiled at her quick
response and opened up the instant conversation menu on the email program.
    I also noted the unusual
choice of superhero bandage. Why the famous green guy? ~Marcus
    Yes,
the green guy. We are strangely similar creatures. Great bursts
of emotion turn us into other worldly beings. That’s why people avoid making
him angry. ~Aurora.
    And
you? ~Marcus
    Yes, I would avoid making
him angry too . I’ve got to go now. ~Aurora.
    Jake’s words, “She has a
wicked sense of humor,” strangely came to mind. I am in way over my head,
Marcus thought. But I’m enjoying every minute of it.

My
Kingdom for a Croissant
    By Monday, panic was setting
in for Rori. She had completed all her major paintings Sunday evening . Normally she resisted working on Sundays, but the
cooking class had cut into time she would normally have spent in the studio.
Why did I ever think that three-hour break each evening was going to be