didn’t mean to spill my guts
like that.”
“I’m
flattered, I guess. But I can’t imagine how it would feel to be accused of
something you didn’t do. I’d need to tell someone, too.”
“To quote my
nephew, ‘it sucks’.” He smiled.
Leeza looked
around for a server. He was preparing the tables for lunch and she motioned him
over. “Would you bring me a coffee please Karl?” She looked at Matt. “How about
you?”
“I’m having
tea, but I’d like some more hot water.” He leaned forward. “Tell me something about
yourself, Leeza. What brought you here?”
His request
made her uncomfortable but she tried not to show it. “I grew up in Ottawa and I
came here four years ago with a man who was my boyfriend at the time. He was
Chef here but he had a terrible temper and didn’t last long. After he left, Jamie
gave me the opportunity to take over the kitchen and I’ve been here ever
since.”
He looked up
as Karl brought the coffee and tea. “Thank you, Karl.” He watched as the young
man went back to setting the tables for lunch. “So you were trained as a chef
but accepted a lower position to be with this man?”
She looked at
him, startled. “I guess I did, yes.”
“Hmmm.” He
poured his tea. “My sister met her husband while they were both in medical
school. She quit to support him; not exactly the same situation, but similar.
When he left her, she went back to finish her training but she said it was much
harder to do the second time.” He sat for a moment, hands cradling the cup. “I
think marriages should start out equal and stay that way.”
“In a perfect
world, maybe. But in my experience, it doesn’t often happen. Especially when
children are involved.”
He exhaled
slowly and stared into the cup. “Cassandra and I don’t have any children. Just
as well, I suppose.”
Leeza wanted
to cheer, then her euphoria turned to guilt. The man’s life was falling apart
and all she could think was that he might be available after all. She’d do well
to stay far away from Matt Weber. She made a show of looking at her watch. “I
suppose I’d better get back to the kitchen.”
He looked at
his watch as well. “I guess I should get moving, too. I told Billy I’d look him
up this morning.”
“He was in
first thing this morning but I haven’t seen him since then.” Leeza rose and
looked pointedly at the plate which held the remains of the toast. “I hope you
can eat something soon.”
“Yes, Mom.”
He grinned at her, and then sobered almost instantly. “Thank you for the
company Leeza. I enjoyed talking to you.”
She was glad
he couldn’t see the way her heart was thudding in her chest. “Me too.” She
turned and fled into the kitchen before she made a fool of herself.
* * *
He watched
her as she almost tripped over one of the chairs in her haste to get back to
her kitchen. He didn’t know why he’d asked her to have coffee with him. It
wasn’t because he was lonely; he was enjoying being alone for the first time in
ages. No, it was something else. She fascinated him with her spiky black hair
and prickly attitude. So different from Cassandra. Tall, slender Cassandra with
the sleek blonde hair, the beautiful face and the treacherous heart.
Cassandra and
Matt Weber were an attractive couple. They both knew it and had used it to
their advantage in the competitive field of real estate. Their pictures were on
business cards, in print ads, and on the side of the moving van they offered to
their clients. Looking back now, he could see that Cassie had been drifting
away from him for some time, but he’d been so busy with the massive development
on the north side of the valley that he’d missed the signs.
His gaze went
back to the kitchen doors. Billy was a nice guy, but he’d rather go to the
waterfall with Leeza. He stood up abruptly before he did something foolish,
like ask her to go with him. His life was in a mess right now and he didn’t
need any extra
like that.”
“I’m
flattered, I guess. But I can’t imagine how it would feel to be accused of
something you didn’t do. I’d need to tell someone, too.”
“To quote my
nephew, ‘it sucks’.” He smiled.
Leeza looked
around for a server. He was preparing the tables for lunch and she motioned him
over. “Would you bring me a coffee please Karl?” She looked at Matt. “How about
you?”
“I’m having
tea, but I’d like some more hot water.” He leaned forward. “Tell me something about
yourself, Leeza. What brought you here?”
His request
made her uncomfortable but she tried not to show it. “I grew up in Ottawa and I
came here four years ago with a man who was my boyfriend at the time. He was
Chef here but he had a terrible temper and didn’t last long. After he left, Jamie
gave me the opportunity to take over the kitchen and I’ve been here ever
since.”
He looked up
as Karl brought the coffee and tea. “Thank you, Karl.” He watched as the young
man went back to setting the tables for lunch. “So you were trained as a chef
but accepted a lower position to be with this man?”
She looked at
him, startled. “I guess I did, yes.”
“Hmmm.” He
poured his tea. “My sister met her husband while they were both in medical
school. She quit to support him; not exactly the same situation, but similar.
When he left her, she went back to finish her training but she said it was much
harder to do the second time.” He sat for a moment, hands cradling the cup. “I
think marriages should start out equal and stay that way.”
“In a perfect
world, maybe. But in my experience, it doesn’t often happen. Especially when
children are involved.”
He exhaled
slowly and stared into the cup. “Cassandra and I don’t have any children. Just
as well, I suppose.”
Leeza wanted
to cheer, then her euphoria turned to guilt. The man’s life was falling apart
and all she could think was that he might be available after all. She’d do well
to stay far away from Matt Weber. She made a show of looking at her watch. “I
suppose I’d better get back to the kitchen.”
He looked at
his watch as well. “I guess I should get moving, too. I told Billy I’d look him
up this morning.”
“He was in
first thing this morning but I haven’t seen him since then.” Leeza rose and
looked pointedly at the plate which held the remains of the toast. “I hope you
can eat something soon.”
“Yes, Mom.”
He grinned at her, and then sobered almost instantly. “Thank you for the
company Leeza. I enjoyed talking to you.”
She was glad
he couldn’t see the way her heart was thudding in her chest. “Me too.” She
turned and fled into the kitchen before she made a fool of herself.
* * *
He watched
her as she almost tripped over one of the chairs in her haste to get back to
her kitchen. He didn’t know why he’d asked her to have coffee with him. It
wasn’t because he was lonely; he was enjoying being alone for the first time in
ages. No, it was something else. She fascinated him with her spiky black hair
and prickly attitude. So different from Cassandra. Tall, slender Cassandra with
the sleek blonde hair, the beautiful face and the treacherous heart.
Cassandra and
Matt Weber were an attractive couple. They both knew it and had used it to
their advantage in the competitive field of real estate. Their pictures were on
business cards, in print ads, and on the side of the moving van they offered to
their clients. Looking back now, he could see that Cassie had been drifting
away from him for some time, but he’d been so busy with the massive development
on the north side of the valley that he’d missed the signs.
His gaze went
back to the kitchen doors. Billy was a nice guy, but he’d rather go to the
waterfall with Leeza. He stood up abruptly before he did something foolish,
like ask her to go with him. His life was in a mess right now and he didn’t
need any extra
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