Copyright © 2006 Zinnia Hope
All rights reserved, Freya's Bower.
By reading this excerpt, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are younger than 18 years old, you must exit this site at once.
The kitchen door slammed behind Elizabeth. She tossed her windbreaker on top of the freezer chest and hurried into the kitchen. The heady aromas of freshly brewed coffee, Italian spices and rising dough enveloped her.
"I'm so sorry, Grams." She placed her purse on a side table and snatched an apron hanging on the wall. "I had no idea it was getting so late."
At the stovetop, Sarah chuckled. She sampled the spaghetti sauce that simmered in a large pot. "It's only ten-thirty. We still have plenty of time for those final touches. Why all the excitement?"
"The principal of the Shining Lights Private School called right after you left this morning."
"Oh?" Sarah paused, giving Elizabeth her full attention.
"Alex started school today. A spot opened on the enrollment list. I've been rushing around all morning, transferring his files from the public school and settling him into his new class." She pointed at the papers sticking out of the top of her purse. "Afterwards, I stopped for a newspaper. Our Grand Opening ad looks great."
"You're certainly full of wonderful news this morning." Sarah smiled and returned her attention to the pots and kettles steaming on the stovetop. She stirred and tasted as if she were a medieval apothecary.
A coffeemaker chugged out its last drops of brew. Elizabeth poured herself a cup and dropped in a teaspoon of creamer. She let out a huge sigh, slurped gratefully, and sat down on one of the stools at the isle counter.
Sarah glanced over her shoulder. "So, tell me how things went at Shining Lights. Do you think Alex will like it there?"
"I think so," Elizabeth began. She watched Sarah add more oregano to the pasta sauce. An aromatic cloud of Italian food steam drifted over the counter. "It still concerns me, though. There's been so much for Alex to adjust to. Our move here forced him to leave his old school and friends, and then after only a couple months in a new elementary, I put him into private education." Elizabeth slurped from her cup. "Barely a month remains before summer vacation begins. I'm afraid he's had to spend too much time adapting to all these new changes and his studies will suffer."
Nodding sagely, Sarah replied, "My grandson is very bright and mature for his age. After all, it's just kindergarten, Elizabeth. Most of what he's learning now, he already knows from you and me teaching him."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
Sarah paused long enough to pat Elizabeth's shoulder. "It'll just take time. You'll see."
"Maybe." Elizabeth shrugged.
"Something's still bothering you."
"It nags at me that I didn't get here earlier. I really wanted to get a jump on some things such as today's soup special. I was going to finish laminating the last few menus..." She noticed a kettle of hearty minestrone simmering on a back burner. Her gaze moved to the menus in their shiny plastic jackets on the worktable. In the industrial oven, loaves of cheesy herb bread slowly baked to a golden brown. "When did you find time to do everything?"
"I prepared the minestrone last night, and I was so excited about today that I woke up early this morning and made the bread dough, then I finished the menus." Sarah wore an amused look on her cherubic face. "Now, get a grip and enjoy another cup of coffee, child. You're a nervous wreck."
Elizabeth chuckled. "Like more caffeine is going to calm me down."
"Why don't you write today's specials on the blackboard?" her grandmother asked. She reached towards the spice cabinet. "There's colored chalk next to the cash register. Daniel will be here any minute."
Hopping off the stool, Elizabeth whirled. "What?"
"Last night, Daniel called after you had gone to bed." Sarah shook salt into her hand, gauged the amount, and dropped it into one of the kettles. "He offered his help, and since we're still short on employees, I accepted."
"How did he get our home phone number? It's unlisted." Irritation settled in Elizabeth's chest. She crossed her arms over her breasts and asked, "Better yet, how did he find out we own this restaurant?"
A sheepish expression settled upon Sarah's face. "Yesterday, during services, I filled out one of those visitor cards tucked into the pews."
"Grams, how could you?"
Her grandmother stirred each of the kettles and shrugged. "You can't avoid Daniel forever. After all, you both live in the same town now."
"I'm not ready to deal with him so soon. Especially not on Grand Opening Day."
"Oh, by the way," Sarah said. She fished out a spoonful of minestrone and tasted it. "Daniel's not married."
Elizabeth realized her mouth hung open and shut it firmly. "How do you know that?"
"I asked him."
"Did you tell him that I'm a single mother?"
"The matter did come up, yes."
"What did you say?" Dizziness overwhelmed her, and she grabbed the edge of the counter.
Sarah washed her hands in a big stainless steel sink. "I didn't tell him much," she reached for a paper towel, "but he's very curious about you." She grinned, her blue eyes hopeful. "That's a good sign."
"I don't want a relationship, not with Daniel or any other man." Anger welled up inside Elizabeth. Her grandmother always meant well, but sometimes Elizabeth resented it. After her mother, Barbara, had died, Sarah took on the role of both parent and grandparent, often taking it to the extreme. "The last thing on my mind right now with our big move back to Ohio, our new business and my son in a new school, is a serious romantic relationship."
"I didn't tell him anything about you and Alex. I never mentioned a word about Brian Dansbury either." Sarah's eyes flashed angrily. "I also don't like you talking to me in such a manner."
The unmistakable tone of her voice sliced Elizabeth's hostility into shame. Her resolve floated in a sea of bewilderment.
"Please," Elizabeth struggled to salvage what little remained of her pride, "stop bringing up Brian and promise me you won't tell Daniel anything. He never once tried to contact me after we left town. I sent him countless letters, and he never wrote back."
Sarah nodded, a quizzical look on her face. "I have to admit I don't understand why he never contacted you either, but I do know that Daniel is a good guy."
"Maybe," Elizabeth replied, "or maybe I was the passing fancy of a very young man." She sighed and gathered her thoughts. "Daniel proved he didn't really care, and when Brian walked out on me, I realized my luck with men sucks." A teary note settled in her voice. "Daniel can't know about Alex. If he does, I'll have to deal with Minister Rivers too. Alex and I don't need the Rivers men interfering in our lives.