Page 57 of Five Alarm Love
Steve gave a sound that was halfway between a chuckle and a grunt.
Sitting to Tuli’s left, Lou smiled reassuringly.
Melinda waved her hands.“Dish up and enjoy.Guest first.”
Somehow, Tuli managed not to drop or spill the first portions he took from the various dishes.Everything they were eating reminded him of many other times Tuli had spent here at the Wright house.The cinnamon wafting from the fall squash dish was particularly enticing.The salmon, likely fresh from the river, was broiled to perfection, with fresh thyme sprinkled on top of it.He inhaled deeply, his mouth watering.
The familiar tastes of well-cooked harvested foods triggered so many memories.There were times when he had to leave his father’s house for his own safety and stay here.He’d hang out after school at the Wright household, sharing good food and company until Grandma came home from her work as a nurse at the hospital.She had retired only five years ago, when she turned seventy.If Tuli’s father were still alive, he would have been in his early fifties.
Herbed potatoes and asparagus congealed in Tuli’s mouth as pain and loneliness braided together with memories of safety and protection.He took a bite of something different, but the root vegetable salad was equally difficult to swallow.
“Thanks for getting the blackberries the other day,” Melinda said.“It sounded like quite the adventure to pick them.”
Tuli swallowed his bite and wiped his face with the paper napkin.“Apparently, you can outrun a brown bear as long as you’re on an ATV.”
“Lou, I don’t like you being out with those animals foraging for winter.”Steve pinned Tuli with a severe expression.
“Animals are a way of life out here.We all know that.Besides, she wasn’t alone.”He sat up straighter and forked a piece of squash.“She was with me.”He popped in the bite and chewed.
“You know what I mean.”Steve cut up a piece of salmon.“It’s not safe for anyone to be out there in areas that are high risk for bear activity.Especially if you’ve got an injury.”
Tuli stopped chewing.
Next to him, Lou stiffened and froze.
How would her dad know that Tuli’s bum leg was still a problem?Based on her raised brows, it wasn’t Lou who said anything.
Hunter.The biggest rat of them all.
Tuli took a sip of water and fought to stay calm.For whatever reason, this conversation felt like bait.It was tempting bait he’d normally bite on, but not tonight.“We both did fine.Took appropriate precautions.Didn’t stick around but, instead, moved to safety as a team.”
“Huh.”Steve leaned back and crossed his arms.
“Dad, seriously.”Lou’s low voice cut through the tension.“You’re telling me you never went to Blackberry Hill when you were younger?”
“Well…”
“You’ve had a bear approach you?”she continued.
Melinda smiled, eyes twinkling.“I remember a date years ago where not only did we have a mother bear and cubs crash our hike, but someone also slipped on bear droppings as he was trying to get away.”
“No way,” Lou said.
Gordy laughed, his adaptive-grip spoon clutched in his outstretched fist.
“Oh?”Tuli smiled.“Which of you would like to tell this story?Because it sounds fascinating.”
“Neither of us.”Steve sat back up and continued eating until Melinda caught his eye and gestured at him in a not-too-subtle manner.“It’s nice of you to join us for dinner.”
Tuli nodded.“Thanks for having me, if I didn’t mention it before.”
“Is there anything you’d like to talk about?”Melinda said.
Tuli glanced at Lou.She studied the food on her plate.A dark flush tinted the skin on her neck.
“Lou and I wanted to talk with you about us dating.”
“Are you asking for my blessing?”Steve pointed with his fork at Tuli.Like he was taking aim.
