Page 16 of Achille's Earth Angel
He opened the door for her and she walked through. “There is a lot of daily living that never made it to the tomes of history,” he replied. “And yes, we were a warrior race. But even warriors have to eat.”
“Speaking of food, are you hungry?”
“Starved.”
Achilles was hungry for more than food and his throat hummed when she looked up at him with those fascinating eyes.
The knock on the door startled them both.
Chapter 5
When Ange opened thedoor, Mrs. Dedra Pagosa from up the road, the owner of the red car, stood there with a big dish in her hand. “Hello, Angelina, my dear,” she gushed. “I heard you were back in town to see after your father’s things, so we organized some meals for you to enjoy while you work. We thought it would be nice if you didn’t have to worry about food for a few days.”
Ange moved back as Mrs. Pagosa bustled forward with the hot dish she held with potholders. Tall and slender, she moved like a woman younger than her long braid of white hair and endless smile wrinkles proclaimed her to be. “I’ll just take this to the kitchen for you, and if you don’t mind, I’ll take my car home when I go?” She rambled on as if she hadn’t just asked a question. “Agatha is right behind me with dessert and hot rolls for you, dear, she’s just a bit slower than I am. She brought me with her in her car.”
“Here I am, Ange,” declared Agatha Sotiropoulos, coming around the corner of the doorway. The gentle, rounded little woman looked so unstable on her feet that Achilles leapt forward to take her dish from her wrinkled old hands. She peered at him through her tiny half-glasses, her faded blue eyes sharply appraising him. “And who might you be, young man?” she asked sweetly.
Ange smirked as Achilles squirmed uncomfortably beneath her appraising gaze. “He works for me, Agatha,” she explained. “He’s taking care of the goats and the farming for now while I tend to Dad’s business.”
“My name is Achilles, and it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Achilles offered, holding the dish awkwardly.
“Well, don’t just stand there, take it to the kitchen and put it in the cooler,” Agatha stated firmly, making shooing motions with her hands. “We don’t want the cream to separate.” She grabbed Ange in a motherly hug. “I’m so sorry about your father, dear. Such a sad thing for you to bear.”
Ange nodded, her throat choking for a moment. “Bless you and Dedra for thinking of me,” she responded. “I hadn’t even thought about food until now, and I haven’t had time to do any shopping.”
Agatha patted her hand and tutted. “Now, don’t you worry about that for a few days. There are more people bringing things over for you so you don’t have to. And if you need anything at all, just call me or Dedra. We’ll be happy to come over and clean or do whatever needs to be done. The Evdilos women’s society is at your disposal.”
“That’s right, we are, my dear.” Dedra returned from the kitchen with Achilles right behind her. “You just call us if you need anything. And I’ve told your young man here that he can borrow my car again if he needs to.” She held up the car keys Achilles must have given her. “We’ll just be on our way and get out of your hair for now. We know you’ve got a lot to do.” She came forward and enveloped Ange in a hug. “Your father was a dear man, and we are all going to miss him.”
Ange nodded, her heart in her throat. She followed them to the door where they patted her hands and shoulders and told her to stay away from the beach. Strange things going on there, they said. Ange nodded and waved goodbye as she closed the door behind them. The breath left her lungs in a whoosh as she leaned against the door. “I thought Hercules borrowed Dedra’s car,” was the first thing out of her mouth. When Achilles rolled his eyes, she burst out laughing again.
“Why she would think I look anything like Hercules is beyond me,” he grumbled.
Ange cocked her head sideways, her eyes brimming with mirth. “Well, let me see. Very tall, big, handsome—I can see the similarities.”
His eyes fired up so she hastily finished, “And given the fact that Dedra refuses to admit she needs glasses and won’t wear them, I think it could be explained.”
