Page 30 of Bones

“A special occasion, huh?” A smile swept across her face as she said, “I’m honored.”

“As you should be.”

She followed me into the kitchen and sat down at the front counter, watching as I made my way over to the stove. I’d tried my best to plan the perfect meal. I’d bought all the freshest ingredients for our roasted chicken and vegetables, but there was a slight problem. I wasn’t much of a cook, but I’d rehearsed all the steps in my head and felt certain I could pull it off.

Now the time had come to prove it.

I’d already chopped the vegetables and roasted the chicken. I just needed to put together the wine sauce and check on the potatoes. As I opened the stove, Elsie asked, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“You could get us a couple of drinks.”

“Sure.” She got up from her stool and started over to me. “What would you like?”

I motioned my head towards the fridge as I told her, “I’ve got beer for me and a bottle of wine for you.”

“Perfect.”

“The glasses are in the end cabinet.”

She nodded, then walked over to the fridge and took out a Miller Lite. She placed it on the counter next to me before grabbing a glass from the cabinet. I continued making the sauce while she opened the bottle and poured herself a glass of wine. After she put the bottle back in the fridge, she went back over and sat down. “It smells really good.”

“Hopefully, it’ll taste good, too.”

“I’m sure it will be great.”

Once I had everything ready, Elsie helped me carry it to the kitchen table, and we both fixed ourselves a plate. I waited for Elsie to take the first bite, and to my profound relief, she smiled and said, “Wow. This is really good.”

“I’m glad you like it.” I took a quick bite, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that she wasn’t exaggerating. It really was good. Silence fell upon us as we both continued to eat. I didn’t mind the quiet. I was used to it, but I couldn’t help but notice how Elsie’s eyes were skirting around the room and the way she was shifting in her seat. It was clear that she was troubled by our lack of conversation, so I asked, “So, what did Lace and the girls say about us going out tonight?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, come on. I’m sure they had plenty to say.”

“Yeah, you could say that.” She shrugged with a smirk. “But I could never repeat what they said. That would be a breach of trust.”

“Hmmm, I see.”

“But I will say, they were all pretty curious why you waited until now to ask me out. So was I, actually. I mean, we’ve known each other for six years. Why now?”

“I guess you could say I finally came to my senses... I just hope I’m not too late.”

CHAPTER7

Elsie

My mother told me never to settle. She assured me that there was someone out there who would be the answer to all my prayers. She said to wait for the man who was willing to see me through rough patches, laugh with me, cry with me, and most of all, fight for me. And that man would love me in the way that I deserved.

She said I would know when I found him, and she was right. I did know.

I knew the day Wyatt gave me that journal that he was the man my mother had told me about. I’d been waiting five years for him to realize it, too, but I knew in my heart that he was worth the wait.

Like they say, ‘the longer the wait, the sweeter the kiss.’ As far as I was concerned, no truer words had ever been spoken.

I reached across the table and placed my hand on his as I told him, “You’re not too late.”

“Glad to hear that.”

He held my gaze for a moment, then we both turned our attention back to our dinner. When we finished eating, I helped Wyatt clear the table, and once we had everything put away, Wyatt grabbed our coats from the entryway, then asked, “You ready?”

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