[ - ]
Table of Contents [Report This]
Printer Chapter or Story Microsoft Word Chapter or Story
- Text Size +
Part VII

In the next few weeks Marshall and Coral built a comfortable routine that they fell into so easily it was almost as if they had lived this way in another life. They usually ate a late breakfast, coffee and toast, or on the weekends, eggs or pancakes. They talked and read bits and pieces of the paper to each other over breakfast. After breakfast they worked on the living room, plastering and painting, talking and joking all the time, every minute of the day. They broke for lunch around two, eating out by the pool, and worked well into the night. They ate dinner along with the seven o’clock episode of LAW and ORDER, and dessert in the backyard.
“So, I wanted to tell you,” Marshall said as they were working on the final coat of wax on the plaster walls, “my band is coming out here next month. They’ll be staying here for about a week. Now it’s going to be another five people staying here, and I want you to know, I’ll be paying you extra, and if necessary, I’ll bring another person in.”
“Oh it won’t be a problem, just everyone has to learn how to put their own dishes in the dishwasher,” Coral replied and Marshall laughed.
“No problem.”
“Just let me know when they’re coming, I’ll make up some pastas ahead of time and put them away, and I’ll bake up some breads and muffins, besides, it’ll really test my skills. I can’t wait, I can even plan a menu,” she grinned. Marshall cracked a smile.
“You really get into this,” he said kneeling down and getting some more wax on his trowel.
“Yeah I do. I don’t know. It’s just, fun, and interesting. I don’t know, I like being able to take ingredients and make something new and different. People don’t realize how much you can get out of cooking.” Coral replied amazed.
“It’s nice to find someone who’s so into something they love.”
“Thank you, hey, I’m going to meet my sister Turkey for lunch tomorrow, you want to come with?”
“Don’t you want to spend time with your sister?” he asked.
“Yeah, but you can come along. Turkey is the nice one, and she told me she thought you were nice when we talked on the phone the other night.” Coral had spoken several times with her sister Turkey, and her grandparents, but no one else. It seemed as though they had disowned her, though according to her, it wasn’t a bad thing.
“She did?”
“Yeah. Turkey thought it was real commendable of you to give me a job, and the way you stood up to Pearl the way you did. She says that Pearl is still complaining about you.”
“Really?”
“Yup, besides, Turkey invited you along, and I invited you along, and you need to get out of this house for a while.”
“Well, uh, okay, sure. Lunch is on me though,” Marshall added quickly.
“Don’t worry about it Marshall, Turkey is gonna love you.”
Marshall didn’t stop smiling the rest of the day.

Why he felt the need to dress up for Turkey was beyond him. But then again, really he thought, he didn’t want to dress up for her, he didn’t really know that woman. He wanted to impress Coral.
Coral had only seen him at his casual best, or worst really. Baggy jeans, old sneakers, t-shirts or wife beaters since they were working on the house. His hair, well, that was just it, not much to do with it except flatten it down as usual.
His plain reflection starred back at him and he shook his head at himself. What was wrong with him? Here he was, this girl was living in his house a little over a month and he was worried about what he looked like for her. He needed his friends to come to visit. He needed to be around some guys again and reclaim some testosterone.
There was a soft knock on the bedroom doorframe.
“You all set?” Coral’s soft voice called.
“You can come in,” Marshall returned and stepped out of the bathroom.
“A little overdressed, for lunch don’t you think?” she asked looking at his button down shirt and slacks.
“Well, she is a lawyer right?” he asked.
“Yeah, on the weekdays, hold on, I’ll help you find something,” Coral smiled and walked to his closet without hesitation.
“Let’s see, perfect, for a little lunch and an afternoon out in California,” she said stepping out of his closet and handing him the clothes.
“Shorts, and a shirt and flip flops?” he asked skeptically.
“My sister is a beach bum, and as you can tell, I’m not one for formality either,” Coral replied holding out her arms. Marshall would have liked to disagree. She looked fashionable in her usual All-American styled way. Hair pulled up into a high ponytail, a red tank top, cutoff shorts and her red laced sneakers, she looked too cute for him. Too nice for him, maybe that’s what it was.
“So hurry up and get changed, and guess what, I can pick my car up on the way back, I finally had enough to have the sucker fixed,” Coral grinned.
“That’s cool, all right, I’ll be out in a minute.” She nodded and closed the door on her way out.
He stepped back into the bathroom and set the clothes on the counter, looking back at his reflection. After a minute, and quick innovatory of what he had and referring back to the mental picture he still had of Coral’s ex in his head, he shook his head.
“Get a grip,” he mumbled to himself and quickly changed.

“So here is my baby sister! I’ve missed you so much!” Turquoise exclaimed as Coral and Marshall entered the restaurant.
“Turkey!” Coral laughed and they hugged tight.
“You have got to stop punishing me for our stupid family, girl you have got to come visit me!” Turquoise laughed smacking her sister slightly.
“Oh, Turkey, you remember Marshall,” Coral said stepping back to reintroduce the two people before her.
“Of course I do, it’s a shame we didn’t get to talk before, that dinner was something. And I’d like to say that isn’t a regular occurrence, but it is,” Turquoise laughed and Marshall nodded.
“Yeah, good to see you too Turquoise,” he said shaking her hand.
“Oh call me Turkey, everyone does, come on, I got us a table on the deck.”
“So Coral’s been telling me her boss is a real jerk,” Turkey said as they sat down.
“Turkey, I told you that was a secret!” Coral hissed with a smile and Marshall gave her a slight push as was their custom.
“I’m sure he is,” he laughed.
“So when you gonna give this girl some time off so she can come visit me?” Turkey asked.
“Coral comes and goes as she pleases, she doesn’t have to ask me to take time off,” Marshall said giving Coral a look.
“I told you he was a pussycat,” Turkey remarked.
“You better watch what you’re calling him,” Coral laughed. Marshall could only smile.
“Did she tell you about her other job she did,” he asked after the waitress took their drink orders.
“Other job?” Coral swallowed hard and nodded.
“Yeah, a friend of his, wanted a chef to come in and cook an anniversary dinner for him and his wife.”
“And?” Turkey questioned expectantly.
“Dre couldn’t stop raving about it. She did an amazing job,” he replied for her.
“So, you’re going for the catering bit, I always knew you’d be able to do it. So, Marshall, she keeping you fat and happy?” Turkey laughed.
“I don’t know about fat, but happy yeah. I think I actually lost a few pounds, she keeps me eating healthy I guess.”
“See, now that is the mark of a great cook. Makes it taste good and healthy at the same time. So what do you recommend from here Coral,” Turkey asked looking over at her blushing sister. She quickly picked up her menu and scanned it.
“Well, the cold apple soup here is always good, and so are the black cherry burgers,” Coral said after looking over the choices.
“Cherries in burgers?” Marshall asked.
“Just wait till you try her burgers with watermelon, you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven,” Turkey assured.
“Oh Turkey, you’ll like the,” Coral was interrupted by a loud shriek coming across the room.
“They told me you stopped by but I didn’t believe it!” a large man squealed as he pranced towards the table.
“Jackie, hey!” Coral said as she stood up to give the man a hug. She was rumpled and out of breath when the man had finally let her go and invited himself to sit down at the table, taking the seat between Coral and Turkey.
“I cannot believe that after all this time, you finally came back here, oh please tell me you’re looking for a job, please, please!” Jackie squeaked picking up Coral’s hand and squeezing it.
“Take it easy, I want you to meet my sister Turquoise, and my new friend, and boss, Marshall,” she motioned to each person, and Jackie nodded accordingly to Turkey before turning to Marshall.
“So,” he chirped putting his hands on his hips as he starred at Marshall, “the new boss, and what is it exactly that you have her doing, as if I couldn’t guess?” Marshall looked warily from Jackie to Coral.
“Uh,” he stuttered and Coral was laughing.
“Guys this is Jackie, I used to work with him here at the restaurant, about two years back, maybe a little less,” she explained.
“Best damn cook period. Until they fired you, damn jerks, couldn’t keep a good cook here for nothing, but, I have good news,” Jackie said with his eyebrows wriggling.
“What’s that?”
“I bought the restaurant! It’s all mine! And you my dear, are the one person I want on my staff,” Jackie replied clasping his hands together in front of him. Marshall felt himself stiffen slightly at this.
“Actually Jackie, I have a job right now, and,” Coral began.
“Hey, he’s offering, don’t let me stop you,” Marshall interrupted with an encouraging smile.
“Now you are gracious!” Jackie exclaimed clapping his hands together with a little squeal of joy. Coral looked over at Marshall slightly confused.
“Gracious or not, but I’ll have to think about it, Jackie,” Coral replied politely.
“Oh pish posh! Now what am I going to do? Could you possibly do some freelance stuff, you know for parties and such?” Jackie asked with anxious eyes.
“You give me enough notice, I might be able to swing it,” she smiled.
“Oh thank the lord, I swear to god, I don’t know what I’d do without this girl, not only can she cook, but this girl can bake and make cakes, and candies and desserts, I mean she does it all. But what is it exactly that you do for him?” Jackie’s voice went up in pitch and he raised an eyebrow.
“I’m his cook, slash interior decorator, carpenter. I cook breakfast, lunch and dinner, and help him work on his house that he’s redecorating.”
“And have you redecorated the bedroom yet?” Jackie insinuated and Coral didn’t catch on right away.
“No, just the living room so far, you should see it, we got, wait a minute Jackie! Don’t you dare!” Coral said finally realizing and smacking the man slightly with a laugh.
“Well all right. I was gonna say, I didn’t think Charlie would have been too happy with you taking a job here with Mr. Eminem anyways,” Jackie replied skeptically.
“Charlie can go screw himself for all I care. I found him messing around with Fran, and that was the last I spoke to him.” Jackie put on a surprised face.
“I can’t believe that, uh, what a jerk. You sir, you make sure that you beat that boy up for me if he ever comes to that house of yours, for hurting my girl like that,” Jackie said pointing a finger at Marshall.
“Will do,” Marshall laughed. Jackie turned back to Coral and huffed.
“Uh uh, I can’t believe that boy. What a jerk, I swear honey I thought he was gonna be the one. But you’re better off. Say, I know a guy, that would be perfect for you, let me set you up on a blind date,” Jackie railed on.
“Oh no, I know that speech,” Turkey laughed.
“Jackie, no,” Coral said flatly.
“Oh come on honey, you can’t spend the rest of your life alone, you got to have somebody, and this man is perfect for you!” Jackie tried.
“No Jackie, I just want to work and get things together for a while, I don’t want any dates or involvements right now. I’m getting things on track and where they belong, the last thing I need is to get involved with someone I don’t know,” Coral replied steadily. Marshall felt his chest tighten involuntarily and he couldn’t figure out why. He wished this line of questioning of Coral would end.
“Well, if you’re sure,” Jackie tried again.
“She’s sure,” Turkey laughed, and Coral shook her head.
“Okay then, but you’re no fun. Hey, you guys have been here a while, I’ve jumped into the middle of your lunch, I’ll hop back there and bring you all out the best of the best, and it’s on the house!” Jackie said as he jumped to his feet.
“Thanks Jackie,” Coral smiled.
“You got it,” Jackie bent down beside Coral’s ear and wispered, “and your boss is quite cute too.”
Marshall noticed the exchange, especially Coral hitting Jackie and laughing at him about something he hadn’t managed to hear.
“What was that about?” Marshall asked once Jackie had gone.
“Nothing,” Coral said quickly, “so Turkey, how’s work been?”

“Okay Coral, I got your number, and you take care of yourself! And you will definitely be coming around here, we can use your expertise for sure sweetie. Marshall, don’ you work her too hard either,” Jackie lectured on the way out. Coral gave him another hug and waved before they left the restaurant.
“Wow, he was something,” Turkey laughed once they were out on the sidewalk again.
“Yeah, he was, good cook though,” Marshall remarked.
“Everything he knows, he learned from me,” Coral laughed and Marshall nodded.
“I wouldn’t be surprised, so where do you girls want to go now?” he asked looking around.
“Well, I was thinking, maybe we could take a trip over to the beach?” Turkey said raising a wary eyebrow towards Coral who was already scowling at the mere mention of the word “beach”.
“No.” Coral said flatly.
“Coral, come on, you don’t even have to go near the water, you can just sit on the sand,” Turkey replied.
“I said no.” She was stiff and adamant and for the first time since she had mentioned it, he noticed the real panic she was facing.
“You could talk to somebody about it you know, it wouldn’t be a crime.” Turkey tried.
“Oh, they opened up a new Pampered Chef down the block, I’m gonna go take a look before we leave.” The conversation was over.

Coral was quiet on the way home and possibly a little edgy. Marshall didn’t blame her. They stopped along the way back to his house at a garage where she’d had her car towed to be fixed.
“Meet you back at the house,” she nodded as she closed the door and went inside to pay her bill. Marshall waited until she left so he could follow and make sure the car didn’t break again.
As he followed her back to the house he felt conflicted. When she’d been offered another job, he’d gotten worried. He didn’t want to think about what that house would be like when she was gone. She’d gotten into his head and into his life so quick and fast, and he liked it. Okay, so he was saying it. He liked her. He liked this woman in his life. He liked waking up to her coffee and her cheerful chatter. He liked watching cook with a childish enthusiasm. He liked talking to her until he was almost asleep because they were so exhausted from working on the house. He liked joking around with her. He liked not being afraid that he was saying something stupid. He liked how shy she was. He liked her, period.
So what if he liked her? That was okay. He was still a man. In fact, that should have proved more than anything, he was a man. He liked this pretty, soft spoken, but feisty, gentle, hardworking, vulnerable woman.
And why did his chest tighten when Jackie had mentioned sending her on a blind date. Wait, he wasn’t going there yet.