The Biggest Heartache in Town

By Meloira

Part Four

Carl surveyed his surroundings. When Amanda had said apartment, he’d imagined something typical. What she’d led him into however, looked more like an entire floor of a building. Scratch that. It looked like a florist’s shop had taken up residence in her home.

Carl walked around the place, taking time to stop and smell the arrangements. Taking a card from a particularly lovely bunch of roses, he removed the note inside and read it. The sentiments inside were pretty indeed and the name of the admirer did not surprise him. Tossing it aside, he ambled into the kitchen. Just as he expected, she had very little in the way of food. Did the woman never eat? Resigning himself, he rolled up his sleeves and began his search for ingredients.

()()()()()()()()

She was afraid to face him.

There had been other times in their varied and strange relationship she’d felt fear at his presence, but this time the fear was different. This time she had not angered the slumbering lion within him. This time she had done what had come naturally.

She had kissed him.

On the mouth.

In public.

And she had liked it. A lot.

There had been bells and whistles and fireworks. Her head had felt fuzzy and her knees weak. In short, everything she’d always imagined went with romance. Even though the contact had been simple and brief, the kiss had been unlike any other she’d ever experienced. Not even those she’d shared with Evan or Sam. And miracles of miracles, he had kissed her back.

Amanda had been marveling over the entire incident since she’d left him alone in her living room. She’d lingered in her shower, unwilling to face him. Over the last few months they’d become better acquainted and her views of him had altered radically. She cared for him, but kissing? She had never intended to cross that line.

Of their own accord, Amanda’s fingers traced the outline of her mouth. She wondered if her mother had been this addled and scared after her first kiss with Carl. Of course, Rachel had been on the way to falling in love with the man. Just because she’d kissed him didn’t mean ‘she’ was in love with him.

Did it?

()()()()()

Amanda stopped at the entrance to her regularly neglected kitchen and watched the man standing at her stove. He looked ridiculous in the frilly apron someone had given her as a joke.

"Carl?" Amanda padded silently into the kitchen. "So this is where you’ve gotten to." She gave her wet hair one last rub and settled onto a stool. "Cooking? For me? What did I do to deserve this? Besides, I didn’t think there was anything in my fridge other than mold."

"You’re absolutely right about the empty refrigerator, you have the fine beginnings of a high school science project in there." Carl threw ingredients in a bowl and glanced her way. "Speaking of which, when was the last time you stepped inside a grocery store?"

She had the grace to look sheepish. "With Alli away at school, there’s just me here and I’m almost always working late. Sometimes I just forget."

"Amanda, you’re a grown woman. You really should take better care of yourself. You are far too thin as it is."

"Hey, thin is always in."

"Be that as it may, thin in not always attractive."

"Are you saying I’m unattractive?" She kept her tone light and playful so he’d know she’d taken no offense.

"No, I am saying some men prefer women who eat, women who do not resemble walking twigs."

"Oh, come on Carl! Men do not. They like ‘em tiny and busty." She laughed as he rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"This man prefers women who are more than skin and bones. Therefore, I command you to visit your local neighborhood supermarket."

"Aye, aye. Then you can go with me and hold my little hand. I wouldn’t want to get lost."

"As you wish. Now fetch us a couple of plates. That is, if you have any."

"Ha. Ha." Amanda opened a couple of cabinets before she finally found what they needed and held them out as he slid the food from the pan.

"Omelet?"

"Almost. There wasn’t much to work with." Carl cleared the kitchen table and they sat down to their early morning feast.

"I hadn’t realized I was so hungry," she muttered around a mouthful of eggs. "I always knew you could cook."

"I must admit my domestic skills have been sharpened over the last several years. Necessity is the mother of invention or something along those lines. It gives me a certain satisfaction to be able to take care of my family in such a simple way."

"Ooh, I think someone is channeling June Cleaver. But seriously, why’d you bring Norie to Bay City?"

"Believe me, I didn’t want her along on this trip, but I did not have a choice. There’s a lack of sitters back home, what with Cindy out of town."

"How’s she doing?"

"As well as she can in her situation."

"Why’d Lorna come?"

Carl pushed back his empty plate and leaned back in his chair. "Lorna has been staying with me for the last few weeks, ever since Morgan packed his bags and left for parts unknown."

"No way! I can’t believe it! I was so sure he loved her."

"As did I. However, the two of them could not see eye to eye on starting a family. Being around my little one has softened Lorna and brought out her maternal instincts. Morgan, on the other hand, doesn’t want children. Period. Thus he fled their impending vows and broke her heart. Poor thing. She seems to have had more than her share of heartache.
"It’s not fair."

"No, it most definitely is not, but all is fair in love among other things. Now, we have something we must discuss."

Amanda’s stomach began churning the second the question left his mouth. The kiss. He wanted to talk about the kiss.

"There is a ‘situation’ that has become very apparent to me as of late. I cannot hide from it and neither can you." He leaned across the tale until he was mere inches from her. "You needn’t answer me, but I feel this is something we need to get out in the open."

Amanda felt as though she couldn’t breath. She knew he was about to demand an explanation and steeled herself for the inevitable.

"Tell me Amanda," he began, "how do you feel about all these flowers?"

"Flowers?"

"I’ve read the cards and I am aware they are from Scott. I’ve also been aware of his feeling for you for some time. Do you return his affections?"

"Scott?" Amanda felt a weight lift from her shoulders. He only wanted to talk about his baby brother. "You want to talk about Scott."

"Of course, what did you expect?"

"Nothing, nothing. Scott, huh? All right Carl, I’ll be honest. Your brother and I are like oil and water. Every time we’re in the same room we argue and I can’t wait to get away from him. Frankly, I can’t understand why he’s so smitten with me. I’ve certainly done nothing to encourage him. Of all the men to attract! You know, I’m starting to believe I’m cursed."

Carl had the audacity to laugh.

"You, my dear, are not cursed. However, you must overlook Scott. When we Hutchins men fall, we fall hard." Carl gathered their plates and carried them to the sink. "If you remember, we tend to go slightly overboard when wooing the women we love. We’re not always the easiest to love."

"Perhaps he isn’t the Hutchins man for me. Maybe you have another brother out there somewhere."

Carl paused slightly at her barely audible words. She was thankful his back was to her.

"Fraid not. If he continues and you wish it to stop, then I’ll have a word with him. Fortunately, he’s overseas or he’d be here with me now."

"Thank goodness for small favors." Amanda yawned.

"Sounds as though someone needs some sleep."

"Nope. Not sleepy. Not tired."

"Yes, you are," he replied in his sternest Daddy’s voice.

"Maybe I am. Norie must be the most well-behaved child in the Western Hemisphere."

"Yes she is thank you very much. Now, off with you. Lorna and my child are ensconced in another room, so once you’re taken care of I can go to the hospital." He accompanied Amanda to her bedroom and watched as she climbed into bed.

Amanda settled under the blankets, finally feeling fatigued. But she just didn’t want him to leave.

"Tuck me Carl?"

Carl pulled the blankets up under her chin and bussed her forehead. "Sleep little one. I shall be at the hospital, but I’ll be back before noon."

"Thank you Carl." Amanda closed her eyes.

"You’re more than welcome." Amanda heard him turn off the lamp and felt him tug her blankets around her reclining form. Then she felt it.

She felt his lips quickly press to her own.

"I didn’t forget," he whispered inches from her ear and left her room.

Amanda fell asleep with a smile on her lips.

…..please, don’t flame me……….

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