The Biggest Heartache in Town

By Meloira

Part Six

"You do know I’m plotting your demise even as we speak?" Amanda shot Carl a paint-peeling glare over the rim of her water glass. "I’m merely waiting for the right time."

"Ah," Carl laughed, "then remind me to sleep with one eye open tonight and to dismantle the icemaker."

The three of them were sitting in a diner on the outskirts of Bay City that had been one of his favorite haunts in the days before Rachel. He actually enjoyed diner food, but she had always been the one who preferred healthier fare.

"This place is nice Carl. I never knew it was here though. How’d you?"

"No offense my dear, but you are a Cory and would a Cory know of such an establishment?"

"You have a point." Amanda looked at her menu again. "Recommendations are welcome."

Carl snatched the menu from her hands. "Let’s see, if Harry’s still at the grill, you can bet just about everything is quite good. Do you like cheeseburgers?"

"Who doesn’t?"

"French fries?"

"The crinkle kind or shoe-string?"

"Try seasoned," he shot back.

"Ooh, I’m drooling on the Formica here. What about a milkshake?"

"Chocolate, but personally I prefer cherry cola."

"They still make that? I absolutely love it with crushed ice."

"You, Amanda Cory," he drawled, "are my kind of woman."

Amanda nearly choked on her water. "What?"

"You’re not afraid to eat. Why? What did you think I meant?" Carl’s eyes twinkled as he waited for the blushing woman’s answer.

"What’ll y’all have?"

Amanda’s head jerked up at the waitress’ question."

"Amanda?"

"Double cheeseburger, the biggest order of fries you have, cheese nuggets and some cherry cola," she rattled off like a seasoned pro.

"Hungry little thing," the waitress remarked.

"Yes, what a woman."

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

Amanda thought she’d died and gone to heaven as she took another bite of her burger.

"Good?" Carl looked up from his food and watched her wipe her mouth. All she could manage in response was a happy little moan.

"I’m glad to see you have an appetite tonight."

"Oh, I have plenty of appetites Carl."

"Only you usually ignore them, correct?"

Amanda decided not to take his bait.

"You should obey them more often my dear."

She gulped down her food and took a quick drink. How had she gotten herself into this game of pseudo-sexual banter with Carl? She hadn’t meant for her words to sound provocative in any way, shape or form, yet he had taken them and twisted them to suit his playful mood.

Amanda watched Carl as he talked to Norie. In the last months she’d built a comfortable rapport with the man she once thought of as a monster. She’d never imagined she’d like the man as much as she did now. All it had taken had been his one kind gesture, even though it had taken her a couple of weeks before she’d gotten the nerve to try the number. She’d finally called just to keep from dying of curiosity. It’d be wrong to say she’d been shocked. Oh no, she’d been beyond shocked. Notwithstanding, all her harsh words had faded at his simple words.

"You looked like you needed a friend."

From that second on, she’d become hooked on Carl Hutchins. She’d looked forward to every call and letter and met him and the others in New York as often a possible. As hard as it was to believe, Amanda had to admit it was one hundred percent true—Carl was her best friend.

But when had the sexual connotations slipped in? Sure their conversations veered toward the frank on more than one occasion, but she’d never considered Carl and the word sexy in the same sentence.

Until today.

The cute, sexy little smile on his face when he’d said she was his kind of woman had made her toes curl! A lonely woman like her could live off the memory of smile like that for a couple of years. Tops. Smiles like that were what dreams were made of.

Frowning, Amanda stared at her plate. Was she starting to have feelings for Carl?

She peeked at him through her lashes. He was decent looking for a man his age. Of course, despite what the general public thought of her, looks didn’t matter that much to Amanda Cory. He’d kept his hair at shoulder length and dressed far more casually than he had when he’d been her stepfather. Scanning lower, she took note of his gray sweater and jeans. Jeans! She’d only seen him in jeans a handful of times and not one of those had been when he’d lived in Bay City. All in all, Carl looked so much more laid-back than she ever recalled.

"Amanda?"

Amanda jolted to attention. He’d caught her staring at him. She felt herself blush all over.

"See anything you like?" Carl gave her another one of those smiles she was beginning to crave. He’d participated in the kiss, maybe…

"Hurry up and finish Amanda. We have places to go, you know."

"Oh? Where?"

"A very special place filled with magical things."

"Oh? Where?" Damn, she sounded like an idiotic parrot.

"The supermarket."

"Where?"

"You heard me. I intend to see that you have real food in your home. I have to take care of you even if you won’t. Besides, I need to pick up something for Lorna. Now eat, both of you."

"Yes, Daddy," they obediently replied in unison. As Amanda ate her burger, she wondered what sort of power this man had that she always followed his orders.

()())more(()() has anyone figured out where the title comes from yet?