TUESDAY TALES - ICY

 

Howdy do! Welcome! Tuesday Tales is where several talented authors gather to write to a word prompt. The prompt this week is "Icy". I'm continuing with my story, "Two of Hearts." Find the marvelous stories of the other authors HERE. 

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After making arrangements for a private room for Stan and setting up help when he arrived home, Jen had no patience for Marcy's icy attitude. She ignored the young woman as much as possible. By the end of the day, her head ached. She needed to get home, have peace and quiet and create something. That’s when the idea of an Italian meal hit her. Her favorite was meatballs with rigatoni.

With all the fussing, Stan was worn out. He fell asleep at three. Jen instructed Marcy how to feed him his dinner, blamed her headache, and left. In the taxi, speeding downtown, she thought about dinner. She didn’t have any single friends anymore. The last thing she needed was a happy couple buzzing around. Besides, Stan would want his condition kept private. Then Terry popped into her head. He’d be the perfect solution. He was alone and probably missing a home-cooked meal, and he already knew about Stan.

She called him from the cab. Nervous when she recorded the message, she hoped she didn’t sound like an idiot. Whatever the outcome, she’d reached out to him, as a friend. Next stop was the grocery store. She needed supplies.

Once she schlepped everything in the house, she dropped her purse, greeted Willie, and headed for the kitchen.  She flipped on the radio to a classical music station and donned an apron. As she prepared the sauce, she noticed her headache had vanished. Chopping, stirring, mincing, and tasting had taken her mind off Stan. At first guilt swept through her, then she rationalized that she needed to keep her strength up to take care of him. Besides, she deserved a bit of down time.

She hummed along to the Mozart piece as she prepared the salad. Now, to whip up her home-made Caesar dressing! By five, everything had been prepared. She took a leisurely shower, dressed in a black velour T-shirt and pants and lay down on the sofa. Willie jumped up, snuggling next to her.

“This isn’t a date, Willie. I’m a happily married woman. I have invited a friend to dinner. That’s all. Just a friend.”

The pug raised his eyebrows.

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.