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While we’re waiting for Autumn, I go to the kitchen. A sudden ravenous hunger consumes me, reminding me that I haven’t had breakfast. But there’s nothing in the fridge. Nothing in the pantry either. This man.
I glance up in the general direction of the staircase. I can’t believe he renovated the house, the garden, dedicated a babies’ room, and even painted the ceiling of the master bedroom in anticipation of my arrival, but he didn’t think to go grocery shopping.
What does he eat?
“Shit,” I mutter under my breath just as Andrea walks in.
“What is it?” she asks.
“Do you know a place we can order in? I’m starving, and there doesn’t seem to be any food in the house.”
“What? Did you even eat last night?” she asks, concerned.
“Well, we stopped at a drive thru on our way home.” I stop talking, feeling a little self-conscious about calling Ezra’s house home. But that’s what it is now, isn’t it. My home.
Andrea tsks as she takes her phone out. “I’m texting Autumn to bring some food along. Mrs. Staten makes the most delicious meals,” she explains.
“Mrs. Staten?”
“Alex and Autumn’s housekeeper slash cook. Done. She was just about to leave the house, but she’ll bring some food with her. Maybe when we’re done unpacking your clothes we could go grocery shopping?”
“I’m not sure.” I check the time on my phone. It’s 11 AM already? No wonder I’m this hungry. “Assuming Autumn gets here in thirty minutes–”
“Fifteen minutes,” Andrea says. “Their house is not all that far from here.”
“Okay, if we start unpacking by twelve…I doubt we’ll be done by four, and it will be too late to go shopping for groceries.”
“Four? What’s happening at four?” Andrea asks as we head to the living room. My cheeks heat up; it feels like I’m blushing from the roots of my hair to my toes. Her eyes light up, “Ohhh, this ought to be good, you’re blushing, so I know it has to do with Ezra.”
“Well, nothing is happening at four. That’s just when I want to start getting ready for our date.”
“Adate. Sounds like fun.”
It does. My heart races just thinking about it. Where is he going to take me? What are we going to do? I’m nervous and excited at the same time. We’ve done everything except dating, and I’m suddenly feeling so shy about the date. What are we even going to talk about?
Andrea smiles and changes the topic. We talk about the local sights and attractions I need to see. What stores carry what downtown and general info about the town. She’s telling me about the town’s history when Autumn arrives.Finally. At this point, I feel like I haven’t eaten in days.
As soon as Autumn walks in, my eyes zero in on the big bag in her hand. “Is that food? Please tell me that’s the food.”
Autumn chuckles lifting the bag up, “Yes, it’s food. I heard someone’s starving.”
Andrea and I follow her to the kitchen. I drool as she takes out four containers with ready to eat meals. “I’ll let the expecting mother decide what we’ll eat. What are you craving, Charlie?”
I glance at the four options hungrily, then point at the beef chilly soup. “I want that,” I stammer.
“Great choice. I have the banana bread to go with it.” Autumn smiles, pointing to the container the bread is in.
Andrea tsks quietly as she moves to an overhead cupboard. She opens it; and sure enough, there’s a stack of plates. I’m going to need to do my own personal tour of the house if I want to know where everything is hiding.
“You’re breaking tradition, Autumn,” Andrea says giving Autumn the plates so she can dish out the meal, while I place the other two containers into the fridge. At least, whether we go grocery shopping today or not, we have enough food to last us a couple days.
“Yeah, yeah. I know we typically eat this the day after the first snow, but this is Charlie’s first day living in town, and I wanted her to experience it. Making her wait until the end of the year would be criminal.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask. Andrea explains that the beef chilly soup and banana bread is a meal the Beauforts usually have the day after the first snow in town every year. A family tradition. I love it.
“Now I can’t wait to taste it.” I lick my lips as I carry my plate to the dining room, Autumn and Andrea right behind me. Just as I sit down, I remember Ezra. “Autumn, do you mind dishing another plate for me? I’ll take this up for Ezra.”
“Of course,” she answers, and I give her a grateful smile before leaving the dining room. I climb up the stairs excited to see him again. Maybe I can even convince him to come down and eat with us.
