Read Online I Knew You Were Trouble: Accidents Happen by M. X. Potter - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: M. X. Potter
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"Adeline's cooking has been teasing my nose for over an hour. I wasn't sure I could hold out much longer."
"She cooks for you?" Cathy questioned in a less than a friendly manner. Adeline didn't seem to notice the tone. I, on the other hand, did.
"It's kind of tough to stop her," I responded in a neutral tone. I was done with being pleasant. It took me less than a minute to decide this was going to be a long dinner. I reminded myself to not be unpleasant. The last thing I wanted to do was to come between Adeline and Cathy. I sensed Cathy didn't have the same fears regarding me.
Adeline pulled the roast out of the oven and I no longer cared what Cathy thought of me. It was a wonderful looking piece of meat. I don't think I really appreciated my oven enough. Adeline lifted it out of the dutch oven it had been kept warm in, with a large fork and knife. I could see the pride in her eyes as she handed the platter to me to carve. The rub she had put on the meat increased the savory smell. I could almost taste it with my nose. I began to cut into the meat and suddenly felt like my father at Thanksgiving. The whole situation felt domesticated. I looked up at Adeline's smiling face, my barbecue apron around her waist. The ultra-clean kitchen, memories of her cleaning the bathroom and grocery shopping had snuck up on me. Three days after my divorce was finalized, and I was feeling way too comfortable with another woman in my house.
Adeline saw something in my face. I could see worry building so I shook off my thoughts and added a smile for her. Cathy seemed to miss it all. I cut into the meat and found perfection. It had a warm pink center and the juices flowed. I had to give Adeline credit, she could cook. I left the A1 in the fridge.
"So, what do you do for a living?" Cathy asked me as dinner progressed. I was chewing when she spoke, the meat was almost melting in my mouth. Maybe the domestic thing wasn't so bad.
"I work for Bradford Insurance and Casualty," I answered once my mouth was free, "I work in the computer department." I usually don't go past that much. A fuller description bordered on boring.
"How long have you worked there?" Cathy continued her interrogation. I guess being Adeline's only family, it was her right.
"Nine .. no, ten years now," I replied as I stirred my salad around a bit. I was looking for more raspberries. The dressing Adeline made went well with the raspberries and nuts. Not a mix I would ever have thought of.
"Do you aspire beyond insurance?" Cathy continued. Adeline surprised me by scooping some more raspberries out of their container and into my bowl. Mind reader.
"There's a career path there," I answered after smiling my thanks to Adeline, "I am vested and happy so I see little reason to move on."
"Must not pay well," Cathy said with no reservations as she looked around my small house. My first thought was death by fork. I pulled back and decided the whole truth was necessary, lest she find out from a different source.
"I went through a protracted divorce," I confessed, "it took a toll on my finances. Everything is stable now."
"You were married?" Cathy asked with disdain, while looking at Adeline. I guess she suspected Adeline to be shocked. Adeline just smiled softly and nodded.
"Yes, for nine years," I replied then quickly added, "we were separated for the last four years. It was finalized a few days ago."
"My, you do move fast," Cathy said. She quickly filled her mouth with salad as if the comment was an inconsequential afterthought.
"Stop it," Adeline said forcibly, staring at her sister. I was glad it wasn't a spineless relationship. In fact, it made me feel better. I didn't like the idea of a helpless Adeline. I smiled and decided to defuse things before we sank into a series of jabs we would regret.
"Cathy is just worried about you," I said nicely, "I don't blame her." I just defended Adeline's sister for
"She cooks for you?" Cathy questioned in a less than a friendly manner. Adeline didn't seem to notice the tone. I, on the other hand, did.
"It's kind of tough to stop her," I responded in a neutral tone. I was done with being pleasant. It took me less than a minute to decide this was going to be a long dinner. I reminded myself to not be unpleasant. The last thing I wanted to do was to come between Adeline and Cathy. I sensed Cathy didn't have the same fears regarding me.
Adeline pulled the roast out of the oven and I no longer cared what Cathy thought of me. It was a wonderful looking piece of meat. I don't think I really appreciated my oven enough. Adeline lifted it out of the dutch oven it had been kept warm in, with a large fork and knife. I could see the pride in her eyes as she handed the platter to me to carve. The rub she had put on the meat increased the savory smell. I could almost taste it with my nose. I began to cut into the meat and suddenly felt like my father at Thanksgiving. The whole situation felt domesticated. I looked up at Adeline's smiling face, my barbecue apron around her waist. The ultra-clean kitchen, memories of her cleaning the bathroom and grocery shopping had snuck up on me. Three days after my divorce was finalized, and I was feeling way too comfortable with another woman in my house.
Adeline saw something in my face. I could see worry building so I shook off my thoughts and added a smile for her. Cathy seemed to miss it all. I cut into the meat and found perfection. It had a warm pink center and the juices flowed. I had to give Adeline credit, she could cook. I left the A1 in the fridge.
"So, what do you do for a living?" Cathy asked me as dinner progressed. I was chewing when she spoke, the meat was almost melting in my mouth. Maybe the domestic thing wasn't so bad.
"I work for Bradford Insurance and Casualty," I answered once my mouth was free, "I work in the computer department." I usually don't go past that much. A fuller description bordered on boring.
"How long have you worked there?" Cathy continued her interrogation. I guess being Adeline's only family, it was her right.
"Nine .. no, ten years now," I replied as I stirred my salad around a bit. I was looking for more raspberries. The dressing Adeline made went well with the raspberries and nuts. Not a mix I would ever have thought of.
"Do you aspire beyond insurance?" Cathy continued. Adeline surprised me by scooping some more raspberries out of their container and into my bowl. Mind reader.
"There's a career path there," I answered after smiling my thanks to Adeline, "I am vested and happy so I see little reason to move on."
"Must not pay well," Cathy said with no reservations as she looked around my small house. My first thought was death by fork. I pulled back and decided the whole truth was necessary, lest she find out from a different source.
"I went through a protracted divorce," I confessed, "it took a toll on my finances. Everything is stable now."
"You were married?" Cathy asked with disdain, while looking at Adeline. I guess she suspected Adeline to be shocked. Adeline just smiled softly and nodded.
"Yes, for nine years," I replied then quickly added, "we were separated for the last four years. It was finalized a few days ago."
"My, you do move fast," Cathy said. She quickly filled her mouth with salad as if the comment was an inconsequential afterthought.
"Stop it," Adeline said forcibly, staring at her sister. I was glad it wasn't a spineless relationship. In fact, it made me feel better. I didn't like the idea of a helpless Adeline. I smiled and decided to defuse things before we sank into a series of jabs we would regret.
"Cathy is just worried about you," I said nicely, "I don't blame her." I just defended Adeline's sister for
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