noteasytobepink | The DINNER ~ Wheelsy AU

The DINNER ~ Wheelsy AU

She'd been working two days, a day to get a handle on the simple art of flower arranging (complicated stuff would come later) and to start learning delivery routes. It had been nice to be moving again, doing something, anything, constructive and today...

...today she actually teleported back to Bill's house with an armload of groceries and flailed. "I'M RUNNING LATE! DID THE ROAST IN THE CROCKPOT TURN OUT...wait. YOU"RE NOT HOME ARE YOU?!"

It probably wasn't time for him to be home. Meep. Talking to an empty house and running late on starting the meal still! Right! Dough! Dough first, for bread and a sweet dough for tarts. Those needed to rise, then she could start peeling potatoes...

Right. She could do this. She flipped on the radio, tossed her floral shop hat on the counter and stared COOKING. Dancing and cooking but hey who didn't need music to cook well? "Knife!" she called out, years of habit having the warning go out amidst the music so no one got hit by the knife headed toward the sink.

She tended to throw things when she was cooking. Yep.

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June t'sked at him. "Shame on you, makin' your new girlfriend go it alone."

"It ain't even close t'Halloween yet. Why you fussin' at me now?"

June just shook her head, but when she sipped her tea the glass hid a small smirk. It was a mother's right to tease and embarrass her son after all.

"Oh, I won't go it alone, he can be my police escort," she grinned even more and bopped Bill's foot under the table. "To somewhere. I'm sure there'll be a party somewhere."

Probably anyway!

"And you're fun to tease, your mom learned that first I bet. Try teasing her back!"

"There's a carnival," Bill said, suddenly brightening at the thought. "Got a midway, hayride, pumpkin patch, the whole deal. An' a barn dance after in the evenin'."

June nodded and smiled, though inwardly she wondered if this would last until the fall.

"Host a bake-off, too, if y'wanted to pit your wares against the other bakers here in town."

"I haven't been to many of those!" she admitted easily. "So yes, you can escort me to the carnival, officer." Snerk. Should be fun though?

And oh ye of little faith June. Ye of little faith.

"Are you suggesting I create a baking rivalry in the town when I've already upset people?"

Bill grinned when his hinted invitation was accepted. Sure it was a ways away, but it was still something to look forward to.

"No, I wasn't sayin' that," June replied. "Why, what's happened?"

She grimaced and pointed at Bill across the table, "Well, he's a prime catch you understand. Town hero, bachelor, a lot of girls had their hearts set on him and here I come and snag him. The young and eligible set have me on their hit lists."

Bill flinched back as if that finger point had connected with his chest. "My fault?"

June was wise enough to know there was plenty of interest around town in Bill, even if her son was unaware of a lot of it. He'd gone on with blinders on and one woman in his field for far too long, it had made him miss all the rest.

She gave Clarice a sympathetic smile, for having to deal with the situation with the other women, and Bill's obliviousness.

"Bake-off might actually help you with that. The young gals might take offense, but the old bittys love a good rivalry an' challenge. If you can impress them, you'll have some allies here in town."

Ones who would speak to the match with approval if they believed Clarice was a woman who could take care of the man.

"Bill's a favorite with the old birds, too, y'know."

"Well, my fault too," she admitted easily enough. "My bad luck to take an interest in the guy people want." Not that she was regretting it in the least though to be honest!

"And yeah, I might. I'll let Bill figure out what piece of my baking to enter though." Because she had no idea what was traditional so to speak. "And I get along so far with all the lovely old birds, I'm working at the flower shop now to help out while her daughter is away!"

"Hm, does it make it good luck that he was interested back?" Bill asked, hoping that was a consolation.

"I'm sure he'll be all sorts of happy t'taste test," June replied, bemused. "An' I'm glad t'hear you're helpin' out there. She's had a time of it managin' the place herself. I'm sure she appreciates you greatly."

"Yeah, that's the good luck," she admitted with a saucy wink. "Always a bit embarrassing to go after a guy who doesn't like you back..." And even more embarrassing if you slept with him after a night of drinking!

"I'll have to make small samples. Bite size taste testers." Because Bill did NOT need a whole house full of baked goods, right? Right. "And she seems happy so far? I have zero experience with flowers but I can deliver with the best of them!"

Bill's smile at Clarice's comment tilted up the corners of June's mouth. As reserved as she still was about the whole thing, it was good to see him happy.

"Just remember what I said 'bout the wooden spoon. It works wonders," she laughed. "An' I'm sure what you don't know 'bout flowers she'll teach you. She's been doin' it for years, I don't know anyone better."

It was good to see June smiling after some pretty transparent reservations. "You hear that Bill? Your mom gave me permission to chase you with cookware!" He was doooooomed.

Or something.

"And I'm hoping to learn quick, it's fascinating really. There's a whole language of flowers I didn't know!"

Bill drew his hands off the table, rubbing the back of one palm with the other; soothing away a phantom swat.

"Neither one of you is funny," he informed them.

June just chuckled.

"I'm sure there's much more to it than cuttin' 'em an' stickin' them in a vase. Seems like an' interestin' trade."

"Oh you know I won't swat you hard," she stuck her tongue out at Bill across the table then grinned. "Unless you want me to." So there!

"And yeah, there is. What's placed next to what means as much as heights and flowers chosen, I think I need to check some books out from the library to do so supplemental research!"

"They also have different meanin's, too. The colors an' what not."

Bill prudently didn't comment. Instead he set his fork down on his clean plate and glanced over at the pie.

"So, since y'all been talkin' baked goods... "

"Yes, the colors mean different things, and even different colors among the same flower mean different things. Do you know what people are saying when they send red roses?!" she laughed.

Ah, yes.

"The tarts are in the oven staying warm too Bill."

"Yes. Don't know if I'd ever be able to keep it all straight," June admitted.

Bill's eyes lit, and he stood up to go raid the oven; taking his plate with him to put in the sink.

"I've always been pretty good with memorization skills," Clarice admitted with a grin. "So I think I can at least be useful, even if I never become and expert." So here was to hoping!

"And I'm signed up with the search team volunteers to, I've been doing a lot of running in the woods to build my strength back up so..." Oh! She could get up to find a platter for the tarts! Hah!

"Oh, that's a good thing t'be helpin' out with. Folks do get lost out there in the woods. Bill always hates when huntin' season starts, because there's always one or two who get turned around out there an' come up missin'."

Platter? Who needs a platter? Bill was content to pluck the tarts from the oven and munch one there as he pulled out a clean plate for a piece of pie.

"The more people looking the better the chances of getting people back in before they have exposure issues," Clarice agreed easily. "And Bill! You're being rude, fill the platter to bring to the table or your momma is going to glare at you!"

"Am not," he said, turning quick and putting the tart behind his back while brushing crumbs from his mouth. With a put upon sigh, he began searching for a platter. Like earlier with the serving bowl, this was going to take some rummaging.

"Little ones, too. They're the most at risk when they get lost out there. You were workin' down at the station, too, weren't you?" That's what June had heard, at least.

Clarice poked Bill's belly gently and grinned, holding up a platter. "I was going to pass it to you you know..." she chuckled and leaned up to kiss his nose. "Dork." He was!

And yeah, though a lot of the local kids should know better. How many kids come in in the summer for camping and such?"

"Thanks." He took the platter and set about loading it up with the remaining tarts, claiming another for himself before bringing the platter and small dessert plates back to the table. Along with a server for the pie.

"There can be quite a few from the surrounding area. With the lake we get a lot of folks vacationing. Cheaper t'take a pontoon out there than head East for the ocean."

She watched Bill load the plate and let him get almost to the table before goosing him cheerfully and going back to her seat. What? He thought she wouldn't in front of his mom?

"That's fair I guess. I'll have to do a few good runs around the lake then, familiarize myself with spots people can fall down into..."

Bill jumped a step, bobbling the platter and sitting down with more than a little red in his features. Yeah, he didn't expect her to do that in front of his mom.

June looked on, bemused. "That's a good idea. Sounds like you'll be quite a bit of help out there."

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