INTO THE SOUP

“Andy you’ve got a visitor, okay if she comes on back?” Steve stood in the doorway to the kitchen
“Sure if you don’t mind?” Andy wiped his hands on his apron
“A N D Y” called out Lucy as she ran and grabbed him around the neck
“Hey…Lucy I’m all hot and sweaty here,” he kissed her quickly on the lips
“I like you hot and sweaty…God its good to see you.” She was smiling ear to ear
“Yeah good to see you too; have any prob finding this place?”
“Not really…how in the world did you find it?” she asked finding a stool to sit on
“I was thumbing on the highway, want something to drink?”
“That’d be great Andy.”
“Give me a minute here,” he was scrubbing out a large pot

“Still washing dishes I see.”
“Among other things,” he replied, “I’m cooking.”
“That’s great I know that’s what you always wanted to do. You’re so good at it.”
“Don’t do that Lucy, you don’t have to lay it on you know.”
“I’m sorry am I gushing,” she bit her lip. “Andy I’m sorry about a lot of things, things I said.”
Andy stopped and turned, “Yeah…me too sorry I went off on ya.”
“What time do you get off?” she asked
“I’ll take a break soon as I get this back on the stove, it’s the only soup pot in the kitchen. I have to get a soup on for the dinner menu.”
“Can I help you? I don’t mind and you know I can do it.”
Andy looked at her warily, “well okay do the prep.”
Lucy found an apron and washed her hands. “What are you making?”
“Cream of Leek, just fossick around and find what you need.”
Soon they were working side by side again.
 

Lucy had to bite her tongue several times. One thing she did that she knew made Andy mental was gushing over him all the time. It was hard because she was crazy about him.
“What happened to your car?” she asked while cleaning leeks
“Something in the transmission went it’s in a garage in Sydney. I got a job catering for a wedding that ought to bring in enough to get it out.” He looked sideways at her, “there are some fancies on the menu that I don’t know how to do…think you might help me out?”
“Sure when is it?”
“December 20th, it’s a Saturday…you’ll probably be working.”
“I quit the restaurant Andy, the day before you did. I’m working at a deli now makin’ sandwiches.”
“That doesn’t sound like you Lucy.”
“It’s not me I hate it.”
“You ought to open a bakery.”
“Okay I’ll do that tomorrow money being no problem.”
Andy laughed, “if its no problem why are you at the deli?”
Lucy looked him in the eye. “Because I had to do something quick.”

Andy guessed that was his fault, he left without paying his half of the rent. “Sorry about that Lucy. I just don’t have the money right now unless I leave my car in the garage…I could do that.”
“No love, I’ll manage…maybe I’ll move.” She turned and looked at him, “closer.”
“I’d tell you to stay here with me but my room is part of my pay. I’m not sure they’d welcome a second occupant.” He sliced the leeks in perfect identical slices and scooped them into the pot.
“I’ll look around in Coffs, might be a tiny particle of a place I could afford.” She said brightly
After they got the soup going and Andy adjusted the fire, they walked out in the Tavern and found a table. Andy got them a pint and sat down.
“Are you serious about coming out here Lucy?”
“I want to be where you are Andy it’s as simple as that. I wonder if they’d let me stay if I worked part of the room charge? If you’d want me to stay here with you that is.”
“I mentioned it didn’t I? We can talk to Steve, that’s him behind the bar.” He looked across his beer glass and smiled, yes he did want her with him. Whatever it took for them to be together he knew she’d work with him to make it happen.
“I missed you Lucy. How long have you got here?”
“Only tonight…will they mind about tonight do you think?”
“I don’t give a fuck,” he grinned
They both turned at the rattle of the walker coming across the floor, “Here comes your competition Lucy, I didn’t tell you I had a new girlfriend did I? Lucy meet Brooklyn Moran.”

“She’s adorable who does she belong to?”
“Ah now, she doesn’t belong to anybody…Steve’s her father and Millie is her mother.” He took her out of the walker and offered a cheese cracker from the bowl in front of him.
Lucy watched smiling as the talked to the baby, he’ll make a good father someday she thought and knew she wanted to have his babies. He met her eyes across the table for a moment before he had to pass another cheese cracker to Brookie who looked across at Lucy as if to say now who is this you have, another girl?