CHAPTER 12: Blue Crab Picnic
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Candy and Bebe just came home from buying an ice cream. While the girl was enjoying her sweet treat, Candy picked her little suitcase from the closet. Bebe spent the weekend at home and it's time for her to go back to her dorm.
"What are these, mommy?" It suddenly occurred to her that the vase which usually was empty now was full of fresh flowers.
"Exotic roses grown in a dessert," replied Candy. "From Mr. Leagan. Remember him?" She folded Bebe's school uniforms and placed them neatly in her suitcase.
The girl nodded. "We talk about Mr. Leagan a lot in school."
"Really?" asked Candy, amazed.
"Everyone admires our medal," Bebe announced proudly.
Candy laughed remembering the school's sport event. Neal and Bebe won the grand prize. They looked so proud when standing on the podium wearing the medal.
"The boys are very jealous." Bebe chuckled.
"Aren't they?" Candy chuckled too. She put a bar of chocolate in bebe's pocket in case she got hungry before the dinner was served.
"The boys said they want their dads to beat Mr. Leagan next year."
Candy laughed heartily. "And what did you say?"
"I said me and my daddy..."
Candy gasped hearing how Bebe called Neal.
"Oops..." Bebe realized the slip of the tongue.
"What? How did you call Mr. Leagan?"
"S-sorry mommy." Bebe bent her head, frightened. "Bebe called Mr Leagan daddy." She glanced guiltily at Candy.
"My words...! H-he didn't tell me...," Candy flattered, feeling so embarrassed to Neal.
"Bebe told Mr. Leagan not to tell mommy," said Bebe.
Neal keeps his promise to Bebe?, thought Candy, surprised. She didn't expect he'd do such a precious thing to her girl. It was very nice of him. She appreciated it so much that she couldn't speak.
"Bebe was wrong..." In fear Bebe watched Candy wasn't speaking. Her lips quivered, her eyes in brink of tears. "Sorry..."
"Well, well now. That's ok, Bebe. Just don't it anymore," said Candy tenderly, back to be herself.
She picked Bebe's uniform and buttoned it for her. "So what did you tell your friends?"
"I told them that we will beat them again!" She smiled broadly, feeling better that Candy wasn't angry.
Candy laughed.
"That day was my best ever, mommy." Bebe hugged Candy. "Thank you."
"You're most welcome dear!" Burst with happiness, she hugged her back.
Smiling, Candy held the little girl's hand and took her to school...
oOo oOo oOo
The day when Candy would have a picnic with Neal finally arrived. At lunch break, she went to meet Neal at the hospital gate. He was already there waiting for her.
"I hope you're hungry," he greeted her.
"I'm starving."
"Great! I asked Doug to pack for an army."
She laughed.
He had his car turned into convertible, a welcome move for a hot summer day like today. Soon, they left the busy city of Chicago and rode along a nice scenic road.
"Have you been here?" he asked.
"Often," Candy quipped. "Albert always uses this route when we go picnic. Doug's cottage is at the end of the road. I went there for his wedding and some gathering ..." She went on and on.
Then in one intersection Neal made a turn. The road meandered ahead and the trees grew unusually denser and taller. There were tress after trees as far as eyes could see, row and row of them.
"Wow," said Candy, breathless admiring the new view. "This is... where is this? I don't think I have been here."
"I told you I'll take you to somewhere new." He grinned.
"This is spectacular," she admitted. "How come Albert never came here -"
"If you don't stop talking about William, I won't take you to the woodland," Neal cut her rudely.
"Whatever. Don't go then," said Candy, annoyed by his temper. She then remembered how Neal had made the best time for Bebe in the sport event and cooled down. "Really nice trees, though. And by the way Bebe said she likes you a lot."
"She did?" his face softened. "I enjoyed the competition, too. She's amazingly competitive."
Candy laughed.
"This side belongs to the Leagans. That's why the Andrews don't come here," he then explained.
They continued chatting pleasantly. After some more ride, Neal stopped his car. They got off. The air smelt superb, just like fresh wood.
"Here we are," Neal announced.
"Aww! Gorgeous trees," admired Candy.
"They are a few hundred years old," said Neal. He grinned at Candy's stunt face and opened his car trunk. "What do you think?" He gestured for her to see.
There's a picnic basket that looked so perfect just like in a story book. Checkered red napkins, complete set of cutlery, crusty baguette, brown bags of food neatly labeled. Ripe berries, cold lettuce, sandwiches, a box of cheese and a jar of blue crab salad! There were two glass bottles that were kept fresh and cool with chunks of ice cubes.
Hand-pressed Florida orange juice, she read the label on the bottles.
"Doug prepared this?" She recognized the handwriting on the labels. "He's magnificent."
"Someone has to," answered Neal indifferently. "Let's get the mat and eat. I'm quite hungry."
He lifted the picnic basket. The picnic mat wasn't underneath it.
"Hmm... Where did they put it?" He went to look inside the car and searched the back seat, under the seat, behind it... but the mat was nowhere to be found.
"Damn!" he swore. "Those fools don't provide us with a picnic mat. Now where will we sit?"
"On the grass? It's a picnic after all."
"I will fire whoever prepared this picnics," said Neal. "I'm not sitting on the grass with those ants and worms!"
"They might think you go to an outdoor picnic ground with benches and tables," said Candy soothingly. She would hate to have a servant fired because a picnic she's having.
He didn't respond, looking grouchy.
"How about this? We climb one tree and eat up there."
"Climb a tree?" Neal lifted his eyebrow.
She nodded. "Yes, why not?"
"I don't do that kind of thing!"
"Oh come on. The weather is gorgeous, the blue crab is inviting. Why waste a picnic trip," coaxed Candy gently. She took his hands and pulled him with her. The gentleness of her voice won him over.
"Ok." Finally, he shrugged.
She looked around looking for a tree that's easiest to climb. "This one looks good!"
She then took the food and drink and put them in her bag. She left the cutlery and other unnecessary things in the car. "We eat with hands," she smirked, teasing him.
"Forget it, let's just sit inside the car."
"No no... We're having a picnic. I'll teach you how to climb a tree," said Candy.
"This can't be a good idea!" Neal grumbled. "What if I fall!"
"No, you won't! There's me!" said Candy confidently. She patted her bag that's full of food. "Let's go."
"Let me carry that."
"This is a kid play for me. Just watch your step. Take off your suit! It's easier without it."
Neal did so. Candy climbed first. She picked a strong branch and sat there yelling tips and instructions. With great efforts he crept higher and higher. Unexpectedly, he's surprisingly easy to teach.
Smart man, she giggled to herself.
Finally, Neal arrived in the branch where she had already sat.
"I can see we why you often sit up here," said Neal. In awe he's admiring the woodland surround them.
"Yup. That's why I like to climb trees," said Candy. "Hold on that little branch and try to sit down. Whew! Watch out your balance..."
After Neal sat successfully, Candy took the food out from her bag. They both attack the jar of the blue crab salad with their chunks of crusty baguette. She remembered Sarah yell at him if he ate with his hands. He must be too starving to worry about it. People had more appetite outdoor and he just worked so hard climbing his first tree.
"Delicious," praised Candy. She looked at the last blue crab piece in the jar. "You want it?"
Chewing, he shook his head. She readily wiped it with her last piece of bread and placed it into her mouth. "Mmm Doug is good."
"Uhum...," said Neal, swallowing. "These crabs can be fried, stewed, and steamed too."
"Which is your favorite?"
"The hot steamy one," he said softly in a voice that sent ripples through all her spines. "You want to try it?"
She took a sip of her icy cold orange juice. Another picnic invitation! No, can't accept that. It would make things too easy for him, Candy thought. But then the wind breezed and she caught again the appealing smell of his masculine cologne. It's distracting.
"Nice woodlands," said Candy, switching topics. "These trees look almost identical. One can hang clothes in it and will forget in which tree if they don't mark it."
Neal nodded. "There's a famous legend about these trees."
"Do tell me!" said Candy. She looked inside her bag and picked the Florida salmon sandwich.
"According to our family legend, my great great grandfather hid a treasure map in one of these trees. Now I can climb, perhaps i should start to search in each one of them," he joked.
"A treasure map? The one like in a story book? Gold and stuffs?" asked Candy.
Neal grinned charmingly, feeling important. "Yup. Very much so."
"Really?" she asked. Her eyes green and big. "Can I see it?"
"Yes, you can. But the problems is no one knows where he put it. It just lost."
"Too bad!" Candy sighed. "I guess I am not the only one who thinks these trees look so identical. It's good to hide things."
Neal nodded. "Identical. That's the idea."
"I hope you can find the treasure, Neal." Candy gulped her salmon sandwich and opened a berry bag. She popped one into her mouth.
"Me too, but you see how many trees there are. We can't chop them down just because of some rumor-"
A loud ring was heard from Candy's pocket.
"Almost three, I need to pick up Bebe at five."
Time flew so fast when she's with Neal these days. Reluctantly she got up. They packed up and drove home. His car crawled to a stop in front of her apartment building.
"Great picnic. Nice trees, food, and entertaining treasure hunting stories. You do know how to treat a girl!" Candy blurted out.
"You haven't seen much of me yet, sweetheart. Dinner next week?"
"Ok!" she said vaguely. Slinging the strap of her handbag, she turned and walked toward her apartment.
"What did you say?" he pulled her elbow.
"I said okay." She tried to make her voice firm and natural but it came out soft.
"You agree?" he asked gently.
"Yes but you're blocking my way now." She couldn't remember the last time she felt so flushed.
"Candy..." His eyes looked down into hers, dangerous and glimmering. She saw those before.
"Oh, no, you don't!" she weakly pushed his broad chest away.
"Yes...," he murmured. "I do."
He gently pulled her heart pounded so hard. She didn't know why. It's beyond any rational logic. His face was only inches away... when the front door suddenly was slammed opened.
"Almost five. Don't you need to pick up Bebe?" A voice grunted.
Candy sprang apart from Neal. She looked up facing her stern landlady. Mrs. Smith had been especially strict with her since she suspected Albert was a gangster.
"Mrs. Smith!" exclaimed Candy. Awkwardly she looked at her watch. "Yes! Coming right up!"
"No male visitor after five," Mrs Smith said. Her voice rang out as loud as an emergency siren.
"Absolutely! Neal is leaving, right?" Candy glanced at Neal who didn't move an inch.
Displaying an exaggerate impatience, Mrs. Smith thumped her foot.
"I ought to pick up Bebe," said Candy to Neal. She frowned and mouthed, "Go. NOW!" She entered the apartment building.
Mrs. Smith entered too. She banged the door closed and bolted it...
oOooo ooooooo
Driving home, Neal was over the moon.
He almost kissed her if not because of that nosy landlady. He was imagining a candle light dinner he'd have with Candy, romantic music in the background... Afterwards, he would take her to his home so there's no Mrs. Smith watching their back. He shivered with excitement...
Suddenly Neal noticed a man jump into the middle of the road.
Doug?, thought Neal, recognizing him.
Swiftly, Neal pressed on the horn to warn him. Doug lifted his hands, waving, and started running head-on to his car.
What the hell! Neal slammed on his brake as hard as he could. His car came to a screeching halt in Doug's arms.
"What are you doing?" Neal rolled the window down and yelled. "I could have hit you!"
Doug ran to his window. "Master Neal, your father, mother, and sister were arrested in a port in Florida!"
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-To be continued-
Thanks for reading all.