In Search of the Past (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #2) (12 page)

“How can you be thirty-three and never have shopped in a supermarket?” Stacey asked with awe and astonishment.

“My mother always did it and Mrs. Wyatt has taken care of it for the past few years. I don’t cook or plan the menu, therefore, I wouldn’t know what to purchase. But I beseech you, don’t think me a complete ignoramus, I do shop at the clothing store and the shoe store,” Shane said with sincerity.

“Well my darling, you’re in for a rude awakening,” Stacey said. “Tell you what, you go see your friend and I’ll go to the dig for awhile to see what’s happening. Then this afternoon we can try this again.”

Stacey had on jeans and Nike’s, so there was no need to go change. She dropped Shane off at the flat so he could get his car, then she headed out to the dig. Stacey had mixed feelings about showing Annie and Eric her ring. She knew there would be lots of questions.

Annie was more than surprised when Stacey told her about being engaged to Doctor McLeod, but kept her thoughts to herself. Unfortunately, Stacey wasn’t so lucky where Eric was concerned.  He hit the ceiling, so to speak, when Stacey showed him the ring and told him she was engaged to Doctor McLeod. When Stacey told Eric, to mind his own dang business, he took her hand and lead her away from the dig in order to have a private conversation with her. They were far enough away that the others couldn’t overhear them, but Annie knew that they were having one heck of a verbal fight with all the gesturing they were doing. Annie had witnessed these two have disagreements before, but never this intense. When she saw them hugging, she knew they’d reached, common ground, settled their differences and were best friends again.

About three in the afternoon, Stacey’s cell phone rang. It was Shane calling to ask her, to meet them for dinner around six.  He wanted his best mate and his best girl to meet one another.

“I better be your only girl,” Stacey informed him.

Shane laughed and assured her she was.  He told her where they had reservations and said they would meet her in the restaurant bar, about six o’clock. Stacey went to Annie’s flat where most of her clothes were.  She showered and put on a lilac flowered print, summer, silk dress with full skirt and high-heeled sandals.  This was about the most sophisticated piece of clothing she owned.  After the snub from Diane in the elevator, she didn’t want to embarrass Shane in front of his best friend by looking too young.

As Stacey entered the restaurant bar, she put her sun glasses on her head, looking around for Shane. He and Hugh were sitting at the bar. Hugh looked her way and said to Shane, “Pinch me old chap, I think I’ve just died and gone to heaven.”

Shane looked to where Hugh was ogling, and said, “Put your eyes back in your head chum.  That’s my angel.”  Shane went to Stacey and brought her to meet Hugh.

“Nice to meet you,”  Stacey said. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Well, don’t believe a word of it,” Hugh said. “I’ve been hearing about you today as well. He said you were beautiful and that you are.”

The maitre’d showed them to their table and the waiter took their order. While they were waiting Stacey asked Hugh about his cardiac work in Africa.  She asked him a lot of questions.  He was astonished at her scope of medical lingo.  Hugh glanced at Shane with a silent query? 

“Her dad and granddad are doctors,” Shane said.

“Jolly good,” Hugh said. Then added, “I know you’re an American, but do I detect a bit of a southern draw?” 

“Stacey’s from Texas. Didn’t I tell you that?” Shane said.

The food came, so conversation was at a  minimum. Stacey was hungry, she hadn’t eaten all day. When she had dessert, Hugh asked, “Where do you put it all?  How do you stay so... slender?” 

“Oh, good lord, let’s not go there,” Shane said.

“Are you inferring, I’m on the skinny side?” Stacey asked

“Well, yes, actually...yes, I believe I am,” Hugh said, taken aback a little. 

When Stacey said nothing more. Shane said, “Are you letting him get off that easily when you called me, ‘a horse’s ass,’ for the same thing.”

“I didn’t know you as well then as I do now, and for some reason, I cared what you thought,” Stacey said, laughing.

“How did you know what she called you?” Hugh asked.

“I have quite a support group at hospital. Would you believe in less than twenty-four hours I was called, a horse’s ass, a quack, a pain in the ass and a jerk.  Such sweet love words to make me fall in love with her,” Shane said, as he kissed Stacey’s hand.

While the three of them were laughing.  Stacey said, “I was wrong about the others, but you were a jerk in your office.”

Hugh smiled at Shane, but said nothing.  Stacey glanced at Shane, he was sitting with a smile on his face too.  She wondered what was so amusing.  She felt whatever it was, it was a guy thing, so she would ask Shane later. The three of them were sitting, talking and laughing, just enjoying an after dinner drink, when Stacey remember the going away party. She didn’t know if they would like to come along or not, but she asked anyway. “Would ya’ll like to come to a party tomorrow night?”

“To what party are you referring?” Shane asked.

“Today, I found out they’re having a going away party, Friday night for all the foreign students on the dig, so would ya’ll like to come?” 

“Sure, why not?” Hugh said. “It’s time I go clubbing and get back in the mix.” 

When Stacey told them it would be at a ‘Karaoke pub,’ neither of them looked too impressed.  Hugh had a pained look on his face. Shane laughed at him and said. “We’ll pick you up, that way you can’t chicken out on us. Well, this has been grand, but we have grocery shopping to do.

Hugh, you take my car and  I’ll go with Stacey and pick up my car tomorrow.”

On the way to the market, Stacey asked, “Shane, do you remember at your aunt’s house that first day.  The way I found the house was, I saw your car lights as you and your mom were coming back from shopping.”

“Yes, of course, I remember.”

“Didn’t you help your mother with the shopping?”

“Absolutely,” he said, “I helped her put the food in the car and then in the house.” 

“But you didn’t actually go into the market and help her shop?”

Bewildered by her question, Shane said, “No, I had my hair trimmed.”

“Oh, you have much to learn my darling husband, and I think it’s gonna’ be fun teaching you.”

When they arrived back at the supermarket, Shane grabbed a grocery trolley and was pushing it.  At the vegetables bin, Stacey picked out a few vegetables, then asked, “Shane, do you like artichokes?” As she showed him one.

“Of course, I’ve heard of artichokes, but I can’t say I’ve ever eaten one.” 

“Good,” Stacey said. “I’ll cook it and you’ll like it.  That’s what Mr. Chen told me and he was right.”

Stacey picked out a few more vegetables, then she saw a melon ball.  She was looking at it, thinking it would be perfect to remove the core of the artichoke. 

“Shane, do you have a melon ball?” Stacey asked.

“No, I don’t think so, they both looked the same the last time I looked,” he replied. 

It took a second or two for Stacey to understand his meaning. When she turned and looked at him, he was juggling oranges with a grin on his face. The sudden realization of his remark started her laughing.  It was one of those times when she just couldn’t stop. She laughed until she had tears running down her cheeks.  She wiped her eyes and tried to finish the shopping.  If she looked at Shane her laughter would start all over again.

She told him, “Go away,” but he wouldn’t.  She laughed so much she was about to pee her pants. “Take the cart and check out,” Stacey said. “I’ve gotta’ find a restroom.”

Shane took the cart to the check out register, and was laying the purchases on the counter. The young cashier was busy and petulant, “Do you want paper or plastic?”  

“Paper or plastic what?” Shane asked. 

“Bags for your purchases sir,” she said as she looked at him for the first time.

“Which do you suggest?” Shane asked as he dazzled her with his handsome smile.

“Paper is biodegradable, plastic isn’t,” she informed him with a smile of her own.

“Right, then paper it is. I’m rather new at this,” Shane said.

Stacey had come from the restroom and was looking around. The cashier saw her and asked, “Are you looking for a tall bloke?” 

“Yes I am,” Stacey said. “did he leave?” 

“Yes he did, just a minute or so ago. You need a leash on that one,” the cashier said smiling.  That started Stacey laughing again. When she got outside, Shane was putting the groceries in the car. Stacey thought she was finally over her laughing, until they were home and she was putting away the food. In the bottom of one bag was the melon ball and three oranges.  The laughter started all over again.  Shane found her sitting on the kitchen floor.

He sat down beside her, “Is this part of the ritual of storing provisions away?” He asked.

Stacey lay back on the floor and said, “If you’re gonna’ make me start laughing again, don’t, my sides are hurting already.” 

Shane was leaning on one elbow with his other hand on her waist. He leaned over and said, “How about if I just kiss you then?” After the sensuous kiss, he asked, “Are you still...?”

Stacey nodded her head, “Yes.” 

“In that case my lass, I guess we should continue storing provisions away.”

On Friday morning Stacey had a Texas breakfast ready for Shane when he came down from the shower. “What smells so good?” he asked.  Stacey had made toasted English muffins with a slice of tomato, a poached egg and jalapeño cheese melted over it. Shane had never before eaten food like this. “This is delicious,” he said as he reached across the table and took Stacey’s hand and said, “I’m a lucky man; not only are you beautiful and sexy, but can cook too. What more could a man want?”

They spent the day holding hands, talking and watching a Rugby game on TV. That evening for supper Stacey made stuffed artichokes.  Shane was skeptical, but he tried it and he liked it. 

“See, I told you, Mr. Chen is never wrong,” Stacey said.

“I’m greatly anticipating meeting this paragon of culinary delights,” Shane said.

“Oh you will, he’ll need to put his stamp of approval on you.” 

“If he doesn’t approve, will you leave me by the wayside?”

Mischievously, Stacey said, “That’s a great possibility. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see about that.” 

Shane took Stacey’s hand, kissed it and said with mirth, “You’re a naughty minx, Mrs. McLeod, but I do love you.”

“Well, in that case, I may just keep you with or without his approval,” she said.

Shane was chortling heartily as he sat her on his lap.

Karaoke Bar

L
ater in the evening they picked up Hugh to go to the going away party. The karaoke bar was packed.  They’d been there about twenty minutes when Annie arrived. “I thought you weren’t gonna’ make it,” Stacey said, and gave her a hug.

“Yes, I’m here for a little while, I didn’t want to miss out on saying goodbye to everyone.”  Annie saw Shane and said, “Hello, how are you, Doctor McLeod?  Congratulation on your engagement.”

“Very well, thank you professor, please call me Shane,” he said, and then introduced his friend, Hugh Grant to Professor Anne Rutledge.

“Hello, Professor Rutledge,” Hugh said as they shook hands. “I’m a cardiologist, not the actor.”

“Yes, well, I suspected that right away,” Annie said, with an amused smile.

“How long have you been here, Stacey?” Annie asked.

“About twenty minutes. Why?” 

“No reason,” she said. “I can’t stay long. I must put in an appearance at a boring dinner party.” Annie was expected at her parents dinner party and she wasn’t looking forward to it. Her mother was a overbearing, domineering woman, so Annie stayed away as much as possible.

Young people had been coming over to say, hello and goodbye, since they had arrived. 

Hugh leaned toward Annie and said, “I’m glad you were able to make it. It’s nice to have someone here, I don’t feel I should take on my knee.” Annie gave him a strange look. “Oh, please forgive me,” Hugh said. “That didn’t come out right, did it?”

“I know what you mean, Doctor Grant.  Don’t dig your hole any deeper,” Annie advised him, with a smile.

Eric came over and saw Annie dressed to the nines. “Wow! Professor, you do clean up nice. I guess you came to watch Stacey and me screw up again?” 

“Exactly Eric, that’s why I live and breathe.” 

Eric smiled and said, “Well, in that case you’re just in time.”

Eric took Stacey’s hand and said, “Let’s go baby cakes, we’re next.” Eric grinned at Shane and said, “Sorry Doc, but I need my partner.” 

Both Eric and Stacey were wearing levis. Stacey wore red western boots, a thin Indian design belt, red short sleeved ribbed sweater top that just touched the top of her jeans.

“What are those two going to do?” Hugh asked Annie.

“Don’t ask,” Annie said. “they’ve been practicing this routine for over a month and they haven’t got it right yet.”

Stacey and Eric put their thin headphones on and waited for the CD to start. They had made up a dance routine to the ‘Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow’ song, ‘ Pictures.’ Each did a solo two step, while the other one was singing. During the instrumental part they danced together. As Shane watched, he was astonished. He hadn’t seen this side of Stacey and had no idea she could sing.  Shane wasn’t a connoisseur of country music, but he did enjoy Stacey’s performance. When they finished Eric and Stacey kissed quickly. Shane didn’t much care for that. The place went wild with applause.  Annie was laughing and applauding at the same time.

“I can’t believe they finally got it right,” she said.  When they came back to the table, Annie hugged them both and said, “Congratulations you two. That was a great climax to a wonderful season.”

Eric was standing behind Stacey’s chair with his hands on her shoulders and touching her hair.  Shane was sure he didn’t like this familiarity between them. He remembered when Stacey was in hospital, that Eric was there quite often, holding her hand and talking to her. Trying to get her to wake up, to regain consciousness. Shane didn’t think much about it then, but now, it was different.  He looked at Annie, but she didn’t act like this was anything out of the ordinary.