There were times Lucinda forgot that Aurelian had been in the army, but whenever she remembered, it made sense. It explained a lot about the way he behaved and expected other people to behave. She sipped her coffee, sobering. "Francis never talked about his time in the army. Well, not really. A mention here and there, a memory every once in a while, but he never told me everything that happened. I think he wanted to come out here to forget, in a way. Get a fresh start."
A sort of shadow fell over them until the conversation moved to Aurelian never having had to cook for himself. "And now if God sees fit, you'll never have to cook for yourself." Lucinda's dimple popped out again.
Ah, there was Constance with their food. Lucinda took a moment to survey everything that had been brought, and looked back up at Constance with a smile. "It looks wonderful. I'm sure we'll want dessert afterward, but unless Aurelian wants something, this is sufficient for now." She glanced at Aurelian and a tiny grin appeared. "Maybe we ought to order dessert now. Aurelian does love Clara's apple pie," she said thoughtfully, bringing up one of the first facts she'd discovered about him during her stint as Clara's dishwasher.
Constance now brought out the couple's order on a large tray, setting their plates before them.
Lucinda looked back up at Constance with a smile. "It looks wonderful. I'm sure we'll want dessert afterward, but unless Aurelian wants something, this is sufficient for now."
"No, this should do me quite well, thank you," the man eyed the mouth watering food before him.
Lucinda glanced at Aurelian and a tiny grin appeared. "Maybe we ought to order dessert now. Aurelian does love Clara's apple pie."
"Who does not?" remarked Constance with a grin, "I worry I shall gain weight doing this job."
Aurelian chuckled at the ladies, "Let's finish this first, dear. Then perhaps though Clara might bring us out a slice of pie each? No offense, Miss Straub, but you aren't my daughter after all."
"None taken, I will tell her of your request," Constance nodded.
As Lucinda picked up her fork, a feeling of triumph washed over her. She'd finagled Aurelian into getting them both dessert. It wasn't as though that was a bad thing -- she and Aurelian both loved Clara's Dutch apple pie -- but sometimes Aurelian could be too worried about money, especially since their barn had burned last fall. But a little dessert every now and then wasn't going to break the bank. Lucinda, having grown up with dessert whenever she wanted it, was determined to help Aurelian learn to appreciate the finer things in life, even if she had to start with dessert.
"Thank you, Constance. We'll be eagerly awaiting the pie." She now turned her attention to her plate, which was just begging to be eaten. So eat she and Aurelian did, enjoying the tender roast, juicy green beans, and fluffy mashed potatoes.
"I must have Clara come out to the farm and teach me her secrets sometime," she said as she ate. "My roasts can't compare to this one at all." She'd managed a passable roast a few times, but could never get the texture of the meat quite the way she wanted it. Clara's, however, was perfect.
Once the waitress left them to it, the couple tucked into their platefuls of food. Aurelian could be a fast eater at times but they were here just to relax as well as nourish. He savored each bite. The gravy was a little different tasting? But still very good indeed. He figured maybe Clara got some tip from Mrs. Pike and added a new touch. No complaints from him.
"I must have Clara come out to the farm and teach me her secrets sometime," she said as she ate. "My roasts can't compare to this one at all."
"Well don't be too hard on yourself, dear. First off, they probably use better cuts of beef than I sometimes get. Secondly, Clara was helping Katherine cook since she was knee high. She loves doing it. And third - your cooking is markedly better than if I had to cook," he smiled between bites.
"And you're very sweet to say that, but that doesn't negate that fact that I can always do better." Lucinda savored a spoonful of the gravy. It was very very good, and a comfortable silence reigned for a moment as they enjoyed their food.
"You know, I've been thinking it might be nice for us to visit the theater sometime," Lucinda said suddenly. "I used to go often back east, but it's been a while. I know it's an extra expense you might not be used to, but it's always a good time to meet other people."
She pursed her lips. "However, I don't think we ought to see this next show. I've heard that Arabella Mudd is starring in it, and I'm not sure how I feel about that even though it is supposed to be a Bible show. I would prefer to see something that showcases the troupe as a whole." Lucinda realized she was jabbering. She paused and met Aurelian's eyes. It wasn't imperative that he give a final answer at the moment, but she just wanted to gauge his reaction to the idea.
Lucinda said she was determined to do better in the cooking department. Aurelian nodded, actually she was fine, just because she wasn't as good as Clara, that didn't matter. Few people were as good as Clara when it came to cooking and baking. Granted, he knew his was an obviously biased opinion. Didn't make it any less true though.
Lucinda now changed subjects, admitting to a like of the theatre and wanting to go see a play here in Kalispell now that they had a theatre and a performing troupe. Just like some big city.
She pursed her lips. "However, I don't think we ought to see this next show. I've heard that Arabella Mudd is starring in it, and I'm not sure how I feel about that even though it is supposed to be a Bible show. I would prefer to see something that showcases the troupe as a whole."
He was bemused, "Umm, I imagine the troupe is in this show too? The gal isn't up there alone. So, you don't much care for Miss Mudd then?"
"Clara on occasion expresses a certain frustration with the girl too. But they are friends. Clara likes to say 'Arabella is best in small doses.' I don't mind her. She's still young and still has a lot of growing up ta do. Leastwise when she doesn't up and try to get bossy. Did you know that she was insisting to Clara and all who would listen that the baby be named Arabella. To which my often less than diplomatic daughter replied 'over my dead body'."
Aurelian was grinning.
OOC: Sorry for letting this one hang for so long!
"Regardless of whether the whole troupe is on stage or not, I feel Arabella will steal the spotlight. You know, I agree with Clara's assessment. Arabella is fine in small doses, but even small doses of the most heady alcohol can make one dizzy." Lucinda took a bite of her food, and as she was swallowing, remembered one of her first interactions with Arabella.
"You remember the day we met? I was so struck by you that I walked out carrying a hymnal and Arabella all but accused me of stealing it. Referenced the eighth commandment. I must say that has colored my impression of her a little unfavorably." She smiled a little. "However, she is very young still and might become more mellow as she matures."
If Lucinda only knew!
"Regardless of whether the whole troupe is on stage or not, I feel Arabella will steal the spotlight. You know, I agree with Clara's assessment. Arabella is fine in small doses, but even small doses of the most heady alcohol can make one dizzy." Lucinda took a bite of her food.
"Arabella is powerful stuff," Aurelian chuckled.
"You remember the day we met? I was so struck by you that I walked out carrying a hymnal and Arabella all but accused me of stealing it. Referenced the eighth commandment. I must say that has colored my impression of her a little unfavorably." She smiled a little. "However, she is very young still and might become more mellow as she matures."
"Oh she has her faults but like you say, she is young. And she had a hard life before arrival at Kalispell so we must take that into account," Aurelian pointed out.
"You know Clara has told me that Arabella is probably jealous of you. It seems the girl was sweet on me and hoped to marry me," he chuckled.
"Not that I knew a thing about it. Even if I had not been lucky enough to meet you, I would have never agreed to any such thing with the girl. Oh well, Clara had a crush on one of the Lost Lake ranchers. She was very hurt when she found out he was to marry the schoolmarm."
"Oh...and do not under any circumstances, ever tell Clara I told you that story. She would not be happy with me."
Lucinda couldn't help smirking a bit at Aurelian's revelation about Arabella. "I don't think Arabella is the only one who was jealous of me. You are quite the eligible man, Mr. Redmond. I mean, you were." She reached across the table to take Aurelian's hand. "I'm just lucky that you chose me."
Another surprising revelation from Aurelian: Clara had had a crush on a rancher? That seemed so unlike her. But girlhood was a time when you could have feelings or do things that wouldn't quite make sense later on, of course.
"My lips are sealed," she said quickly. "I think all girls develop feelings for men who'd they'd never be able to marry, and so I don't judge Clara for her feelings. After all, a man who owns land, whether he tends it from horseback or with a plow, is very attractive." Here she grinned again at her husband.
Lucinda couldn't help smirking a bit at Aurelian's revelation about Arabella. "I don't think Arabella is the only one who was jealous of me. You are quite the eligible man, Mr. Redmond. I mean, you were." She reached across the table to take Aurelian's hand. "I'm just lucky that you chose me."
"Honestly, my dear, you had no competition, easy choice on my part. Before we met, I didn't even entertain any thoughts of remarrying," he easily admitted.
Aurelian then revealed that even Clara, of all people, had once had a crush.
"My lips are sealed," she said quickly. "I think all girls develop feelings for men who'd they'd never be able to marry, and so I don't judge Clara for her feelings. After all, a man who owns land, whether he tends it from horseback or with a plow, is very attractive." Here she grinned again at her husband.
Aurelian laughed, "Aha! Now it comes out. You married me for my land. I should have known.........well, too late now. We're hitched, can't back out now, can we?"
The food was good, the conversation was the best part though.
ooc: In the interests of accuracy, I should point out Aurelian is mistaken on Arabella, it was Jemima who ardently wished to marry Aurelian. Of that he was and is, of course, totally unaware.