Antique House - Book One

Chapter Three - Recipe For Change

Melinda ran into Jobe again a few weeks later on her usual Monday errand run in the baking aisle while she was picking up ingredients to try a new bread recipe.

"Hello there stranger", she said happily. "Fancy meeting you here again!"

"Why hello Melinda, it is nice to see you as well" "and to be seen" he said. Then winked and chuckled softly.

Melinda couldn't help by laugh along with him and almost blush at how captivating she found his smile and laugh.

"So do I get a pass since I didn't try to run you down with cart again" she teased.

"Well, unfortunately ma'am I don't have any stickers but how about lunch" he said invitingly. "Know any good places to eat?"

"I was only joking, but if you are looking for a great place to eat there's a deli I know that serves the best pastrami on rye sandwich. It is on Meadowlark Lane." She could almost smell and taste the sandwich just thinking about it – the fresh homemade bread and pastrami slices freshly sliced.

"I am still learning all the streets, would you mind accompanying me so I can find it my way and in return I will repay your kindness with a free lunch. "He asked with a boyish grin that nearly pleaded with her to say yes.

"Of course, I am so sorry in a small town like this I sometimes forget that not everyone was born and raised here. My apologies and yes lunch sounds good, how about we meet back here in a few hours?"

"I have a few errands that I have to finish first, if that's alright?"

"That would be fine with me. I will be here with bells on" he said sweetly as he winked and waved good-bye."

After her shopping was complete, Melinda headed to her house and put away all her groceries. Checking her watch, she decided that she would have time to go for a workout and still have time to meet Jobe for lunch.

She grabbed her work out great, a bottle of water and a change of clothes for afterward

. "I can save time if I get ready at the gym."

While she was running on the treadmill, she started to question why she spontaneously agreed to lunch with an almost stranger. This was so out of character for her as she was always the cautious and reserved type who preferred the company of her cat Celestica over people but there was something so captivating and genuine about him.

She couldn't put a finger on it but it was almost like she was drawn to him by Divine Intervention.
After she washed up and got dressed, she pulled out her lipstick and hair brush to finalize her appearance. Looking at herself in the mirror she took a long deep breath and said to herself "here goes nothing!" She went to her locker and grabbed her stuff, headed out to her car and threw her belongings in back seat.

Before she headed to the supermarket, she checked her watch and noticed she still had twenty minutes left. She sat in her car for a few minutes and collected her thoughts and her composure as her heart was racing wildly. She could feel herself blush as she realized this was the first time her heart beat so crazy.

"Ok gran, keep me safe", she said looking at the chain with the locket hanging in her mirror and then looked up to the sunroof and blew a kiss to the sky.
Driving to meet him, she turned on her favorite jazz station and began to sing along as she let her worries slip away to the sound of musical notes dancing in the air.

Waiting at the supermarket, Jobe paced back and forth holding a bouquet of yellow roses. He could not believe how nervous he was for a casual lunch date – he was never nervous around woman.

Although it had been a few years, since his last relationship – he had been dating on and off but no one struck him as "future" worthy.

"There is something about her," he thought to himself "she is mysterious and charming". He laughed softly at himself for sounding so corny.

As he waited, his insecurities started to run through his mind "what if she doesn't show?" "What if she doesn't like roses or hates the colour yellow?"

Before he could go crazy with anxiety and insecurities, he saw her black Honda pull into the parking lot. He could feel himself grin with pleasure and tried to act cool and calm.

"Man up, Jobe", he told himself as he walked to meet her at the front doors of super market.

"Hello again, stranger", she said teasingly as she walked up to him and waved.

"Hello lovely lady, you look very nice. These are for you", he said shyly as he pulled out the flowers from behind his back. "I hope you like them!"

"Oh my goodness, they are so beautiful! I don't know how you knew but I love yellow roses!" She went up to him and gave him a hug and a kiss on his check.
He couldn't believe how sweet she smelled and how nice she felt in his arms.

He smiled at the thought of getting to know her on a more personal level.

"Shall we head to lunch? It is just a few blocks away, is it okay if we walk? It is such a beautiful day!" she asked.

"Sounds great to me", he said "Lead the way, my lovely guide!"

They began to walk toward the deli and started talking as they walked along in the warm, sunny afternoon.