Once Upon A Rodeo

15: Mac and Cheese

Mac and Cheese

I spent the rest of the day doing chores and homework. I sat down at my desk, with Travis's jacket neatly resting over my chair, hovering over my AP Chemistry homework.

"Annabelle! Come down and help me make supper!" I heard my mama yell from downstairs.

Usually I would have yelled back that I was busy or to give me a second, but I was dying for a break. "Comin'!" I called back and hurried down the stairs.

I entered the kitchen and saw that she hadn't even started on dinner or pulled any of the ingredients out. I raised my eyebrow at her. "What's goin' on?"

She smiled cheekily at me. "Can ya make your special Mac and cheese?"

I had invented a recipe to liven up the regular Mac and cheese that my mama made my freshman year. It turned out really well, so for every special occasion my mama made me make it. I've brought it with me to multiple church picnics and such.

The thing about it the recipe is, it takes a lot of time, and nobody knows it except me. I don't let anyone help me or even come into the kitchen when I'm cooking it. It's my little secret.

I placed my hands on my hips. "What's the occasion?"

"I'm cravin' it," She shrugged.

"Ma. " I warned, seeing right through her cover up.

"Fine! I invited the Burns' to dinner since Diana is away on some business trip. Remember last time Pastor Burns almost set his house on fire tryin' ta cook frozen pizzas?"

"That was six years ago! Bethany and Cheyenne are more than capable to whip up somethin'."

"I thought you and Beth were friends," she faked innocence.

"Mama, you know that we are! Don't do that. You know the reason why I'm against this is 'cause Pastor Burns isn't the nicest person to have at the dinner table, with his superior attitude and fake humbleness."

"I know, baby. Just please suck it up. Just for tonight?" She pleaded with me.

"Fine! But you owe me." I said stubbornly. She squealed and gave me a quick kiss before running off somewhere.

I was rushing around the kitchen. Stirring the macaroni noodles in the pot, checking on the oven, and making the sauce, when the door bell rang.

"They're not here already, are they?" I called out to my mama. "It's only 4:30!"

"They shouldn't be," she called back. I heard her open the door, exchange a few inaudible words with someone, then the door close again.

"Who was it, Ma?"

"Annabelle, there's someone here to see you." She said in slightly surprised yet delighted tone. "Can we come in the kitchen."

I sighed. "Yeah, go ahead."

I heard footsteps echo across the wood floor. "Hey, Belle."

My head snapped up. "Oh shit! I totally forgot 'bout your jacket. I'm sorry, I got wrapped up in cookin'."

He smiled letting me know it was ok. "Don't worry 'bout it. I can wait until you come to a stoppin' point."

I smiled back. "Thank you."

We sat in a comfortable silence as I finished the sauce, checked the oven again and, took the bacon out. "I run up and get it now. Can you just keep and eye on the macaroni, please?"

He smiled. "Sure."

I hurried up the stairs to my room and grabbed the jacket. As I walked down the stairs with it in my hand, I caught a big wiff of it, so powerful that I had to stop in my tracks. I pressed the material to my nose and inhaled deeply. It smelled of him. I hugged it tightly to my chest and inhaled once more, not able to get enough of the intoxicating scent. I suddenly didn't want to give the jacket back, I wanted to keep it for myself.