12 Days to Find a Husband

Chapter 12 - Bee Sting Blues

Anna-lea was furious. Just as she was finally starting to think that she and Greg could be friends after all, he'd gone ahead and insulted her out of the blue. His insult after a compliment had felt like a slap across her face. She'd reacted emotionally again, which wasn't normal for her, but nothing out of this last few days had been normal. She had been cast into a role she didn't want to be in, which was totally out of her comfort zone and, so far, she hadn't handled herself very well.

As Anna-lea continued to walk, she started calming down. She knew she had over-reacted to Greg's comment but she felt she had every right to at least be offended. Knowing she wasn't the most beautiful girl in the world, she felt she wasn't ugly either and he didn't have to point out her lack of beauty to her like that. It had really dented her confidence and it still stung, even several minutes after the incident. He had deserved a reprimand.

Up ahead she saw Matilda's Café. Anna-lea had planned on going there for lunch and to get a Bee Sting cake anyway so she decided she'd just adjust her plans a little and get both herself and John a take-away lunch, instead of having a sit-down meal for one. She'd surprise John at his hotel with one of Matilda's famous picnic hamper lunches Anna-lea decided. Maybe they could take their picnic to the park across from his hotel, she thought to herself. She wouldn't write this day off just yet.

Upon entering the café, she headed straight for the cake display to see if there was a Bee Sting cake still available. She was in luck. There was one left. She quickly walked towards the counter, raising her arm as she did to get the attention of the waitress, who's head was down whilst she sorted out the orders she'd just been given. As the lady raised her head at the movement of Anna-lea's arm, Anna-lea recognized her as the waitress who had seated Cody and herself yesterday afternoon and the memory of that horrible experience came flooding back to her. It was yet another occasion this week where she had been humiliated. What was it with men and her this week? She just couldn't seem to get on the right footing with them, except for John. At least that relationship was going right.

"Hi. How can I help you?" the waitress asked.

"Hi. Um, sorry to wave at you like that. I just want to make sure I get the last Bee Sting cake. Can I have it to go please?" Anna-lea answered.

"No problems. Yes, they're one of our best sellers and you're lucky we still have one left today. They're usually gone by now. Will that be all?" asked the woman with a smile.

Anna-lea realized that the waitress hadn't recognized her without her panda eyes. She breathed a sigh of relief as she really didn't want to be known as the woman with the panda eyes. She decided she'd get a coffee to have here whilst she waited for her picnic hamper and cake to be readied.

"Ah, no. I'd also like a cappuccino to have here and one of your famous picnic hampers to go."

"It's a beautiful day for a picnic, isn't it? How many people is the picnic for? And do you need to hire a picnic blanket too?" the waitress questioned.

"Yes, it's a gorgeous day. Too nice to be sitting inside all day. It's for two people and I think I have one in the car so I'll say no to the blanket," Anna-lea answered.

"Okay. If you'd like to take a seat, I'll get your cappuccino ready first and then prepare your hamper. There's a $20 refundable deposit we retain until you return the basket too. Any allergies we should know about? And would you like the gluten free hamper, the vegetarian version or the works hamper?"

"No allergies, as far as I know, and the works please, with extra feta and less of another cheese, if I can make that request?" Anna-lea asked.

"Certainly. I'll be right over with your coffee."