FALSE IDENTITY

Untitled Part 8

Will and Ross thought they had some impossible mission to accomplish, but to their amazement, their pupil was extremely hard-working and contrary to their first impression, she had more common sense than many of their acquaintances. They were convinced that the girl was special and terribly inappropriate to being an easy woman. She was nice to all those whom she came in contact with and too kind for "this fast century". She had a special spark of kindness, which made her stand out in the crowd. Her genuine, spontaneous vitality and her natural spirit won over the two men who had put in tremendous efforts to teach their adorable pupil as much as possible. She was terribly happy when they went to the theatre, museums or parks. Will and Ross were amazed to notice that she was always paying a lot of attention to everything going on around her. She was thrilled when somebody would offer flowers, protect kids if they were scolded too severely and give a hand to helpless older people. The closeness growing among them continued to tie the knot of a genuine friendship, transforming their relationship into a perfect trio, based on lovingly shared conversations and stories.

All this while Nicholas kept away as far as possible from them, since hehad been out on business all of the days. He was one day in New York, thenlanding the next day in Washington, or Dallas and so on. This situation suitedJoanna wonderfully, but she was aware that it was exactly this, what preventedher from knowing him or being able to form an opinion about him. She was stillhoping that eventually she would succeed. After all, it was her first week and she felt entitled to feel free and at ease. She had enough time to know Nicholas. She was convinced that the week she was to spend with him would be enough, and besides, she loved the company of Ross and Will. She considered or imagined they were her brothers that she was never fortunate to have.

Now it was the last evening of the week spent with Ross and Will, and that is why she decided to spoil them with some cake she wanted to bake for them, in their honor and as a token of her appreciation.

She was spreading the sheet of dough while Will was sitting next to her, leaning against the backrest of the kitchen chair, admiring her skills in handling the rolling pin and every now and then would steal the fruits sprinkled abundantly with brandy and rum.

"Will", she pointed to him when he took one more raspberry and put it into his mouth, licking the flavored sweetness off his fingers, "if you don't stop, there will be no more fruits for the cake."

With glittering eyes, like a naughty child caught red-handed, Will answered: "I can't help it, they are delicious."

"What is it that you call delicious?" sounded Ross' voice, just entering the kitchen.

He stood there looking at her, letting his blue look pass over her shoulders. Her hair was pulled back leisurely in a ponytail, she had a white apron tied around her waist to protect her dress, and her nose was powdered with flour.

"Don't you dare laugh at me", she threatened him, showing him the rolling pin full of dough. Refraining from giggling, he came close to her. "Good God, Joanna, you look so homely, that it is hard for me to believe you're real." "Pinch me to know it's real", Joana stretched cheerfully her arms to him.

Ross took one more step closer and wiped the flour off her nose.

"You know ... if I come to think of it, you should marry me", said Rossjokingly. "Watch out, this is no joking matter! You might wake up one day witha wife just because you jokingly proposed to her" she answered with glitteringeyes. "It's not working like this, my friend,"said Will "I was the first to think of it and only to be allowed to steal a fewpoor fruits", he concluded making a face. "Alright boys, I promise to cook foryou every now and then, and you don't have to marry me." Both men looked  at each other and then they looked her into the eyes. "Really? Can you cook something else too? ... I mean food?" asked Will.