Hidden Desires (54 page)

Bev snickered too. "You're sure Jodie knows what
you
want from Cayden?"

"I don't want any astronomical alterations... just some insight into couplehood. I don't think Cayden has any good history to base her behavior on. Jodie knows her best and I think she'll do the right thing."

"And you're so sure Cayden's willing?"

"If she hasn't already asked for help, I'll eat my napkin."

Bev laughed. "She's worth it all?"

"Every single bit."

 
*  *  *

Jodie stuck her chopsticks into the Chinese food carton and pulled out a pea pod. Cayden looked on with great intensity. "Her needs come first. I mean if your finger is hanging off at the joint, or you're having a stroke, of course you come first..." She popped the pea pod in her mouth and chewed. "But all other times, she does. Capice?"

Cayden nodded, still perplexed at the whole chopstick thing. "How do you do that?" She looked at her fork and frowned.

"Never mind the chopsticks... do you get what I'm saying?"

"Yeah, I guess." The tall woman stabbed at a shrimp with her fork.

"Okay, and example, if she drinks Coke and you don't, you make sure you have Coke in your fridge, even if there's no room for your Pepsi. It's the little things, Cayd."

"The little things, huh?" Cayden replied, digging around in her container with chopsticks.

"Yes, and stop that." Jodie took them away. "You're only going to drop a shrimp in your lap again and be annoyed all day." She pointed to the drop ceiling. "Look, the chopstick is still hanging there from your last tantrum."

"They were my good pants!" Cayden explained.

"Okay, I gotta run, I'll drop by tonight and we can talk about this more. Maybe Wade has some suggestions."

Cayden looked horrified. "Not Wade!"

Jodie winked and giggled. "Later Tater." She picked up her food and left.   

Cayden stuck her tongue out at Jodie's back and picked up the chopsticks, making a big effort to place them in her fingers properly. Her tongue poked out as she concentrated on trying to open and close the two sticks, and suddenly, her face lit up. She held the chopsticks in the air triumphantly, opening and closing them over and over again. Eyeing the white carton of shrimp and black bean sauce with determination, and holding the chopstick hand very still, she picked up the box with her free hand. carefully and ever so slowly, she lowered the open chopsticks into the container, and closed them securely around a shrimp. She glanced around the shop, wishing someone was there to witness the big event. She began to lift the shrimp, slowly... slowly... she opened her mouth wide in expectation, which was hard to do with a smug smile , and lifted the shrimp higher.. almost there.... she bent her head to meet the tasty morsel and.... plop.

"Dammit to hell!"

Cayden jumped up and threw the shrimp from her lap, a big brown stain already in it's place. She threw the evil chopsticks across the store and cursed a blue streak.

 
*  *  *

Brooke was more than happy to get home, the heat was oppressive and she felt like she couldn't breathe. She threw her keys on the side table, scooped up an excited Fred, and plopped herself on the couch. Dad watched with sympathy from his chair.

"Oh, good! You're home! Dinner's almost ready, honey." Harriet called from the kitchen.

"I'm too hot to eat, let me soak up the air conditioner a while first."

"Take a cool shower, it'll help." Bert offered.

"Daddy, was it always this hot in the summer, or is it getting worse as I get older?"

"It's both. When I was younger, there were days I didn't want to get up from my seat on the subway because I was sure it looked like I wet my pants. Back then, it wasn't the heat that bothered me as much as the sweat. Now, though, I can hardly tolerate the heat itself."

"It's the ozone layer." Harriet said from the kitchen. "From the hair spray."

Bert and Brooke shook their heads and rolled their eyes.

"Yeah, ma, damn the 80's and the freakish hairstyles."

"Don't be fresh young lady, if I recall, you had quite the hairdo. Rather high if you ask me."

Brooke made a sour face at the kitchen and turned to her dad. "I took a cab home, trying to avoid melting off of the subway platform. The only access for the air conditioner to reach the back seat was through the tiny little holes in the partition. I swear I wanted to strip off all my clothes and hang out the window but it only opened four inches."

Bert nodded. "I know, just the other day your mother and I went shopping and she kept her face pressed up against the money slot the whole way." He snickered.

"I'd have given anything to see that." Brooke giggled. "I feel better now, I'm going to take my shower and I'll be out in a minute."

 
*  *  *

It was almost time to close the shop, and Cayden was preparing to leave, when Butch came strolling in. She had to grin, the man's attire never ceased to amuse her. Today, he was wearing a powder blue cut-off tank top and lime green bicycle shorts, with a bright pink bandana tied around his neck like a cowboy.

"God, is it hot!" Butch exclaimed, fanning himself with a tissue. "Did you know there's a chopstick in the window?" He asked as he sat down heavily into a chair.

Cayden grunted in embarrassment.

"This place feels delicious, bless you for being open. I was coming dangerously close to a swoon out there."

"If there's one thing I don't skimp on its AC, you wouldn't like me very much when I'm hot." Cayden said, disappearing into the back.

"You mean you get crankier?" Butch joked.

"Just for that.." The shop keeper pulled away a cold bottle of water she was going to give Butch.

"Oh please Mary. like I just told a secret, gimme that water or I'll flick my chest sweat on you."

Cayden handed it over quickly and watched with a grin as he wiped the bottle all over his neck.

"Bliss and joy." he breathed, then stopped what he was doing, and pointed at Cayden's crotch. "Starting a new fashion trend?"

Cayden looked down in confusion, then blushed. She had forgotten she hung a doggie T-shirt from the front of her pants. "I dropped something in my lap." she explained, red faced. At the time, the "Spoiled Rotten" T-shirt seemed like a good choice.

"I'm not even going to ask you to explain, that's how nice I am."

"I'm letting you suck up all my cold air, you better be nice." Cayden warned playfully. "Need anything, or just loitering?"

"Loitering, I was just heading for a manicure when the heat got to me." Butch sat back down and crossed his legs.

Cayden observed the man with a smile.
He sure is feminine, maybe I can talk to him about my problem? Nah, how the hell could he know what a woman wants.
She snickered to herself as Butch primped his hair.
Who am I kidding? He's more woman than I'll ever be.

"Hey, did you see the new carpenter on Trading Spaces? His name is Carter, and he is to die for."

"Yeah, I saw him. I dunno, I think he's too pretty if you ask me."

"OOoo, speaking of pretty..." He turned around in his chair and faced Cayden, "What ever happened with that cute girl you had a date with? Did you go?"

"I went, it was alright." Cayden answered with a shrug.

"Well? What's the news? Is it special?"

Cayden thought about not saying anything, but figured it couldn't hurt. "I like her... a lot, but if I want it to be special, I need to be more butch."

Butch leaned over and sucked his lips into his mouth. "Hmm. How butch?"

"I don't know!" She said with frustration.

"Are we talking easy, like opening doors and pouring wine... or serious, like fatigues and steel toed boots, because frankly honey, I don't see you on a Harley."

"Nooo, not to extremes, pouring wine is fine.... I think."

"You think? Sweetie, did she tell you this point blank or are you just assuming?"

"Well, actually, she didn't say anything, Jodie said I have to be more butch. Brooke said I should have been more chivalrous after I sent her home from the date in a cab. Jodie said I need to be aware of her needs right?"

"Yes. That's exactly what you have to do. Open doors, bring her a flower, tell her she looks pretty.... the little things."

"That's what Jodie said!" Cayden remarked. "How am I supposed to know what the little things are?"

"Trial and error. You'll need to spend more time with her before you get it right. You can't anticipate her needs until you're more aware of them."

"Okay." The shop keeper narrowed her eyes in thought. "Spend more time together, that's easy." She smiled. If anything, she couldn't wait to spend more time with Brooke.

 
*  *  *

Bert was right, as soon as Brooke came out of the shower she was starved. She ate dinner and was looking for dessert. "Mmm, ice cream." She opened the freezer expectantly and grinned when she found not one, but two cartons of ice cream, the vanilla, chocolate, strawberry kind. "Pay dirt!" She quickly opened one box and found only the stripe of strawberry left. Frowning, she pulled out the other box and found the same thing. "What the hell is with the ice cream?"

"It's strawberry, dear."

"I can see that ma, but why?" Brooke pouted.

"Your father likes chocolate, and I like vanilla."

"So you leave the strawberry in here for what?"

"For guests. Bert, that reminds me, we need more ice cream. Put it on the list."

"Why don't you just get one vanilla and one chocolate?" Brooke asked, feeling cranky now.

"Then what will the guests eat?"

"Argh!" Brooke slammed the freezer closed and stomped off to her room. "How old is that ice cream anyway." she grunted as she passed.

 
*  *  *

Despite her prayers, Jodie and Wade were waiting for Cayden when she got home. She tried to duck passed them unnoticed but they caught her.

"I made fruit salad for dinner," Wade announced then looked down and snickered. "Nice look." he said, pointing to the doggie shirt.

Jodie smacked her in the arm. "I told you to leave the chop sticks alone!"

"I almost did it!"   Cayden replied defensively.

"Almost." Jodie repeated with a chuckle.

"I'm taking a shower, half of the city is stuck to me. My subway car had no AC."

When Cayden reappeared, Jodie had a dish towel over her arm, and Wade was wearing a rubber dress and a hideous blonde wig. "What in god's name..."

"Right this way ma'am." Jodie said with a strange accent, leading Cayden to the kitchen.

"I'm not going anywhere, Wade, what the hell is that?" She pointed to his outfit and then his hair, unable to decide which she wanted explained first.