Hot Cooking Spanker Wanted (23 page)

She
removed them and then she was lost in thought. She was probably
dreaming about her precious coffee. It was probably just hitting her
right now that she could drink as much of it as she wanted. Heck, if
I were her I would have ordered a big cup of it, and told the waiter
to keep it coming.

“
As
much as I can. The book is moving along nicely.”

“
I
see you still don't drink coffee.” I hoped I wasn't opening a can
of worms.

“
Things
weren't all bad. I don't want to throw the baby out with the
bathwater.” She smiled and then she thought about what she had
said. Her hand covered her mouth like she was going to throw up.
“Excuse me.” She headed off to the bathroom.

Several
women followed her in. One came out and spoke to a waiter. I realized
then that I was still standing next to the table with my mouth half
open. I sat down and waited. Katherine came back out a bit later. She
talked to the women, obviously thanking the busy bodies.

She
came back to me and sat down like nothing had happened. Our food had
arrived in the meantime. I was afraid to ask her if she was alright,
when it was so obvious that she wasn't. She was too thin and she
looked tired.

Ass,
that I was, I had to ask. “How much sleep have you been getting
lately?”

She
looked at me oddly, “Plenty before I came here and not enough since
I have been here. But this is an exception and you aren't a monster,
remember?”

“
I
remember everything,” I said leaning across the table to her
smiling.

“
Me
too. That's the problem.” She shook her head again.

“
I
don't understand. We were so happy. What happened?”

She
nodded again, “funny how your life can change in the course of
evening or even a quick moment.” She went back to eating whatever
she had ordered.

“
What
are you eating anyway?”

“
A
German specialty. Want to try it?”

I
nodded, desperate to take what she had to offer, be it food, love, or
whatever she was willing to share.

“
Give
me your knife and fork.”

I
lick the them clean first and handed them over. She cut the meat and
a snowball like thing and rubbed it in the sauce. She held the fork
out so I could bite the food. Katherine fed me like I was a baby. A
camera flashed as my mouth took the food. Another happy picture for
the tabloids.

She
gave me my knife and fork back by laying them down on my plate.

“
That
was really good.”

“
I
know. It wasn't even on the menu. They made it especially for me.
This is typical for southern Germany. Tonight we will land in the
city I lived in.”

“
Munich.
Octoberfest? Do you ever wear one of those dresses?” I made a
stupid motion by my chest.

“
On
occasion. I have a couple back home in my closet. I'll be wearing one
for the cooking show. You will be wearing Trachten too. That means
the typical clothes of the region. I'll help you pick it out so you
don't look silly. Only little boys wear Lederhosen. I'll make sure
you don't look ridiculous.”

I
was surprised that she cared.

“
Think
about the Sound of Music. What Captain Van Trapp wore.” She thought
I was confused.

I
nodded showing I understood now. “I like this. I like be able to
talk to you this. If we can't be – ” I wanted to say lovers, but
I couldn't, “Then we could be friends.”

“
You
mean like meeting for brunch with a kiss on each cheek and stuff like
that. No, thank you. I firmly believe that this isn't healthy.” She
motioned in between us.

“
I
need you,” I confessed.

She
looked hurt by my words and not moved as I had hoped. “Well, I'm
off now. I have lots to do. See you this evening.” She took off.
She was just gone. The owner shook her hand again and she smiled at
him said something that made him smile. He watched her leave like she
was his girlfriend. The mob outside screamed again as she left.

The
owner came over to me and told me that the meal was on the house. He
even sat down with me and asked if we had eaten anywhere else. I
explained that I was a cook and that I had research the restaurants
of Berlin and picked out this one.

Never
was there a happier man. I also told him that we would be leaving
this evening so this we be the only restaurant that we would be
eating at.

I
could already see him dreaming about putting up a sign saying that
she had eaten here.

Once
again I stood in a private room waiting for her to come in. She came
in wearing the same dress that she wore to the premiere back home.
She looked amazing.

I
held out my arm to her and we got in the car. Was I ever proud to
have her on my arm.

We
got into the car and took off. We were in there for a long time. I
could tell she was excited. The show was going to have some very
famous acts playing. My favorite band was among them. Others were
there that I didn't know. I felt kind of honored being lumped in with
them.

We
got out and they ushered us out of the snow. It was really coming
down and fool that I was I place my hand on Katherine's back to move
her in more quickly.

“
It's
just snow. It won't hurt you.” She went in and they touched up her
make-up.

The
talk show host came to us and shook our hands. He spoke to me in
perfect English about what he was going to ask us about. He had
planned to ask us about marriage and children.

I
shook my head. I whispered in his ears that Katherine had lost a baby
and not to tell anyone. She still hadn't recovered.

He
told me he was a father and gave me his condolences. That was when it
first hit me that someone very important had died. I needed to hug
Katherine so badly.

She
was talking to my favorite band and then they came over to me and
told me that they had wanted to meet me. They loved the movie and the
book of course which they didn't read but the movie was great.

I
laid my arm around Katherine and just talked to them like this was
the most normal thing in the world. Katherine was still in a good
mood but she pushed away when her manager passed by. They were
arguing again. Damn, she was ruining Katherine's good mood.

We
all settled down and Katherine was avoiding me again. Perfect and I
had felt that I was taking a step ahead but it was actually two steps
back.

We
got called out in groups. The group ahead of us played a song and
talked to the host. We got called out second. I took Katherine on my
arm again. We walked out and the crowds went wild for her again. That
scared her. She laid a hand on my arm. I laid my hand over hers and
guided her to a huge couch.

The
host stood and greeted us, mostly her. He confessed that he was a big
fan of hers and that he had spent all day reading her book, which
came out yesterday in German. He wasn't finished yet but he was
looking forward to it.

She
spoke beautifully. I got everything she said translated into my ear.
They loved her and she said really nice things about everybody. She
didn't have her problem about saying anything in haste anymore. She
was a real lady. A woman that a man would be proud to call his. I
wanted to be that man again.

The
host was careful not to ask her anything that would upset her. We
needed to get up and go over to an area that had been set up for the
bet. A little boy came out with his dog. Katherine knelt down to him
and talked to him. He had taught his dog to find over fifty different
stuffed animals by their names.

Katherine
asked him why his dog had so many stuffed animals and he answered
that they were his sister's. She looked back at me and smiled while
everyone laughed. She stood and came to me. “We have to decided
whether or not we think he can do it. I say yes.”

The
host asked her what she thought.

“
I
told myself if I was actually on this show I would say yes. I'm sure
he practiced a lot and that he can do it. I'm counting on you,” she
smiled at him.

The
little boy smiled back at her.

“
Ryan,
do you think he can do it,” the host asked me.

“
Katherine
believes in him, and so do I.” I was sucking up but I really wanted
her back in my life.

We
had to step away and we watched. The dog had to bring the boy five
stuffed animals and it had to be the right ones. He had eight
chances.

“
Now
if this little guy doesn't succeed what will you two do? I have an
idea. Ryan said that Katherine can sing in an interview today. Should
we make them sing a song?” He looked at the crowd.

“
Why
would you say that?” Katherine looked up at me.

“
The
guy asked me what had surprised me about you. I said that you can
sing especially well.”

“
You
never thought that maybe you could be a little bias?”

“
It
doesn't matter, because the boy is going to win.” I was chuckling
at her and I pulled her away so we could watch. Our fight had been
translated for everyone to hear. They were laughing right along with
me.

We
watched the little boy and the dog. They were so cute. The dog made a
mistake and the little boy looked like he was going to cry. Katherine
started talking to him and he nodded and continued. She would have
been a great mother. She was giving me the feeling that it was just
the two of them. The dog made another mistake and the little boy
looked at her.

Katherine
told him it was okay, even if she had to sing something. She smiled
at him encouragingly.

The
dog was afraid of all the people here and the lights. He didn't leave
the little boy's side anymore. The host stopped the boy and the boy
tried not to cry. Katherine went to him and whispered what a great
dog he had. She told him that he was so worried about protecting him
that he couldn't leave his side. She pet his ears and praised the
dog.

I
loved her so much. I should have seen through her silly reasons for
needing a spanking. It had all sounded very odd from the get go. I
should have smelled a rat, but her camouflage was just too good.

The
host saw things the same way that Katherine did. The little boy won a
prize to a hotel, where he could take his dog with him. The little
boy left. Katherine turned to the host. She would have to sing now. I
was smiling at her again and she rolled her eyes at me and everyone
was laughing again.

The
host told us to sit back down. My favorite band was going to play
their newest song. Katherine got a reprieve.

The
music was great. I stood up and clapped for them. The lead singer
actually looked over at me and waved. I looked at Katherine to see if
she saw. She nodded that she had.

The
host thanked them and announced their next concerts. Then he asked
them if they would play music so Katherine and I could sing. He
called us over and Katherine reached for my hand. I walked her over
slowly.

“
I
honestly can't sing,” I admitted.

“
We
take bets very seriously in this country. You two have to sing. Pick
a song.”

Katherine
looked at the lead singer and told him that we almost never sang
together. The only song we had ever sang together was Rockin' Robin.
They knew that and thought it was funny.

Before
she knew it Katherine had a microphone in her hands and the music was
playing. She looked at me and then she just started singing. The
crowd went wild as she started rocking the song. I stood in the back
with the lead singer and we did background.

Katherine
was blushing red when she finished. She matched her dress. The host
was blown away.

He
went to her and linked his arm in hers. I stepped to her other side,
claiming what I felt was still my territory.

“
Ryan
said if you wanted you could sing professionally. I thought that he
was just bragging but that was amazing. Where did you learn to sing
like that?”

“
In
church choir.”

Everyone
was laughing again. He thanked the band again and they left to go
back to their tour. I couldn't believe that I had not only met them
but had even sang with them. Back at the sofa I sat close to
Katherine again. All of that clapping was too much for her. She was
having trouble catching her breath.

The
host showed a clip of the movie and talked with me for a bit. I told
him about my latest project. Then more people came out the sofa
started to fill up. The evening went on but the bets were
interesting. I wonder if something like this would do well in the
States.

When
the show was over we got sent to a changing room so we could change
for our flight. Katherine carefully packed up her dress. I tried not
to stare at her changing but it was hard not to. She had tried to
hide in a corner and she was very quick about it. First putting on
her jeans and then removing her dress.