It had been a long day and I was looking forward to seeing Rachel the whole drive home and the classes before. The last week had been hectic and I just wanted to have some quiet time with her. I pulled into the drive to see a quiet house which is really odd because Kate has a habit of practicing when ever she has the house to herself. I opened the front door expecting her to be asleep on the couch or doing homework of the silent kind but instead I sighed when I found her not at home and a message flashing red on the answering machine.
"Freddie, I'm sorry but I'm not going to be home for dinner tonight; Dan. gave me the key to the chapel for the evening and the acoustics are so pretty I couldn't help my self. I love you, bye" BBBBBBBEEEEEPPPPPP
Feeling disappointed, I steered myself to the sofa by way of the fridge. I flopped down with a soda and a groan wondering what to do with the rest of my night when my bird chirped a loud wolf whistle from his cage in the corner. "Mmmmffffhhh, yeah me too" I mumbled back to him. He never makes sence but he likes to "converse". Hungry but too lazy to get up I took another drink of soda. I started to think about what Rachel must be up to and how her practice was going when it occurred to me that she probably will completely forgo dinner if her lip holds up. "I always liked picnics and as much as I loath churches I could salvage my day by bringing one to Rachel. What do you think little bird? Pretty eddie." I suggest for the master's input "Mritty mird mritty meddie"
"Yep" finishing my soda and then getting off my ass I go into the kitchen to see what picnic paraphernalia we have in store... Or Chinese... Yes, Chinese. In efforts to make up for a severe lack in cuisine searching for accessories is a necessity. I manage to find a basket, clean plates, and a table cloth before I go up into our room and muster a small army of candles for our take out feast. I wonder how in the hell I'm going to get her out of the chapel long enough to get all of this set up. Oh well, I'll think of something on the way. I went to the China Buffett with my picnic basket and picked up to food and drove to the catholic church where Kate gets her lessons. I sat in the parking lot for ten minutes watching the sun set and wondering how to best introduce the picnic. The sky was still a little blue with a setting red sun that seemed to be slowly spreading it's hugh across the clear sky.
The effect was calming and quietly pretty. I think I'll just walk in and set up dinner quietly while she practices. Decision made I walked up to the tall doors of the church and saw the saint over the door and wondered if I would somehow profane the church should anything interesting happen. I smirked to myself and walked in. The foyer of the church was small and I could her the sounds of Rachel playing in the other room. She couldn't hit the high note in what she was playing and I heard an angry scream. Her lip must be going out and I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a very bad thing. She does jump at every opportunity to use the chapel so the chances of her being too mad to eat are on the rise.
In front of the alter Rachel was leaning back and trying so hard to fight her failing lip she turned bright red but all her trumpet did was squeal. She was wearing a blue and black sarong and a tight fitting blue button up blouse. When she saw me in the door way she let the bell of her horn drop and stamped her flip flopped feet and moaned her despair at me.
"Take a break. I brought dinner" I advised indicating my basket, "the sunset is really pretty outside. I'll set it up, go rest for a little while. You can always pick up again after dinner"
"But it worked a minute ago! Maybe just a little longer"
"It won't work until you rest you lip. Are you hungry?"
"Yes. I'll help" she motioned for the basket but I wouldn't have it
"No, let me do this. Please? Go get a drink of water and watch the sunset for a little while"
"Ok" she agreed grudgingly
So much for quietly setting up while she practice. The room was really pretty in a church sort of way. I started to clear off the alter to make it a dinner table. I set out the flat wear, food, and candles and was half way through lighting them-
"Freddie, what are you doing?" Her suspicious voice came from behind me and I jumped
"Nothing... just setting up dinner, Love"
"On the alter?"
"Where else?"