Passion in James County XIV: A Week In The Mountains
Chapter twenty-three
Kay held the keys to her newly-purchased cabin in her hand and kept gazing at them while Frankie drove away from the real estate office. "I can't believe I really own it," she murmured. Her eyes were filled with tears of joy.
Frankie looked over at his companion. She had on a pair of brown leggings, an oversized white corduroy shirt, and a kind of oatmeal colored cardigan sweater over that. The leggings clung to her lovely legs as if they'd been painted on.
"You look terrific today," Frankie said. "That's a really neat outfit."
"You think so?" Kay replied and flushed a little.
"You're a knockout," Frankie said, "I'd like to buy you to lunch to celebrate your new place."
Kay leaned over and gave him a kiss. "You really are a sweet man, you know that?" she said.
Frankie blushed. "I...I try, you know?" he murmured.
They went to a nice restaurant for lunch. Frankie parked in the restaurant's parking lot, got out of the car, and went around to hold the door for Kay.
"I can't get over what a gentleman you are, Frankie," Kay commented when she slid out of the car. "I thought your generation didn't bother with things like holding the door for women."
"I'm just doing what my folks taught me," the young man said as they walked into the restaurant. "I do what I want, I don't care what other kids in my generation think."
"Two for lunch?" the maitre de asked. He was an effeminate-looking little man with an affected French accent.
"Yes," Frankie said. "And non-smoking, please." Because of the man's phony accent and feminine affectations, he assumed the maitre de was gay.
The man gave Kay an approving look. "Non-smoking, madam, m'sieu?" he asked. "Is zat correct?"
"Yes, non-smoking," Frankie replied. Having seen the way the man looked at Kay, he decided he wasn't gay after all.
The maitre de nodded. "Of course," he said. "Please, follow me." He seated them and handed them menus. "Your waiter will be Charles," the man said, pronouncing the name "Sharle." "He will be with you in just a moment."
"Charles," Frankie said. "I don't think I've ever known my waiter's name before. You have to read the nametags to find out the names at McDonald's."
"I hope you emptied your piggy bank before you left this morning," Kay told him, "I have a feeling this place isn't cheap."
"I'm not worried," Frankie said. "Besides, I don't mind spending my hard-earned money on someone who looks as great as you do."
"Flatterer," Kay said. She began looking at the menu. "My word, Frankie! Look at these prices!"
"Don't worry," Frankie told her. "I've got plenty of money, and I know how to wash dishes if I don't have enough."
"I don't believe this," Kay continued, "Five dollars for a hamburger is obscene!"
"It's only four ninety-five and it isn't a hamburger, it's a flame-grilled chopped sirloin sandwich," Frankie said. "And it comes with the all you can eat salad bar and dessert."
Kay frowned. "I don't care," she said, "there's no way I'll ever pay five dollars for a hamburger."
"I'm going to have the poached salmon," Frankie said. "What are you having?"
"I think I'll have the Chicken Divan," Kay said. "Do you like fish?"
Frankie shrugged. "I've never had poached salmon," he said. "It sounds like it might be good."
Kay laughed. "I like that. You're adventuresome," she said.
The food was fantastic, and Charles was an attentive and pleasant waiter. Frankie left him a large tip.
"How big was that tip you left?" Kay asked as they walked out to the car.
"Twenty percent," Frankie said, "Eight bucks."
"Frankie, you only need to tip fifteen percent," Kay said.