Adobo

Adobo

                                        Vickie Riggan

                                          1440 words

           Miranda sat across from Freddy in the little booth at Adobo House. She had never eaten Filipino food, but the chicken adobo looked good. He was evidently a regular here as the waiter didn’t even ask him what he wanted although he did ask for an order of lumpia for them both which turned out to be spring rolls. It was one of her favorite foods, so she happily dug in. Soon a bowl of steaming hot chicken and rice was placed before her. The waiter placed a large dish of noodles, veggies, and shrimp at Freddy's side of the table, proudly declaring it “Pancit luglug” before walking away. 

           “Let’s eat,” he told Miranda with a smile that showed off his dimples. The waiter returned with a small plate. Freddy placed some of his pancit on the plate and slid it over to Miranda. “I hope you like noodles,” he said watching her face for a reaction.

           Miranda took a bite and wanted to cry out “Yes!” The sauce was so good. She had always enjoyed Mexican food, and she loved Chinese food. This was somewhere in the middle, and it was terrific. It had been a while since her oatmeal this morning and that apple and energy bar weren’t very filling at lunch. For a time the two of them ate in silence and Miranda was lost in the delicious flavors and aromas. Music, almost like the sound of a wind-up music box played softly from the speakers mounted at the ceiling while large goldfish swam around in the aquarium by the door. All her senses seemed heightened as she ate.

           When their plates began to look empty the waiter returned with what she guessed were two slices of cake for dessert.    Freddy seemed a little embarrassed. “I guess you can tell I’m a regular here,” he said. “I hope you like coconut cake.”

           Miranda looked at the dish placed before her. “It doesn’t really look like any coconut cake I’ve ever had, but I’m happy to try it,” she replied. She was used to a slice from a round cake with lots of sugary frosting (her favorite part) and this looked more like a blonde brownie. So much for the sugar rush, she thought. Then she placed a small bite in her mouth and couldn’t help smiling. It was sort of chewy, very sweet, and yes, very coconutty if there is such a word. It was heaven in a little square. 

           “It’s made with grated cassava, coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, and even some coconut meat,” Freddy told her as she dove into her plate.

           “What’s it called,” she asked him.

           Freddy paused and made a pose as if thinking very hard. “Cake,” he answered, and they both started laughing. “Really, really good cake,” he added chuckling. She had to laugh too.

           Miranda continued to finish her dessert while thinking about how much better today had turned out to be. She felt very comfortable here with this man who was really a stranger to her except that she had read his novel, read it twice in fact, and she felt that she knew parts of him he had never shown to anyone else. She wondered if anyone else knew that this mechanic in greasy overalls was a very talented novelist. She didn’t know if he believed it, but she was sure of it.

           After the empty dishes were cleared away Freddy and Miranda lingered over a cup of hot jasmine tea as she listened to his telling of the morning’s events at his friend Alonso’s auto parts store. “So, you helped your best friend get the courage to fly out to be with the woman he has fallen in love with?” Miranda asked.

           “Yeah, I guess I did. I hadn’t thought about it like that, but it seems I did,” Freddy said with a hint of surprise in his voice.

           Miranda had been listening to Freddy’s story while slowly nibbling at the cassava coconut cake. It was sweet and a little chewy at the same time with little bits of coconut in every bite. And then it dawned on her. She put down her fork, looked Freddy straight in the eye, and asked,” How expensive is it going to be?”

           “The dinner?” Freddy asked somewhat confused. “That’s my treat. I’m actually glad you liked it.”

           “Not the dinner, and yes, I liked it very much,” Miranda responded. “You spend all day at the parts house, then you ask me to dinner. I think you’re trying to get me in a good mood before you tell me some outrageous amount to fix my engine,” she countered.

           “No, that’s not it at all. I always eat here on Thursday nights. I just thought it would be nice to have some pleasant company this time,” Freddy said sounding a bit on the defensive.

           Miranda softened her expression a little before asking,” So, did he by any chance find the parts you need to fix my engine so I can get out of town?”

           Now Freddy really did feel like he was on the defensive. “No. I mean yes. I mean, oh heck, you’ve got me going in circles. I could have just told you what I know at the garage, and we could have each gone off to eat alone. This just seemed like a nicer way to discuss business,” he stammered.

           “I apologize for thinking the wrong thing about you,’ Miranda admitted to Freddy. “So just go ahead and tell me. Did you find the parts? Is it going to be terribly expensive?”

           “No, we didn’t find the parts at Alonso’s,” Freddy stated very matter-of-factly.

           Miranda’s heart sank. Life was feeling like one disappointment after another. “So, there’s no hope?”

           Freddy grinned just enough for Miranda to be taken in by his dimples once again. “Oh, there’s always hope. Alonso found a dealer in Michigan with the parts I need. He can ship them here within a week.”

           “A week?” Miranda felt her voice rising at the end of her question.

           “And once they get here, I can have your little van up and running in a couple of days,” he added with a touch of pride in his voice.

           “Maybe you didn’t really notice but that van is my home on wheels. If it’s in your shop for a week, where am I going to sleep?” Miranda felt hot tears welling up behind her eyes. “I won’t let him see me cry,” she thought to herself.

           Freddy motioned to the waiter to bring more tea and cassava cake. “Breathe, Miranda. Relax and breathe,” he said in a soothing voice as he lifted his teacup. “Have some more tea and more of the cake. Sugar is good for relieving stress,” he told her.

           She knew he was just trying to keep her calm, but all she could see was the expense of the engine repairs and now a big hotel bill as well. Her mind began racing through the numbers in her checkbook, the available balance on her credit cards, and hidden cash in her wallet. Miranda felt well and truly stuck with no way out. She was so deep in thought that she didn’t hear Freddy the first time he asked her.

           “I said, can you type and answer a phone?” he repeated.

           “Well, yes, of course I can,” she countered almost as if he had insulted her.

           “Because I may have a little good news for you. Once I learned how long the shipping and repairs would take, I felt bad. I know that this little van camper is your traveling hotel room and while it sits in my garage you’re out of a home, so after I left Alonso’s, I stopped by Two Moons RV Ranch.  I know the owner, Lloyd, and I also know that his regular office help is gone for a month, and he needs help. Plus, there’s a small efficiency apartment that comes with the job, and a small paycheck, if you’ll take it,” Freddy explained.

 At this last peace of news Freddy smiled like a car salesman confident that he had just made a sale.  “What choice do I have,” Miranda thought. “I guess I’ll take it,” she answered uncertainly. “It’s not like I have much choice.”

           Freddy smiled widely now and eagerly took a big bite of the cassava cake. Somehow the food tasted even better than usual tonight. 

           Miranda began to eat more cake too. She stopped just before putting a second bite into her mouth, “Just what is an RV Ranch?” she asked.