Hi everyone! I've extended this story again. Hope you like it. Or you can tell me if you don't. Thank you.
“Need a pair of hands here.” Stella leaned against the door frame of Mac’s office holding a mini cooler and a paper bag.
“What can I do for you, Stella?” Mac stood up from his chair. “What’s in the cooler?”
Stella got in, put the stuff on the floor next to a chair and sat down. “Sid bought a live lobster through Mr. Lee. He was intended to make his wife a …” She dug into her pocket to fish out a piece of paper. “
Lobster with chicken stock and E-men. E-men is Chinese noodle. Sid is apparently another student of Mr. Lee. He got the recipe.” Stella waved the piece of paper. “Only he forgot that they have to attend a friend’s birthday dinner tonight. So we win the grand prize.”
“You’re going to cook a live lobster?” Mac was amused.
“I’ve count you in. We were succeeded in the lettuce wrap. We can do this.” Stella crossed her arms and leaned back on the chair.
“I’m not sure about that.” Mac rubbed his chin.
“Hey, you don’t take challenge unless work related?” Stella tilted her head and smirked. Then something flashed through her mind. “Oh, maybe you already have plans tonight. I’m sorry, Mac. I…” She picked up the stuff.
“No. I don’t have plans. But I can’t leave right away. Not in thirty minutes.”
“I’ll be in my office.” Stella grinned and left.
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“Apparently I’m not much help here.” Mac said with a laughing face. He was watching Stella gingerly picked the lobster out of the cooler and placed it onto the cutting board. Although the lobster’s movement was slow, its spiky shell was not easy to handle.
“You can read me the steps. What should I do first?”
Mac looked at the paper. “Mmm…stick a chopstick into the hole at its tail to drain away the urine.”
“I don’t have chopsticks.”
Mac opened a drawer to look for something useful. Then he took the ice-pick. “This will do the trick.”
Stella turned her face to the other side when she worked. “Yuck.”
Mac chuckled seeing her funny face.
“Enjoying the show, huh? Next time you do this.” Stella made a grimace. “OK. What’s next?”
Mac stopped laughing. “Wash the lobster thoroughly, take out the meat and cut into several pieces.”
Stella was washing the lobster when it suddenly twisted. Its spikes scratched Stella’s hand. “Ouch…”
“You alright?” Mac approached and took Stella’s hand. There were two red lines across her few fingertips. Fortunately, she was not bleeding. Mac washed her fingers under the running water.
Stella’s heart was racing looking at Mac cleaning her fingers with tender, careful strokes.
Mac found he was looking at Stella’s bright red face when he finally looked up. He dried her hands with a clean towel. “You take a break. I’ll do the rest.”
“I’m fine. I can do it. You…umm…Why don’t you pour me some wine? I’m gonna cook this little thing and eat it. For revenge.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” Stella picked up the lobster again. She exhaled the breath she was holding after Mac walked out of the kitchen.
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“To be honest, the noodles are better than the lobster.” Stella said.
“Yeah. The noodles absorbed all the extract of the lobster and the chicken stock.”
Mac and Stella were walking slowing in the street. Stella suggested they should do some exercise after dinner.
“Is your hand alright?” Mac glanced at Stella’s hand.
“Yep.” Stella dared not to look at Mac.
“Maybe we should pay Mr. Lee a visit when we want to eat lobster.” Mac chuckled.
“It’s much convenience, huh? I don’t mind cooking when I have time. I love home made food. But I’m usually exhausted when I came home. And there’s no need to go through all the troubles to cook for myself only.”
“Yeah. Sandwiches are good enough for me.” Mac thought of his late wife, the sweet dinner time with her. “Thank you for the dinner, Stella.”
“You did it with me. Should I thank you in return?” Stella smiled.
They kept walking in silence.
Mac stopped. “Well, it’s far enough. I’ll walk you back home.”
“What?” Stella didn’t believe what she heard. “No. I know my way home. You just grab a cab and go home.”
“I’ll go home after I walked you home.”
“Don’t be silly, Mac.” Stella stood her ground. “I always go home by myself.”
“Not tonight. Come on.” Mac took Stella’s hand and started walking.
Neither one of them spoke again. They knew in their hearts that they were waiting for this to happen. Whoever made the leap had the great determination. They could break the magic now or follow their heart.
They walked slowly back to Stella’s building. Still hand in hand, they looked at each other in silence.
“See you tomorrow.” Mac said softly and released Stella’s hand.
“Yeah. See you tomorrow.” Stella smiled and got inside the building.
