Page 33 of Blinded
“Sorry, can’t help with that. You can’t argue with success. Is Suzie here?” Sandra asked.
“I’ll get her. Why don’t you wait by the bakery counter?” Sonja headed into the back through the swinging double doors.
Suzie came out a moment later with a large bakery box taped shut. “Hi Sandra, Ruby. Here it is. It’s a surprise, so take it home, put it in the fridge and don’t open it until Sunday. If you’re not completely satisfied, we have a money-back guarantee.”
“What? That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard!” Ruby said. “Why shouldn’t we see it now?”
“Because you might jinx it. GT had special instructions. I’m just fulfilling the order,” Suzie said.
“Yeah, he told me,” Sandra said. “He likes his little surprises. I won’t peek. I’m delivering it straight to his house. You’ve done your duty, Suzie.”
“Thanks, Sandra. He threatened to report me to Connor if I didn’t follow his instructions to the letter.”
“Well, we wouldn’t want that, would we?” Sandra smirked and winked.
Suzie pulled herself up to her full height and said primly, “I get all the attention I need from my husband, thank you very much.” She burst into giggles. “But a little extra doesn’t hurt either.”
Sandra and Ruby joined in her laughter. “On that note, we’d better get going. Hope to see you at the club soon,” Sandra said.
“Okay, let’s get this mystery cake back to GT’s house if you’re so determined to let him have his surprise. I hope it’s worth the wait,” Ruby said.
“If Suzie made it, it’s worth the wait. You know that, Ruby. See y’all later,” Sandra called as they exited the café.
Super Bowl Sunday was unlike the usual February day in KC. GT couldn’t remember another time it had been this was bright, sunny and warm. He only hoped the Chiefs were ready to make it an even better day. He turned over and saw Sandra still asleep. He never tired of seeing her in his bed. She fit so perfectly. If only he could get her past her resistance to a more serious relationship.
Sandra seemed to be easing into a living arrangement with him. Slowly but steadily, more and more of her belongings were moving into his house. She had a toothbrush and some girly stuff in his bathroom and a drawer with clothes in his bedroom. GT didn't press the matter although he kept stealing glances at her all morning and afternoon.
They fell into an amiable companionship – no forced conversation and no awkward silences. When their friends arrived less than ten minutes apart, Sandra took Ruby and Paula for a tour through the house like it was the most natural thing in the world. GT watched the women, deep in thought, but was soon pulled out of his reverie by Will and Jim talking about the upcoming game.
When it was time for the kickoff, they all settled in around GT’s giant TV. The monitor took up the better part of one wall with his leather couch, recliner, and love seat making a perfect viewing area for the six of them.
“What is it with men and their big ass screens?” Ruby asked.
“Don’t criticize,” Will stage whispered. “It’s bigger than mine so we can see the game better. We don’t want to get thrown out.”
Everyone chuckled and started digging into the food.
The coffee table held an array of plates with cheeses, crackers, vegetables, dips, chicken wings, and nachos. GT and Sandra were together in the extra-large recliner, Will and Ruby were on the couch, and Jim was in the love seat with Paula comfortably curled around his legs.
At the end of the first half, Will was incensed, “It’s a classic battle of the titans. I can’t believe they’re tied!”
“It’s only the first half, honey,” Ruby responded. “They’ve got another thirty minutes to play.”
While the commentators rehashed the game, the women turned their attention to the ads. Even the men agreed with Paula and Sandra that the best commercial so far was Google’s ad about the elderly man wanting to remember his late wife. Ruby tried to argue that watching Jason Momoa take off his muscles was better but Sandra called her on it. “I saw you wipe your eyes when he said to remember that he was the luckiest man in the world.”
“All right. It was good. I’ll admit it. But look, the half-time show is starting.” Ruby bounced up and down eliciting a groan from Will.
They watched, transfixed as Shakira and JLo sang and danced with what seemed like a cast of thousands, the beats and songs changing so fast it was hard to keep track. “Wow!” Paula exclaimed at the end. “That was really something. Who was the little girl singing ‘Born in the USA’?”
“That was JLo’s daughter, Emme. And wasn’t JLo’s Puerto Rican flag great?”
“That was Puerto Rico? I thought I saw the Stars and Stripes.” Jim rubbed his chin.
“It was Puerto Rico on the front and the USA on the back,” Ruby spoke with certainty.
“I thought she was from New York?” Sandra said.
“Her parents are from Puerto Rico. I think it’s great to put to two Latinas up to star in the half-time show at the Super Bowl. That was just fabulous.”
