Page 47 of Backdraft
"You know, maybe I'll get something completely different. Something from the farthest-away country."
"That's a great idea. What you think?"
"I like Thai, but I've had it a lot. So…" he continued to contemplate.
"You know what? I'm going to go for Polish sausage and pierogis," Drea said with determination.
"Ha. I hadn't even thought about that. But you know what, it sounds perfect."
He took her hand again and liked how it felt in his. Her head only came to his shoulders, and the overpowering urge to be protective was a new feeling for him.
Taylor glanced down at her and met her gaze. He smiled and squeezed her hand. He was rewarded with a grin and she tightened her hand in his. This road trip was turning out to be a great idea. It gave them the perfect opportunity to be together without any outside intrusion.
At the truck, they stood under the white and red canopy and looked at the menu.
"Holy cow, I didn't realize there would be so many options to choose from. All those toppings on a Polish sausage on a bun? I would've just put mustard on it," she said.
"It smells great. I think I'll get the one that has onions and cabbage and tomatoes." Taylor nodded, decision made.
"Oh look, they have Polish sausage cabbage rolls. On a bun. I'm totally getting that." He liked the excitement in her voice.
They stepped forward and placed their orders along with a large order of pierogis. He saw they also had pickled herring and sour cream and added it to their order.
Laden with a bag of lunch, they found a table under a tree. It was warm, but there were clouds scattered through the sky, and it was starting to get darker.
"Looks like a storm is closing in on us." Taylor sat and unpacked the bag of food.
"I heard we were going to be getting storms this afternoon, but it's coming in quicker than forecasted," she said while picking up her bun and looking for the best place to take the first bite.
"Hopefully, it doesn't rain until we finish lunch and get a chance to do some wine tasting." He took a bite of his roll, and flavor exploded in his mouth. "Mmm." He nodded.
"Right." Drea picked up a pierogi and swept it through the sour cream. "Oh, man."
"How did you find your way to Oak Creek?" he asked her.
"I tend to move around a lot, kind of go where the need takes me." She took a sip of her Dr. Pepper. "It was actually Shannon that told me about the opening, and that's how I found myself here."
She took another bite of her sandwich, and he dipped a piece of herring in the sour cream and also loaded some onion on it.
"I've never had herring." She grimaced.
"Have a try." Taylor pushed the plate toward her.
"I don't know."
"Come on. Be a taster. That's what my aunt would say when I was a kid and didn't want to eat something. Once you taste it, you can decide not to like it."
"If you insist." Drea picked a small piece and put it in her mouth.
Taylor watched her chew slowly. The bridge of her nose wrinkled, and she blinked a few times.
"Okay, I tasted." She took a quick drink.
"And?"
"Not awful, but not great. I think I'm just an English fish-and-chip kinda girl. How did you end up here, and why the change in career path?"
His tilted his head back and picked up the napkin to wipe his fingers. This time, it was Taylor who took a long drink while he considered his answer. He knew this question would come up eventually, and he still wasn't sure if he was ready to talk about it.
