It was after 8 on Sunday morning when Ridge pulled on his robe and went into the kitchen. Danica was there fixing breakfast. Whatever she was making, it smelled really good. She turned as he walked in and smiled. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” He went over to the island counter and sat down. “That smells great.” He pulled the folds of the robe together to cover his chest.
“It’s a Cream Cheese & Chive Omelet. How many slices of toast would you like?”
“Four slices, please.”
“Orange Juice?”
“Yes, thank you.”
She toasted four slices of bread and put them in the plate with the omelet. She poured a tall glass of orange juice and set it and the plate down in front of him. She went and brought her breakfast and juice over to the island and sat down beside him. “I hope you like it,”
“If it tastes as good as it smells, you have nothing to worry about.” He said a prayer and then, he put a piece of the omelet on a slice of toast and took a bite. “This is really good,” he muttered.
“I’m glad you like it. I learned how to make it last year.”
“What else have you learned beside making a delicious vegetarian omelet?”
“Well, I’ve learned how to perform CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver.”
“Hopefully, you won’t have to use that on me. What else?”
“I’m learning to speak Italian because it’s my dream to visit Italy one of these days. I learned how to draw and how to sew. So, I can practice my Italian on you, draw your portrait and mend your socks or shirts or…”
“This might surprise you but, I know how to sew too so I can mend my own socks or shirts or…”
“Okay. It was just a thought.”
“Don’t be upset, Dani. I’ve just gotten used to doing things for myself, that’s all.”
“I’m not upset.”
“Good.”
“I’ve learned how to bake bread from scratch, how to iron like a pro, self-defense and how to tie different knots.”
Ridge stared at her. “Are you planning on joining the navy?”
She made a face at him. “Of course not. I learned it from my uncle guy who was in the navy.”
“Perhaps you can show me how to tie these knots some time.”
“I will. What do you do for fun around here on the weekend?”
“Well, I usually hang out on the beach. Yesterday, I went to the beach after leaving the gym. Today, I will go to church, come home, have lunch, relax for a while and then, go to the beach and surf.”
“I love to surf. May I come with you?”
“You surf?”
“Yes. I took surfing lessons at a summer surf camp when I was a freshman in High school. During the summer, I went with a group of friends to the beach and surfed.”
“I had no idea.”
“I could tell from your reaction that you didn’t expect that I would know anything about surfing.”
“Well, I guess I will see firsthand how good you are at surfing. You’re in Tampa at the right time because November through March is when you get the best waves. I have an extra surfboard which you can use.”
“Thanks.”
He finished his orange juice and stood up. “Thanks for breakfast. It was very delicious. I enjoyed it very much.”
She smiled. “You’re welcome. Lunch will be ready when you come back.”
“Are you going to be all right here by yourself?”
She nodded. “Yes, I’ll be fine. I could relax on the terrace with the novel I’m reading for a while or watch some TV. I’ll find something to do.”
“All right.” He excused himself and left the kitchen.
She had the last slice of toast and omelet in her plate and then, cleared the counter. As she washed the dirty dishes, she thought about what she would prepare for lunch. It thrilled her that Ridge had enjoyed his breakfast.
She left the kitchen and walked in to the living-room. Lots of natural light streamed through the windows. It looked like it was going to be a beautiful, sunny day–perfect for surfing. She couldn’t wait to ride those waves.
Ridge walked into the room, dressed in a suit. He looked very sharp. He was carrying what looked like a Bible case in his hand. “Well, I’m off to church. If you feel up to it, you can come with me next week Sunday.”
“Sure.”
“See you later.”
“See you later.”
He turned and walked out of the living-room. Minutes later, she heard the door open and close.
Sources: Life Hack; Church of Jesus Christ; Green Iguana Surf Camp; Florida Trippers
Notes to Women 