Just Delectable



  Just Delectable

  A very short story and a recipe

  By

  Fiona Lowe

  Annie Higgins is stuck working in the deep freeze of the Port Frazer fish co-op earning money for her semester at Cambridge. She never wants to see another prawn again. While she's filleting fish, she's dreaming of sunshine and building castles in the air. Little does she know that the prawns she detests are the key to romance and adventure.

   

  'Just Delectable.' A short story 5000 words.

  ISBN 9781311780539

  Copyright Fiona Lowe 2015. All rights reserved.

  Published by Fiona Lowe November 2015

  Originally published in Sizzle, Seduce and Simmer by Mira Books 2007

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Please respect the hard work of the author.

  Discover more books by Rita award-winning and

  bestselling author Fiona Lowe

  at https://www.fionalowe.com

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  Just Delectable

  Children’s sticky finger marks blurred the view through the large plate glass window, but even blurred it was completely spectacular. The water in the perfectly curved bay rippled calmly today lapping against the imposing red bluff that defined the entrance, and endless blue ocean lay on the other side. Red, green and yellow fishing boats bobbed on their moorings close to the white, wooden pier that carved majestically through the water, staking a claim that dated back a hundred years. Today the sea danced around the pier's barnacled criss-cross supports, its surface a shimmering phosphorescence courtesy of the rays from the white-hot sun. Further along, the golden sand of the beach was dotted with shade tents and broad-brimmed hats covered the heads of all those brave or silly enough to be out in the scorching sun.

  All of it was quintessentially summer in Queensland.

  Annie shivered and plunged her hands into her blue utility coat, trying to warm up her fingers. Summer in Queensland and she was freezing in the Port Frazer Fish Co-op. For five summers she’d come home and worked in the icy depths of the co-op, saving her money to get her through the lean times that were the university academic year.

  Normally, she loved being back in her hometown. Her mum and dad welcomed her with open arms, fed her with mouth-watering meals and generally spoiled her. She enjoyed the annual ‘catch-up’ up with her high-school friends and the after-hours socialising made up for the non-stimulating job. But this year was different. All her friends had taken shorter uni courses than her so this year they were scattered across the country tackling new jobs and settling into ‘grown-up’ lives. Her best friend, Jen, had a gorgeous new baby and was rightfully distracted and exhausted in equal measure caring for tiny Ruby. Even her parents were away. They were off exploring the culinary delights of Asia and researching their next cookbook. This meant she was feeding herself and not very well at that. Sadly, she hadn’t inherited the cooking gene like the rest of the family. All of this year's changes had left Annie feeling unsettled and lonely. And conspicuously alone.

  A memory of vivid blue eyes floated across her mind and she allowed herself a momentary daydream until a gravelly voice broke into her reverie. ‘More blue swimmer crabs for you to ice, Annie.’

  Harry, who’d been an ‘old hand’ thirty years ago when her parents had worked at the co-op, gave her a toothless grin and dumped another tub of freshly cooked crustaceans next to her. ‘Gee, thanks, Harry.’

  She was so sick of seafood. She loathed lobsters, crabs gave her the creeps, prawns peeved her and she hated hake. She’d had enough. But she had three more long weeks of finger-numbing and mind-numbing work before she could finish up. As she iced the swimmer crabs she spun castles in the air—European castles because they were the reason she was working here. The money she earned would supplement the scholarship she’d won for a semester at Cambridge University, rounding off her degree in Architecture. She couldn’t wait to visit Europe—an architect’s palette. A place to dream and a place to fill the well of inspiration. She just had to get through the next few weeks.

  ‘Shop!’ Harry’s voice carried across the chilled air as the bell rang, summoning Annie to the front.

  ‘Coming.’ Tourists loved to watch the day’s catch being unloaded and as they walked back along the pier they would call in to buy fresh fish for dinner. With her feet slipping in her overly large white gum boots she schlepped to the counter, slapped on her best ‘customer service’ smile and glanced up.

  ‘Morning.’ Cornflower blue eyes twinkled at her as a familiar deep voice rumbled around the small space, bouncing off the old timber walls.

  Warmth streamed through her and she desperately fought the urge to tear off the so-not-stylish paper cap on her head that OH&S regulations forced her to wear. For two weeks ‘Mr Twinkling Eyes’ had been coming into the shop, smiling, buying fish, chatting and departing. Each time he left her feeling both elated and deflated.

  For fourteen days she’d anticipated his daily visit— the highlight of her day—but the anticipation always exceeded the reality. Their transaction raced past too quickly, the conversation always staying centred on the fish, the weather and the natural beauty of Port Frazer. It was slowly driving her crazy. Outside of work, she’d looked for him at the usual Port Frazer haunts— the pub, the bakery café, the oyster bar— but she'd never spied him. Once he left the co-op he seemed to vanish into thin air but he always reappeared the following day. It was delicious and frustrating all at the same time.

  Today his eyes danced and his dimples dazzled, as he looked straight into her face. ‘What do you recommend on this sunny day?’

  Me. ‘A steak would be my preference.’

  Warm, rich laughter floated over her, capturing her melancholy and spiriting it away.

  ‘How about tiger prawns?’ He pointed to the pile in the case.

  ‘They've been frozen. Today's catch is just coming off the boat now. If you prefer fresh, come back at closing time.’

  His forehead wrinkled in thought. ‘I’ve got a few things on this afternoon but I should be able to shoot back just before six.’

  Her heart tripped in anticipation. She finished at six. ‘How many do you want? I can wrap them and have them ready for you.’

  ‘A dozen would be great. Thanks.’ His face creased in a wide smile and laughter lines bracketed his mouth.

  Right then and there, Annie realised that bones really could melt. She gripped the counter with both hands and locked her knees. ‘Right then, see you at six.’

  ‘See you at six.’ He gave her a wave and strode out, sending the clear plastic strips scattering.

  Yes! Ignoring the stares of her colleagues, she happy danced in her gumboots, anticipation thrumming through her veins at the chance of seeing him twice in one day.