chapter 3: the start of something new

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Thanks for all the feedback! I'll try to have new chapters up every few days.

Stay tuned --- the story's just getting started!

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Shadows began to lengthen as the hectic day drew to an end. Lindsay had been making some new friends among the Stannonford nursing staff when Kathy, Mary Anne, and Vanessa came over to her picnic table in a flurry of excitement.

"Did you see some of those studs I was talking to? I got several of their numbers!" Kathy squealed.

"Way to go, girl!" Lindsay tried to feign excitement for her friend's benefit.

"I may have a classy date for next Tuesday," Vanessa remarked with a grin. "He's a lawyer - and so intellectually stimulating!"

"Nice! Good for you!" came the chorus of replies.

Lindsay turned to Mary Anne. "How about you?" she queried the shy, buxom blonde.

"Oh, I'm still seeing Julia regularly," Mary Anne blushed. "We've gotten back together and are going strong now."

Lindsay didn't have to fake excitement this time. "That's wonderful! I'm so happy for you!" she cried.

"Well...whaddya say, Lindsay?" Kathy pried with a sly grin. "Didya do any man-hunting?"

Before Lindsay could respond, Betsy came running --- or rather, quickly waddling - over. "C'mon girls, you're going to miss the cutting of the cake!" The biggest event of the Bash was the cutting and eating of an enormous cake, and it was about to begin. Lindsay grabbed Timmy, still sound asleep in his carrier, and scurried after the other nurses to the center of the park.

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& quot;Welp....that's a bummer."

Lindsay sat down heavily at her picnic table. The event planning staff hadn't anticipated the number of attendees this year, and the cake wasn't big enough for everyone to have a piece. She had waited in line for almost a half hour before being the first person to be told there was no cake left. It was her favorite too --- chocolate caramel cake with heavy vanilla cream frosting and candied cherries on top. Sinfully rich, heavy, and sweet --- the sort of food she craved the most.

"Maybe it's for the best," she told Timmy, looking down at her overfed tummy again.

"Gee, that's too bad about the cake, isn't it?" said a strong, friendly voice.

Startled, Lindsay looked up. A man stood across from her at the table. He was average height, slightly taller than her, and well-built, probably in his mid-twenties. His jeans were faded from years of use, and the rolled-up sleeves of his plaid button-down shirt betrayed muscular forearms streaked with veins. He was brown-haired and tanned from outdoors activity, but most of all, Lindsay noticed his eyes. They were bright, clear, and had the warmest and richest brown color to them that she had ever seen.

She took a moment to gather her wits and respond.

"Yeah...you'd think they'd know how many people to order a cake for," Lindsay responded with a wry grin.

A smile flashed across the man's strong jawline.

"Pardon my forwardness, but I was hoping you could help me with something. I have two pieces of cake on my hands, and I can't eat both of them." For the first time, Lindsay noticed that each of his wiry hands held a plate with a large, thick, tempting slice of that exquisite cake. Her mouth watered and her stomach rumbled. She knew she shouldn't, but her willpower wasn't able to resist both the cake and this good-looking man at the same time.

"I...I mean...Sure!" Lindsay stammered with delight.

"Wonderful," said the man. "Do you mind if I sit down?"

Still eyeing the cake, Lindsay shook her head vigorously. "I'm Lindsay," she said. "And this is Timmy," she pointed to the one-year-old.

"Delighted to meet you, Lindsay," the man replied, extending his hand across the table. "My name is Derek." A tingle went up Lindsay's spine as her soft hand was enveloped in his firm, gentle grasp. "And hello to you too, good sir!" Derek smiled at Timmy, who was waving his hands around towards the stranger's face. Timmy gurgled in delight.

"So...what brought you to the bash?" Lindsay asked, as she dug into her cake.

"Oh, I just recently moved to the Stannonford area for my job," Derek explained. "I'm a software engineer, and I recently started my own company. But I'm around engineers and computer geeks most of the day, so I've been trying to meet more locals and get familiar with the town. The Community Bash seemed like a great place to do so."

Lindsay nodded her head in agreement as she took a bite of the huge slice of cake. The flavors exploded sensually inside her mouth. She struggled to keep herself from tearing ravenously into the dessert.

"How about you, Lindsay? Tell me about yourself," Derek requested.

So, between bites of gooey chocolate cake, Lindsay told Derek some of her story. She talked about life at Stannonford, about her life as a single mom, and of course, about Timmy. Derek listened attentively, nodding his agreement or laughing in support of her. Lindsay felt relaxed and happy in his presence, in a way that she hadn't felt around other men in years.

Finally, she finished her cake. All of a sudden, she realized that Derek hadn't eaten a bite of his.
Her cheeks flushed a bright pink.

"Ohhh...You must think I'm such a glutton," Lindsay said. "I ate so fast..."

"No no no, please don't feel bad," Derek hastened to reply. "I'm glad you enjoyed it so much --- it made standing in line all that time worth it."

She blushed again and smiled. "Do you not like the cake?"

"Oh, no," said Derek. "I actually don't really like sweet foods that much." He watched her eyes as she studied the fattening food. "Would you like it?"

Lindsay struggled with the decision. "Oh...well...I really shouldn't. I'm trying to watch my figure...I don't normally eat like this..."

"If you don't want it, I'll probably just throw it out. Shame to see such a great cake go to waste." Derek got up from the table.

"Wait!" exclaimed Lindsay, before she could stop herself. "I mean...If you're just going to throw it out...as you said, shame to see it go to waste...I'll eat it."

There was a glint in Derek's eyes that Lindsay didn't see. "Then it's all yours," he smiled. "Please enjoy yourself."

Lindsay didn't need to be told twice. She tucked into the second piece of cake voraciously. Their conversation carried on until the afternoon shadows darkened into dusk.

As she ate, Lindsay's belly pushed out into her lap a bit further. But she was too preoccupied with Derek and her food to notice.

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Lindsay was nearly mobbed by the other nurses when she arrived at the ICU the next day. They saw her with Derek briefly before they left, and everyone wanted to know who he was.

"Look, he didn't know anyone and just wanted someone to talk to," she told them. "I'm sure nothing will come of it."

"Really?" quipped Vanessa. "That's too bad --- some guy named Derek came and left us a humongous amount of food this morning. He was pretty cute! And he left a note with your name on it," she winked. "You sure you don't know anything about that?"

Lindsay flushed bright red in surprise. "N-no...no...honestly, I didn't know anything about that," she stammered.

The other nurses twittered and giggled as Lindsay dashed behind the nurses' desk.

Sure enough --- there were even more treats than normal. Boxes upon boxes of donuts, muffins, croissants, cupcakes, and brownies. And the largest box had an envelope attached to it with the name "Lindsay" written on the front in beautiful cursive handwriting. She waited until the other nurses had drifted off to do their morning rounds before opening it. The note read,

"Dear Lindsay,

It was a delight to meet you and share your company last night. Your presence was a pleasure, and I enjoyed our conversation greatly. I'd love to treat you to a meal at the restaurant of your choosing sometime, if you're interested. Please enjoy these treats as a token of my gratitude, and feel free to share them with the other nurses.

My number is listed inside this envelope. It is for your eyes only. If you wish to take me up on my offer, let me know. And if you're not interested, I won't bother you again.

Yours admiringly,

Derek"

As she finished the note, the deep, powerful longings struck her again. If Lindsay had looked up, she would have seen Betsy smiling knowingly at her from across the hallway.

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Lindsay lay on her futon that evening, as she had so many nights before. Her belly was stuffed with Derek's treats --- she had eaten so much that day --- and it bulged out from between her t-shirt and her yoga pants. The fullness made her sluggish and relaxed, a feeling she loved after a hard day's work.

She was thinking about Derek's note. The longings and cravings had been more powerful today than ever before.

Could Derek be what she was looking for?

She wanted to say no, that it was all nonsense, that a guy like him couldn't be interested in a girl like her. Then the words of Aunt Betsy came ringing through her head:

"A good man could be an enormous benefit to you."

Lindsay made a decision. She reached for her phone and started texting.

"Hey, Derek..."

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**** I'll try to have CH 4 up by this weekend!