ForcedTogetherpart12

The next morning Maria got up extra early. Sneaking past Michael�s room she chuckled lightly as she heard him snoring. Quickly she went downstairs and headed into the kitchen. Last night she had made a list of how to convince Michael that she loved him and she was starting her campaign today.

Step number one, making him a large hearty breakfast. Praying that the old saying that the way to a man�s hart was through his stomach, Maria pulled out the corn muffin mix and got to work. By the time she heard Michael getting up and heading into the bathroom she had already baked muffins, fried up some bacon and sausage and had pancakes warming in the oven.

Grinning she went over to the fridge and pulled out the eggs. She felt her hart flutter when she saw Michael leaning in the doorway staring at all the food she had made. Putting on her most dazzling smile she gestured for Michael to sit down at the breakfast nook.

Quickly she went over to the stove and grabbed the pot of coffee she had perking and poured him a mug, placing it next to the orange juice she had already for him. �So how do you want your eggs?� She asked as she headed back to the stove.

Michael looked around the room and finally settled his eyes on her. �Maria when the Hell were you possessed by the spirit of Donna Reed? I mean, this all looks great but this food is suppose to last us for a while, your not suppose to cook it all at once.�

Maria couldn�t help but to look hurt at Michael. �I just thought it would be nice to have a big breakfast for you first day on the job and all.�

Michael didn�t get to answer her because of a knock on the back door. Dejectedly Maria walked over and opened the door. She managed to find a smile for the three women standing on the back stoop. The older of the three women smiled at her and took her hand into her own as she stepped into the kitchen.

�Oh you must be Michael wife Maria. I�m Ruth Lawrence and I own The Baker�s Hollow Inn and am Michael boss.� She said patting the younger woman�s hand.

Maria felt her stomach fall out when the woman introduced herself and immediately ran her free hand through her hair realizing that she had only taken time out to wash her face and hands and to brush her teeth before coming down stairs to start cooking up a storm.

She could feel the hot blush working its way up her face that the woman who was not only Michael�s boss but also their landlady was seeing her for the first time wearing a flannel shirt and long johns with thermal socks on her feet. Not to mention mentally kicking herself when she realized she was trying to seduce Michael looking like a reject from a lumberjack camp.

Maria felt herself relax a little when the older woman gave her a sweet smile and patted her on the cheek. Mrs. Lawrence appeared to be in her early sixties and had a wonderful grandmotherly feel to her. Maria felt drawn to the woman and could tell that she was going to be very close to her.

Maria wished the floor would open up and swallow her when she saw the other two woman who had come in with Mrs. Lawrence. �Oh were are my manners. Michael, Maria these are the two housekeepers who work at the inn. This here is Jeanie and Courtney .� She explained pointing to the other two woman.

�Nice to meet you.� Maria was able to squeak out to the three woman. She turned and gave them each a smile. Jeanie was probable in her mid forties and had a jolly looking appearance, Maria had a sneaky suspicion that they would get along well with this woman too.

She didn�t get the same feeling from that Courtney girl. She was probable only a few years older than Maria and made her blood boil when she saw her checking out Michael right in front of her. �Hello, wife standing right here.� Maria wanted to scream at the bottle blonde bimbo. To make things worst she was all done up, I mean who wears all that make up to clean bedrooms and could her shirt get any smaller, why not just walk around topless if you want to give the guys a thrill.

Michael finally got up and nodded his greetings to the three woman. �Mrs. Lawrence, I�m sorry we meant to stop by yesterday to say hello.� Michael said helping the older woman onto one of the stools.

Maria was dumbfounded. MANNERS, when the Hell had he picked up manners! Oh he better not eat with his mouth open in front of her again! And if he every lets one go while their in the car again she was going to kill him! Not only did he help Mrs. Lawrence up he offered to get the other two women chairs from the dinning room to sit on. Both declined saying they need to get back to the inn and start their rounds. They left after Jeannie made Maria promise to come by later for coffee and danish.

�Mrs. Lawrence can I get you a cup of coffee or tea?� Michael asked. Maria head was spinning, right before her eyes Michael was turning into Cary Grant for crying out loud. Dammit where was her badly groomed poorly mannered Michael. Not that she didn�t find this Michael equally sexy. �Damn stop thinking about that. Concentrate, third party in the room!� she shouted to herself.

�Oh that is so sweet. I�ll have tea dear.� She said bringing Maria back down to earth.

�I�ll make it, I hope you like herbal tea.� Maria said as she rushed to put the kettle on and ran into the dinning room to grab the china tea pot as well as a china cup and saucer.
She remembered that her own grandmother had always said tea should be served in china and not in a mug.

�Oh please don�t go to all this bother.� Mrs. Lawrence said kindly.

�It�s not a bother at all.� Maria said cheerfully as she finished setting up the cup and saucer in front of the woman. The kettle started to whistle and Maria went over and filled up the teapot setting it aside to steep. On her way back she grabbed the coffee pot and refilled Michael�s mug while listening to the two discuss Michael duties.

�And the old handy man, Tom Lucas will be coming by today to show you how to run the furnace.�

Maria busied herself with getting cream and sugar for the tea and quietly poured Mrs. Lawrence�s drink. The older woman smiled at her and asked her to please join them. She hated to see Maria rushing around just for her.

�So Mrs. Lawrence��

�Oh for goodness sake please call me Ruthie, everyone does.� She asked kindly.

Maria smiled, she was definitely going to like this woman. �Ok, so Ruthie how long have you been running the inn?�

�Well my grandfather opened it in 1889 and it has been in my family every since. My father took over after Grandpa passed away in 1922, a year before I was born. My grandfather built this house in 1904 for my grandmother and my father and mother moved in when they took over the inn. Both myself and my brother Richard were born in this house.�

�I didn�t realize you have a brother, does he live close by?� Maria asked

�Oh no, he was killed on Normandy beach during World War II. He was eighteen and had just come out of boot camp when he was sent overseas.� She said with tears in her eyes.

Maria reached her hand out and grasped the other woman hand. �I�m so sorry, I can�t even imagine what that must have been like for you and your parents.�

�Well, my mother had passed away a year earlier of cancer so it was just my father and me. Poor Pa just never excepted Rich�s death. I stayed here helping to run the inn and taking care of Pa. He passed in 1970 after he had a stroke, he was 72 at the time.�

Michael had finished his pancakes, bacon and sausages and wrapped a couple of corn muffins in a napkin before he stood up. �If you ladies will excuse me, I�m going to go chop the wood for the fireplace in the foray.�

Michael started to head for the door when Maria called out to him. �Sweetie I�ll have your lunch all prepared for you when your ready. Why don�t you invite Mr. Lucas to join us.� Maria said in an attempt to sound like a doting wife for Ruthie.

He turned and looked at her a little stunned, not exactly sure why she was acting the way she was. �Oh, don�t you have a shift at the diner this afternoon.�

�Not until 3:00 P.M., I�m working 3:00 to 9:00 today. Darn I didn�t even realize that I wouldn�t be home for supper. I know you can come down to the diner and have dinner with me on my brake.� She prattled happily while starting to clean up the morning dishes.

�We�ll see. I should get out and start working on that wood.� Michael said as he went to grab the door handle. Turning he remembered that his boss was still sitting at the breakfast nook. �Thank you again for this opportunity Ruthie, I really appreciate it.�

�I�m sure you�ll work out fine Dear.� She said, but stopped Michael before he finished getting out the door. �Michael aren�t you forgetting something?�

He stopped and looked around to see if he left anything behind. He flashed a look at Maria who just shrugged her shoulders at what the woman was referring to.

�No mam I don�t think so.�

Ruthie chuckled. �Oh honey you�ve only been married six months and your already neglecting to kiss your wife good bye before you head out in the morning.�

�I will love you forever Ruthie.� Maria shouted to herself when she saw Michael flash a smile at her before he strolled over to her and placed a tender kiss on her mouth. Maria could feel that silly grin working its was up to her face. �Oh yeah, definitely loving you Ruthie.� She thought to herself as Michael headed out the door.

Maria called out to Michael giving him a huge toothy grin. �See you at lunch sweetie.� Smiling she went to make more tea for Ruthie; who was chatting away about the ins and outs of running and inn. Maria dutiful added an ooh and aha when it was appropriate but was silently chanting to herself, �Michael will be mine� over and over again.

TBC