David pulled two meals out of the small refrigerator. He put one in the microwave and left the other on the counter, presumably for her. Once his was done, he took it and a fork then sat at the table.
Jazz wasn’t sure she’d expected him to make something for her, but her father would have given her mom the first one cooked. At the very minimum, he would have started Mom’s for her.
She picked up the meal and hoped it had directions. It wasn’t your average frozen meal, but clearly prepared by someone who knew what they were doing. A label showed the contents - and the problem. “David, are all of the meals the same?”
He looked up from his bite of pasta. “No. Why?”
She held it up. “I’m allergic to shellfish.”
“Help yourself to one of the others.” He went back to his meal.
Her eyes narrowed a bit, but she opened the fridge and pulled out the five other meals there. All of them contained either shellfish or crab meat. She put the other one away and closed the fridge, returning to her seat.
“Nothing sounds good?” David asked glancing up again.
“I’m allergic to all of them,” she told him with a shrug. “You had no way of knowing.”
He looked down at his partially eaten meal. “Would you like the rest of this one?”
“What is it?”
David handed over the lid.
Jazz scanned it. “It looks fine.”
He pushed it toward the other side of the table. “Then you’re welcome to it.”
Her eyes narrowed. It didn’t sound like he meant it, but it was either take his word for it or go hungry. She slid into the booth across from him as he stood to make himself another meal.
A few minutes later, he returned to his seat. “What else are you allergic to?”
Jazz shook her head. “Just shellfish, including crab meat.” Not everyone remembered crab meat was also shellfish. “It’s not a super severe reaction, or never has been. I’m not likely to have my airway swell shut or anything, but I do break out in hives.” She poked at a piece of pasta. “I also found out the hard way that I can’t kiss anyone who’s recently eaten either one.”
“Are you allergic to seafood in general?”
“No. I’ve never had a reaction to fish.”
“Duly noted.”
“Hands, too. So if someone ate crab legs and didn’t wash their hands well, I could have a reaction then, too.” Not a bad one. Localized hives, usually, but still.
He nodded. “I’ll make sure Stewart is aware.”
“Thank you.” Not that she figured she’d be kissing him again anytime soon, but he needed to know.
Now to kill a few more hours then take the most uncomfortable flight ever to a country where they might not be welcome.
What an end to a day with her first hangover.
As he walkedtoward the SUV, David kept his head high and held Jasmine’s hand. She walked behind him just a bit, but he stood back and let her climb in first and slide across the seat. He knew photos were being taken quietly but wouldn’t be distributed any time soon.
Randall drove as Stewart sat in the passenger seat.
“Where are we going?” Jasmine asked quietly.
“A secure location,” he told her. “I’m not sure which one, but likely a nondescript house.”
She nodded but didn’t say anything else.
