It is so like Bobby to get caught up in the protective mode and want to go find Steve!! He will eventually get around to hugging Tara!! But, right now he knows the girls are there to make sure she's all right while he and the guys go take care of Steve!!!
Joy
Full Version: Option #7 - Recipe for Happiness - Stollhofen
RomanceFanFiction.net > The Highlights - A Place To Start > Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > 2007 Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > Cookin' Up Summer Challenge 2007
I've made an executive decision to basically cut all of the Levi/Katie stuff I have, unless I've already written it into the last post.
Unfortunately, I don't have the time or creative mind set to add the doggie bits in. Sorry to disappoint anyone!
So, to clearly state it:
Post 1) The one on this page
Post 2) The continuation of Post #1, also the last post of the story!
Enjoy!
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He was fuming. No, fuming didn’t even describe the anger Special Agent Bobby Manning was feeling as he drove his car in circles in a roundabout. Fuming was when you could control your anger. Fuming was a nice state of mind.
No. No, what he felt inside was like the world was falling on his head. His peer, his coworker, his friend, his love had been tossed around like a ragdoll at the hands of her boyfriend! How was anyone supposed to be in the right state of mind after that… How did you find peace, with fear and evil like that haunting you, whichever way you went?
He had had it all figured out. Tara would open the door (at the right time!) and grace them with her presence. They would smile, laugh over their cake and decorations, simply enjoying their company
Except when everyone left, he’d be the only person left in the room. He’d acknowledge that malevolence boyfriend of hers, but utterly devote his love to her. He wouldn’t ask for acknowledgement back, heck, even the fact that she was listening would mean the world to him.
But now, he’d never have that chance. Tara would probably have months of [i[rehab![/i] over this… she’d never feel adequate enough again… she’d live with constant fear…. At the hands of that—
“Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, under the shade of a coolibah tree,”
Bobby’s cell phone sang along with “Waltzing Mathilda” as he fumbled for the it, buried somewhere beneath the seat cushion.
Finally grasping his hands on it, he flicked it open, and the blood drained like rain water from his face as he lifted the speaker to his ear.
“Lucy! What’s wrong? Is something wrong with-”
“Tara?” Lucy replied. “No, she’s fine. Better, I think. She’s sitting up now, in the living room, but she won’t talk to anyone. I’m worried Bobby.”
“It’ll be alright, eventually, Lucy, I promise. What’s up?”
“I was wondering how far you are to finding Steve. I thought if we could tell Tara that he’s being looked after, it may give her the piece of mind to start talking.”
Bobby sighed. “Well, to tell you the truth, Luce, we can’t find him. Jack & Myles are searching on the left end of town, while I’m on the right, but other than his car description, I don’t know what I’m looking for, Luce.”
Bobby sighed again, and contemplating his next move, finally turned out of the roundabout and perched on the edge of the road, like a hawk, watching for Steve.
“Could you…. Could you ask Tara where she last saw him?” Though it deeply pained Bobby to have to ask Tara to jog a memory this fresh in her mind, he knew that without this vital piece of the puzzle, Steve would be free to roam and continue doing this.
“Sure. One sec… Here… I’ll call you back.” Having seen Tara finally raise her head from her lap, Lucy had dropped the phone on the kitchen counter and hurried over to her side.
And Bobby, not quite knowing what had happened was closing his cell phone, when he heard it.
The voice was sweet, yet broken, and it pained his every pulsing sense to listen, but he was drawn to the voice like the answer to his prayers.
“There was a party.”
Unfortunately, I don't have the time or creative mind set to add the doggie bits in. Sorry to disappoint anyone!
So, to clearly state it:
Post 1) The one on this page
Post 2) The continuation of Post #1, also the last post of the story!
Enjoy!
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
He was fuming. No, fuming didn’t even describe the anger Special Agent Bobby Manning was feeling as he drove his car in circles in a roundabout. Fuming was when you could control your anger. Fuming was a nice state of mind.
No. No, what he felt inside was like the world was falling on his head. His peer, his coworker, his friend, his love had been tossed around like a ragdoll at the hands of her boyfriend! How was anyone supposed to be in the right state of mind after that… How did you find peace, with fear and evil like that haunting you, whichever way you went?
He had had it all figured out. Tara would open the door (at the right time!) and grace them with her presence. They would smile, laugh over their cake and decorations, simply enjoying their company
Except when everyone left, he’d be the only person left in the room. He’d acknowledge that malevolence boyfriend of hers, but utterly devote his love to her. He wouldn’t ask for acknowledgement back, heck, even the fact that she was listening would mean the world to him.
But now, he’d never have that chance. Tara would probably have months of [i[rehab![/i] over this… she’d never feel adequate enough again… she’d live with constant fear…. At the hands of that—
“Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, under the shade of a coolibah tree,”
Bobby’s cell phone sang along with “Waltzing Mathilda” as he fumbled for the it, buried somewhere beneath the seat cushion.
Finally grasping his hands on it, he flicked it open, and the blood drained like rain water from his face as he lifted the speaker to his ear.
“Lucy! What’s wrong? Is something wrong with-”
“Tara?” Lucy replied. “No, she’s fine. Better, I think. She’s sitting up now, in the living room, but she won’t talk to anyone. I’m worried Bobby.”
“It’ll be alright, eventually, Lucy, I promise. What’s up?”
“I was wondering how far you are to finding Steve. I thought if we could tell Tara that he’s being looked after, it may give her the piece of mind to start talking.”
Bobby sighed. “Well, to tell you the truth, Luce, we can’t find him. Jack & Myles are searching on the left end of town, while I’m on the right, but other than his car description, I don’t know what I’m looking for, Luce.”
Bobby sighed again, and contemplating his next move, finally turned out of the roundabout and perched on the edge of the road, like a hawk, watching for Steve.
“Could you…. Could you ask Tara where she last saw him?” Though it deeply pained Bobby to have to ask Tara to jog a memory this fresh in her mind, he knew that without this vital piece of the puzzle, Steve would be free to roam and continue doing this.
“Sure. One sec… Here… I’ll call you back.” Having seen Tara finally raise her head from her lap, Lucy had dropped the phone on the kitchen counter and hurried over to her side.
And Bobby, not quite knowing what had happened was closing his cell phone, when he heard it.
The voice was sweet, yet broken, and it pained his every pulsing sense to listen, but he was drawn to the voice like the answer to his prayers.
“There was a party.”
Poor Tara!! Poor Bobby!! Poor Steve, when Bobby finds him!!!
Joy
Joy
Yep, I definitely pity Steve when Bobby gets a hold of him...all I can say is "look out dummy!"
Even if they don't find Steve right then, they'll catch him soon enough. They're FBI after all!
kav
kav
I agree with saying poor Tara & poor Bobby - but there was no excuse for what Steve did - so I hope he gets exactly what he deserves! (not very forgiving of me - I know!)
I thought Bobby's thoughts about what should have been were really sweet.
I thought Bobby's thoughts about what should have been were really sweet.
I would like to send a huge thank-you to Lynn, who graciously reviewed each of my posts, and was an excellent editor! You rock!
Thank you to everyone who read my story. You gave me the inspiration to continue!
Welcome to the last post!
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“I thought the recipe would work…. But…. I gave a piece to him and it ruined everything. I wasn’t supposed to give….. give it to anyone meant for me.”
“And then…. I thought my true love would understand. I thought he would…. be here… What did I do to deserve this? I lose the man that I love today… and all he did was walk away. I… I thought that I might still have a chance with him. A chance to love him….”
Bobby listened with disgusts as Tara stumbled from word to word, trying to articulate a proper sentence and describe what exactly had happened. It had been over twenty minutes since he had picked up the phone, and he felt like slamming it shut, but still, something drew him to conversation. Something inside haunted him with a truthful feeling, which he knew within moments, would be shining forth.
“I wish,” Bobby muttered, “that she would stop talking about that drongo s-”
“Bobby.”
Bobby dropped the cell phone.
“I wish I could tell him I love him.”
Immediately Bobby smacked his head against the steering wheel, hoping with all his might that the airbag would open and crush his weakened heart. How could he have been so stupid ?
Tara had been talking about him. Him? She loved him? She loved him.
And what had he done? Stormed out of her life faster than a kangaroo on a jet ski. He’d ignored her feelings, and just focused on the physical. Why hadn’t he stopped to ask how she was feeling, instead of thinking of Steve? Why hadn’t he put her safety first, instead of Steve’s lack of? Why?
“And I still do love him.”
Bobby froze.
He urged to reach beneath the seat and extrapolate the cell phone, but his eyes were glued to the horizon, his ears to his heart.
“I know that he felt he had to leave. And I believe him. I just…..”
Bobby didn’t even blink. Within milliseconds he had the phone against his ears, and was breathing as quickly as possible into the phone. When he didn’t hear anymore voices, he tried to remove his hand from the phone, but found it firmly set in place.
“I wish he was here now.”
Bobby felt the dead air around him, suffocating his strained lungs within his beating heart, and with a sigh, pressed the “off” button on his phone.
*BING (imagine a light bulb)
The idea still hadn’t registered in his brain yet, but he was acting on the desire within seconds. He flipped open his phone once again, but dialled Myles phone number.
“Hey, mate. It’s me, Bobby. Just letting you know that I’m going to head… home” Bobby smiled. “I have something more important to take care of. Hope you catch’em.”
Bobby’s car galloped back onto the road, and pausing at the stop sign, nosed its way forward, shifting left. Right would take him home. But left… Left would take him to Tara. And wasn’t home where the heart was?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dead. The street air is dead with cold and silence. Footsteps echo softly off the walls as couples stroll in and out of the park garden. Often people come here for parties, weddings, even proposals, but today, we are just here to watch.
Across the street is an apartment. Old. Cracked. Pointless to look at. But something will draw you to look at it tonight. Something deep within you well say, yes, this is the place.
Looking at the front door, we pause. For there is a note there. Small penmanship, but written with love and admiration. The marks are scratchy and wobbled, as the two had attempted to write together. The recipe. A guide to those who are lost, so that they may also find their way.
In the golden halo of window, a young woman is standing, gazing up at the stars far above the human eye. A man is standing behind her, his arms wrapped comfortably about her waist.
They are both staring at the same star, but instead of being on different sides of the coin, they are finally together. Thanking the same star for making their dreams come true.
Recipe For Happiness
4 cups of love
2 cups of loyalty
3 cups of forgiveness
1 cup of friendship
5 spoons of hope
2 spoons of tenderness
4 quarts of faith
1 barrel of laughter
Take love and loyalty, mix it thoroughly with faith.
Blend it with tenderness, kindness, and understanding.
Add friendship and hope, sprinkle abundantly with laughter.
Bake it with sunshine.
Serve daily with generous helpings.
Always remember where you found your first ingredient. And the soul mate you make it for.
Thank you to everyone who read my story. You gave me the inspiration to continue!
Welcome to the last post!
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
“I thought the recipe would work…. But…. I gave a piece to him and it ruined everything. I wasn’t supposed to give….. give it to anyone meant for me.”
“And then…. I thought my true love would understand. I thought he would…. be here… What did I do to deserve this? I lose the man that I love today… and all he did was walk away. I… I thought that I might still have a chance with him. A chance to love him….”
Bobby listened with disgusts as Tara stumbled from word to word, trying to articulate a proper sentence and describe what exactly had happened. It had been over twenty minutes since he had picked up the phone, and he felt like slamming it shut, but still, something drew him to conversation. Something inside haunted him with a truthful feeling, which he knew within moments, would be shining forth.
“I wish,” Bobby muttered, “that she would stop talking about that drongo s-”
“Bobby.”
Bobby dropped the cell phone.
“I wish I could tell him I love him.”
Immediately Bobby smacked his head against the steering wheel, hoping with all his might that the airbag would open and crush his weakened heart. How could he have been so stupid ?
Tara had been talking about him. Him? She loved him? She loved him.
And what had he done? Stormed out of her life faster than a kangaroo on a jet ski. He’d ignored her feelings, and just focused on the physical. Why hadn’t he stopped to ask how she was feeling, instead of thinking of Steve? Why hadn’t he put her safety first, instead of Steve’s lack of? Why?
“And I still do love him.”
Bobby froze.
He urged to reach beneath the seat and extrapolate the cell phone, but his eyes were glued to the horizon, his ears to his heart.
“I know that he felt he had to leave. And I believe him. I just…..”
Bobby didn’t even blink. Within milliseconds he had the phone against his ears, and was breathing as quickly as possible into the phone. When he didn’t hear anymore voices, he tried to remove his hand from the phone, but found it firmly set in place.
“I wish he was here now.”
Bobby felt the dead air around him, suffocating his strained lungs within his beating heart, and with a sigh, pressed the “off” button on his phone.
*BING (imagine a light bulb)
The idea still hadn’t registered in his brain yet, but he was acting on the desire within seconds. He flipped open his phone once again, but dialled Myles phone number.
“Hey, mate. It’s me, Bobby. Just letting you know that I’m going to head… home” Bobby smiled. “I have something more important to take care of. Hope you catch’em.”
Bobby’s car galloped back onto the road, and pausing at the stop sign, nosed its way forward, shifting left. Right would take him home. But left… Left would take him to Tara. And wasn’t home where the heart was?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dead. The street air is dead with cold and silence. Footsteps echo softly off the walls as couples stroll in and out of the park garden. Often people come here for parties, weddings, even proposals, but today, we are just here to watch.
Across the street is an apartment. Old. Cracked. Pointless to look at. But something will draw you to look at it tonight. Something deep within you well say, yes, this is the place.
Looking at the front door, we pause. For there is a note there. Small penmanship, but written with love and admiration. The marks are scratchy and wobbled, as the two had attempted to write together. The recipe. A guide to those who are lost, so that they may also find their way.
In the golden halo of window, a young woman is standing, gazing up at the stars far above the human eye. A man is standing behind her, his arms wrapped comfortably about her waist.
They are both staring at the same star, but instead of being on different sides of the coin, they are finally together. Thanking the same star for making their dreams come true.
Recipe For Happiness
4 cups of love
2 cups of loyalty
3 cups of forgiveness
1 cup of friendship
5 spoons of hope
2 spoons of tenderness
4 quarts of faith
1 barrel of laughter
Take love and loyalty, mix it thoroughly with faith.
Blend it with tenderness, kindness, and understanding.
Add friendship and hope, sprinkle abundantly with laughter.
Bake it with sunshine.
Serve daily with generous helpings.
Always remember where you found your first ingredient. And the soul mate you make it for.
What a perfect recipe... and a lovely ending! 
(Still hope Steve got his comeuppance, though!
)
(Still hope Steve got his comeuppance, though!
)
What a creative way to end your story. You did a wonderful job with this. Thanks for sharing your talent with us.
kav
kav
I'm playing catch-up with the challenge stories. You've done a great job with this! Thanks for sharing! 
Great job! 
That was fantastic! Bravo!!! 
Still hoping that Steve got his just reward.
Still hoping that Steve got his just reward.
beautiful ending
hope steve got hit by a car or something
cath
hope steve got hit by a car or something
cath
I really love the way you wrapped this up!! Very unique!!!
Good job!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Joy
Good job!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Joy
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