Two Old Farts

Chapter Five

The smell of bacon wafted through the room and Reese awoke with a dopy grin on his face.

"Hungry?" Nova raised her eyebrows and smiled that perfect smile.

Reese nodded and scooted out of bed, taking his cane for support. He walked to the little kitchen and stooped to get the orange juice out of the mini fridge. Nova took a piece of bacon and slid the plate to Reese, who took a couple.

"How was your sleep?" He asked and poured two glasses of orange juice.

Nova picked a piece off her bacon, "It was alright," She turned to Reese and smiled, but it was worn and tired. "A little rocky,"

Reese nodded, understanding. He remembered the sound of the pills and took a peek at the nightstand beside her bed. They were nowhere to be seen; he supposed they were tucked away in the drawer of the petite nightstand.

Nova coughed harshly and clutched her stomach.

"Are you okay?" Reese's heart palpitated.

Nova waved him off and turned so she could focus. The sound of ruptured hacking filled the room, each time stabbing Reese's heart. She paced the room in between coughs and when another fit would come she'd clutch the counter like a lifeline and shut her eyes as her lungs fought to be shredded.

After all of this had finally passed Nova laid down on her bed, mumbling something about taking a rest and Reese was left standing in the kitchen, still clutching his bacon. What was he doing here? Reese dropped the food back onto the plate and pushed it away. He rubbed his eyes. Who was he kidding? This wouldn't last; the stories and laughing and late night handholding. God, it sounded so stupid when he thought about it. He should just go home, forget about Nova Johnson and her extreme collection of candles. Reese glanced at the woman curled up under the blankets and sighed. The sun was hitting her in a way that made her look so peaceful and rested. It was maddening, the flipping between looking so alive and spirited and the hacking and wilting eyes. Reese couldn't keep up. He couldn't decide if whatever it was that they had was really worth it. He was sixty-three years old for crying out loud, he didn't have much time left to walk the earth with another. But did that mean he didn't want to? Reese gave his head a shake and decided to just sleep. It was easiest, after all.

That evening Nova jostled Reese awake.

"Oh, gosh, I thought you were dead!" She laughed when he awoke with a sneer.

"Quit shaking me, woman," He growled and rolled over.

Nova just grinned and gave him one last shake before leaving. He heard the TV click on moments later and the familiar sound of televised voices. Grumpily, Reese got off the couch and padded over to where Nova was sitting up in bed, her pillows stacked behind her head. He sat down on the end of the bed.

"How long have you been up?" He asked.

Nova scratched her nose, "Since about two, I think."

Reese gritted his teeth, why did he have to sleep like the dead? He must have looked like a bum sleeping on her couch all day.

Nova giggled at a joke on the show they were watching and for the first time since he'd woken up Reese smelled the warm, rustic scent that was filling the room. It had a calming effect, and smelled a bit like firewood.

"You've got a candle lit?" Reese spotted the stout candle aflame on her nightstand.

Nova nodded, "It's called Camping in the Fire, it's one of my favorites."

"What does this one remind you of?"

Nova smiled, "This one reminds me of the one late night my mom woke me up when I was fast asleep and told me to come downstairs. She said, 'Ah, Nova! You did not finish your supper, no? Come down your stairs and eat.' She was Polish, you see, and still perfecting her speech." She shifted one of the pillows supporting her back and continued, "And when I arrived in our small kitchen there was a plate of her special cinnamon cookies, with the swirl of glazed sugar on them. We ate them in front of the fireplace and kept warm thanks to the fire and our old wool blankets. It's my favorite memory of my mother, she was a wonderful woman." Nova smiled but her eyes twinkled sadly. Reese reached for her hand and offered her his condolences.