Time Is The Key To Everything

Chapter 28: Homecoming

When Cassidy woke up the next morning it took her a few seconds to remember that yes, she was Paris, and yes, she was in a stranger's bed.

Slowly, she sat up and stretched. Glancing down, she wrinkled her nose at her now rumpled clothes. She hoped that stores is Paris were not too expensive. Still in a daze from the telegram, she had only brought enough clean clothing for two days and it seemed that James wasn't going to be released from the hospital for at least another week. What she was to do until then, Cassidy wasn't quite sure.

Her musings were cut short at the sound of someone moving around in the kitchen. Cassidy froze but then remembered that it was probably Anthony. Her sleep addled mind was still, just barely, able to remember the sound of a door clicking shut sometime during the middle of the night.

Suddenly, Cassidy felt guilty, knowing that the doctor had most likely slept on his couch, which was not fair at all considering how late he had arrived home. Money or no money, Cassidy decided that she could not impede anymore than she already had. Even if that meant nothing except an old cot in the hospital, she would take it.

Cassidy slid out of bed and tried to smooth out the wrinkles in her clothes. Luckily, Anthony kept a mirror by his bedside and she fixed the bird's nest that was her hair before opening the bedroom door and peering into the kitchen. Anthony was sitting at a small table in the kitchen, a cup of something warm in his hand—not coffee, no one was able to get coffee these days—reading what was most likely that morning's paper. His long hair was unbound and it trickled down his shoulder in loose curls. He glanced up when he heard the door open and smiled.

"Good morning, beautiful," he said, "did you sleep well?"

Cassidy nodded. "Yes, thank you. I'm sorry for taking your bed."

"Think nothing of it. I'll tell you the truth, I peeped in this morning and it took all my willpower not to slide underneath those covers with you."

Cassidy laughed, once again, hoping that this was a joke, but somehow knowing that it wasn't. Well at least the man was honest.

"I'll be staying in the hospital for the rest of my time here so you don't have to sleep on the couch again."

"Perish the thought, darling. As long as you are staying in Paris, you will stay with me."

Cassidy opened her mouth but Anthony cut her off.

"I won't here another word about the matter. Are you hungry? I promised you lunch and I intend to keep that promise."

Deciding to back down for now, Cassidy nodded. "I don't have any money—"

"Who needs money when you have me?" Anthony said smiling. "The medicinal arts are not the only thing I'm talented in. I just happen to be a master chef."

Cassidy suddenly thought of Ama and smiled. "Is that so?"

"Yes. Come, sit down and I'll make you something that will get rid of any lingering thoughts you have about leaving."

30 minutes later, Cassidy's taste buds were in heaven. "You have to meet my friend back home. You two would get along so well. She's from Spain."

"Well their cuisine is second to ours in terms of quality." Anthony said. "Do you mind if I get a little nosy about you? James has told me bits and pieces—"

Cassidy shuddered, imaging the fire-breathing demon James had most likely described her as.

"—and I find you intriguing, as well as lovely, so do tell me more about yourself."

"What would you like to know?"

"Let's start with the basics. Family?"

"Only James and Gelo. I may call them my cousins, but we're not actually related by blood. Our parents were just close friends and we all grew up together. Their father was killed in an automobile accident. Their mother died a few months later." Cassidy stirred her spoon in the dregs of her lemon water. She had been right. Even tea was almost impossible to come by these days. "My father had a bad heart. He's been dead over 10 years. And my mother died three years before the war started. I think in the end, she was just tired."