Reality Bites - Wattys 2018 Shortlist

Chapter 44 - Options

I woke because Dimitri wasn't beside me. I was stretching in bed luxuriously, thinking I might have to go looking for him, when the doors to our suite opened and in he walked carrying a breakfast tray.

"Happy birthday milaya!" Dimitri said with a megawatt smile.

"Morning Comrade," I replied with a grin. I was so excited that today was my birthday! Well, officially I guess given it was 11 am, it had been my birthday for nearly eleven hours, but who's counting? In any case, here was my number one present, and he was bringing me breakfast. Or maybe it was brunch?

"What do we have here?" I asked, looking at the tray with interest.

"Hmm. We have fresh squeezed orange juice, a ham, cheese, tomato, and spinach omelet, with black bread, and coffee," he said, setting the tray carefully across my lap.

"I made it all myself," he said proudly. "But the coffee is for me!" he added, taking it from the tray.

"You made me breakfast?!" I said, grinning from ear to ear.

"From scratch! Even squeezed the oranges," Dimitri announced proudly.

My heart melted looking at the effort he'd gone to. The tray was beautifully laid out; juice in a cut crystal glass, a linen napkin, a fluffy and delicious looking omelet, a small plate with three slices of buttered black bread and there was even a single rose in a little vase. It was perfect. So thoughtful and just so Dimitri! It was the little things like these that made me love him oh so much. It wasn't just the breakfast; it was that he'd made it for me.

"I love it, Comrade," I told him, scooting over so he could sit beside me. "I can't recall ever having breakfast in bed before," I told him. Well unless you counted the numerous times I'd had a tray with something cold and inedible shoved towards me during my many trips to the infirmary, and I definitely wasn't counting them. For a moment, I just sat there grinning. It was a gorgeous day outside, I was in bed with my love, and it was my birthday. Life couldn't get much better!

I started in on my omelet, which was every bit as good as it looked. Sipping his coffee, Dimitri leaned over and filched one of my pieces of black bread.

"Hands off, Guardian Belikov!" I teased, protecting my plate from him. "That's my birthday bread, and I believe it may have been baked just for me?"

Nodding, he laughed.

"Yes, it was. I was up at five to get it proving and ready. I ended up with quite an audience. Half the Guardians wanted to see how it was made, and the other half wanted to see how Suzanne coped with someone else cooking in her kitchen," he chuckled. "But don't fret, there are another three loaves downstairs. Babushka always said it's unlucky to bake just one loaf, so I never learned how."

"Those Guardians better not steal any of my bread," I growled possessively.

"They wouldn't dare," Dimitri soothed, mock seriously.

Sipping my juice, I had to stop myself from bouncing up and down in excitement on the bed.

"So what are the plans for the day and when do I get my presents?" I wheedled.

"Well I get you for breakfast, then Abe and Janine want to see you. I have to go out with Eddie for a few hours this afternoon, but Lissa wants you then to get you ready for your birthday dinner. I think the plan is to give you your presents after we eat."

"I'm so excited! I can't wait!"

I'd finished with the tray, so Dimitri picked it up and carried it over to the coffee table. Coming back to bed, he pulled me down into the softness of the bedclothes, holding me close to him. A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face.