The magnificence of you

Chapter three - I can never unsee that

I fuss over the candles on the mantle and stoke the fire tossing a few pinecones on top of the flames to fill the apartment with their fresh aroma, a trick from back home. I check the takeaway vegetable korma is still hot and check my watch once more.

Ten past six.

He's not coming and now I feel stupid.
I pop the cork on the Pino and pour myself a mug, tomorrow I'll get big fancy crystal glasses and feel grown up but tonight I'm stuck with my daisy coffee cups that taste like disappointment.

"Didn't want a friend with indecisive moods anyway" I tell myself and dip my finger in his dinner to taste it.
Sweet and spicy and delicious.

The doorbell chimes and I jump, almost clean off the counter I'm sitting on.

"Fuck" I mutter and poke at his dinner some more to disguise the blatant finger hole in the thick sauce. "Coming!" I call louder.

I fix my hair and adjust my blouse before opening the door and stare stunned when I see what's on the other side.
Alexander in dark jeans, a clean white shirt and not a spec of grease on him.

Ah.... yum!

There's also a pile of my furniture behind him, he must have already done a few trips up those stairs.

"Good evening Veronica, sorry I'm late" he stands awkward and uncomfortable with my silence.
"Not at all, thank you for coming. Please let me help you with those" I come to my senses and step out into the hall.
"I don't mind, please don't strain yourself" he frowns putting a thick crease between his brows as I pick up the beautiful sunflower coffee table.
"Nonsense, it's my crap after all" I puff and walk fast taking small steps as I go.

Alexander seems to have no trouble lifting an armchair that took all my strength to lift into my car yesterday and he follows me in.

"Where would you like it?"
"Ah over here.... no by the windows.... no here in the middle...."
"Whenever you're ready Roni, not like its heavy or anything" Alexander laughs and I laugh at the name.
"Roni? Wow okay, that's new" I grin and point to the space in front of the coffee table. "Just set it down there, I'll get you to move later if I don't like it... Xander" I poke his stomach when he drops the chair.
"Xander? Cool" he smiles down at me and I turn on my heel to go get the other. "Don't even think about it, here"

He's right on my heels and lifts one side while I lift the other, we carry it in and place it next to the other without saying a word.

"I know this goes beyond customer service, thank you Alexander. Really" I say feeling shy all of a sudden.
"Not at all, you're nothing like my usual customers that's for sure" he tells me standing tall and consuming in my living room. "Oh I almost forgot, a housewarming gift"
He disappears back outside my front door then comes back with my mustard macrame planter, complete with a gorgeous maiden hair fern.
"Oh Xander I love it" I smile and already the nickname feels right.
"You're welcome, see? Feels like home already" he smiles back and hangs the plant on a hook ever the window.

I watch him move around in my space, I like it.

"I should go, you're expecting company" Alexander says noticing the two plates and mugs on the kitchen counter.
"I'm expecting you silly, please, stay for dinner" I ask already moving into the kitchen.
"You didn't have to cook for me, but thank you yes. It smells great"
"Normally I totally would, I'm really good in the kitchen but unfortunately this is just takeaway. Kitchen appliances are still on the to-do list" I grimace and hand Alexander his plate looking for evidence my fingers have been poking around in there.
I could switch plates with him and give him mine but I eyed off a big piece of cauliflower for myself on the other plate.
"Don't apologise, I didn't expect anything Roni"