Love, Amor, Amour

《Chapter 15》

♡

"You worry too much."

"I do not. It's about family, you have to worry when it concerns family," Mina stated with a firm nod to her words.

"Okay worrying is one thing, but you're stressing yourself out over the unknown." She sighed in reply this time having no response to that, why bother to argue when she knew he was right.

When people acknowledge stress lots of them branch out into yoga or meditation as a means to unburden themselves. There are several other ways to do so, one just needs to find what works best for them. Journaling seems sensible for those who like to recount on things. To popular belief, music links to our emotions and can manage to soothe effectively. The able-bodied who like to stay active might try the agility needed way of hiking, in contrast, to attempt the more patience endured concept of knitting. Although one of the most favorable ways to relieve stress is spending time with animals, beloved pets included. Shelters being a great source for that, said volunteers grow attachments to these animals enough to give them a new home and title of a beloved pet. Just as Mina did, the summer of impatient wandering after final exams brought her to a little shelter in the corner of Busch avenue where she adopted the kitten that filled her summer vacation of first times joyfulness.

Even back then she didn't need to branch out as she had done, albeit she never regretted it; she always had her niche and that was baking. It undoubtedly came from her father and the weekends with her grandmother through preadolescence. The rules were simple really, there were no rules. Her grandmother encouraged her imagination to do anything and everything she thought of. Baking wasn't just art to them, it was a way to be free. Her mind had no other focus, she only enjoyed the calm and wonderful aroma around her. That is why she loved baking and used it as a mechanism to relieve the stress.

So she baked, she had everything set on the counters and started baking. At work, she baked with her father instead of waiting tables as usual. Thereafter work she baked and had more than enough for sweet lovers delight. It was becoming to be a routine, she caught her groceries and set them in her kitchen to repeat the recipes she knew by heart. It was great for business with both bakers on duty, although her fridge at home protested soon after. So much so, her purse was replaced by a messenger bag and had some snacks to provide at any given moment. Now she did more than volunteer, it felt like donations.

"I just, never thought we'd go so long without talking.."

Mina didn't mean to spend all their time talking about her life problems. It just happened, once he goes quiet and tires himself of walking with his cane it just leaves room for sighs of her woes and her thoughts drift. He asked her why she stares and frowns at the scenery, her mouth would blurt out everything on her mind without a second thought. As if she'd been under a spell of no control over herself she told him what was currently bothering her which of course was her brother.

Very few days Geo stopped by and she'd have to surf the area to see him without recognition of the cap or hoodie over his head, he had purposely hidden under. The day she did see him the nose bandage he was sporting had stricken fear in her and she begged him for answers. All day her nerves were on edge, she had promised not to reveal the injury to his face in return for some quality time with her only brother. It was ridiculous how she was reduced to blackmail at this age. His avoidance puzzled her, he had shut her out completely.

She thought it was the new semester taking a toll on him, but was not quite convinced it was because he knew he had her help with absolutely anything he needed, as it always was. She missed her brother dearly these days.

"Here, I can't eat anymore," the container filled with cookies was passed to him being greedily accepted, "The sugar won't let me sleep at night."

He ate the snacks her refocused self baked too much to share. She'd munch on cookies like nobody's business while talking and his silent eating was enough for her to unload her troubles on a daily basis. Oddly enough he didn't complain, he didn't say anything. Mr. François had nothing to say, he had nothing helpful at the time.

"You sleep?"

Just as she had suspected, a sarcastic reply suited his tone of voice, "That's a surprise, considering."

She snapped her head to the side and glared at him, "Considering, what?"

On Monday had left leftover tarts from Sunday evening when she had tried reaching out to Geo, but did not. Only heard him before the tone and left a voice mail to return the call. Thence brownies were made and today called for sugar cookies. He liked to think them as bribery, while she ate beside him and carried on perplexed.

All the necessary ingredients for baking were gone from her home kitchen, but her fridge was filled with every person with a sweet tooth's guilty pleasures.

At one point she tried baking healthy treats, found some tuna and catnip recipes specifically made for her feline friend. He had heard how that turned out to be a mistake on her behalf, Harvey was only momentarily impressed. Listening to her made him want to call on his sister and make sure their bond was still intact. He knew he'd be seeing her soon though, he was staying in her home after all. That again brought happiness to his thoughts, knowledge of the few days left for him here. He can't say he'd miss the place or wasn't entertained. With a mouthful sometimes he didn't understand a word of what she ranted about, but it was something. What he did know, Mina could talk his ears off without becoming dehydrated and that in itself was astonishing. Something else assured him he'd gain a pound or two because of her and her baking.