Flickering Memories

Chapter 25

A/N: I apologize to my readers who have been following this story for the delay in updating it. I hope that there will be no further delays after this.

Copter's POV

I hated myself for taking extra care in choosing my outfit for my dinner with Kimmon. Why was I trying so hard to impress him. It wasn't like I was going on a date with him. It was just an appreciation dinner as Kimmon himself had termed it. Silly of me to feel anxious about making a good impression on someone whom I might never see again after this evening.

I usually don't dab any perfume or cologne on myself after my shower. For me, the fresh scent of my shampoo and body wash was enough.

I had already taken a shower before breakfast this morning, but because I had gone to the gym in the afternoon I needed to wash off the sweat from my workout.

Earlier in the afternoon, Nurse Juliet had texted me Kimmon's number and had informed me that she had texted my number to Kimmon as well. She is such an incorrigible match maker, but still I was grateful that she had taken it upon herself to provide me and Kimmon an exchange of contact numbers in case I had to let Kimmon know at the last minute that I couldn't make it to his dinner invitation.

My GPS guided me unerringly to my destination.

When my GPS' automated voice announced that I had reached my destination, I looked through the expansive wrought iron gate. My eyes widened at the sinfully luxurious mansion in front of me.

I sent a text to Kimmon saying that my car was parked in front of his gate.

I was a little upset that I didn't get any response right away.

I had every intention of driving away after waiting for a full five minutes when suddenly I saw Kimmon himself running towards the gate and pressing a remote to open it, and then motioning for me to drive into the spacious driveway.

When I got out of my car, he quickly went over to me. He was smiling widely as he spoke. "Dr. K! I told my butler not to come out to open the gate for you because I wanted to do it myself! I wanted to be the one to bring you inside me... I mean inside my house myself!"

He sounded like an excited little boy coming to greet Santa on Christmas morning himself. I just smiled in acknowledgment of his statement.

"Come, Dr. K," he said, "let's have some aperitif in my study before we proceed to the dining hall."

He led me inside his residence where his butler was already waiting to welcome me.

"The drinks are in your study, ready to be served, sir," said the butler.

I could feel the butler's eyes on me and for some reason I started to feel self conscious.

"Thank you, Bernard," said Kimmon as he led me inside his study.

"I am really grateful that you accepted my dinner invitation," said Kimmon as he handed me a glass with a drink in it.

I lifted it to my nose before taking a sip.

"It's a combination of gin and sweet vermouth," said Kimmon.

It tasted good but I was careful not to take too much of it.

Our conversation before dinner was mostly something of a getting to know each other kind of conversation. He asked me a lot of questions. Come to think of it he was the one who was doing most of the digging for information about me.

I tried to tell him as much about myself as I could, but careful not to give away too much. I did not tell him that I had experienced a painful breakup with a former classmate in medical school which was why I was not the kind of person to jump into a relationship without giving it a lot of thought.

After a few minutes, Bernard his butler, knocked on the study door and opened it to announce that dinner was ready.

We were ushered into the spacious dining hall whose long table looked like it could seat thirty guests or more.

"I usually don't dine in here," Kimmon said, "I usually have my dinner sent to my study if I'm just dining alone."

The glazed Cornish game hen that was served on a bed of butterhead lettuce tasted really good.

"Would you like a glass of bourbon, Dr. K?" Kimmon offered as Bernard hovered with the drink, ready to serve me.

"Yes, please, thank you," I said. 

For some reason, I was starting to feel reckless. It was a Saturday evening, what the heck, I wasn't planning on getting drunk anyway, maybe just a little bit buzzed. Besides, I could always leave my car in Kimmon's driveway and just call for a cab to take me home if necessary.

Kimmon continued to press me for more information about myself during dinner. I tried to tell him about my experiences in med school but carefully leaving out the disastrous and tragic love affair that I had been through.

Soon dinner was over.

"That was a fine dinner, thank you, Kimmon," I said as we stood up to leave the table.

"I really don't believe that it was sufficient in showing my appreciation for the wonderful care you had given me at the hospital, Dr. K," Kimmon replied.

"Stop calling me Dr. K," I said with a smile, "just call me Copter. After all, you're no longer in my care."

"It would be my pleasure to call you Copter," Kimmon said, holding out his hand to me for a handshake.

It could have been the alcohol that was slowly making its way into my system because instead of taking his proffered hand, I leaned forward and gave him a quick hug.

He hugged me back tightly. It took a good half minute before he let go. He then led me back towards his study.

I was starting to realize that Kimmon had a wide assortment of drinks in his house. In his study alone he had a cabinet filled with all kinds of alcoholic beverages to choose from.

"Would you prefer a glass of sherry or a glass of brandy?" he asked, already holding a glass to pour in the drink of my choice.

The two glasses of  bourbon that I had finished earlier at dinner was already making me feel a little woozy.

Against my better judgment, I replied, "A glass of brandy would be nice."

"Come sit with me," Kimmon invited, patting the space beside him on the couch in his study.

I took the glass of brandy that he handed me, twirling the liquid around before sipping it. Then I slowly walked towards him and sat on the couch, making sure to keep a polite distance from him.

Kimmon turned to me with a serious expression on his face.

"Copter, did you know that the hugs that I had asked from you at the hospital and that you were kind and generous enough to give me even if you really didn't have to, gave me so much comfort that I can't even begin to let you know how grateful I am ... " his voice trailed as I saw him swallow a big lump in his throat.

On impulse, I stood up and set the glass of brandy on his study desk and then walked back to him and gave him a tight hug.

I felt him push me down on the spacious couch.

I did not resist when he claimed my lips.