Syrtis

XIII

May 4th, 2018
Saturday, 8:45am

The sound of the blender whirring in the kitchen woke him up, and he opened his eyes hesitantly. The stinging smell of boiling pepper wafted into the room and it was the last incentive he needed to get out of bed. He needed to know what she was doing, and why. But when the scene was fully laid out in front of him in the kitchen, he still couldn't understand. She stood at the counter with her back to him, and he got stuck on the view for a while. She wore blue jeans and one of his company tee shirts with the name and logo printed on the back, bare footed. Her hair had been pulled at the back of her head and out of the way.

She looked up from the iron pan she was using to grind something when he coughed at the kitchen entrance. "Was it the sound or the smell?"

"How about both? What exactly is going on in here?" He stepped over to the stove and watched the fish frying in the skillet, with sausages and eggs in a bowl right next to it.

"It's breakfast. Don't you recognize it?" She laughed while washing her hands at the sink. "Woke up with a craving so I went home and got what I needed."

"I'm not sure what I see. There's a lot going on."

She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Good morning to you too. Is my baby okay?"

He leaned closer and smiled against her lips, hugging her close. "Baby is tired. You smell fishy."

"Yet you're still holding on to me."

"I didn't say it bothered me."

"Good," she giggled when he bit her cheek playfully. "You want some coffee?"

"Actually I think I want your apple juice. The air in here is too hot for a hot beverage. Can I get a run down on what I'll be eating this morning?"

She pushed at his chest and he let her go reluctantly. "Lighten up; it's just dry rice with fish and pepper. A side of sausages and eggs. I fried some chicken for myself cause let's face it, who doesn't like fried chicken?"

"I think I had that once. Khalid loves it, but I'm not too keen on the pepper part," he sat down in one of the chairs at the table.

A glass of cold juice was set down in front of him. "You'll be okay. Drink your juice."

"Yes ma'am." She shot him a look and he winked at her. "So what's happening today?"

The knock sounded at the door when she opened her mouth to speak. "Hold that thought."

Robert, Amin's driver stood on the other side when she opened it, holding a big brown box. He smiled at her over the box. "Morning o."

"Morning Robert. Um, what is that?"

"I bring ay for bossman Amin. He here?" He peered over her shoulder, looking for Amin.

"Babe? Please come." The box moved a little but she was sure that she had imagined it. "Amin."

He walked over to them from the kitchen. "Robert? What's going on?"

"Morning bossman. Ahmed say I should bring ay to you. He say you ask him for ay."

"Ohh, I know what it is. I'll take care of this, babe."

"You sure?" She looked skeptical but he quickly squashed it by kissing her on the cheek.

"You're cooking remember? I got this."

"Okay o. Please hurry." When she walked away, their voices lowered and they spoke in hushed tones.