Sorting Through Life's Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 8

                Maeve was folding her laundry when someone knocked on her door. She opened the door to be bombarded a vibrating Shawna pushing her way in. "I knew it! You are not blowing this off, lady. Now go put on something more than jeans and a t-shirt and I've brought my make-up bag."

"Just because he said he would pick me up doesn't mean that I said I would go. Now stop being a helicopter mom and let me finish my laundry."

Shawna pulled the mass of denim from her hands and chucked them across her room. "Now you listen here, Miss Melancholy. You have been moping around this place for a year. This is the first man to show an interest and I will be damned if you mess it up by being your ornery, sassy, sometimes mean self. Now pick something that is at least a little feminine." Maeve eyes were wide at the fact her friend was very nearly shouting at her. She went to the closet and pulled a button up shirt from her suitcase and a somewhat nicer pair of work boots.

Shawna was happy to win the fight but disappointed that the stubborn woman took her make-up bag with her into the bathroom to get dressed. So much for me getting her face ready. A throat cleared behind her and she turned.

"Hello. I was going to knock, but it seems the door is open." Tom was standing in the doorway, looking a little confused. "I hope it's alright that I came in."

"It's fine. She's just getting ready-" the bathroom door opened abruptly and her small bag was thrown back at her.

"There, I hope you're happy. Why you have most of that junk is beyond me." Maeve stepped through, her slightly angry gaze fixed on her friend, not seeing Tom in the slightest. "This is all you get. Do I look enough like a girl for you or are you desperate enough for me to go on this silly date that you still want to suffocate my face with those layers you have in there?" Tom tried not to start laughing.

"Uh, Maeve," Shawna pointed towards the door.

"Yes, I know that he's supposed to be here, but I didn't hear a knock, so I'm sure I haven't missed him."

"No, you haven't, Angel, but I can leave and come back if you were trying to." Maeve turned with an annoyed expression on her face. "If you were hoping to miss me, perhaps you should have shut your door, darling." Tom tried not to laugh and offered his hand to her. "Come on. I promise I don't bite."

"There are several Norse gods who would beg to differ with you on that."

"That may be but there is just you and me here. Please don't bring anyone else into this." Maeve furrowed her eyebrows at his statement. It's not like this could be anything serious, hell she didn't even plan on going on this stupid date with him. Why was he acting like they were starting something?

She wasn't surprised when they didn't leave the compound, but she did get a slight surprise at one of the cafeteria tables that was set up outside being surrounded by lights and dishes of food.

"I know you probably thought I was mad saying I was taking you out, but those two lovely women from yesterday offered to cook and I payed Charlie for the candles so he can replace them in the emergency inventory."

"Well, I must say, that is very kind of everyone to accommodate you. So...why are we here?"

Tom couldn't help a small laugh. He should have figured she wouldn't be overly warm to this. He also suspected that Shawna kept her from blowing off their date, which he was grateful for. "If you could warm up those frosty few layers you've put on I'm sure we could at least get to know each other a little better."

Maeve was chewing slowly as she studied him. "I will answer what I like, but that means if I don't want you to know something, then you can't get upset in anyway."

"As long as you give me the same curtesy, then I think this will be a lovely evening." She rewarded him with a small smile and they actually enjoyed a little conversation as they ate. I really must thank them for the food when I work with them again, Maeve thought to herself.

A few hours passed and they had a few funny stories about Toms family and hers. She shared just a couple about her girls, but when she started to look sad, he changed the subject. She learned he was going back to work soon, and she told him she was also looking for employment in London as she was moving on as well.

"Have you found anything you are considering?"

"Yes, actually. There is a woman who travels extensively for work, but she needs a mailing address for taxes and such. I would be occupying and keeping house for her."

"Occupying?" She though Tom looked quite adorable with that confused expression on his face.

"According to the information Charlie forwarded me, she would rather someone actually live in it and give it a homey feel, rather than hire a maid to visit a few times a week to keep plants alive and remove the dust. She has been doing that and is finding it a little creepy when she does stop in for an overnight or a couple days."

"I can understand that. It does feel a little haunted coming home to an apartment that's been empty for a while. Is there anything you want to do with all the extra time that will give you?" He watched her wheels turn as she deeply thought about the answer to that question. Has no one ever asked her what she wanted before?

"Have a house garden, sew again, maybe. Take a language course."

"What language? This is interesting. I didn't know you liked other languages."

"Well, no matter how much you stare at someone, you can't read their mind." He blushed as she continued, "Spanish and sign language have always been something I'm good at and I would like to be better."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I know a little. They're kinda fun actually."

"Will you show me?"
"You don't really mean that. I'm very basic, a polite conversation at most, brief pleasantries really."

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't mean it."

She stared at him for the longest time. Causing him to wonder if he had pushed her too far. She wasn't one for showing off and he knew that. Biting her lip, she raised her hands and made careful movements, the concentration on her face,

You're an idiot, you know. Because of you I can't sleep, wondering if you will joyfully interrupt the next days work. I shouldn't like it that you do.

He watched her hands lower and she took a few breaths. "Mira chico, me gustas, pero podrías desgarrar mi frágil corazón."

"Preferiría volver a armarlo en lugar de romperlo."

"What?!" Her eyes wide, not straying from his. His hands filled with her cheeks as he moved closer. Her voice could barely be heard. "How could you want someone as broken as me?"

He whispered back, "Because you make me want to be better, just to be worthy of you." The gentle pressure of his lips on hers conveyed so much tenderness and emotion. His forehead on hers such a wonderful pressure after the kiss broke.

*Look, boy, I like you but you could tear my fragile heart apart.

*I would rather put yours back together than break it.