Maripolite

Untitled Part 19

In the months following Jessies passing Charles was able to convince Nathalie to stay with him instead of retreating back to her old life and he'd forced her to talk to a psychologist who visited twice a week he made it a point to be there for her after each session today was no exception and just after lunch he left the office so he could be there when she finished but traffic wasn't on his side.

By the time he arrived, she had long finished and he wasn't able to discuss her recovery with the doctor. He'd have to give him a call tomorrow.

He found her in the sitting room curled up under a lit fireplace on one of his hand-woven animal printed rugs covered head to toe in a fleece blanket.

"Sleepy" Charles said sitting in the faux fur covered sofa nearest to her

"A bit," she said rolling over to make eye contact with him

"I stopped by your favorite BBQ truck on the way home and got dinner I'm sure you've already had lunch"

"Not quite and I am hungry"

"Not quite you were able to avoid Ms. George today"

"Not quite I kinda lied I wasn't hungry after the session"

"Why, how'd it go?"

"Do we have to I think I'm all cried out for the day"

He pursed his lips and pushed no more, standing he reached for her hand to take her to the food.

Taking the remote from behind the hidden panel he opened the partition that separated the sitting room from the dining room so the fire could warm the entire chamber then he opened the blinds overlooking the pool before he took a seat beside her.

"Wine" She raised her glass and he filled both "Dig in"

"Arent you going to eat?"

"Not hungry"

"But just as good as the last time,"

"Not bad. How much does it cost again?" He asked

"Thirty"

"Hundred"

"Dollars"

"You're an affordable date"

She chuckled "Who buys a meal for thirty hundred"

"Me, thirty hundred a plate" He took another sip of his wine remembering that the meal before him had been too strong for his tastes the last time but Nathalie seemed to enjoy it and this made him happy "you owe me a real dinner"

"I do"

Their eyes met knowingly, she ate and he drank as the sun was setting over the water "I can feel you watching me"

"You're handsome why not checking you out helps with my grief"

"Thank you for the compliment" she reached over the table and gently rubbed the shadow of a beard on his cheek and he closed his eyes and smelled her warmth the fireplace couldn't warm him now

"It's so peaceful here,"

He nodded looking into her eyes, "Have I told you that you have the most beautiful green eyes"

"You've said, many times. Maripolite you always say!"

"I'm glad you stopped fighting Maripolite"

"Me too, thanks for the doctor those sessions have helped a lot not just with Jessie but with everything, with the life I feel better about life"

"That's great to know"

"Yes, that's great to know"

"We should take you out to celebrate"