Chapter 12
Laura was seated on the bench waiting for Robbie. She fiddled with the shirt and the sweater she had selected still unsure if this was the right outfit. She'd wanted to look nice but casual. She'd thought the blue shirt would offset her eyes but now thought it was too busy, maybe she should have gone with a tighter t-shirt.
Closing her eyes, she forced herself to stop playing with her clothes. Deep breaths in and out helped to calm her nerves a bit. With one last exhale she opened her eyes. It was at that moment Robbie rounded the turn in the path. Her breath caught seeing him in his new suit, striding with a confidence she hadn't seen in quite some time. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched this man that she loved so much.
Robbie was enjoying the walk to meet Laura. He knew that going back to the job would mean fewer of these moments to just enjoy a day. The good thing would be seeing her more frequently during the day. The bad part would be that they were surrounded by people when that happened. His thoughts lingered on that for a moment before he discounted it because at the end of day, they would go home to one another. They would always have those quiet moments in the evening, that wouldn't change.
He looked towards the bench and saw her smiling at him. His heart leapt in his chest. She was still incredibly beautiful to him. He'd always thought she was attractive but it seemed now there was an inner confidence she exuded that catapulted her into an all new category. He quickened his pace to get to her.
Laura couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face when she knew he had seen her. A small part of her had felt certain James would be in tow, she'd even packed extra to be certain. She stood anxious to have him closer to her. The look on his face suggested he was just as eager to see her, maybe she wouldn't need Jean's plan after all. She dropped the magazine to the bench as he approached.
Robbie finally closed the gap between them. He stood in front of her looking down at her tenderly. Her hair was blowing into her face from the light breeze. Without thinking he reached over and lightly brushed her cheek, tucking the wayward hair behind her ear, "Hello you."
Laura's eyes closed with pleasure at the light touch from Robbie. She beamed up at him before breathlessly answering, "Hi."
His thumb caressed her cheek as he looked down at her. He took a step closer to her leaning over to whisper, "I missed you last night."
Laura inhaled sharply as she looked up at him moving even closer. She slid her hand into his jacket allowing her hand to smooth up his side then pulled him to her, "Really? James didn't keep you company."
He smiled down at her as he placed his hand on her waist possessively, "Well James has his appeal, but I find that I prefer your many charms."
Laura pushed up to him, her lips were almost touching his, "Many charms, do tell."
At that moment, several people walked past the couple on the path. Robbie kissed her chastely on the cheek as he watched them. He stepped around her to the basket, "I think you are well aware of my feelings for you Dr. Hobson. Why don't you tell me about what's in this basket?"
Laura dropped down to her flat feet closing her eyes. She controlled the impulse to curse. What had just happened? Surely Robbie had not pulled away because a few strangers passed by. She took a deep breath then turned to the basket, "Nothing special, sandwiches, fruit, just typical picnic food.
Robbie began digging through the basket, "Laura you packed enough for at least four people. How hungry did you think we were going to be?"
She shrugged, "I wasn't thinking we would be all that hungry I was just prepared for James to join us."
"You didn't want me to invite him did you? I figured when you picked this spot you might want it to just be us."
She looked up at him thinking that maybe he was catching on. She smiled slightly, "I did but I thought it was going to be just us last night."
Robbie looked at her sheepishly, "I'm sorry about that. I should have asked you to go shopping with me. I was looking at it as a chore and I didn't want to waste time with you on a chore."
Laura sat on the bench looking out to the river, "Robbie, I don't look at spending time with you as a chore or a waste for that matter."
Robbie straddled the bench sitting beside her and pulled her to rest between his legs, "I didn't mean it that way Laura. I don't look at time spent with you as a chore. I meant I would rather spend time with you doing things that aren't chores."
She nodded as she sat stiffly in his arms, "I knew what you meant Robbie but I don't view it the same way. I like any time I spend with you."
Robbie could feel the stiffness in her body. He was beginning to suspect that her overnight at Jean's had been less about having too much to drink and more about his neglect from the prior day. He tightened his grip on her and lowered his head to her hair, breathing in her scent, "Laura, I tried to call you to go to dinner."
She tried to turn to him but he held her fast, "I didn't get a message."
"You said your phone died, did you check this morning?"
She pulled her mobile from her pocket and checked the display. There was the little folder indicating a voicemail, "I don't know how I missed that."
Robbie felt her relax slightly in his arms, "Why don't you listen to it while I pull out food for us to eat?" He kissed her neck lightly as he reached for the basket.
Laura leaned forward and pressed the button for her voicemail. Robbie's voice filled her senses instantly, "Hey pet, James and me finished shopping early and I decided that I would rather have dinner with you than with James. James is going to run me home and then I thought we could have a nice dinner out. Call me when you get this. I love you." She pressed the button and listened to the message a second time.
Robbie felt her relax into him, moving her body closer to his. He wrapped his arms around her waist luxuriating in the feel of her, "I'm sorry that I didn't take you with me last night. There is no one in the world I would rather do chores with than you."
They sat for a few moments enjoying the quiet, "So Dr. Hobson, Are we going to sit here and stare at the water or enjoy our lunch."
She laughed as she turned to him and kissed him lightly, "Since I did invite you to lunch I guess I have to feed you." She reached around him and removed containers from the basket. She handed one to him and kept the other one for herself.
They ate slowly chatting only occasionally. Laura leaned back into Robbie enjoying the feel of him around her. As the breeze kicked up again Laura's magazine fluttered drawing her attention to it. She reached for it to secure it and the article caught her attention. While she felt they were in a slightly better place than earlier somehow she couldn't let this go.
She tucked into Robbie a bit tighter and pulled the paper to her to pretend she was reading it. Robbie looked over her shoulder, "What are you reading Laura?"
She shrugged nonchalantly, "Jean gave me this for a recipe. I brought it with me out here in case you were running late."
He looked over her shoulder as he took a bite of his sandwich, "How To Always Find the Time to Make Quality Time." Robbie laughed, "Well that sounds like a load of rubbish. Who reads those magazines?"
Laura bristled as she looked back at him, "So you don't think that couples have to work at a relationship? Especially if they are busy."
Robbie popped the last of his sandwich into his mouth, "Laura, if you have to work that hard at it maybe it isn't worth it. I mean look at us, we don't work at it. It just comes naturally."
"I think that's rather…"
"Hold that thought Laura," Robbie pulled away from her to reach into his pocket. "Lewis."
Laura listened to him talk to the caller and instantly realized their date was at an end. She started packing up their containers. She felt Robbie reach around him to grab his jacket, "Go ahead and text me the address. Let Inspector Hathaway know I'm on my way."
Robbie stood pulling his jacket with him. He leaned down and kissed Laura on the forehead, "Gotta run pet. I'll see you at home later I guess, I don't know how long this will take."
She watched him walk away before lowering her head sadly and started to pack away the lunch items. She didn't bother to wipe away the tears that streamed down her face.
