Chapter 35

When they finally woke up for real the coffee was long cold and Mark sought to replace it. Mindy hit the shower and realized they had slept until eleven. She had not realized the change in time zones had effected her that much or that she was so tired from diminished rest the day before. Still, if she went to sleep at a normal time that evening and woke at a normal time, she would be back on Houston time as far as her sleep was concerned. She came out of the bathroom and found Mark waiting for his turn.

"Mom and dad want to brunch at a place uptown when we're ready, no rush though."

"Speak for yourself, I'm famished." She smiled.

"Give me fifteen minutes."

"Uh, take thirty, thats a good time for me away from home." She grinned.

"No worries, hey, speaking of that, when we get back I have a project for you."

"What's that?"

"Redecorate and get new furniture for our home. I've got the money, but I want you to pick it out."

"Uh, I'm happy with your home Mark, most of your stuff is pretty new." Mindy smiled.

"Right, but the problem is, well, its just what you said, its my stuff, you called it 'your home'. I want it to be our home, with our stuff. So, well, it needs your stuff. If you won't let me buy a new house, I want you to at least be involved in organizing our living space and making it in your own image."

"Oh well... you know, that is really sweet. Not necessary though, I'll think about it. Now get cleaned up, I'm starving."

Brunch was great and they spent the day sight seeing in Chicago with Mark's parents. It was bitter cold so they were a bit limited, although with so much to do in Chicago it didn't really matter. Dinner was at lovely restaurant Mrs Watney picked out and the next day Mark and Mindy, in a near hurricane of hugs, were off to Houston and their own version of reality.

Flying first class was a benefit of having a now rich boyfriend that Mindy enjoyed. She was not totally comfortable with the whole rich boyfriend thing, but Mark was so down to earth you wouldn't know how much wealth he had. Mindy didn't think Mark realized it either, to him it just meant that money was, as Forrest Gump said, one less thing to worry about.

"I don't think we should get new furniture Mark, not yet anyway."

"Oh? Why not?"

"Well, its just not necessary, I mean, I understand you want me to feel like your... our place is home to me, and it will, it just takes time, and I like the set up you have now. Getting new stuff wouldn't really help anyway, I mean... Its very comfortable and... well I just like it. If I were to redo it, well, it would look about the same anyway, we have similar tastes, so, you know, that's one more thing we have in common."

"Oh, well, uh, if you ever decide you"

"I'll let you know. It is really sweet that you want me to feel at home, but that will just take time. Hey! We need to go by the grocery store on the way home, have you renewed your gym membership?" Mindy asked, realizing she sounded like a scatter brain.

Uh, sure. And no, I haven't been in Houston since I decided to."

"Oh, well in the morning we can just hit mine. You might like it there, Fitness World, have you ever"

"I think that might be the one I go to anyway."

"Cool, see? I told you we think alike."

Both of their phones rang as they crossed the skybridge into Bush Airport and they answered to find themselves on a conference call with Annie Montrose.

"Hey, I wanted to let you know your preliminary numbers are in from the Friday night Watney Report and they are through the roof. Great job!"

"Oh, thank you Ms Montrose. It was fun." Mindy said.

"Yeah we watched it from Giordinos in Chi town, Mindy was great wasn't she?"

"She really was, and that is what I'm calling about. CNN wants to meet with you two in the morning if you can cut out some time. Mindy do you have an agent?"

"Uh... no."

"Might want to get one" a new voice said, and after a moment Mark recognized it as belonging to Lisa, his own agent.

"Uh,,, why?"

"I think they are going to make a pitch for a science for kids show headed up by you two. I can recommend some folks if you like. I would ask to rep you myself but that might be a conflict if we're working the same shows and endorsements." Lisa replied.

"That's good advice Mindy, think about it anyway." Annie said.

"Oh, well, I have enough responsibilities in my new role, I really don't think I would have time to"

"NASA will make the time for you Mindy, don't worry about that. And if you are doing talking head segments you're only looking at five to ten hours a week, and maybe some travel. We will make it work." Annie replied. "Let's get together and hear the pitch anyway."

"Uh, okay, but I don't do crowds and I... sure, we can hear them out." Mindy finally said.

"Great, plan on around eleven tomorrow, we'll make it a lunch thing."

"That soon?" Mark asked, knowing his day was already scheduled for more congressional prep.

"Sure, strike while the iron is hot. Figure it will only take an hour or so. I have to run, see you guys!"

"Mark, I will be at your office around ten tomorrow, we need to finalize your calendar." Lisa said.

"Uh, okay."

After they both ended the call Mark looked at Mindy.

"You don't have to do that if you don't want."

"Oh, it might be fun, mom and dad were over the moon about the show Friday night. As long as I don't have to do crowds, you know? And who knows? The money might be good."

"I'm sure it will be, it has been for me so far." Mark smiled.

After a stop by the grocer Mindy demanded the kitchen.

"Uh, I can help." Mark suggested.

"Nope, I got this. We've been together three weeks and this is the first chance I've had to cook dinner for you. Now, get out of my way mister!" She smiled.

"You don't have to coo"

"I know I don't have to. If I had to I would probably let you starve. I want to. Just because I can solve complicated engineering problems and do calculus in my head doesn't mean I don't like to cook every now and then, and I make killer fried chicken. Now, get out of my kitchen.. but show me where the pots and pans are first." She grinned.

"Oh, uh, I keep them under here. You want cast iron for chicken right?"

"You're so smart." She grinned. "Which one is your cornbread pan?"

"Well not smart enough to do calculus in my head. And none of them are really cornbread pans, I just think they heat more evenly and"

"I lied, I can't do it in my head either, and how do you have multiple cast iron pans and none dedicated to cornbread? What sort of neanderthal are you?" She giggled.

"One that doesn't make cornbread very often, or ever that I recall."

"You're making me sad Mark."

"I'm sorr"

"No not really, just fucking with you. Now clear out." She laughed.

True to her word the fried chicken was actually amazing. While Mark figured out his remote and watched the news Mindy cooked and set the table, then when all was ready took the remote and turned it off.

"Dinner at the table like normal families?" Mindy asked.

"Absolutely, but these days I don't know how many people sit down for dinner."

"Not many I guess, but I thought it would be nice. It is how I grew up." Mindy smiled.

"It is nice, we should make it a regular thing, great time to talk and decompress." Mark said as they loaded their plates, then ate in near silence as the chicken was just that good.

"You are a woman of many talents" Mark said as he filled his plate for a second time.

"I'm going to be a woman with a big, fat, boyfriend if you don't slow down." She giggled.

"You're just jealous because my doctor wants me to gain weight, I guess your doctor tells you that you're perfect already?"

"No, Dr Watney is pretty much the only one that does that." Mindy grinned.