Next chapter! Thanks for the reviews, favs and alerts! Again, constructive criticism much appreciated.
Richard's POV:
I wake up the next morning to the wonderful smell of waffles. That is an instant boost for my stomach to demand and growl like an ugly beast. I was about to go directly to the kitchen in search of some, but suddenly I remember that Mary is the one probably cooking… I should at least make myself presentable, right?
I take a quick trip to the bathroom to wash my teeth and try to make my hair a little less like a rat's nest. Then I give in and follow the wonderful smell. Sure enough, Mary is in the kitchen making some waffles and talking on the phone with her back to me. I linger in the doorway and watch her in her element as she plates them, along with some fruit and tops it off with some powder sugar.
"No James, you can still come over this week…." James? Does she have a boyfriend? "Yes, I'll be free Wednesday and Thursday night…" Is she going on a date? "Fine, text me later and we can sort it out, I have to go." She is hangs up and I knock on the doorway so that I don't scare her again, she might still be too sensitive from yesterday's movie.
"Sorry, didn't want to interrupt your call with your boyfriend…." I say as I take a seat on one of the high chairs on the side of the kitchen island facing her.
Mary's POV:
"Oh, good morning Richard!" I say as I turn around and find him sitting just in front of me. Boyfriend? Oh, he heard me say James most likely. "That was just a classmate, we have a report due next week and he wants to come over this week to finish it…. I don't have a boyfriend" I say quietly, probably blushing really bright as I push my glasses higher on my nose.
Was that my imagination, or did Richard look pleased when he heard my admission? No, he can't be, why would he?
"Anyways, I was making some waffles, but since William and Lizzy have gone for a run on the beach and jane and Charlie won't be waking up anytime soon, you can help yourself to some and I'll leave the others wrapped for when they want to have breakfast," Richard stands up and walks to my side of the island, I plate some for him and decorate them as I did mine.
"I'm sure you've probably had better ones somewhere else, and honestly if you want something else for breakfast, I can totally prepare it for you. I mean William has a pretty stocked up kitchen…." I ramble as his proximity and a familiar smell reach my nose, making me nervous and making butterflies do somersaults in me.
Richard's POV:
God she is adorable! I can't help it. I stand closer to her and turn her sideways to face me, she lowers her eyes to the floor and a blush creeps up her cheeks. I caress her cheek just as I did last night and she looks at me and freezes for a moment.
"You had some powdered sugar un your cheek…" I say as my fingers trace down her cheek, almost touching the corner of her mouth. I hear her sudden inhale and drop my hand; I clear my throat awkwardly and step back a little. "Besides, if yesterday's dinner is anything to go by, I'm sure these waffles will be delicious, wouldn't miss tasting them for anything."
I grab the plate she silently offers me and make my way to the dining table. Damn it Richard! You probably intimidated her, now she'll be as quiet as a mouse because of it, she won't even feed you anymore awesome food!
I sit down and she is still in the kitchen, fidgeting in place. Is she scared of me now? "Mary?" I ask tentatively, "Won't you have breakfast with me? Please?" She snaps her head in my direction and nods a little. She grabs her plate and walks to the table, her eyes drifting to the chair available, she chooses to sit by mi side instead of directly in front of me.
"You know Mary, I know a little of your sisters because of their outing with William and Charlie, but I don't know much about you." I comment lightly to see if she maybe wants to talk a little. God, her waffles are absolutely mouthwatering!
"These are absolutely delicious by the way; I'm going to be fat from eating too much of your cooking!" I compliment her with a smile. She looks at me from under her lashes and smiles a little as murmurs a quiet thanks.
"What would you like to know Richard? I'm not that interesting…" she says quietly as she plays around with the strawberries in her waffles. Why is she so quiet today? Wasn't it yesterday that she was laughing with me while preparing dinner and watching a movie?
Mary's POV:
I'm still thinking of the feel of his fingers on my cheek… it felt familiar, like something on a dream… just like his smell, why do I feel comforted by it? Suddenly I remember that I didn't walk to bed last night! I remember falling asleep on the couch and later a nice smell on my pillow… but it couldn't have been my pillow… did Richard carry me to bed last night?! OMG he probably did! And I freaking snuggled him?! Was I out of my mind?!
I look at him slightly panicked as I remember the events of last night, blushing to the tips of my ears for sure. How could he be so calm about it? And he wants to know about me? Why? I'm not interesting!
"I can't believe that. But in any case, oblige me please. You said you had a report to finish, what are you studying?" he asks me in between bites, genuine curiosity in his eyes.
"Umm… I study Chemistry and Pharmacy in Hertfordshire University…" I say and take a bite of my waffles to stall for time. They need more butter.
"Really? Wow, that is so cool, probably hard too! You must be really smart. Why did you choose to study that? I mean, if Jane is studying medicine, wouldn't you have studied the same?" He really is interested then?
"Well, yes, she is in med school, but contrary to her, I don't have so much dedication. I have seen her spend hours and hours studying, barely getting any sleep, and while I can cram just like the next student, I don't get to those extremes. Also, I can handle a little blood, but not so much as to willingly go and practice things like surgery and emergency rooms. Jane's heart of gold and compassion for everyone enables her to push through the discomfort of those situations to help others…" I start to ramble, but he is looking at me completely focused, his waffles finished long ago. That gives me the courage to continue.
"As to why I chose this career… I knew I wanted to help people, and the health area has always been fascinating to me, but as I told you, I didn't want a 100% hands-on approach. So, I started researching and found this career. It has a lot of different job opportunities as you graduate and I like that I could possible be working in a community type clinic or pharmacy where you can be more personal in the patient's treatment you know? For example, an elderly woman is prescribed several medications, and as a community pharmacist, she can come over to my work and ask about her medication, if she is taking it correctly, if she feels poorly or has side effects because of it I could potentially modify her treatment to lessen the symptoms or refer her to doctors that can evaluate her again…" I realize I had been talking quite a while and I'm anxious that I have bored him… I got carried away and probably spoke too much…
"Wow… I had never pictured those scenarios… you chose well, I can see you are passionate about it, it's very interesting!" he places his hand on top of my fidgeting ones and says, "I'm sure you will be wonderful in your job." And he smiles at me with some feeling I can't place… Respect? Admiration? Pride? Whatever it is, it warms my heart and brings tears to my eyes. I smile, a genuine happy smile and apparently, I don't need to say anything else, his eyes bare into my very core and he feels my gratefulness without even speaking.