Sorry for the delay. As mentioned before, I'm in my final semester of college and have some time-consuming, energy-draining projects.
But here's chapter #9 for you guys! Time to deal with the aftermath of the bickering couple.
Initial completion: September 22, 2021
"Thanks for working today, B.E.N."
After a long day of working, cleaning, and serving, dinnertime was over for the residents but just beginning for Sarah. Now that the day was at an end B.E.N. prepared to leave, needing to head out early the next day for a voyage. "No, no need for thanks, Mrs. Hawkins," the robot answered with a shake of his head, "... it's the least I could do. I know Jimmy worries about you so I just want to help out." With a hug goodbye, B.E.N. was out the door
Sarah was once again by herself in the dining room, left to wonder about the quiet cook in the kitchen.
Serving the food had come and gone without many words exchanged between the innkeeper and the cyborg. He was almost finished with the dishes by the time Sarah had returned to the kitchen, briefly serving herself and heading back to the dining room without a word. She sat at her usual table and was fully prepared for him to choose to eat elsewhere.
She was still not pleased with him and how he was acting earlier, but Deb's enthusiasm at the idea of his return did get Sarah thinking. She had no issue with him joining Deb again another day, it would be good for the elder woman. The only problem seemed to be with him.
Her thoughts were slightly interrupted at the sound of him grabbing a plate and serving himself. But he did not leave the kitchen, not for a long moment. Eventually, he emerged and slowly made his way to her table.
Sarah had already begun eating and lightly acknowledged his presence as he took the seat across from her and the two ate in silence. The tension between them was distracting and she wondered if she should say something.
Instead, John finally spoke up. "Nice ermund casserole ya made," he tried. "Got a good backgroun' flavor."
Sarah nodded. "I like to make it quite often. It's easy to make and tastes pretty good."
He hummed lowly in response.
It seemed as though silence would fall again until he let out a heavy sigh. "Listen, lass…" he began. "I shouldn'ta been actin' like I was earlier."
Sarah sighed softly. "No, I don't think you should have. I mean," she shrugged, "... I can understand if you're more than a little paranoid..."
He shook his head. "'At's no excuse. This be yer establishment, so they be yer rules. Besides, ye've been too understandin' fer me to be challengin' you." His truthful gaze lifted to meet her eyes. "So, I apologize."
Sarah stared back into his eyes. "I'm sorry, too," she said, prompting a wide grin from him. With a smile of her own, she extended her right hand over the table. "Truce?"
He momentarily lost his smile as he shot the quickest gaze at his robotic hand. Instead, he brought up his left hand, holding her fingers within it. "Aye, truce."
Sarah gaped at his hand as it held hers before again pulling her eyes up to match his smile, locking stares.
His warm gaze held hers well until he noticed their hand-holding and sheepishly let go. With an abrupt clear of his throat he returned to his food.
But her gaze lingered just a sliver before she also continued her meal, still smiling.
The meal continued as usual until Sarah cautiously asked a question. "I'm sorry for intruding, John," she quietly began, "... but may I ask why you were so resistant to help me earlier?"
The cyborg glimpsed at her with a furrowed brow, a reluctant look etched onto his features.
Sarah truly didn't want to be nosy, especially since the two had been at odds all day. But she did wonder if this issue of his was not as surface-level as she initially thought.
"Well, as ye can see, lass, I be a large, imposin' cyborg." He motioned to himself as he spoke. "Most don't take too kindly to a figure such as meself. Many folks take one look at me and 'at be th' start and th' end of a good impression." His head lowered slightly as he wearily looked up and spoke more quietly, "It ain't all about keepin' me cover."
It seemed she was correct.
Rapidly he cleared his throat and went back to his food. "But what's to be done? One can't simply change how others see 'em."
Sarah also passively returned her attention to her plate, although it was now empty. "Well, just so you know," she said, "... you don't seem so bad to me."
He brought his gaze up as she lifted her eye, his face carried a look of surprise in contrast to her friendly smile. He smiled in return as he stood up to take their plates. "I appreciate 'at, Sarah," he politely replied.
She called out to him while he left for the kitchen, "I'll wipe the table." She received a hum in response as he disappeared behind the swinging doors. Standing up and pulling a rag from her apron Sarah began cleaning.
What she said was true, he didn't seem like a bad person, even if he was being rather thick-headed earlier. He was even nice enough to apologize for his behavior.
As she finished and started towards the kitchen he stepped out, his apron gone. "I suppose it's time to turn in," he said as he placed his hands behind his head and stretched his elbows up, his chest expanding.
Sarah felt a yawn creep out of her. "I suppose it is."
He dropped his arms and let them swing lazily to his sides as he dragged his tired self towards the dark hallway, only turning back to give a gentle wave, "Sweet dreams, Sarah."
She smiled in return, "See you tomorrow, John."
As he left for bed Sarah entered the kitchen to make sure everything was in order before she, too, went to sleep. Mostly everything was fine save for the cyborg's large apron which appeared to have fallen from its place. She moved it to hang back on the hook, thinking of how the cyborg looked when he walked down the hall.
It reminded her of how Leland looked whenever he came home.
It was almost always the same thing: arriving at a late hour, not wanting the dinner saved for him, not seeing their son who had waited up, and lugging himself off to bed without another word only to leave again the next dawn.
As she put out the dim lights and headed up the stairs Sarah wondered how soon she would have to say goodbye to her helper and be left alone again. While she never thought it was necessarily bad when she worked on her own, she had to compare it to how things were going now.
She had certainly felt more at ease with another pair of hands helping her and was occasionally finding herself enjoying the extra company.
That inevitable day would be less than pleasant.
But she shrugged off the thought, deciding to worry about losing her assistant another day and instead focus on getting some rest in anticipation of another day of work.