PerspectivesII: Chapter 15
Perspectives II
MarshAngel

Chapter 15

Lita was chatting and laughing with her co-workers as they began preparing for the mid-day lunch rush. The restaurant had grown in popularity these last few days. She enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the restaurant and the rush of life in the city.

Once you got past the smog and traffic, NY was really cool. She wondered if any of it would ever grow old. She enjoyed the artsy feeling of the village, the performers in the parks, the way you had to avoid being run over by the roller-bladers, joggers and cyclists in the morning. Most fascinating was the endless variety of food. She doubted she'd ever get around to trying everything but God help her she was going to make a serious attempt.

"Hey Lita," Brett yelled from the other side of the kitchen over the sound of clattering pans and sizzling food.

"Yeah. What is it?" She yelled back.

"Annabel says you've got an admirer." Annabel one of the young waitresses and also a student at NYU stood next to Brett in the back, holding up a bouquet of red roses. Lita raised an eyebrow in surprise. She wiped her hands on her apron and picked up two plates of food, she handed it over to the girl in exchange for the flowers.

They smelled wonderful. "So who's the guy?" Alice, her fellow worker asked peeping around her shoulder. Lita removed the small note card from the bouquet. It read:

I'll forgo any cheesy messages and simply wish a wonderful day to the best and most beautiful chef in NY.

Scrawled in his messy handwriting was Nicholas' signature. Lita blushed lightly. He was already sending her flowers. She couldn't recall any guy doing that before.

"How romantic," Alice sighed. "I wish someone would do that for me. Who is he? Do I know him?" Lita just smiled and kept smiling for the rest of the day. It wasn't possible to love someone you'd only met once was it?"

Andrew awoke to the flowery scent of Mina's thick blonde tresses tickling his nose as her head rested on his chest. The golden California sunshine shone through the window highlighting her hair in a most curious fashion creating a vas array of color from the palest blonde to the darkest gold. He relaxed against the fluffy pillows gazing around at the walls of her bedroom.

It was very feminine and warm, even with the white walls. It had a youthful summery feel, with lush peach carpeting and white furniture. One wall held a framed Andy Warhol print of Marilyn Monroe side by side with a bamboo shutter poster of a handsome Japanese idol singer left over from her teen years. Over her windows she had vertical blinds instead of the curtains he had assumed she would have gone for; they probably came with the apartment.

He slowly pulled his body from beneath her careful not to wake her. He pulled on the pants he'd been wearing before and left the room to explore the rest of her apartment. The living room was simple and decorated in the same summery fashion as the rest of the apartment.

He found himself levitating toward the glass doors on the far side of the living room. He pulled aside the vertical blinds and opened the doors, stepping out into the brilliant sunshine streaming unto the balcony.
The view was lovely, but not spectacular. The balcony of the apartment like all its neighbors opened unto a courtyard, filled with greenery and a kidney shaped swimming pool. It was definitely much nicer, and warmer than his place in Tokyo.

As he was about to return to the apartment and busy himself by making some coffee, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to face the beautiful woman who had reentered his life like a whirlwind, awakening within him romance and passion. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately, as he was always tempted to do when she was around.

As the kiss broke off, Mina took in a deep breath. Andrew was confused at the distressed, worried look in her eyes.

"What is it Mina? What's wrong?" He asked in rushed tone, extremely concerned as to what could have caused the worried look he saw I her eyes.

"We need to talk," she said with such finality that he immediately followed her inside and sat next to her on the couch without uttering another word.

"I don't know if you got my message to call me, while you were at the hospital in Tokyo, but I wanted to talk to you about this," she said handing him a brown manila envelope.

"What is this?" He was surprised and curious. When she didn't answer, he opened the envelope and stared in surprise at the black and white ultrasound pictures.

"Is this what I think it is? He asked almost choking, in shock at the thought of what the objects he held in his hand meant.

Mina could only nod, hoping he wouldn't be upset with her.

"You mean, you're…?"

"Mhmm."

"Oh my God! Mina!" he grabbed her into his arms and hugged her tightly."

"Andrew, I need to breath she gasped."

"Oh sorry." He was so rushed, his face was red with excitement, leaving Mina completely and utterly confused."

"I don't understand. You're not upset?"

Andrew gave her a rather confused look, as if she'd just asked him if he'd like to give birth to the child himself. "Why would I be upset Mina? The baby is mine isn't it?"

"Of course," she said hurriedly, insulted that he would even question the fact. "I just wasn't sure if you would want to have a child so soon."

He took her face into his hand and caressed her cheek, looking directly into her eyes.

"Sweetheart, I moved thousands of miles, left my life and my job to behind to be with you. I plan on being around for a while Mina. I've been ready to be a father for a long time and I've always been ready to be with you."

He wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
She was so happy, she threw her arms around his neck in a warm embrace.

"I love you so much Andrew. How is it possible that someone like you exists?"

"It's simple. I was meant for you."

Mina smiled, only slightly reassured considering there was much more to discuss. She had not informed Serena yet of her plans but she supposed she should have. What she was about to tell him was her concern as well.

"Andrew," she began, "there is much more to tell you. You know something, now that I think about it, I shouldn't have started to say anything just yet. It's just that when I told you this first thing, I thought I should probably tell you the rest and then I really thought about it and now, I don't think I should just yet, but I will tell you eventually but for now, you'll have to just pretend I didn't say anything at all. But…

"Mina! Slow down! Breathe. You're rambling and I have no idea what about.

"It's nothing. I'll tell you later. I need to talk to Serena first.

"You are one very confusing woman," he said smiling at her. "Why don't I make breakfast while you talk to Serena. I'd love to know what this secret of your is."
Nick was in a love-induced frenzy. Since he'd come back from New York he'd been riding on a cloud. For a while he'd been in a rather good mood after spending hours on the phone speaking with the woman who seemed to fill his head almost every moment of the day. He wasn't in a good mood anymore.

Here he was, reading through numerous documents, unable to concentrate, all the time with Mike giving him strange looks. He was growing more and more and more impatient as of late, wanting more and more to be with Lita in New York. All this work was rapidly growing very tedious.

"If you're not going to concentrate on anything, quit sighing like the love sick fool you are and go home,"

Mike said without looking up from the document he was reading by the window of Nick's office.

"How'd you know?"

"How could I not? Ever since you came back from New York you've been on cloud nine, grinning like a fool and whistling love songs. It's a wonder you haven't started skipping and singing show tunes."

"Ha, ha, very funny," Nick said sarcastically.

"Who's being funny? I was being very serious I can just see it now. You're hopping and skipping across the meadows, singing: "the hill's are alive with the sound of music. It's the most nauseating thing I've ever imagined, chills me to the very bone."

He made a horrified face, so real in it's emotion, Nick almost believed him for a moment.

"Oh shut up! I'm out of here. See you later."


Questions? Comments?
watsonma@hotmail.com
on to Chapter 16