Chapter Eight: Time

Alex

When I wake Saturday morning, I can hear eggs crackling in a pan, and the clink of plates and glasses in the kitchen. I can smell you on the rug, and in the throw that we made love under last night. The fire is out, and I can feel the chill of morning on my skin. I reach out to pull my clothes back on only to find them missing. I gather the blanket around me and walk sleepily into the kitchen where you cook, fully clothed.

"Hey, where're my clothes?"

"Morning sunshine. They are in the washer with mine."

"But... did you think maybe I might like something to put on this morning?"

You turn around and look me over. "Nope, you're wearing exactly what I picked out."

"Liv!"

"What? It's been seven months since I've seen you naked and I want to enjoy it while I can. That throw goes beautifully with your complexion by the way."

I swat at you with one hand, and the throw drops down from my shoulders, sagging below my right breast, and exposing the nipple of my left. I blush, but don't bother to rearrange the blanket. The chill of the room hits my body, and I can see that look in your eyes as my nipple pops to a cool attention.

"mmmmm if I wasn't cooking, you'd be in big trouble Miss Cabot." You use one finger to trace the line of the throw against my skin, leaving even more goosebumps behind you. I lean in to kiss you, but there's a quick pop from the pan and you turn to tend the eggs as I wander into my bedroom to find some clothes.

"What are you doing back there?"

"Getting dressed, it's freezing in here!"

"You're the one who wanted to live in Oregon."

"Right, because its soo much warmer in New York right now."

"Well it's warmer when we're there."

I shake my head, hoping you haven't made this trip just to try and beg me back early. I love having you here... I love having you anywhere, but I don't want to spend any of this time fighting with you. When I emerge, fully clothed, food is already steaming on the table, and there are matching glasses of orange juice by our plates.

"No coffee?"

"Not until I get a chance to buy you some decaf."

"Liv, you do know my heart is fine right?"

You look up from the table, "Have you actually asked the doctor lately?"

I can't help sighing. "No. I haven't because I don't need to. It was a fluke baby. Just a funny little trick that happened because of an overly stressful situation. All six of the doctors you made me see told us that. And the two you convinced me to see when I got back did too."

"I still think you should be drinking decaf."

"I still think you worry too much."

"I just want to take care of you. You can't honestly blame me for that right?"

You reach across the table to take my hand, and for once I can't really read the expression on your face. Why do I feel like you're not done surprising me?

Olivia

I can't help being worried about you. It's only part of the reason I'm so anxious to get you back to New York with me. I reach for your hand across the table, tempted to bring out my little black box right now, but knowing I can do better. Still,

"I brought you a present..." I love the way your eyes light up, and you try not to look overly pleased. It gives your face that innocent look. Like a seven-year old on Christmas.

"I thought you were the present."

"Well, if you don't want anything else then--"

"No no! You went to all the trouble to shop after all."

I can't help chuckling, as I get up from the table to seek out the right suitcase. I can hear your fork clinking in the kitchen behind me, and I look back to see you clicking you fork against the plate, trying to pretend you're not peeking.

"Eat your breakfast!"

"Fascist."

"Just call me Jack Hammond. Turn around and eat."

I pull out the beautiful soft leather and shake out the coat, glad to see that it didn't wrinkle as badly as I expected. While I'm up, I find my own jacket over the back of the sofa and fish out the ring box, moving it to my carryon with its mate. I fold the jacket back up carefully, and pull out the ribbon Casey prepared for me. She may be a klutz, but that girl can wrap like nobody's business. I found a beautiful blue ribbon and took it to her before I left so she could make a bow to go around the jacket.

"Close your eyes!"

"I thought I was supposed to eat."

Fifty bucks says you're already done and have been trying to see what I'm doing.

"Ok, ok, eyes closed."

I walk back to the table, set the jacket on the seat of my chair as I gather our dishes and wipe the table, making sure there's nothing to stain the smooth brown leather. I come up behind you and place the jacket on the table in front of you, then pull my hands back to rest on your shoulders. "Now, no peeking until I tell you."

I pull a chair up next to you so I can be close to you, and still see the look on your face. "Ok, open."

You look down, and I watch your eyes go wide, and fill with tears.

"I thought we threw this away."

"We did, it's a new one. We had a scene out in Soho and I saw it in a shop on the way home. I caught a cab the next day and prayed it would still be there. They only had one left, in your size. I wanted to get us both one, but mostly I wanted you to have it. After everything was over and you were falling asleep in the hospital, you told me that you begged the doctors to let you keep it on because it felt like I was holding you when you wore it."

Now I'm tearing up and feeling ridiculous as I always do. What is it about you, about us that turns me into such a girl? "I want you to know that no matter what happens, and no matter what you decide, or I decide, or we decide... my arms will always be around you."

Alex

I love that look on your face. The way you try to still your eyes, your mouth, trying to not to cry with me. Someday I'm going to have to find the words to tell you how much I love this side of you. You think it makes you look weak... crying. But there's something so strong in your tears. For the moment though, you fight against them, and I pick up the bowed bundle in front of me and hold it to my nose, breathing in the deep leather scent that mixes with the cinnamon of you that rubbed off from it's trip with your clothes in your suitcase.

My eyes are closed and I sit for a minute, memorizing this moment. Memorizing these smells. You're still quiet, and I realize that I've probably been sitting here too long. I open my eyes and look at you as you search my face for a response.

"It's beautiful. I love it Olivia, thank you." I lean to kiss you in appreciation.

"Put it on."

I stand and you untie the ribbon and help me slide my arms through the long soft sleeves, then come around to face me and slide your arms around my waist, inside the coat, and pull me close to you so that the coat covers part of you as well. I rest my head on your shoulder and take in the feel of you here.

"I missed you."

"I know. I'm sorry I've been so annoying, bugging you about coming back."

"It's ok." This apology is sudden, but heartfelt. I can't help hoping that while you're here I can show you exactly why this decision has become so hard for me to make. Suddenly I realize I have no idea how long you're here for.

"How much time off did you take off?"

"The guys all pitched in some vacation time, and Fin even tossed in some sick days. I've got two months to bum around here."

"Leather coats, plane tickets, new luggage, time off... how are you affording all of this?"

"Carefully."

I look at you over my glasses. I know how frugal you are. I also know you have some savings, but you won't have much if you keep on like this.

Olivia

Here's something I hadn't expected. We never talk about money. Partly because I think you don't want to emphasize your rather hefty trust fund, and partly because I've never really cared that much.

You're giving me that look over your glasses.

"I set aside a little extra when I was planning for this. I just went back to one-tomato dinners for awhile Alex, it's not like I stopped paying the electric bill."

You're going to flip when you see those rings. For the first time I feel genuinely nervous about giving it to you.

"Don't worry about the money Lexi, it's not important. I just... did what I needed to do that's all. Besides, the guy said that when they take the kidney, they put me to sleep so I shouldn't feel a thing."

It takes you a minute to realize I'm joking as you pull away from me.

"Olivia!"

"What? I was kidding. Do you really think I'd sell an organ?"

"Well, I worry about you too you know."

"You do realize you sound completely ridiculous? Are you sure you're a lawyer?"

You swat me gently upside the head and I shake my hair and lean in to kiss the smile that's creeping over your lips.