Robert sat on his terrace, enjoying his morning tea. He loved starting the day this way. He was a little hungover from yesterday. He and John went to a pub to have some drinks after the party. It was a long time ago he went to a pub. His phone rang, it was John.

"Anna has gone into labour last night and the baby could be born every minute."

"How wonderful, good luck!"

Robert put his phone down and let his mind take off. He was brought back 24 years.

A rainy day in London, he was on his way to his office and saw a young lady rushing through the rain without an umbrella. He offered her his umbrella and from that little gesture followed a trip through 'The National Gallery'. She was on her way to visit the museum. He had never seen anyone so beautiful. Her eyes blue as ice and her smile radiant. Her eyes smiled with her mouth. She knew a lot about all the artists and paintings. He had felt dumb, living in this city for 20 years and never having set foot inside 'The National Gallery'. They had ended the day together at 'Andrew Edmunds' for a lovely lunch. Her name was Cora, and she was from New York. She followed an art study. She was in London for a holiday on her own. Her mother had said it was good to explore more of the world, and she had chosen for London. She would go back to New York in three days, they would meet again the day after tomorrow for dinner.

The day of their second meeting, Robert was a bundle of nerves. His father had scolded him, for not paying attention. Patrick, his father was training him to take over the company. But Robert couldn't think of anything else than his dinner that evening.He had worn one of his best suits and was waiting in front of 'The Ritz' He wanted to impress her. His heart fluttered when she got out of the taxi. She was wearing a simple black dress, that just touched her knees. The neckline was low and showed of the brim of her breasts. She smiled at him when she saw him standing there. He offered her his hand to help her inside. She took his hand and slid her arm in his arm. He could smell her perfume so close was she standing next to him. The dinner was wonderful, Cora was a very smart and interesting woman, she asked a lot of questions, but had enough to tell for herself. When the evening ended, she gave him a paper, saying: This is my address and phone number. If you want we can stay in contact? She had kissed his cheek and got in the taxi.*

He shook up from his memories when the doorbell rang. Rosamund and Marmaduke were standing at his door. "Robert! Not again!" Rosamund exclaimed looking at Robert in his pyjamas.

"What did I forget this time?"

Marmaduke had problems holding in his laughter, he got a stomp from Rosamund. "I told you, Robert wouldn't be ready, you lost the bet."

"Robert, can you please hurry up? We will miss the show."

Robert remembered, Rosamund had bought tickets for a theatre play in the afternoon. It was already 12 o'clock. He rushed to his bedroom, to take a quick shower and changed into clothes.


"Why are you so against dating someone?" Rosamund asked, while they were eating dinner.

Robert just took a bite and chewed very slowly.

"This will not help you to avoid the question." Rosamund said annoyed. "There are so many nice women, why do you say no to everybody."

"Ros, you know why!" Robert answered.

"Cora was a nice woman, but that was 20 years ago."

"24 to be precise." Robert gave back. "I will only date someone like her, and there is nobody like her, but Cora herself

"Remind me again, why didn't you go to New York?" Marmaduke asked.

Robert lowered his eyes. "Because of Mama and Papa. I was the son who would take over the company. Mama made it very clear, that if I went to New York, I would not inherit anything."

"Mama, never said that she wouldn't" Rosamund said surprised.

"Your Mama, is a different one than my Mama, unfortunately."

"Did you taste this beef?" Marmaduke changed the subject.


Robert sat at his desk, working on quotation, when there was a knock on his door. A dark haired woman stepped inside. She closed the door behind her and walked over to Robert. Stepped behind him and started rubbing his shoulders. Her hands soft on his muscles. He smelled her perfume, it was still the same one. She bent down and kissed his neck, her kisses moved to his cheek and her lips found his mouth.

Robert woke up from a loud bang. He sat right up in bed, he hated to be woken up from this wonderful dream. The silent night was disrupted by sirens. He got up to look out the window. He saw an orange glow, and when he stepped outside he saw thick dark clothes of smoke coming up from the city. He looked at his phone and saw that it was in the street where John lives.

He dialled his number, but they didn't pick up. He immediately changed into his clothes and got down to John's address. When he arrived, he saw it wasn't John and Anna's house, but they were standing on the street, with little Johnny. John spotted Robert and walked over to him.

"What happened?" Robert asked.

"We don't know, but it looks like a gas explosion in that house." John pointed to a house two doors down. Flames came through all the windows.

"Are you guys alright?"

Anna nodded. "We are, just scared. I am amazed Johnny is still sleeping."

Robert looked down at the little boy in her arms. "Do you want to go to my home so you can lay him down?"

John chuckled. "You don't have a baby bed."

"That is right, but you can't stay here outside with him?"

Anna accepted his offer and said it was indeed better, to go inside with Johnny.

The next morning John, Anna and Johnny could go back home. Their home didn't have any damage.

"You don't have to come in today, John." Robert said. "I will see you tomorrow."