Chapter 13
Sorry for the delay, life has been exceptionally busy of late.
She was relaxed, a long day put behind her. Robbie had texted her earlier in the day, he was going to cook. Normally it would have been enough to strike fear in her heart. There were many things which made him a good partner, cooking was not one of them.
She'd made it home before him, changed into casual clothes and made a big salad. At least if his meal was a bust, there would be something to hold them over. When he'd made it home, he kissed her soundly before shooing her out of the kitchen.
She'd tried to read but the steady stream of cursing from the kitchen had sent her escaping onto the patio where she'd been happily pottering about for the past hour. Gardening had always relaxed her and today was no exception. She'd only thought about the possible impending disaster of his meal once.
"It's ready."
Hopping spryly from the chair she'd been standing on she made her way to the kitchen. There was no smoke billowing from the patio doors, a promising sign. She walked through the door, closing it behind her just as Robbie puts his masterpiece on the table.
Unable to keep the suspicion from her voice, "What is that?"
"Canneloni."
"That's what it's meant to be, what is it now?"
"Yeah, very funny."
Walking away she shook her head, thankful for the salad she made. Quickly, she washed her hands, "So how was it today?"
Sitting down with his glass of wine, "Hm, we found the knife at least. Not that it gives us much. No sexual motive, nothing was taken, so..."
Laura picked up the salad bowl and made her way to the kitchen table. She hasn't admitted it to him but she enjoys talking about his cases, loves to watch how his mind works when he sinks his teeth into a case. She sat, keeping the salad bowl on her side of the table, suspecting she will eat most of it, "Random attacker?"
Robbie sawed into the burnt dish, "Yeah, frightening thought."
He dished a huge helping onto her plate while she looked at it, then him speculatively. He put an equal sized portion on his own plate then smiled at her. He's so happy with his display of domesticity she can't help but smile. For him, she will brave at least a few bites of the half burnt meal.
She forced down a few bites then smiled appreciatively at him. Seeing her smile he tucked into his own portion. With him happily preoccupied she took an overly large sip of her wine trying to wash the inedible meal down.
Watching him eat, she smiled, he was oblivious to the fact she has stopped eating. She pushed the food around to make it look like she has eaten more then takes another sip of her wine, before asking more about his case. "She's only 10 years old?"
"Well, yeah. She was only 7 when she was diagnosed apparently. What's the diagnosis?"
"Well with Fanconi Anemia..." She reached for the salad tossing it in the bowl the scooping some onto her plate, "Assuming they can find the right donor, either bone marrow or stem cell transplant could cure her all together. But without it..."
"Not good."
Shaking her head, she stabbed at the salad, "No, hm, even with all of the transfusions and hormone therapy, late teens."
He returned to his meal, taking a few more bites, "This isn't too bad, is it?"
Chewing on her salad, she hid a smile, "Not too bad."
Hearing the smirk in her voice he looked up, "It's not too good either is it?"
"I'm sure parts of it were good."
The corners of his mouth tweaked up, "Were those the two bites you ate?"
"I'm afraid I didn't get those bites."
"Are you planning on sharing the overly large salad you made?"
With one hand on the bowl she fixed him with a steely gaze, "I believe the last time I tried to feed you a salad you acted like I was trying to starve you to death."
Scraping the remainder of his food back into the dish he laughed, "Well tonight the salad might be the only thing between me and certain death."
She leaned over the table, kissing him lightly as she handed him the salad bowl, "Did you use a recipe?"
He shrugged as he spooned salad onto his plate, "James said it was easy." At her raised eyebrow he took a sip of his wine, "Maybe I should have written it down."
Laughter spilled from her, "Yes that's probably a good idea."
"I'm sorry dinner was rubbish."
"It's alright Robbie. I'm not with you for your cooking."
He took her hand, "So exactly why do you keep me around?"