Author's notes: Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter, and especially to JaneDoe51 who entertained me with reviews of all the chapters as she read through Pink Envelopes and Pink Recovery over Sunday and Monday. Thanks to the follows and favs and to all those who are reading it. I hope that this pivotal chapter meets with your approval.
Teresa's surprised when she wakes up, not realising she'd fallen asleep. A faint whistling reaches her ears and she smiles, realising that Patrick's back. She gets up off the bed and goes in to the bathroom to take a shower, she wants to look her best for this evening. She has a thought and comes back into the bedroom and searches through her suitcase. She finds the one dress that she packed for the trip, her favourite emerald dress, knee length with a round collar. She hangs it up in the bathroom to allow the steam from the shower to get rid of some of the wrinkles.
Patrick is enjoying himself, but is nervous too. It's a long time since he cooked dinner for anyone, never mind a woman he wants to declare his love for. He'd looked in on her when he got back and found her asleep. He took it as a good sign that she'd come to a decision and he deduced that it's in his favour as the stress of disappointing him wasn't keeping her awake. He decided to let her sleep and he came downstairs and dug out the good china. He washed it and dried and polished it so that it now gleams. When he was getting the lawn mower he'd spied the picnic table, he pulled it out and washed it down, he set it out on the deck over the sea. He managed to find a tablecloth that he threw over it and he brought some flowers in from the garden.
He'd heard Teresa move around and then the shower start. It finished fifteen minutes ago and he expects her down soon. He spooning the potatoes in to a bowl when he hears her coming down the stairs. He carries the bowl out to the table and when he turns around Teresa's standing in the door way. He's momentarily stunned and she smiles at him.
"I never thought I see the day when Patrick Jane's speechless."
He smiles in return.
"You look amazing."
She slightly bows her head.
"Thank you. The table looks great."
Jane's still staring and then realises he hasn't replied, he shrugs.
"Best I could do in the circumstances."
"And the meal smells wonderful."
He pulls out a chair.
"Sit here while I finish the fish, I won't be long."
Teresa walks over and sits in the offered chair. He pours her a drink. They smile at each other, each seeing the other the same but differently, Jane breaks contact and goes into the kitchen.
Teresa puts down her fork and leans back in her chair.
"That was amazing!"
Jane smiles:
"Thank you."
She sweeps her hand across the table.
"How did you make such simple ingredients taste like that."
"I've always been a dab hand in the kitchen, perhaps if my upbringing had been different I would have been a chef."
Teresa looks at him for a moment and sees the twinkle in his eyes and laughs.
"Somehow I don't think you have the temperament to work in a kitchen."
Jane's shaking his head.
"No, I don't think so, too many hours and too much shouting."
While getting ready Teresa had pondered on how she was going to approach the subject. Through dinner Patrick seemed happy to talk about other things but she sees an opening and takes it.
"Mmm but you do realise that you will now be doing all the cooking."
She sees Patrick's mouth twitch but he controls it.
"I'm fine with that since we'll be going back to Sacramento the day after tomorrow."
"As long as we have that str..."
Teresa suddenly realises what he said.
"...we're going back to Sacramento?"
"Unless you want to stay here longer, there just isn't a lot of furniture."
Teresa can't help but smile.
"No there isn't."
"Teresa"
Patrick looks at her with an intensity that catches in her stomach.
"What I said earlier...it wasn't quite the truth..."
Teresa's stomach plummets and Jane carries on quickly seeing her reaction.
"I'm not taking it back, I...um...just want to add an amendment."
Teresa raises her eyes questioningly.
"An amendment?"
He has her confused, she's not sure if she wants to hear what's next, she can barely breathe.
"Yes...Look can I hold you're hand?"
She lays her hand on the table and he takes hold and rubs it with his thumb. He stares at it for a few moments and then looks up at her.
"I don't think I was entirely clear about my feelings and I think you deserve not to be left in any doubt."
Teresa looks at their hands and then at him.
"Okay."
She sees him take a deep breath.
"I love you Teresa."
She's caught by surprise as tears spring immediately to her eyes, she looks at him, and for a reason she can't explain, maybe it's emotions, maybe it's disbelief as it suddenly hits her that's she's been waiting for him to say those words for a long time, but she wonders if she heard correctly, maybe it's her own desires she heard and she's afraid of making a fool of herself so she just looks at him, blinking away tears.
Patrick's grateful that he can read what's going on or the stretched silence would be unsettling. He gives her hand a squeeze, a smile playing on lips as he's not going to help her totally out of the situation.
"You're suppose to say something."
Horror and embarrassment wash across her face.
"I...I..I'm sorry Patrick...can you...can you say it again?"
"Anything you wish my dear. I love you Teresa."
Patrick watches as a beautiful smile breaks across her face.
"I love you Patrick."