Thank you for all your reviews! It felt really good to read them!
Slight changes have been made since last update! Thanks to Marcallie for the info regarding the Smithsonian! Super helpful!
Here's a new chapter.
CHAPTER THREE
THE SMITHSONIAN SUMMER EXHIBITION
Sadie met Spencer at the coffee shop dressed in a pair of black jeans, a T-shirt, hoodie and a pair of sneakers. Spencer stopped when he saw her, not because of her attire, but because she was still holding that same copy of Nine Stories he'd seen her with the last time they'd met. She smiled when she saw him, closed the book and walked up to him.
"Good morning, Dr. Reid" she said. Spencer scowled.
"Why do you always call me 'Dr. Reid'?" He asked. Sadie shrugged.
"I'm not sure. Probably force of habit." She concluded. Spencer's scowl dialed down into a small frown.
"I'd prefer you call me Spencer" he said. Sadie nodded.
"Alright, Spencer" she said, "Are you going to have your double espresso now?" She asked, teasingly. Spencer nodded.
"One double espresso and one chocolate frappuccino" she ordered. Spencer wondered if the woman ever drank the same drink twice. But seeing as she'd been here everyday for the past year made him realise she probably had had everything at least four times.
"Please stop dazing out" Sadie said, making Spencer smile apologetically at her.
"If you didn't want to be with me, you shouldn't have asked me out" she added. Spencer shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Sadie" Spencer said, "I didn't mean to get lost in my thoughts. I was just thinking if you ever had the same coffee twice and then got side-tracked calculating the items on the menu and the number of days I've seen you here and coming to the conclusion that you must've had each item at least four times, if not more. I am truly sorry for ignoring you like that while I went off into my own world." He rambled in a single breath.
Sadie stared at him. Then, the woman behind the counter called out their order. Sadie turned to her and took the two cups and turned to Spencer.
"This one's yours', Spencer" she said, handing him his cup. Spencer still looked at her with pursed lips. Sadie smiled a little.
"It's ok. I forgive you. Just don't do it anymore." She warned, "If you want to know something, just ask." She suggested. Spencer nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind" he said, "Shall we leave?" He enquired. Sadie nodded and lead him out the shop. Spencer hailed for a cab. Sadie blew on her frappucino. When a taxi stopped, Spencer opened the door for her to get in.
"Thank you" she said, smiling and Spencer ran around to the other side to get in.
"National Museum of Natural History, please" Spencer informed the driver and sat back. It would take them at least 20 minutes to get there.
"So" Sadie started, "what exactly are you a doctor of?" She asked. Spencer grinned.
"I have doctoral degrees in mathematics, chemistry and engineering. As well as bachelor degrees in psychology and sociology. I'm currently working on my bachelor in philosophy over at Georgetown University." He rambled. Sadie looked impressed.
"Are you like a genius, or something?" She asked, sounding impressed.
"My IQ is 184 and I have an eidetic memory, so I suppose it does make me a type of genius. I have been called that often though, but I'd never really given it much thought." He finished. Sadie looked impressed.
"I've only ever heard about an eidetic memory. Hadn't met anyone like that before. It's an honour, Dr. Reid" she said, grinning. Spencer smiled at her.
"My turn to ask the questions?" He asked, in return. Sadie sipped her coffee.
"Ask away" she offered.
"How long have you been here? In the States?" He asked gently.
Sadie frowned and pouted.
"I came here in April last year, so roughly 15 months" she concluded, "Nolan, my brother, he said a change of scenery could help with my writer's block and, here I came, not a week later, without a second thought" she reminisced. Spencer pressed his lips together.
"Writer's block?" He enquired, slowly, tentatively. Sadie looked up.
"I was in the process of starting my second book before I came here. My editor was harassing me about it before..." she trailed off. Spencer knew what she meant. Before the circumstances changed and her brother died. The taxi came to a halt. Sadie looked at the meter and opened her wallet.
"I've got it." Spencer said. Sadie scowled.
"No, wait, here" she said to the driver. The driver looked at Spencer, who was still finding the bills in his wallet.
"Take it" she told the driver firmly, and he did. Spencer scowled.
"Sadie, I said I'd pay" Spencer said, following her out the cab. Sadie was tossing her cup in the bin when he stepped out.
"It's alright. You can get the next one" she said. Spencer looked unconvinced.
"So, what exactly are we here for?" Sadie asked looking around the park they were walking through to get to the museum.
"I just wanted to spend time with you." Spencer admitted,"there is a display of turn-of-the-century artifacts in the museum, if you don't mind walking through it while we talk a bit more?" He rambled. Sadie stopped and looked at him with wide, surprised eyes.
"So, I would be right in presuming, that you're interested in me?" She said, sounding surprised as she came to a halt. Spencer stopped and looked at her.
"Of course" he agreed, "is that so strange?" He wondered aloud, for Sadie was a thing of beauty to look at. She must've been asked out by all kinds of men in her life. Sadie coloured red in her cheeks.
"I suppose it isn't strange" she agreed softly, "It's my first time out with someone Nolan doesn't know or hasn't met. I guess I ought to be prepared for more events like this in the future. I mean, it's not like I can keep clinging to Nolan's friends for all human interaction for the rest of my life." She rambled until she ran out of breath.
Spencer looked at her with surprise. He hadn't expected her to break into a monologue so suddenly. Especially about her recently deceased brother.
"Were all your previous dates, friends with your brother?" Spencer enquired. Sadie looked up.
"Is this a date? A proper date?" She asked with wide eyes.
"I'd like to think so" Spencer admitted. Sadie bit her lower lip.
"A real date" she mumbled to herself, "I've never been on one of those" she admitted.
Spencer wondered what kind of person who saw Sadie wouldn't eventually ask her out on a date, or for her to be the mother of his children and for her hand in marriage? Sadie's dark hair had natural curls that fell in her face and framed her delicate features. Her green eyes, when she looked at you, felt like she was showing you her soul and the smile he'd seen on her occasionally was something that made you feel light in your chest. Overall, despite her trying to make herself appear plain and unkempt, Sadie was an appealing woman and Spencer had been certain, until her previous reaction, she'd had more experience than him when it came to courtship.
"Is it strange that I'm 24 and have never been on a real date before?" Sadie enquired Spencer was uncertain in which way he might answer so it sounds good. While he contemplated this, Sadie stared at him from behind her eyelashes as her head hung low. Spencer opened his mouth to dispute her claims of peculiarity when they both heard the radio announcement of a lost child.
"Shall we go in?" Spencer said instead and decided to listen to Morgan's advice, especially since he'd asked for it.
"The day is about her: if she wants to go left, you go left. If she wants to take a break, you take a break. If she finds museums a boring place, you suggest to go to a place she'd like to visit. And finally, when you drop her off, don't hang around for a good night kiss, or anthing like that. It's only the second date, and you are not the kind of man who does things like that on a second date, isn't that right?"
Spencer turned to Sadie, who was looking at the articles with barely a glance.
"Sadie" he called, making her turn to him, "you do like museums, don't you?" He inquired. Sadie looked at him.
"Of course" she said, "they're the only place other than a library to maintain silence while learning. And the historical articles are such a wonder to see, isn't it?" She rambled.
Spencer was relieved. At least he'd not forced his idea of a good time onto her. He walked beside her as she took a pamphlet at the counter and handed another to him. He accepted it with thanks.
"Is there anything in particular you want to see?" He inquired as she looked through the pamphlet.
"The photography section?" She said uncertainly. Spencer looked at her curiously.
"I want to see that famous photo of the end of the second world war taken in Times Square" she added.
"Oh, sure" he agreed and lead the way.
Over the next few hours, the two had walked through the museum, talked about Spencer's childhood and his job in the FBI. When Sadie suggested lunch, Spencer was more than happy to lead her to the cafeteria for a quick bite, as she'd described it.
"What about you, Sadie?" He asked, as they sat down with their burgers, "How was it growing up in the UK?"
Sadie looked at her burger for a moment, then she looked up.
"Even though I sound like this, I'm Irish" she said, "I was born in Northern Ireland, which is technically part of UK, but I'm Irish" she said.
"I see" he said, "The land of the leprechaun, huh?" He said, in a poor attempt to make a joke. Sadie smiled, nonetheless.
"Yeah, and of George Bernard Shaw, George Orwell and James Joyce" she offered. Spencer smiled in response.
"It must've been a haven for a writer to grow up in" he said, additionally.
"I suppose it must have" she mumbled.
Spencer frowned. Had he somehow offended her? Or worse?
"Is everything alright?" He asked softly. Sadie looked up at him.
"Yup" she said, forcing a smile, "I was just thinking about the past." She admitted.
"I'm sorry for bringing him up again" Spencer said apologetically, "it was not my intention to remind you of your recent loss." He admitted. Sadie frowned at him a little.
"I'm sorry" she said, "but it wasn't my brother I was thinking of" she admitted, "it was my father"
Ooh! A Cliff-hanger!
Next chapter is written and awaiting proof-reading! It'll be up soon!
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