Lessons to Learn
Chapter 7
A/N: I barely proofread this chapter. So forgive me if it is kind of a mess. I hope you enjoy! Please review!
His eyelids were heavy, and his mind still struggled to shake off the nets of dream. Distantly he noticed the touch on his upper arm. Robert managed a grumbling sound. A light chuckle reached his ears in response.
"It's not even that early, Robert," Cora spoke in a soft voice. Robert tried to blink his eyes open and after adjusting to the morning light he took in her figure sitting on the edge of his side of the bed. She smiled gently at him and caressed his upper arm. He noticed that she was already dressed in her favourite jeans and a high-neck red blouse. Her hair was already piled upon her head, but Robert didn't miss the loose curl that bounced delightfully at the back of her neck as she shook her head at him.
"Golly, you're sleepy today," she said. The tone of her voice was still low as if she didn't want to wake him further, opposed to what her words stated. Her hand wandered from his arm to his chest and straightened the edge of the blanket and the collar of his nightshirt. Robert harrumphed to get rid of the morning roughness in his throat.
"Don't you want to come back into bed with me?" he tried to convince her of his brilliant idea with a small pout. The weight of her hand on his chest repressed every thought of getting up and going to work. The rays of the morning sun, that entered the room without struggle, because Cora had already opened the curtains, hugged her silhouette. Despite his heavy eyelids Robert tried to keep his eyes open to savour the sight. Cora chuckled again at his suggestion.
"Robert, it's Wednesday. I'm sorry, but you have to get up," she remarked. Her other hand reached out and stroked his cheek. He pressed his cheek against her knuckles and relished the gentle contact. He made no effort to get up.
"Look, Robert, I made you some breakfast. You can smell the scrambled eggs even up here," she told him. He tried to catch the smell but there was just her perfume lingering in the room.
"Thank you, darling. That's sweet. I guess, I really have to get up then," Robert mumbled. Cora raised from her seat at his bedside. At the loss of her contact Robert turned in the sheets tempted to seek the warmth of the bed once again.
"Robert!" her voice rang from the door where she had turned around again at the suspicious sounds of the bedsheets.
"Alright, alright," he responded and left the bed with a huff.
When he climbed down the stairs not much later, he could definitely smell the scrambled eggs. It seemed Cora had even added some ham to the eggs if his nose didn't deceive him. That was a nice way to wake up. At entering the kitchen, he was greeted by the sight of his daughters standing around the richly set kitchen table and picking few delicacies each.
"Mama, you could have told us that you were planning a fancy breakfast for today!" Mary exclaimed while checking the time on the kitchen clock. "We can't even sit down properly now to eat this."
"I'm sorry, Mary. I'll tell you next time," Cora apologised and helped the girls to put some of the breakfast into their lunchboxes. Robert who had stopped in the doorway, now approached the scenery and took in the content of the bowls on the table. Cora had prepared not only scrambled eggs with ham but also a simple fruit salad, a pot of hot chocolate and warm rolls instead of the daily toast.
"Morning," he greeted without lifting his gaze from the breakfast.
"Oh, I see. You did all that just for Papa," Sybil remarked. She gave Cora a teasing grin and stuffed her lunchbox into her schoolbag. "See, Mary. It wasn't even meant for us. That's why she didn't tell us." Sybil nudged her eldest sister with her elbow and the resulting eyeroll appeared instantly on Mary's face.
"Oh, really Sybil? Stop that nonsense! I am not that bad of a mother," Cora rebuked and shooed the girls out of the kitchen. All of them disappeared into the hallway, and Robert took a seat at the kitchen table. Checking the time, he noticed with joy that for him it was indeed possible to sit down for breakfast. He took a sip from the coffee, that stood already at his place, and refilled the missing inches in the cup with hot chocolate. Then he spooned a majority of the eggs onto his plate. The voices of the girls reached his ears muffled by the closed kitchen door. He hoped they weren't still nagging about the breakfast. It wouldn't be fair to Cora. He took a fork full of egg and had to admit that it really was better with ham. Cora missed out on something. The chatter on the hallway subsided and Cora re-entered the kitchen.
"It's delicious," Robert mumbled in her direction. She sat down on her usual seat, pulled up one of her legs and grabbed her cup of coffee. Of course, the red cup not only matched her blouse but also the cup she had prepared for him. Clutching her cup and warming her constantly cold fingers, she watched him eating.
"Did I wake you in time?" Cora asked after a while.
"Yes, all perfectly timed," he praised before eyeing the remainder of the scrambled eggs in the bowl. "I assume you don't want some," Robert looked at her and noticed her far-away look.
"Hm?" Her blue eyes fixated on him, but he still wasn't sure if he had her attention.
"And I thought I was the sleepy one," he chuckled. "You don't want any eggs, right?"
"Oh, no, no. You needn't ask that," she assured. Her eyes wandered to the content of her cup she swirled slowly. "Do you know when you'll be home today?" she asked softly.
"Well, let me think," Robert mused. He couldn't promise to finish work in time of his usual working hours. "I'm not quite sure. I don't have any additional appointments late, but that doesn't mean there is not much work waiting for me."
Cora nodded. "Alright. I'm going to do the groceries then," she stated and downed her coffee. "I've got to go now." She rose from her chair, rounded the table to lean down and kiss his cheek and went to the sink to put down her cup. Robert finished his scrambled eggs while watching her move around the kitchen.
"Would you sort this out?" Cora asked making a circling motion across the content of the kitchen table.
"Sure."
"And take something of the fruit salad too," she added. "You cannot eat only eggs for breakfast. I tried to make it to your liking. It's without pineapple." Her efforts to keep his diet healthy were without precedent. Sometimes it really got on his nerves. He wanted to choose himself what to eat. But when he saw how much thought and work (and mostly love and care) she put in it, he got over his reluctance and tried to appreciate the helpings of vegetables and fruits.
"Thank you, that's very considerate. I will," he gave back and prepared himself a portion of the fruit salad demonstratively. The smile she rewarded him with made his heart jump unexpected. The brimming glow in her blue eyes always managed to do that. How did it take him by surprise again and again? His eyes followed her out the kitchen and then she was gone.
For the remainder of the breakfast, his thoughts revolved around the concept papers Mr Carson had already sent him for today's meeting.
When he had parked his car on his personal parking space behind the bank building thirty minutes later, he caught sight of his sister's car entering the parking lot as well. In a swift, smooth motion she placed her sports car a few spaces down the row. Robert approached her car. She still sat behind the steering wheel, and he saw how she dabbed the corners of her eyes with a tissue. She reached out to turn the rearview mirror and assess her appearance. Her head jerked around when she noticed her brother beside her car. The tissue disappeared in her handbag quickly, and the mirror was readjusted. She grabbed her red handbag and, leaving the car, she flicked her curls over her shoulder.
"Morning, brother," she muttered. "Annoying your sister from the first second? It's working out just great." Her strides around the car were swift, and her eyes never met his.
"What's up, Rosamund?" he inquired while following her on her heels. She groaned in response and quickened her pace. Her stilettos clicked aggressively on the pavement.
"Rosamund!" Robert grabbed her at her wrist, and she spun around. Her eyes shot down to his hand, but she made no attempt to shake it off her ironed, emerald blazer. Her piercing look then bore into his eyes, waiting for a preaching.
"What is wrong?" his tone was low yet imploring. It seemed to capture her more than the prior yell. She exhaled, but her demeanour stayed rigid. "If you don't want to talk to me then please speak with Cora. I–"
"Thank you, that won't be necessary," she cut him off and finally pulled her arm out of his grip. Robert huffed.
"Well, if I see you that your work is getting worse, then I have to insist," he demanded, but both knew that it wasn't about her work. He was worried, but she wouldn't take any sentimental pleadings.
"It won't. But alright." With that she turned back around and made her way to the building. Robert followed, and silently they sought their offices.
…
When it was lunch time Robert was still engrossed in an instruction for a demo version of the new system Mr Carson had gave him after their meeting. A knock on his door wasn't able to disrupt Robert's concentration. He lifted his hand as to hold back the disturbance.
"Wait," he muttered.
Nevertheless, the door opened a crack and his secretary inquired, "Robert? May I interrupt for a second?"
He grumbled something incomprehensible in response and as Anna entered the room tentatively, he finally tore his eyes from the document. He saw Anna standing in the doorway holding a bunch of folders in front of her chest.
"I need a few signatures for these settlements," Anna explained.
"Yes, put them here. I'll take care of it," Robert acknowledged as he patted a corner of his desk. Anna approached his working space and took an empty jug from the table after putting down the folders.
"Do you want some coffee?" she inquired, and Robert nodded eagerly. He massaged his temple and his eyes were about to drop to the document again when Anna's voice sounded again.
"You haven't eaten any lunch?" Robert looked into her eyes and was glad to see that Anna's expression was neutral and nothing like the furrowed brow that would appear on Cora's face at this question.
"I've brought myself this," he explained while he fetched a box of fruit salad from his briefcase.
"Your wife made you bring this," Anna corrected with a grin, and Robert merely shrugged his shoulders. He hadn't managed to eat his helping of fruit salad at breakfast and therefore took it to work with him. Anna's inquiry about lunch made him think of Cora.
"Anna?" he asked. His eyes narrowed as he fixated some point afar while developing plans in his head. "Would you call the French restaurant, I once gave you the card of, and ask if they have a table for two?"
"For when?" Anna questioned. That was a good question. Robert had not managed to ask Cora.
"Uhm… maybe Friday?" he responded.
Anna nodded. "Alright. Don't forget your break!" she added while leaving the room.
The idea of making a warm breakfast came to her mind while doing her morning routine in the bathroom. She had noticed that Robert's days full of work led to him having difficulties leaving the bed in the mornings. He often had no time to eat before heading to work, and Cora knew how grumpy and badly focused he was then. So, she made it her mission to get him well fed before he left the house. Yes, she herself didn't always manage to eat either (in fact, she went to school with an empty stomach even today), but other than his body hers functioned well enough when lunch was her first meal.
The moment alone in the kitchen while preparing breakfast gave her the chance to think about Elsie's offer without being interrupted in her musings. Stirring the hot milk on the stove to fasten the fusion of the chocolate, she tried to come up with strong arguments to decline. Administrative tasks might turn out to not be her thing. Maybe she would find them boring. Probably she would miss the students earlier than anticipated. But somehow these arguments didn't succeed in dissuading her from the case. There was this increasing voice in her that stressed 'You're tired, Cora. You're tired'. And then the image of quiet workdays in her office was a calming conception. The idea of Elsie's offer seemed less exhausting to Cora. And after all, she would not have to give up teaching completely. There was only talk of a reduction in teaching hours. Some classes would remain with her.
Her thoughts, however, were occupied otherwise on her way to school. When Edith and Sybil had left the house together, Mary had stayed behind for a moment, holding Cora back at her arm too.
"Mama?"
"What is it, darling?"
"Can we talk later?" Mary's expression had been neutral and emotionless, and Cora hadn't been able to read anything into it.
"Sure. We can do it right after school if you like," Cora had suggested.
With a nod Mary had accepted, and now they had a mother-daughter-date. How strange, Cora thought. She didn't do these things with Mary usually. With Edith she had some mother-daughter-moments, but Edith had a little more open moments for her mother than her elder sister. And Sybil, of course, often initiated, despite her teenage years, actions with Cora. It was so sweet how Sybil preferred to go shopping with her mother instead of her friends.
"You give much better advice," Sybil merely stated when asked for the reason.
And Cora couldn't help but grin when Sybil came jumping down the stairs with her laptop to show Cora a series, she wanted to watch with her, even if she had actually planned an evening with Robert already.
But with Mary it was different. It wasn't that they had a bad relationship. They got along with each other perfectly. They just weren't as close Sybil and she, but that was also an aim hard to reach. Now Cora thought slightly frantic if she should prepare some hot drinks later as she often did with Sybil. Would Mary sit with her on the couch, cuddled up in fluff blankets? Would Mary bring enough time for them to do something fun after talking? They could also watch some show or bake cookies while downing one cup of hot chocolate after the other. Cora shook her head. She was avoiding the questions that actually began burning on her mind the moment Mary uttered her request. If Mary wanted to talk it didn't only mean that she confided in Cora (what Cora naturally was very happy about). It also meant that the problem was serious enough for Mary to confide in her mother. And that was something Cora was now highly bothered about.
She didn't hear everything Robert said at breakfast, but he seemed content with her efforts and she was glad about that.
Cora thoughts about her professional future only returned once she was in school. She passed Elsie's office and her thoughts from the early morning came back to her mind. It looked as if deep down she had already found her answer. No matter how hard she tried to point out the disadvantages, she always came back dreaming about the opportunities. She really wanted to try it. Entering the teachers' lounge she smiled to herself as she realised, she just made a decision to take on a kind of promotion.
"'Looks like today is a good day." Cora looked at the few teachers standing around the large table in small groups. Oliver was looking straight at her, greeting her with a cheering smile. Cora nodded at him and lifted her empty mug to explain her beeline to the coffee machine.
With her back to him she answered, "Well, kind of. I just made an exciting decision." She placed the mug under the machine, pressed 'L' for large and turned around to face her colleague. She crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Oh, that sounds great! What kind of decision?" Oliver inquired. He had followed her and stood in front of her now, his typical grin on his lips.
Cora inhaled and opened her mouth to answer, but thought better of it. Oliver had something in the way he talked and asked that made her answer faster than appropriate for someone she didn't know that well. He acted so familiar and kinder with every passing day that it was easy to tell him everything she had on her mind. But this decision was nothing to tell him. She would sort it out with Elsie first before sharing the news with anyone.
"Just something," Cora gave back after a few seconds. "Nothing for the public now."
"Oh, I see." Cora was confused by the smirk that appeared on Oliver's face. "So, you came for our coffee meeting here?" Oliver added.
"I came for a coffee, yes," Cora rebuked and turned to her cup. "And I might even have time to sit down for a moment," she continued. She was in a good mood and felt responsible to share it when she was able to. Also, she didn't like to reject others' wishes, especially when she could fulfil them so easily.
So, they sat down at the long table.
"I just had these final years. I think you teach English in their class," Oliver said. He grabbed his thermos flask which already rested on the table.
"Oh, you're teaching them too?" Cora asked surprised. "I didn't know that! My pity. It's a Sisyphean task to get them to listen, right?"
"Absolutely. I dread these lessons the moment I wake up on a morning I have to teach them." Cora nodded and sipped her coffee. Some of the other teachers left the room. Break time was over soon, but Oliver seemed to have a free period just as Cora.
"So, what are you most looking forward to when easter holidays are here? No more students, no school. What have you planned?" Oliver asked.
"Easter holiday? I don't know. I haven't thought about it yet. Is it really so soon?" Cora replied. Oliver laughed and nodded at her.
"Yes. Yes, it is. Just a few more weeks," he said. "So, no big plans for a trip abroad or so?"
"No, I don't think so," Cora gave back. "Having no school is holiday enough."
"Really? And I thought with a family it is only a real holiday if you can abandon all domestic duties," Oliver retorted. Cora laughed out.
"Yes, you have a point," she chuckled. "But I am quite content with the way it is." Cora looked into her cup and saw the tiny puddle on the bottom. She lifted the cup, downed the remainder of the coffee and looked at Oliver with an apologetic expression.
"I am afraid the coffee meeting is over. I have a stack of assignments left on my desk, but this short break was nice. Thank you!"
"Oh, alright. No problem," he responded and rose from his chair when Cora got up to leave the lounge.
Cora sought her office and messaged Elsie right away, informing her of her decision.
…
After school Cora made her way to the supermarket. As she entered the store, she recalled that she had promised Mary to talk immediately after school. She checked the time and decided to just get the onions that were missing and rush home. Mary surely was already waiting by now.
Cora made it home soon after and found Mary in the kitchen. She stood in front of the opened fridge and the LED, that indicated if it was opened for too long, blinked angrily.
"Mary, close the fridge!" Cora commanded.
"If it would contain what I was looking for it would have been closed long ago. When did you last go shopping?" Mary gave the door a push and it shut smoothly.
"I just…" Cora wanted to explain but waved away the question. "Never mind. Do you want a hot chocolate? We can sit down in the living room in a minute."
"No, thanks. I need no chocolate. Would you mind if we could talk in private, maybe in your study?" Mary questioned.
"No problem, we can do that. So, no chocolate, no coffee, just us?"
"Yes, exactly," Mary replied and started to seek Cora's study. Cora followed her daughter.
Her study was a small room downstairs. She was happy to have a study at home but hadn't insisted on a big room. She only needed a peaceful refuge with enough light and shelves to store her things and papers. This room fulfilled these demands ideally. The pale-yellow paint of the walls matched the curtains that gave the room a summery atmosphere throughout the entire year. The small greenish flowers which adorned the curtains had been the reason why Cora had chosen them for her room. They reminded her of a blanket from her childhood. Her nanny had always tucked her in the blanket when Cora couldn't be consoled and a child's sorrow had shaken her tiny body with crying fits. Then the nanny had rocked her on her lap and, while making soothing sounds, nanny's slender fingers had circled the tiny green flowers on the blanket gently. Cora's eyes had followed the movements of nanny's fingers and distantly she had felt the light pressure through the blanket. This had always managed to comfort her. It had healed her infant heartache as much as her mother's funny games afterwards. Martha hadn't been able to make her daughter's flow of tears stop but she had always managed to allow the streaks of stilled tears on Cora's cheeks to dry while tickling her and pulling funny faces. Cora liked to have a part of her childhood's memory in her own room here in their London house. She had to smile that she now was probably about to console her own daughter in this room, and she hoped she was able to not only be the mother she had had herself, but also the soothing nanny. Cora had nothing to complain about her mother's affection but since she was a mother herself, she dearly wished to own a few of nanny's motherly traits as well.
The spring sun sent a few rays of light into the room and Mary took a seat on the chair that was placed in the shadow in front of the desk. Cora grabbed the second chair and put it next to Mary's.
"Alright, here we are," Cora spoke, smiling encouragingly at her daughter. "What's on your mind?"
Mary took a few calming breathes.
"So, there is this one girl in college who happens to be the daughter of one of my professors. You know, the one strict woman that coincidentally is going to mark my end of term papers," Mary began.
"Alright. And what about her daughter?" Cora inquired.
"Well, I am afraid I somehow might have fallen into her bad graces…" Mary revealed reluctantly.
"Mary, you have to be more precise. I have no clue where this is going," Cora urged. Her inquisitive look was directed at her daughter with persistence.
"Okay, look," Mary took a deep breath and returned the intensive look for a second before she fixated her eyes on a point next to Cora's head. "I had this thing with this one guy, and it seems that this Melissa claims him as her boyfriend. But I didn't know, Mama! Really! And I asked Kemal when I found out, and he said that he was not really her 'boyfriend'. I didn't really get it, I have to admit. But from what I gather from Melissa and her people at college it's not nothing. And she definitely seems to believe he is her boyfriend…" Mary's confession came out in a torrent of words that wasn't as well-structured as usual. She shrugged her shoulders and raised her eyebrows in what should be an apologetic expression.
Cora exhaled forcefully. Her brow furrowed and her head tilted in a way her daughters dreaded because most of the time it meant their mother found out something about the girls that she wasn't happy about.
"I'm not sure if I get it, but it certainly doesn't sound great. I think I'm missing out on some information," Cora spoke slowly. She continued and closed her eyes at the next sentence. "So, I don't know if I need more details on 'that thing with that guy', but it definitely isn't clear to me what this is exactly about. What I need to know, though, is if Melissa, which I assume is the name of that poor daughter of your professor, if she knows about that. Well, about what happened between you and this guy," she queried, stumbling a little herself.
Mary was silent for a moment. "… No." Cora nodded and gulped. "No, I don't think so. But apparently someone saw us leaving the hotel – "
"The hotel?" Cora interrupted with wide eyes.
"Yes, never mind that. But the thing is, there is a high risk that Melissa will get to know about this at some point," Mary explained. Her eyes searched her mother's face for a reaction. Cora's expression of shock was still frozen on her features.
"A hotel? Mary, what guy was that?" she required after seconds of silence.
Mary exhaled forcefully, "That's not the point, Mama. What shall I do about this and about Melissa?" Mary now looked pleadingly at her. That's why she came to talk to her. She wanted Cora's advice, no scolds or rants or, probably worst, worries, about her romantic life. So, Cora rallied and tried her best to help her daughter.
"I see only one thing you can do," Cora stated calmly. Mary raised her eyebrows, and even though she was already sitting straight in her chair, her posture became more erect.
"And what is that?" she queried.
"You have to tell her." Mary's eyes grew wider, and Cora nearly thought she had managed to leave Mary speechless, but her daughter gathered herself in the matter of seconds.
"Why is that? Isn't that Kemal's job?"
"He doesn't seem to plan on telling her, right?" Mary nodded reluctantly. "But this girl has a right to know that the boy she considers her boyfriend does not think the same about their relationship. It will be unpleasant for her to find out no matter how. But I wouldn't let her stay in the dark any longer. That is not fair. Talk to her. Tell her you didn't know before and you're sorry. She should be grateful for you telling her and I am sure she will be after a while," Cora explained with insistence.
"You mean, as kind of a girl power move?" Mary asked with a raised eyebrow. Her tone held hints of doubt.
"If you like so. But I think it is right for you to stick together if you were played by the same boy," Cora gave back.
"I wasn't played!" Mary rebuked. Cora merely shrugged her shoulders. "And I am not sure if I can do that. Giving kind hints and advice. I'm not you or Sybil," Mary added.
"No, you're not. But I am convinced you can do as least as good," Cora said in earnest, but Mary's furrowed brow showed that her eldest daughter wasn't persuaded. "Mary, you are very honest. That is a great strength. I am sure Melissa knows about your honesty and openness and will therefore be able to pay close attention to your words." Cora patted Mary's thigh encouragingly.
"And you don't think she will tell her mother?" Mary asked thoughtfully.
"What? Is this what it's actually about? Your papers?" Cora was slightly shocked. Mary rolled her eyes and somehow Cora was sure she only just suppressed a groan.
"No, it's not. But it would be a nasty side effect of that whole hassle if I would mess up on my end of term papers because my professor is holding a personal grudge against me," Mary rebuked.
"Yes, that's right. But I think it's out of your hands. I don't know how the relationship between Melissa and her mother is, but she doesn't necessarily have to tell her."
A moment of silence came up between the two and they both thought about their conversation. Cora's fingers traced the crocheted small tablecloth on her desk absentmindedly. Mary clasped and unclasped her hands repeatedly.
"Well, you're probably right. I should do it," Mary stated finally. "Let's see if I'll manage." With that Mary moved to rise from the chair, end their conversation and leave the room, but Cora held up her hand.
"Would you maybe tell me about this guy?" she asked tentatively. Mary's brow furrowed. "You were able to unload your worries in this conversation, at least I hope so, and you would relieve me from some of mine if I would know what kind of man carries my daughter off for a stay in a hotel," Cora explained. Probably her worries were visible in her eyes, because Mary fell back into her chair and shared the demanded pieces of information with her mother.
When Robert came home after work it was a little after his usual end of work. Cora was rummaging in the kitchen. He entered the room and saw her filling the kitchen shelves with groceries.
"You came home only now?" he inquired disbelievingly. Cora turned around, her wide, blue eyes greeting him.
"No, I was just doing the shopping. I didn't manage earlier," she explained and resumed her work at hand.
"How was your day?" Robert asked while grabbing two yellow cups to make them some coffee.
"Fine. Yeah, just fine," Cora mumbled as she filled the highest shelf on her tiptoes. The scent of hot coffee filled the room and both, Robert and Cora, inhaled deeply to savour the welcome smell.
"What about yours?" Cora requested. The sounds of the dripping coffee and the rustling of Cora's activities gave Robert relaxation because he was enveloped by the soundscape of home.
"Alright, I guess," he answered lazily from his seat on the barstool. "But I'm worried about Rosamund. She is in a strange mood lately. I ordered her to talk to you but you know she wouldn't do anything I say."
Cora turned to him, a questioning expression on her features. "Oh? Do you have any idea what kind of mood?"
"It is hard to say, I think. At least for me," Robert said. "Even if it sounds strange, I'd say she is sad," he concluded. Cora's eyebrows rose high on her forehead.
"Well, that's not good," she stated. Shrugging her shoulders, she added, "But then it is even less likely that she will be forced to talk I am afraid. We can only hope she decides to herself."
"Yes, you're right," Robert agreed. He took their coffees and handed one cup to Cora. "On another note, I wanted to ask how your calendar for next Friday looks like." He stood in front of her and watched her forehead and the curls that framed it as she bent her head to blow the steaming drink.
"Next Friday or this one?" she questioned.
"Next one. They are already full this week," Robert explained. He took a cautious sip from his coffee.
Cora looked up. "They?"
"The –" he began, but just at this moment Sybil burst into the room.
"Guess what? I got the internship at the hospital for spring break last minute!" Sybil exclaimed, waving her phone in front of her and grinning madly. "I only received an email that someone backed off and that they can offer me the placement!"
"Oh, that's great!" Cora joined in and her excited expression matched Sybil's. She hugged her daughter, but Sybil was so giddy she bounced on the balls of her feet.
"And you really want to do an internship in your school holidays?" Robert affirmed. None of his other daughters would have been so elated by the news Sybil received. Sybil turned to look at him. Her expression was one of mild protest.
"Of course, Papa! It is a great opportunity!" she rebuked. Cora patted her shoulder and supported Sybil's statement with an eager nod at Robert.
Sybil started elaborating what needed to be done before her internship started and what she hoped to learn. She started talking and she didn't stop. Every once in a while, Cora managed to insert a question but apart from that it was only Sybil's delighted voice that sounded in the kitchen.
When Robert moved to the dishwasher to put their used cups inside, he noticed that Cora's attention wasn't any longer directed at Sybil's speech but followed his every movement. As Sybil turned around to fetch something, she was talking about, from her schoolbag, Cora moved closer to him and her hand sneaked around to rest on his backside. His eyes grew wide and he gave her piercing look, but Cora only grinned at him cheeky, the tip of her nose slightly scrunching up. Robert took a steadying breath and was glad that Cora retreated her hand as soon as Sybil turned back to her parents. It was much easier to concentrate on Sybil's narrative with a little space between Cora and he, but even like that he had a hard time.
Cora didn't stop making innuendos throughout the evening. Moving around the kitchen while cooking she swayed her hips every time Robert passed the kitchen. Her singing was audible even in his study and he tried to not focus on the lyrics she pronounced clearly. He wanted to get his personal billings done quickly because he was eager to spend a long evening together with his wife.
When dinner was served and everyone was seated around the dining table, Robert learned that Cora had similar plans for the night. She leaned over his shoulder as she placed the pot of broccoli on the table. Her lips brushed the shell of his ear as she slowly retreated and her palm cupped his shoulder for a moment.
"I am looking forward to later," she merely whispered. This seducing statement made him even dig into the unbeloved broccoli during dinner.
When the girls cleaned the dining table after eating, Robert recalled that there was one bill left on his desk. He approached Cora who stood at the sink washing her hands.
"I'll only be a minute," he said to Cora and pressed a kiss to her cheek. She nodded, a soft smile grazing her features.
Robert returned to his study, sorted out the bill, filed the loose papers on his desk and watered the few houseplants that decorated his room. The ground floor was deserted when he left his study after twenty minutes. He took two steps at a time as he sought their bedroom. Quietly he entered their room and was greeted by the warm glow of their bedside lamps. His heartbeat, which had quickened during his sprint up the stairs, calmed down in the relaxing atmosphere of their bedroom. Robert tried to close the door noiselessly before he took in the figure of his wife on the bed. She lay on her side facing the entrance. Her hair was held loosely together by a silk ribbon and the sheer nightgown she wore showed much of her milky skin. Nothing of that surprised him a lot. It was an enchanting sight, but what dazzled him most was her deep slumber. Her head rested in her palm and her lips were slightly parted. Her features were in a state of complete relaxation and she looked captivating and ageless like that. But Robert's heart clenched when he thought how determined she must have waited for him, how she must have fought against the drooping of her eyelids. He hadn't taken so long but he felt bad now for not being there when she had fallen asleep. She really must have been very tired.
Robert changed silently into his nightclothes and went around the bed to switch off Cora's bedside lamp. He then tried to pull the blanket from underneath her cautiously, because she had fallen asleep on top of them. His eyes traced her thighs and calves and he wouldn't have resisted the temptation to run his fingertips over the smooth skin if she had been awake. Gently he tucked her in and lay down beside her. The light of his lamp stayed lit for a while longer. He watched her sleeping form. He savoured her smooth forehead and the sweep of her eyebrows. His eyes paused at her lips. The way her cheek pressed into her palm made her agape lips look even more plump than usual. He took in the calm rise and fall of her exposed cleavage and was enveloped by the fatigue her vision cast on him, so he turned to put out the light.
A/N: I am not sure if I'll manage to upload the next chapter in time. Daily life has caught up with me, so chapter 8 might come a few days later. I try my best to keep the uploads on Wednesdays, but I guess we'll just see.