"Good morning, Aaron," Norah called when she was close to their usual spot.
Aaron looked over to where she was coming towards him and his expression was as clear as day. It was utter relief that she was here and with Aaron's expression being so open Norah knew that Derek had been right. Aaron was lonely, desperately so. So lonely that he was desperate for a little companionship outside of Derek and Penny, somebody that could be his friend and perhaps someday his wife.
"Good morning," Aaron said wanting so desperately to take her in his arms, but he had promised to give her time and he didn't want to overstep his bounds.
"I'm sorry I'm late I got involved talking to Derek for a few minutes." Norah explained kissing his cheek in a friendly manner.
Aaron's expression brightened considerably once Norah had kissed his cheek, and Norah knew she had done the right thing. It was clear that Aaron needed somebody besides Derek and Penny he could be true friends with, someone he trusted to be truthful with him, to never lie. While the three of them did work for Aaron she was in the position of not being married. She wouldn't say that her position was unique, but she was clearly the one that Aaron was interested in for something more permanent then just being girlfriend and boyfriend.
Derek's earlier words had opened her eyes to many things.
"I'm so glad you're here," Aaron said more quietly.
"I told you I would be," Norah teased him lightheartedly.
"I thought you had changed your mind," Aaron said simply.
"I wouldn't do that unless it was some kind of family emergency or I was very sick. If either was the case I would have contacted you to let you know I wouldn't be there and the reason why," Norah told him, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
"Good to know," Aaron said finally smiling, seeming to relax little by little as the two of them sat in their usual spot under the shade of the giant branches of the oak tree.
"Here I bought you some coffee," Aaron said picking up the cup he had sat on the other side of the bench, but close enough for him to reach. "I hope it hasn't gotten cold."
"If it has been that's okay, as I was the one that was late, so the fault is mine," Norah said, even as she took a sip. The coffee was still hot, though not burningly so, it was actually drinkable without the chance of burning her tongue or the roof of her mouth. Just as Norah suspected it was perfect, just the right amount of sugar and cream.
"It's great," Norah assured him. "Just hot enough that I don't burn my tongue."
"Well, that's good then," Aaron said smiling, as he picked up his own cup of coffee, taking a small sip. Aaron found out that he agreed with Norah, the coffee was the perfect temperature.
"I wanted to thank you for the flowers they were gorgeous," Norah said, as the silence stretched comfortably between them.
"You're very welcome," Aaron said smiling.
The vase of flowers that Aaron had sent had been absolutely enormous with nearly 3 dozen flowers of several different varieties that meant different things. White Asters, meant purity and innocence, the red Chrysanthemum were loyalty and love, yellow freesias, joy, renewal, and friendship. Stock flowers also called gillyflowers meant a happy life, beauty and contentment and finally sunflowers meant adoration, strength and loyalty.
Norah had come to realize that once she had asked the comp to tell her what the flowers that Aaron had sent meant. This was his way of telling her that he adored, loved, trusted her, respected her inner strength and took joy and happiness in her presence, that he would be loyal to her, always and value her friendship above all else.
That there were no roses wasn't surprising, because roses, particularly red one were a well known symbol of love and Aaron wouldn't have wanted to push his luck. No this was a more subtle kind of message and therefore, much more powerful. The flowers Aaron had sent weren't as obvious as roses, but still, made their message loud and clear once deciphered correctly.
Alright, so she'd had to have the comp tell her the meanings of them, but she had to know what each flower was to tell the computer in the first place and since she was a horticulturalist telling what each flower was wasn't a problem. Besides most people didn't know the meaning of flowers other than roses anyway and she was sure that plenty of others had asked the computer to tell them the meaning of a bouquet.
The person who had arranged the bouquet that Aaron had sent her, had likely had to tell him the meaning of the flowers or more likely Aaron had given her a list of attributes that he wanted the arrangement to mean. Of course it was very likely that maybe Penny had ordered them on Aaron's orders, but Norah didn't think so as Aaron was the type that would want to take care of that kind of thing personally.
"That was very sweet of you to send me that vase of lovely flowers. All the different varieties are just stunning and so colorful. I had to let the delivery man put the vase where I wanted it, as it's quite heavy. The vase is also lovely, and something I think I'll store until next time I get some beautiful flowers."
"I thought you would appreciate it, since you work with flowers every day," Aaron said.
"Yeah, I did and they're sitting on my dresser," Norah said and Aaron looked pleased at that.
Norah could have put those flowers anywhere in her apartment, on the kitchen counter, in the living area somewhere or even in the bathroom, but she had chosen her bedroom. Her most intimate and private space. That told Aaron that Norah understood the subtle message that the flowers proclaimed if one knew how to read such things.
Neither one of them said anything for a minute, just sitting there enjoying the morning, but finally, Norah said, "I understand what you are trying to say with such a big bouquet."
"I was hoping you would and when you told me that you had the deliveryman put it on your dresser, that told me you did understand the meaning."
Norah didn't bother to correct him, as she hadn't understand the meaning of the flowers, not until she had asked the computer all the meanings of the flowers in the arrangement. Aaron probably assumed that because she was a horticulturalist that she would have known the meanings of all the flowers she worked with on a regular basis, but that wasn't the case. She had known the meanings at one time, but since she had never used the knowledge she had forgotten, which is why she had to use the computer to tell for the meanings of the arrangement.
"The flowers mean a lot to me Aaron, though I do understand why you avoided roses," Norah said.
"Yeah I thought that might be...uhm...a little dangerous," Aaron said a little hesitantly.
"What you declaring your love for me dangerous?" Norah asked with a raised eyebrow with a little smile on her lips.
"Well, considering our previous conversation just a couple of days ago I thought it might be prudent to avoid such an obvious symbol of love. Truthfully, I didn't want you getting mad enough that you decided I wasn't worth your time."
"I won't say you were wrong to leave out any roses, not with the way I was feeling when the bouquet arrived," Norah said.
"Mad?" Aaron asked.
"Not mad really," Norah said. "I couldn't be mad at you, just because you told me things I wasn't ready to hear. Truthfully, it shocked me, as it was only our first official date. On the other hand, we had known each other for months by that time. That was my hangup not yours. No, I was just a mixture of a lot of different emotions, sad, happy, ecstatic, uncertainty, fear. I understood what you were offering me, but it also scared me...A lot. I never imagined being the wife or at least the significant other of a powerful man. That comes with a lot of responsibilities I'm not sure I can handle or even want too deal with. Then there's all the gossip that's bound to occur if we do marry, or even if I just become your live in girlfriend or companion, which sounds more mature than girlfriend and boyfriend. Uncertainty, because my feelings for you came on nearly from the moment I met you and they were so strong from the start that it made me doubt them and seeing you so often didn't help my emotions settle down. I've never been one to feel such a strong surge of emotion from the moment I meet someone. Fear, that you didn't really care for me and were just lusting after me, as that happens all the time and that kind of feelings fade after a few years or sooner. I'm not naïve about the dangers in the world. There are so many different dangers, some subtle others more blatant. A woman who doesn't watch herself or is naïve can often get taken advantage of. I didn't want that to be me."
"You feared that you were just a plaything to me," Aaron said in understanding.
"It happens all the time when some rich boy decides that he wants to play around with some young woman's emotions or worse. Of course, I admit that their usually still young, about college age, but it happens with older men to, because some men never outgrow the need to have whatever they want and often don't care whether or not the object of their attentions is agreeable. I know you've never been like that," Norah continued hurriedly. "But I suppose, in my head, I just didn't separate those that are users and those that are not. You're not the only decent rich man out there after all, so I shouldn't paint all of you with the same brush."
"Having money does often lead to some rich boy or girl having a superiority complex," Aaron told Norah. "Especially if that money is inherited and not earned a dollar at a time. It doesn't help that parents often don't discipline their children like they should so they're a lot of spoiled brats. I, however, was taught responsibility from an early age. I won't say I wasn't spoiled some, but not so much that I didn't learn to think about others."
"And that's what makes the difference," Norah said. "You're parents disciplined you when necessary, so that you turned out okay."
"So are we okay?" Aaron asked after a few more minutes of chitchat.
"We are fine, Aaron," Norah promised him smiling. "I just panicked that's all. I never considered our little meetings in the early morning on this spot as dates and I should have. I just considered them a few minutes to relax and chat with someone that I found very intriguing, before I started my work day."
"And share breakfast," Aaron said now smiling looking more relaxed then he had at the beginning of their meeting.
"Yes, and share breakfast on occasion," Norah agreed. "The breakfasts I get here are certainly better than the ones I often have in my apartment. I usually just stop by the bakery close to my home and get myself a pastry or something."
"Yes, I know," Aaron snorted in amusement. "I suppose it's a good thing that we can just get something out of the autochef."
"Mine is hardly stocked with the delicacies you can afford," Norah said. "I've gotten rather spoiled when it comes to food, even if that's usually just breakfast. Of course, I can afford a bit better food now I just haven't gotten around to shopping."
"Yes, if it wasn't for Derek and Penelope the autochefs would be empty. They do a lot of chores for me that isn't exactly in their job description," Aaron said. "They just order from the store whatever they need and it's delivered. Now, while I could do that I don't keep track of what we're out of."
"I'm sure you show your appreciation," Norah said.
"Yeah, I do, as they get extra in their pay packets for all the extra things they do around here. I suppose, I could use droids, but you can't really hold a conversation with one," Aaron said.
"No, you really need someone human for that kind of thing," Norah said. "While droids are really advanced and certainly very useful they can't think for themselves. They can only do what they're programed for."
"I need to go now," Aaron said finally looking reluctant to move from his spot beside Norah. "I have plenty of work I need to be doing."
"Me to," Norah said smiling. "I'm looking forward to our next date."
Aaron perked up at that and kissed Norah on the cheek softly. "I know I'm asking you to accept an awful lot. That your life has been turned rather topsy-turvy lately, but thank you for not telling me to get lost."
"I wouldn't do that Aaron, as you have done nothing wrong. I just never expected for someone like you to be attracted to someone like me or at least be willing to act on that attraction and I couldn't help imagining the worst-case scenario. Believe me, I tried not to, but my mind kept insisting on showing me things I didn't want to see. I'll try not to do that anymore, but no promises. My brain has a mind of it's own and it wants to be negative instead of positive."
"Well, at least you admit that you have a problem," Aaron said smiling softly. "That's a start to controlling it you know. Yes, I know you can't really control what you're things your brain thinks, but you can stop it in its tracks and think about something else."
"And then when I stop concentrating on thinking about something else it goes right back to showing me those scenarios," Norah said smiling. "Don't worry I'll deal with it. You had better go though before you miss an important call or something.".
"Unfortunately, you're right. Get some sleep Norah, you're exhausted sweetie. Make sure you go to bed early tonight. I don't want to see you with bags under your eyes when you come in tomorrow," Aaron said. He looked rather regretful to be leaving, but knowing he had to.
"We can share lunch together if you're free," Norah suggested.
"I'll make the time if I can," Aaron promised with a smile on his face, before heading towards the house.
~~~Aaron and Norah~~~