Chapter 4 - Breakfast
Author's note:
This was supposed to be the Ralph chapter. But that intended scene didn't seem to fit here. Don't fret, we'll see Ralph in chapter 5, which should be published before the weekend, even if I have to break into 5a and 5b.
It was after 9am on Sunday morning when Walter woke the second time. Paige was still asleep this time, her head using him as a pillow. Last night had been the most he had slept in weeks, he thought.
In the before time, Walter might have gotten out of bed and worked on his laptop. He was happy it was back at the loft, as he was determined to enjoy her presence as much as possible. He would not take her for granted. With it not here, it was not a temptation. So today he stayed in bed. He would let her sleep longer.
I'll give her another hour, he thought to himself. He ran the fingers of his right hand through her hair while he watched her sleep. He realized in planning for breakfast that it would be approaching brunch. He wanted to cook for her, but the thought had occurred to him that he had no idea what was in her refrigerator.
Paige called out in her sleep but didn't wake up. He wondered if she was dreaming, or having a nightmare.
"No!", she cried. I have to see this through. It's all for naught if we don't. But I have to tell Walter. I can't lie to him now. Better to have him in the loop when the hurt is for show.
Toby said Walter wasn't good for her. She felt anger at that. Almost as if he was trying to manipulate her, manipulate them. He said Walter would never admit he was wrong. Strike two, Toby.
Centipede Partners, I want nothing to do with them. Yes, they are my friends but so are Walter and Cabe. I don't want to play along without Walter knowing.
"I said no, Toby. Not without Walter.", Paige said loud enough it woke her up.
"Paige?", he whispered. He waited for her eyes to open. "You called out in your sleep. Did you have a bad dream?"
What had Toby been up to now? Walter wondered what could have triggered her outburst. Whatever it was, she defended him. But as curious as he was, he knew that she would tell him when she was ready. He had faith in her, he trusted her.
Paige was hesitant to answer. Finally, she piped up. "More of a living nightmare, Walter. That's what it has been for me since that night."
He wasn't sure he understood what she had meant, but he identified with the living nightmare part of it.
"I'm not sure the extent of what you mean, Paige. I get that it felt like I was having a living nightmare without you, but I wasn't really sleeping well. Is that what you meant?", Walter queried.
"Let's go out for breakfast", she deflected. "I don't want to talk about this here. But I do need to bring you up to speed on some things. You'll understand, I am sure."
Fortunately, Walter still had clothes at her condo. He was thankful that he did not have to wear his sweaty clothes from the day before. He put on black pants and a white button-down shirt. No tie today, they were not working today, but he had put the tie in his pants pocket, just to be prepared. While he was looking in her vanity mirror, Paige walked out of the bathroom wearing the mauve dress she had worn when they were in the closet at Kovelsky's during Happy and Toby's wedding. She knew it would affect him. She could see it was having its intended effect. She walked up to him and whispered in his ear.
"I thought it only fitting that we start again with the same thing we were wearing in the closet", Paige offered.
Walter blushed. He had not realized the clothes she had set out for him were the same shirt, tie, and pants from that day.
Paige gave him a suggestive smile. She was sure she had triggered the memory of that night.
"Walter?", Paige said as she tried to get his attention. "Are you replaying that night in your head?" Walter nodded. She reached her hand out to his, whispering, "Dance with me, Walter." She was proud of herself for thinking of this. She pressed play on her phone, and the song they had danced to at the wedding started playing.
I am yours
He accepted her hand and stepped up close to her. He put his right hand around her waist, finding the exact spot on her lower back where he had held her at the Gala. He pulled her tight to him as they began to dance about the bedroom floor.
I am yours
They hadn't gone anywhere yet, but it felt like a date. "We should go dancing more often, Paige", he whispered in her ear. "Maybe even take some lessons before our wedding." Paige could see Walter had a contented smile on his face. It was just the two of them. In this moment, they were the world.
Forever and always yours
Paige looked up at his eyes. Ever since that Gala where they danced almost four years ago, she convinced herself she knew they were meant to be together. That there was a way. They had their setbacks, largely of their own making. But they had made it. "I would love that, Walter", she told him. "Thanks for dancing with me. You don't know how good it feels to be dancing with you."
I'm Yours
Walter reminisced while they were dancing, not missing a beat. He replayed that Gala in his head. He replayed the Kovelsky's parking lot. With that dress, how could he not! He even replayed a dream he had about a case where they had been undercover as a married couple, back when the interloper was around. The dream had been rather awful as a whole, but the dancing as a married couple part of it was rather pleasant. Arousing, even. But the fruit now wasn't of the poisonous tree. She was all his.
Paige couldn't see what was playing in his head, but she knew it was about her. That alone made her smile. Deep down, she knew she had that effect on him even before they were together. She had regrets that it took them so long to figure it out, but they could not dwell on that. All that mattered was they were together now. And nothing, no one, not even Mark Collins himself could break that up this time.
As the song changed to Moon River, they continued to dance. Paige announced the song to him, presuming he didn't know it. Walter said, "I know - I've listened to the Andy Williams' recording a hundred times or more since that night. You had said it was one of your favorites among the old standards. I grew to like it, and appreciate that you introduced it to me." Paige was a bit shocked by that. She assumed he hadn't been listening. His words brought a tear to her eye.
Two drifters off to see the world
Walter O'Brien, full of surprises, she thought. "I could never get bored of you, Walter O'Brien. Never. Even when you look callous and inattentive, you pay attention. You think you don't have emotions, but you do just fine." He wiped the tear from her eye. "You make me happy, Walter."
There's such a crazy world to see
They continued to talk while they danced. This felt very much like a date, she thought. Paige stared up into Walter's eyes. Oh, how she loved this man! She didn't want the song to end. She would be content to spend the whole day in his arms like this. But they did have things they had to do today.
Walter broke the silence, asking, "Are you hungry?" Paige nodded. "It's not fancy but Kovelsky's is a short walk. I left my car back at the garage."
"I'd be ok with Kovelsky's for breakfast, though we're almost to lunchtime, Walter", Paige said. "I can drive since we'll have to go pick up Ralph at some point." Walter grinned at that thought - he was anxious to get Ralph's consent.
"That sounds good, Paige. We'll be prepared in case we want to stop somewhere else along the way." Walter's words had Paige wondering what he had up his sleeve. He was planning something, she thought. What else could there be?
It was already 10:30am and they were still in her bedroom. Neither seemed to want to end the moment. They hadn't eaten since before Walter had arrived the night before. Paige knew she was hungry, and presumed Walter was too. She leaned in to kiss him, a soft and tender kiss, before she murmured to him, "It's time to go eat, nerd."
"One more song, please, Paige?" came out of Walter's mouth. She couldn't deny him that. Not with what she had to tell him. She was confident he would accept what she had to tell him. But it didn't quell her fears about a possible reaction. One more song, another four minutes of bliss, was not too much to ask. She could not deny him that. Not now. The song playing seemed appropriate. Shania Twain's From This Moment On. That might have to be the song we have our first dance at our wedding, she thought.
"Walter, what do you think about this song for our wedding?", Paige asked. Walter smiled.
"The duet version if we are going to, the one with Bryan White", Walter said. "I like that version better. Unless you can find a song we can sing to each other?"
From this moment, life has begun
From this moment, you are the one.
Right beside you is where I belong
From this moment on.
Yes, that will be most appropriate, she thought. "Walter, you have a deal. But it will be hard for us to sing it together and concentrate on our first dance", she mused. "We can find another song to sing a duet at the reception", she offered.
As the music came to the end of the song, Paige led Walter out of the bedroom. "It's time to go eat", she said. Walter sheepishly nodded.
"Thanks for dancing with me, Paige." Walter smiled down at her. They had worked up an appetite with all of their dancing. Their hands still laced together, he led her out the door of the condo.
As they pulled up to Kovelsky's, they saw Happy's truck. Walter wasn't sure if he was ready for that contact. But he resolved he wouldn't run away if contact was made. Paige sensed his uneasiness and reached out for his hand. "It will be okay", she said. "I'm right here with you." She could see Walter relax his shoulders.
Paige parked her car. Walter got out first, and walked around to open her door for her. She may be overdressed for Kovelsky's, but she had the feeling she was dressed appropriately for whatever Walter had in mind. Walter took her arm in arm as they walked for the door to the restaurant. She locked her car with the key fob as Walter opened the door for her again.
Entering the restaurant, they found their way to their usual table. They hadn't been accosted on the way in. Walter was relieved. He wasn't sure he was ready for that yet. When the waitress came by their table, they started off with coffee for each of them. While they were waiting, Walter started the conversation.
"So what was it you wanted to wait for breakfast to talk about?", he asked.
Just then, the waitress brought the coffee. "Cream or sugar?", she asked.
Paige responded to the waitress. "Yes please." Walter nodded.
"The same please", he said.
The waitress poured their coffee and proceeded to go about her shift.
Paige reached her right hand across the table, taking hold of his. "I wanted to talk to you about the team, but last night wasn't the right moment." Walter nodded, his eyes tracked on hers. She continued, "They have bound together wanting to form a new entity with equal partnership. I told them I wouldn't do it without you, that they needed you. They weren't willing to admit it. I think they wanted to compete with Scorpion. I tried to tell them that their contracts with Scorpion had a noncompete clause, but I was ignored." She took a sip of her coffee.
Walter set his cup of coffee down. "Let me guess, Toby is the ringleader on this?"
Paige continued, "Very astute observation, Walter. As you heard from my living nightmare this morning, I said I wouldn't do it without you. If neither of us are there, their venture has little chance. Toby has his eyes on the Gettleman pitch." She paused a moment, before continuing. "Toby has been over the top against you since that night. Badgering even, trying to tell me you weren't good for me. That was a bridge too far." She could see Walter was getting angry. "Hold your anger. I think I have a solution." Paige paused, waiting for Walter to speak. He didn't move or speak.
After a minute of silence, Paige asked, "Walter, are you ok?" She wasn't sure how he had taken her revelation. The look in his eyes was as if slightly lost in thought. She knew that look. He was processing. "It's okay to take some time to process it all. I know it took me a while."
Mrs. Kovelsky walked over to the table. "It's good to see the two of you here together again." She noticed the ring on Paige's left hand. "Oh dearie, congratulations. I am so happy for you two!"
Paige blushed. She said, "Thank you, Mrs. K. It took us a long time to get here but the journey was worth it!"
Walter blurted out, "I am the lucky one. She completes me, and I can't wait for our journey to come!" He was happy. Happy that someone else knew. He wasn't counting on the scene, however.
Mrs. Kovelsky offered, "I really am happy for you. Let me know if you need anything. Your waitress should be back over shortly to take your food order. Let me bring you dessert later on the house. Today's special is Baked Alaska."
Baked Alaska. Oh boy!
Paige responded, "That's very generous of you, Mrs. K. Thank you!" With that, Mrs. Kovelsky went back to the kitchen, leaving them alone again for their talk.
Paige returned to their prior conversation. "This could be an opportunity to lure out Mark Collins. He thinks the team has fallen apart. He thinks you are alone. We'd have to pretend we're still apart to make this work. Could you do that? The side piece is having to stoke Toby's ego, and I'd have to join their competing enterprise. Sylvester named it 'Centipede Partners'." Walter scoffed. "Yeah, that was my reaction too. This idea doesn't thrill me. I'd rather be with you over at Scorpion. But if you are supportive of this plan, we have a better chance of success if Toby, Happy and Sylvester don't know we are back together. This way their reactions are genuine."
After what seemed like hours to him but was only a few minutes, he looked up at her. His face wasn't angry. It wasn't mad. But it wasn't a smile either. For all her nerd-whispering, he had her stumped with this one.
Finally, he spoke. "I understand, Paige." She waited for him to continue. She squeezed his hand. "I'm not angry. Well I don't think I am. But I really don't know what to think. I've been playing it out in my head, calculating probabilities of success. It could work, but I don't know if it will work." She gave him a quizical look. "We've been a step or three behind all this time. And while it may have contributed to situations, I have only myself to blame. But I trust you on this - you know people in a way I can't possibly match. Also, it was hard enough being away from you before. I don't think I could do it again." Walter said, brutally honest.
Paige offered up a temporary solution. "Why don't we get a hotel room for the duration. We can meet up there free of the eyes of Collins and the team. I don't want to give you up either, Walter."
Their waitress had returned. Time to order food. Paige asked what the lunch specials were today. Nothing seemed to interest her, so she ordered a cheeseburger and fries. Surprisingly, Walter ordered the same thing. Paige smirked his direction, "No fermented fish today?"
Walter playfully replied, "I want to kiss you later. I didn't think you'd appreciate the smell of fish!"
"How considerate of you, Walter." As their waitress walked away, Paige looked back at Walter.
"I would take a hotel over nothing", Walter finally said. "But we have to be careful or else we will spoil the ruse."
Paige wasn't sure the ruse was worth it. "I have my doubts, Walter. If your 197 IQ can see a way through this, then I'll give it a chance. Think about it for a little bit."
Walter had an idea. "Paige, I'd like to tell Ralph about us first before we agree to do this plan. I don't think that will jeopardize anything if he knows the truth. And he is smarter than me - he may see things we don't."
As their plates were being brought to the table, Paige nodded. "Yes, we can inform Ralph. I think he would appreciate that." Paige hesitated a few seconds before proceeding. "I think it would be hard to exclude Cabe from the news since we have to go there to pick up Ralph."
Paige thought to herself, I want to tell him the other news, but I don't think I can do it here.
As they ate, the conversation slowed a little, becoming more of an exchange of longing looks between the two. Walter shifted the conversation some. "I want us to take a family trip to Callan, to visit my parents. Maybe we can be married in Ireland while we are there."
Paige's face lit up. She was intrigued by the idea of getting married in Walter's hometown. "Walter, getting married in Ireland sounds special. I think I might like that. But I don't even have a dress yet. One step at a time, okay?"
Walter looked deflated. She squeezed his hand. "I'm not saying no, Walter. I'm saying there's a lot to do before we get to that point." Walter nodded. He understood, even if he didn't know why.
Walter offered, "I'll set up a joint account for us to fund the hotel, and another one in your name to fund your buy-in to this Centipede Partners. This will help maintain the ruse." Paige had a shocked look on her face. She couldn't believe Walter had found a way. "You'll have to pretend to ignore me at the Gettleman pitch when I call out your name. Do you think you can do that?"
Paige wasn't sure about that. It's not that she didn't trust Walter. It's that he was such an open book that she didn't know if he could act hurt at this point. If she were being honest with herself, she didn't know if she could act the part and not run out after him.
The waitress came to take their empty plates. "Are you ready for dessert? Mrs. K. has Baked Alaska today."
Both of them nodded. Walter replied, "That would be great, thank you. Did you know that Baked Alaska is the most scientifically interesting dessert?"
Paige groaned. "Not now Walter."
The waitress chuckled. "Two Baked Alaska coming right up. You will love it", she said as she moved on to the next table.
With her gone, Paige offered, "Walter, you can tell me why Baked Alaska is the most scientifically interesting dessert."
Walter grinned while he proceeded to tell the story. Paige beamed. She didn't care why. She was over the moon to have Walter teach her again. She had truly missed that while they had been apart.
"I love you, Walter", she said as she didn't recall saying it since they woke up.
"I love you too, Paige", Walter said. It was backward from the parking lot exchange but it was just as special in her mind.
Before they could pay their bill, they had a visitor at their table. Walter had feared this exchange, but Paige did the talking.
"Good morning", Paige said. "What can we do for you?"
Author's note - sorry to break it here but it was as good as a pause point as any.
