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I winced jokingly.
“I also had a lot of coffee from the cheap cafe on the corner by my house.”
Julian lightly smacked at me, “A healthy human cannot survive on caffeine and sodium infused carbs!”
“Well then, let’s make this risotto!”
He grumbled about how good it was that I moved in when I did, but his face had a broad smile on it.
Cooking with Julian was an experience. He stood behind me, directing my hands and showing me what to add and when, and we slid a tray of shrimp covered in a spice called paprika into the oven. Next, we made some kind of broth with garlic and onions. The dinner didn’t seem particularly difficult, and in no time, we had a whole pan of risotto, smelling divine and spiked with parmesan cheese. Julian helped me ladle it into bowls, and we placed the shrimp on top. We didn’t sit at the dining table, but instead at the counter, one of us on either side of the corner. Our faces were a little sweaty, and red from standing over the stove. I was sure my hair was probably a sight, but when I placed the first spoonful in my mouth, I wanted to moan in ecstasy.
“It’ssogood,” I groaned. “I can’t believe wemadethis!”
I was undeniably proud of myself.
“Youmade this,” Julian insisted, “I was just your sous-chef.”
“I appreciate it,” I said, and leaned over to peck him on the lips.
He tasted like garlic and shrimp, and it wasn’t particularly appetizing, but I knew I tasted the same. We ate, and he told me how his project on the children’s book was coming along. He was really passionate about the cause, and I listened raptly. Eventually, we finished, and put our bowls to the side to keep talking.
“I actually have something to tell you,” he said, looking away.
“What’s that?”
“I’m going away for a few days. On a business trip.”
I froze and looked at him. Sure, we hadn’t been together more than a couple of weeks, and of those, we’d only been able to steal a few moments to be together, but the thought of not seeing him for a few days was just...strange.
“Oh, when do you leave?” I asked.
“Tomorrow.”
I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to respond. I could easily get upset and grumble about how unfair it was. I could act like it didn’t matter and cry alone in my room, or I could just tell the truth.
“I’m going to miss you,” was my answer.
“I’ll miss you too,” he murmured. “It’s only a week though. I’ll be back in no time.”
“I know, I know,” I said sadly. “It’s just the first time we will sleep in different houses since I moved in.”
“Huh, yeah, I guess it will be… Evelyn, there’s one other thing I need to ask of you.” His eyes became clouded, guarded in a way they’d never been around me, and I grew concerned. “The fourth is the anniversary of Ruth’s death. Just… could you make sure you’re there for Hannah?”
“Of course!” I exclaimed, “I’ll be whatever she needs! What about you though? Who will be there for you?”
“I’ll be in and out of meetings all day, I’m sure I’ll barely acknowledge the day.”
It was a lie. I saw in his eyes that the day would be a dark one, but I didn’t push the subject. If what he wanted was for me to support his daughter, that’s what I would do. I just had one question.
“What happened to your wife?”
Julian’s eyes got darker, but I held my gaze steady. If I was going to get in any deeper with him, I had to know his background. I couldn’t imagine it was any more terrible than my own, but all Hannah had ever said was that there was an accident involving a trucking company. Julian took a breath, and I waited patiently.
“Don’t worry,” he stated, “It’s nothing like what happened to you. That’s not why I’m hesitating.”
“Then what is it?”
“Ruth is still very much a part of my life. I see her every day in our daughter, and she was my first love. I was convinced she would also be my last. I want you to accept that I still love her and that I will still talk to her, or to her spirit, or whatever. I will never leave you for another woman, Evelyn,never. Ruth is different though. She’s gone, but I will never forget her. I need to know that you’re okay with that.”
