Another night at the police station.” Cora sighed. “I am sorry to drag you into this again.”
Robert squeezed Cora’s hand. “Anthony is the one dragging me into this, by breaking into my home.”
Cora sighed again, Robert wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Don’t you worry, they have him now and he will be locked up. I am sure of that. Right sergeant?” Robert looked up at the sergeant sitting opposite of them.
She nodded. “He will indeed be locked up. He crossed all the borders.” She looked at Cora. “Are you sure you are alright?”
“I am. He didn’t come near me. I am more worried about Carson.”
“Your bodyguard will be fine. He has some cuts, from the glass Anthony was waving with, but that’s all.” Now she looked at Robert. “Your window will be fixed tonight, so you can sleep in your own home.”
“I am not sure how much sleep we will get after all this.”
“Well, you both should try it.” She got up and walked out.
“We should go home.” Cora said with a small voice.
Robert got up and helped Cora in her jacket. She hooked her arm in his and they walked out. “Can we walk back home?” Cora asked.
Robert looked at her in surprise. “That is a 30 minute walk.”
“I know, but hopefully it will clear my head.”
Robert pulled her close and kissed her temple. “We will walk home.”
+++
Robert didn’t sleep long, there wasn’t much time for sleep. The hospital was soaking up all his time and he couldn’t ask John to take over the restaurant, no, he didn’t want that. It was his dream, and he didn’t want to give it up.
He turned on some music. Le Cygne – Camille Saint-Saëns and he tried to focus on the numbers in front of him. From time to time biting into his toast.
Suddenly he felt Cora’s hand on his arm. She took his hand and pulled him off his chair. He tried to protest, but Cora didn’t listen to it. She put one hand on his shoulder and the other she held up his hand. She started to move on the music, it was a slow waltz. While they were dancing Robert felt his body relax and even his mind was relaxing. Cora was wearing one of her silk bathrobes, he felt the fabric under his fingers. Slowly he moved them over her back.
Cora stepped closer and laid her head on his shoulder, in the meantime, still moving with the music. The music and her touches had a magical effect on him.
When the music stopped, Cora didn’t let go and waited for the next song to start. It was Capriol Suite: 5. Pieds-en-l’air – Peter Warlock. Although Robert loved dancing with her, he pushed Cora back.
She looked at him in confusion. “Darling?” She asked.
“I don’t have time. I need to work, stop distracting me.” He turned around and went back to his chair.
Cora sighed, Robert did this a lot since his father had died and she felt a little victory when he danced with her. But it was for a short period of time. She looked at his plate and saw he was eating dry toast. She decided to make a proper breakfast.
She put the plate next to Robert and went back upstairs to change, she also needed to start her working day. Although with the amount of sleep she got it would be a long and hard day.
Once she was ready, she walked back into the kitchen, where Robert was still bent over his laptop. To her relief, she saw his plate was now empty. She put it in the dishwasher and kissed his cheek. “I am off, do I see you tonight?”
Robert’s only answer was a deep hummmm.
+++
The day had indeed been long and hard, and not only because of her lack of sleep. She had texted Robert, but didn’t get a response. It bothered her and she decided to sleep in her own home.
Anthony was locked up, so she would be safe. Carson had been dismissed and thanked for his services.
She stepped inside her own home and it felt strange. She hadn’t been alone here for a long time. Even though Anthony hadn’t been there for a while she still could smell his eau de toilette. It was always DIOR Sauvage. She was happy Robert used a different one. She felt strange thinking of him. Since Patrick’s death something had changed between them and after Anthony’s burglary he was distant.
She wished he would talk with her, she could help him. He didn’t know, but her studies had been in Management. She only recently changed to working in designing. If only he would open up, she could tell him. There was definitely a solution to his problems.
+++
Robert stretched his back, he put his hands on his neck and stretched even more. He had a headache, with his fingertips he massaged his forehead, hoping to get some relief. He wished Cora had come to his house, she could work wonders with her fingers. But he knew perfectly well why she didn’t come to his house. He had ignored her all day. And not only today, he was doing this for a couple of weeks.
It was just that he didn’t want to drag her into their family problems. It wasn’t any of her business how he should run the hospital and his restaurant. At the same time he didn’t want his mother’s wretch over him. She had made it perfectly clear she didn’t want Cora in the family and maybe, he should listen to her.
Parents know best, was the saying, right?
He turned down the lights and went upstairs, hopefully he would sleep tonight. Deep down he knew better, he would worry the whole night about what he needed to do.
Verhalen van Traan 