"You would like him, Erik. He never takes credit and often humbles himself. You two have much in common." "He does sound like an interesting man, for sure." he replied with a smile.
"I want this to be about us.......the present......the future."
Erik leaned backwards into his chair a bit, but left his hand on the table, in Doreen's grasp. He turned towards the clear waters and asked with a tone bordering amusement and worry at the same time. "Speaking of... the future... How do you suggest we tell the kids about us? I mean, I suppose it won't be much of a change for them anyway, at least at first... but they should know."
Erik wasn't at all concerned about opinions at work. He knew well enough all his co-workers were respectable people who wouldn't be phased by this change in Erik's life. After all... there were no laws against love, were there? Still, Erik was curious to see Doreen's answer regarding the kids, so he turned his eyes back to her to scan her impression. He knew well enough how Peter would feel - it wasn't going to be easy but neither was it going to be a real problem. However, he had no idea about Ben's views on this...
She sheepishly smiled. Perhaps a little....embarrassment showed through.
"Ben saw right through me on this yesterday," she confessed, "I was putting him to bed when he straight up asked me if I loved Mr. Corvin."
She felt emotion pushing it's way up. "In...........in my efforts to keep our relationship professional, he saw through it. I stood in his doorway for a few seconds that seemed like an eternity before I simply answered yes and told him good night as I always do in Rheinlandic."
She let go momentarily to wipe a tear from her cheek that had started falling. She didn't want to create a scene. "He made me realize how I truly felt," she finished barely audible.
"Peter" she thought to herself. How WOULD he feel? He was a sweet child and Ben loved him. After a brief silence for her to think, she took back his hand.
"I'll admit," she explained, "I'm not sure how to approach Peter. He's a sweet boy and I like being around him but I wonder how he feels about me. I mean, I'm not his Mother but....I would treat him like one if he gave me the chance. I mean, there are some things a father just can't do that only a Mother can and vice versa."
It was about this time that the waiter returned. She put on her best smile, moved her hair out of her face with a hand, looked up and ordered the Moulteschen.....in Rheinlandic, "Ich werde die Molteschen."
When he looked at her blindly, obviously not understanding her, she gave a giggle, "I'll have the Moulteschen...please."
She returned her smiling face to Erik.
Hearing about Ben's knowledge of the situation was an instant relief for Erik. "I noticed you have a smart boy..." - he snickered, trying to cheer her up. For a split-second, his mind wanted to say "we" instead of "you", but it was far too early for such statements. "As for Peter... we'll see. I know for sure he likes you, but he's been reluctant from getting to close to any woman since his mother died, even his aunt or cousins. I'm hoping he'll come around eventually..."
With the waiter's polite interruption, Erik allowed Doreen to make her order, after which Erik noted he'll have the same meal. As the waiter left, Erik took the moment to pause and admire Doreen again, then went on "I'm glad we can speak openly. I admit it's not easy... considering both our situations. And I want to put the children first, no matter what." He smiled softly.
Sipping her wine, she was putting her glass down when she replied, "I agree totally. The boys have been our lives."
She sighed as she thought a moment. "I don't pretend to understand how he must feel because I don't. That's something that medical school can't teach. I honestly don't know how to approach that outside of maybe taking it slow and hoping that I grow on him a bit."
She was at a lost for words. The evening was perfect and they were enjoying their time. It's those silent moments where two people who, just in looking at each other, speak volumes. She had her left hand on her wine glass, her right on the table. She sat relaxed in her chair, her red locks flowing over her shoulders and down her back as a soft smile stayed on her face. She noticed him admiring her and she did the same of him. She saw what Cynthia once saw. She had obviously been a woman of good taste and very lucky. Even though Cynthia had given her life in combat for her people, Doreen herself felt privileged to be able to be with what was once hers.
Erik's eyes shifted for a second and he let out a sigh. "I suppose that's where I have the advantage... if I were to look at the silver linings. I know well enough how it is to grow up without a father. So, at least partially, I understand what Benjen's life must have been. Still, as you've said - taking it slow..." He got back his smile and kept silent. He had just now realised how ironically complicated both their lives had been... and yet, somehow, they ended up finding each other. Even as a man of science... he had to appreciate the kind of awesome luck that made this happen for him, for them.
Their moment of tranquility was briefly interrupted when the waiters brought their dinner. After basic pleasantries, both Erik and Doreen began enjoying the food. It was after a couple of bites that Erik set his fork down for a second and commented. "This is quite delicious. I'll admit, I've rarely eaten Rheinlandic recipes, yet they never fail to impress me."
Meanwhile, the music had faded out as the pianist took a moment to rest. This left room for the water's low murmur to be heard, maintaining the same relaxing atmosphere inside the restaurant.
She took that first bite. It was obvious, she was intimately tasting it to see how close to home cooking it was. She looked skyward as she did, nodded her head and swallowed.
"Very good," she complimented, "very, VERY good. It's as if I was back on Hamburg." Washing that first bite down with some wine, she continued to enjoy her meal.
"This is quite delicious. I'll admit, I've rarely eaten Rheinlandic recipes, yet they never fail to impress me." She just smiled. She still didn't know Erik's tastes of food yet so good Rheinland cooking was a for sure winner. "I'll have to remember this," she quipped, her fork twirling in the fingers of her left hand above her plate as she smiled, "something I can cook for you at a later time."
They made casual small talk as they dined. It was then that she noticed the sound of the water. It was one that she wasn't accustomed to. Hamburg was cold so a lot of lakes were frozen and her trips around Rheinland never took her to a water source. It was peaceful. Still not finished, she put her fork down, placed her hands on the table, on either side of her plate and looked out towards the water. It was different, different from the oceans of Yuma she was getting used to. They were calmer.....peaceful.
A thought crossed her mind as she looked out, a desire. A house on one of the new islands of Yuma where the flora had finally been tamed overlooking the water. Her, Erik and the kids. In her mind, it was perfect but too soon. With a sigh, she turned back and continued eating. Before long, she cleaned off her plate not so much out of hunger but out of love of food of her native home. Finished, she just smiled at Erik, wiped her face a bit and enjoyed her wine.
Corvin Estate, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
evening of 12 Sept. 824 A.S.
meanwhile...
Peter and Benjen had finished having dinner with Lara quite a while ago. She managed to convince the boys to eat a lot more salad than one might usually agree to. Still, they were rewarded with some sodas afterwards and were left to carry on with their games. Having Mathew around, the two younger boys found him to be a good opponent in their ball-games. As such, they all had a wonderful time for an hour or so before their breaths started to give out. Gasping for air both due to physical exhaustion and laughing fits... the two fell down on the grass to rest, while Mathew went inside for water.
"What do you think our parents are working on today?" Peter asked, still trying to catch his breath.
Corvin Estate, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
Benjen and Peter were laying in the grass when Peter asked the question about their parents. He looked at him real quick but then looked ahead again in thought.
"I don't know," he answered. "They have been gone awhile."
Ben was used to his mom being gone for long stretches but she always came back with open arms and a present. Unlike other times, he had a friend to spend the time with, a friend that he really meshed with. Also running through his mind was his Mom's confession from the night before. He knew that she had a thing for Peter's father but he didn't know what to make of it. He loved his mom but that was different and he didn't understand it. He turned to Peter again, "Do you think they like each other?
Corvin Estate, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
evening of 12 Sept. 824 A.S.
Peter took the innocent and simple interpretation of Ben's question to mind... He thought for a second, then replied gleefully. "Well, dad likes pLetty much everyone. And your mom seems nice too. So yeah, i guess?" Still unaware of the full situation between his father and Doreen, Peter was simply thinking that it was getting late and he would've liked to at least hear from his dad. Giving it some extra thought... he jumped upwards and extended his hand to Ben so he could rise as well. "Wanna call them? I don't think aunt LaLa would mind."
New Corinth, Planet Yuma, Coronado
evening of 12 Sept. 824 A.S.
Tons of lovely chatter later... the food was done, glasses of beverage almost empty... and chemistry flowing... The night was perfect. Erik stood from his chair and took Doreen's hand, pulling her gently towards the restaurant's windows above the water. Leaning forward on the windowsill, he kept his gaze fixed on Doreen. "Speaking of Ben... " - he began with a weary voice, not wanting to bring Doreen down. He knew already that her son was adjusting well to the life on Yuma. Ben seemed perfectly happy on the outside, but Erik was curious. "Does he know of his father?"
Corvin Estate, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
"Wanna call them? I don't think aunt LaLa would mind."
Ben's eyes grew to the size of saucers at Peter's suggestion. "Yeah," he shouted, "Let's call them. We'll be like......spies."
New Corinth, Planet Yuma, Coronadoevening of 12 Sept. 824 A.S.
It took a second for her head to settle when she stood up. The wine had set in just enough but she was still in control of herself. At the asking of his question, her face wasn't straight but was mildly confident. Looking into Erik's face had become soothing. After telling him of her past, she felt better about it and of herself. Her hand still in his she answered softly so as to not allow prying ears to hear.
"Ben doesn't know all the gory details of my time with the Unioners, of the Hessians and of his conception but I did tell him who his father was. I told him his name, who he was and what happened. To tell him everything I told you would be overwhelming." She paused a moment as she collected herself. The subject of exile was often harsh. When she looked back up, her eyes were damp but not running.
"He knows of our exile from Rheinland. He's met his grandfather once many years ago. He's never met his Uncle who is my little brother, Jason and........" With her free hand, she wiped off a tear, ".....he's never met his grandmother." It was obviously very painful subject matter for her despite having been over it a thousand times.
As they looked over the water, as she collected herself, the pianist began playing again. Piano