chicken simmers in the pot of water, almost ready to eat, as the bread warms and rises in the oven, filling the house with a delicious scent that makes your mouth water. Jeanine arrived not long after I began cooking. I didn’t realise how early it was. She took over the soup for a moment while I had a shower and got dressed. No need to walk around in my pyjamas all day, smelling of Nathan’s sweat.
Not that his sweat stinks or anything, just that… well… it’s Nathan.
I serve the soup into two bowls as the bread cools and place them both on a tray with two glasses of water and a bottle of cough medicine for the man upstairs. Jeanine cleans around me as I cut the bread and place the slices on the tray. I also grab a table cloth and go on my merry way.
My cheeks heat as soon as I step into the room. He’s half asleep on his front, looking pale and weak. “Nathan?” I whisper into the silence and place the tray on the small table beside him.
“Yeah?” He sits up and glances at the silver tray. “Soup? What am I, a child?”
“I’m still debating,” I mutter and fluff the pillows behind his back, which he frowns at.
“I can do that myself.”
Sigh. “You shouldn’t be doing much of anything.”
“Which I wouldn’t be if you’d leave me alone.”
Touché. “Okay, grumpy, just eat and I’ll leave you alone.”
I open the table cloth and fan it out over the bedding. Nathan smoothes it down with his hands. Climbing in beside him, I reach over and carefully pick up the tray before placing it on his lap. I take my own bowl and immediately soak a corner of the bread in it.
Nathan grimaces as he swallows the first bite. “I wish I could taste it.”
“It’s fabulous,” I brag with a smile. “And full of protein and vitamins.”
“Is there any left?”
“Yes, plenty.”
He nods. “Freeze some, so I can try it when my tongue isn’t as thick as a foot and as dry as sand.”
“Sure.” It really does taste good. “Is there anything you need me to do while you’re out of commission?”
He thinks on it for a moment, swallowing the food in his mouth so his long, corded neck bobs, causing my eyes to zoom in on that area. My mouth has just gone dry. “No, but thank you for offering, Guinevere.”
“I’m sorry for coming into your room without your permission,” I blurt, cursing my conscience. “I got really worried when I hadn’t seen you all day.”
He shakes his head and waves me off, before sliding the tray onto my lap. “Thank you for the food, but I’m full.”
“Okay.” I stare down at his almost full bowl and frown. Nathan can eat like a starving horse. He’ll lose weight if he goes through another day like this. He’s already lean and obviously toned, but any more off him and you’ll be able to see his ribs. “I’ll just take these away and leave you to rest.”
He nods, his eyes watching me as I gather up the tablecloth, careful to keep the crumbs inside, and pick up the tray. I switch out the light with my elbow and use my belly to balance the tray with one hand as I shut the door behind me.
Now what can I do?
I don’t want to leave the house just in case. Oh shit, I should have made sure he had his phone and that it was fully charged. I doubt I’ll be able to hear him yelling from all the way up there. Although I’d probably hear something if I were in my room.
That’s what I’ll do. I’ll do another jigsaw puzzle on my bedroom floor. There are a few in the closet in the room next to mine. I grab one at random and waddle back into my room. I tip the pieces on the floor after sitting on a pillow.
This is going to be a dull few hours until dinner time.
“More soup?” Nathan sounds awful. We situate ourselves on the bed like we did earlier at lunch. “Vegetable?”
“Leek and potato.”
We eat in amiable silence for a while. I’m pleased when he finishes the last of it with his bread. I remove the tray and table cloth and leave the room silently.
Nathan texts for me to go upstairs not long after I retire to my room and get ready for bed. I don’t hesitate to race to him like a lioness to