The week that followed was much the same as the first day. Sam had continued cooking at his word. When Rose woke, she saw him working at breakfast. Not once did he complain as he made waffles, pancakes, scrambled and sunny side up eggs or omelettes when she requested.
When she returned from work, she was welcomed with pasta, steak, chicken or fish. Always with a side of vegitables, sometimes with garlic bread or toast depending on the occasion. After dinner, he would sit her down on the couch and give her a massage while listening to how her day went.
Though the days never became less stressful, yet she always had a smile on her face when leaving home. Her back felt like it had lost an enormous weight from the pile of stress that Sam took off her. She came home and relaxed, feeling like she could really unwind as he paid attention to her.
By the end of the week, she looked forward to waking up, as well as coming home. She had always felt numb to her home before Sam had come, but now it was so full of life that she couldn't wait for the day to end so she could get back to him.
"What are we doing this weekend?" Sam asked over the dining table as he spooned a full fork of chicken alfredo.
"Maybe stay in and have a movie marathon?" Rose took another bite of her dinner. He had used a recipe from scratch, that she could tell. She had no alfredo sauce in the pantry, and she could taste the cream cheese and parmesan in it. "How did you make this?"
"A chef never reveals his secrets." Sam winked as he ate the remaining sauce covered broccoli. "Maybe instead you could show me around town?"
"You've been inside all week." She sighed as she realized the turn of conversation. "You probably want a change of scenery for a while, right?" She played with her wine glass without looking up at him.
"You have a very lovely home, and I love cooking for you," he collected his and her plate after they were finished eating. "But it would be nice to see what else is out there."
Rose took out her phone and started looking through places they might be able to go. "Well, I did tell you that I would get you a haircut." She grinned up at him. "Maybe a couple outfits to go with it?"
"And maybe a trip to the social security office so I can get an identity." He hinted as he grabbed her now empty wine glass from her hand and ushered her to the couch.
Through the week, they had become more comfortable with the routine. Sam now sat next to her while kneading out the knots in her back. As he did, she leaned into him, her feet folded under her. She looked at clothing outlets and different places they could go for an outing. "You've probably cleared out the kitchen too." She groaned, thinking about the shopping she would have to do.
"You could drop me off at the store." He pressed hard into a knot that refused to come undone. "I'll do the shopping, you just have to pick me up."
Rose could think of no man that would intentionally go shopping when there was a perfectly good day to relax. She silently counted her blessing as she got up from the couch and pushed Sam forward. "Move over." She ordered him.
Sam did as she said while looking at her questioningly. In a second, her hands were going down the hardness of his back. She could feel the tension in his muscles as she pressed into them. He had never complained about a sore back, yet she could tell just by the tension in his shoulders that it had been a long time since he had the same treatment he had given her.
After a while, he put his hand on hers. They said nothing for a moment, just enjoying each other's company. Rose turned the television on and they picked something out to watch.
Sam sat with Rose cuddled up close to him, using his upper arm as a pillow. She fell asleep halfway through a movie they were barely paying attention to. He put her head on his chest and put an arm around her instead of waking her. He watched her for a time, the rise and fall of her chest calmed him while he stared out the screen door into the nothingness outside. All was quiet when he turned off the television. He felt her head bury deep into his chest, snuggling close. The scent of her lavender lotion was intoxicating as he saw her neck bare to him.
Though his heart throbbed for her, he let Rose sleep. He had felt no other's hands on his shoulders, in this life or the last. Watching her sleep, he combed the long curly hair from her face, much like she had done for him months ago when he couldn't even raise a hand.
He could never truly remember a time in his life that he had felt so content. If there ever was a time, it had been lost through all of the conflict. So instead of thinking back, he allowed himself to truly live in the present, where he could feel her touch.