As it turned out, 'dating' her own husband was complicated. It was not like in the movies where everything fell into place, clouds parting and birds singing all because a couple had decided to be together.
No.
They were real people with real life obligations, and problems. For starters, Rose had come home to find that the automatic watering system she used in Eden's back garden had failed. She spent most of the day fixing it, and checking over the flowers to ensure that there had been no permanent damage. That done, she went for her rose seeds, and begun planting them. Briefly entertaining the idea of using her gifted plant pot to sow the seeds. She had not seen it in a while. But she dismissed the idea of reusing the pot, reminding herself of once again that it was a gift. Her plan to check on it soon forgotten when her phone chimed.
Emergency with one of our international partners. I am flying out to Paris tonight to deal with the crisis. Sorry.
The final part of the message softened the blow. But not by much, their very first date and it was already cancelled before it could even be decided upon. It was let down, but Rose consoled herself with the fact that he had at least warned her. She counted as important enough to be personally alerted when he would not be available. Tapping at her phone she sent a message that she hoped not only hid her slight disappointment, but also did not make him feel bad.
Thanks for letting me know. Have a safe trip. xxx
The kisses were and an afterthought, and she wondered if she had crossed a line, moved too fast. The reply took a while to come, and Rose spent every single second worried that he would think she was too forward. When her phone beeped, she almost did not want to look.
Thank you, you stay safe as well. xxx
The unexpected inclusion of his own kisses took Rose by surprise. She clutched her phone to her chest, grinning like an teenage girl with her first crush. If Lili saw her, she would never let Rose live it down.
Suddenly feeling very chipper, Rose moved to the front of the store. The cleanup she had been postponing looking very doable all of a sudden. She worked until she was sore, and only when the place was gleaming did she stop. Trudging upstairs, she took as long as she possibly could in the shower. Standing beneath the water until her toes looked like dried prunes. Once done, she sat herself on her couch, a bowl of popcorn on her lap, intent to spend the night bingeing on TV. That plan lasted until her phone beeped.
It was a picture of what was clearly a restaurant table. Tasty looking dishes lined up, but the main focus was on the moussaka.
Your mom made it better. xxx
The caption read, and Rose laughed, accidentally spitting out some popcorn. Placing the bowl on the table, she pulled her legs up, leaning against the side of the couch as she replied.
Really, I thought the moussaka was and I quote 'our great and talented, Nate's natural talent'. xxx
Stop it, the business partner I am meeting will come back any moment.xxx
Why should I stop? It is all true. It's not like you are blushing or anything.xxx
There was no reply, and Rose's fingers moved at light speed, a wide grin splitting her face.
OMG! You are! Imagine the headlines 'CEO embarrassed by Moussaka success'.xxx By now Rose was laughing so hard she nearly fell off the couch. But his reply sobered her up.
What is there to be embarrassed about Rosie posy. xxx
He went straight for the jugular, showing exactly why he was a successful business man. Fighting back her own blush, Rose was forced to accept defeat.
What happens in Vasilio, stays in Vasilio.xxx
She typed and his reply was instant.
That is a binding promise. xxx
Pinkie swear thumb kiss. xxx Rose typed back. His reply was brief, signaling an end to their chat.
I have to go, the partner just came back from the restroom. xxx
Rose stared at the now silent phone for a full minute. It had been a brief, meaningless exchange in the grand scheme of things. But that did nothing to diminish the warm feeling making itself at home in Rose's stomach. All that distance between them, and all the things he could have done with his time, and Nate had chosen to talk to her. Using his precious few minutes of freedom to be with her even though they were physically apart.
The warm glow the conversation brought, stayed with her through the night. She made it through a boring documentary on soil types without hearing a single word of it. A small smile on her lips, her mind far away, focused on someone not even in the country.