One week later,
The second bathrobe was still leaning against the bathroom mirror. Blue,soft bristled,barely used but it was there. It's been a week since Daniel first showed up unannounced. And he'd been coming back almost everyday since. Sometimes with groceries, sometimes with stories, sometimes with nothing but silent and steady eyes. Tonight,he was in the kitchen again,sleeves rolled up,chopping pepper too slowly for someone who claimed he "knew the way around the kitchen". "Just give me the knife" ,Velma said dragging it from him.he raised both hands in surrender, "madam ,I was trying" ,he said still chuckling. "You were trying to kill us",she replied ."You are just looking for a reason to touch me" , Daniel said and winked at her. Velma smirked without replying. Dinner was spaghetti and egg sauce,served on the floor,eaten with shared forks and clingy knees. The TV played something neither of them named. And afterwards,they lay side by side on the rug,hands presses against her throw pillow,Daniel tracing invisible shapes on her arm. " Did you tell Olivia?",Velma asked,eyes still on the ceiling. The question came out soft,bare,not accusing just necessary. A pause."I haven't", he said quietly. She turned her face towards him but didn't speak. He added" I am not trying to lie to Olivia, I'm just trying to be sure I'm not about to break something I can't fix". She nodded slowly" and are you sure?". He looked at her long and hard"I wasn't sure if anything before now but now am sure if you". That night,he didn't go home because the rain was falling heavily and he didn't bring his car,they both slept on the three -seater couch ,his arms rested on her cheeks all throughout the night.
The next morning,Velma woke first,and saw Daniel beside her and even though nothing bad been defined. This felt like something real.