Family Recipe

[Lovely]

July 9, 2009
6:48pm


The sun was making it's way toward setting and the light was no longer ideal for reading or writing but this spot was so peaceful that Gabriella was reluctant to leave it. It was a hidden little 'cove' in a semi circle of hedges where she often came to relax. The stream was so close she could nearly stick her toes in it from the bench and the trickle of the water around the rocks was quite soothing. She made notes in a small well worn leather bound journal as she read from another very old looking book.

The path around the park darted toward the water in places and gave a wide berth in others where the water was nowhere in sight. The spots were it darted closer where his milestones, eighth-mile markers he strived for when he had time for these runs which he'd made more and more scarce since the news stories started. Tonight he was anxious and fitfull, something wearing on him the way pending changes usually did, though the changes hadn't been helpful in explaining themselves. He had no idea what form they were going to take this time. Harvey tried to keep an even pace, heading toward the next marker and the bench he knew he could rest at a moment before turning around to head back home before dark. As the bench came in view, he saw the silhouette of graceful curves and generous waves of sunlit hair that was pleasantly distracting him from his footing. He nearly tripped, then a few feet later as something familiar bounced off his sense, he did stumble, though only enough to make the sound of a ragged step followed by a quiet curse as he kept his balance but still felt the pain. He kept moving and aimed for the bench, trying to keep his pace steady. He wasn't trying to impress, but to ignore the pain and keep himself in motion.

The noise surprised her but didn't seem to startle her, Gabby lifted her head to quickly glance in the direction of the sound, her eyes cast over the form of a nicely shaped male runner. She whistled softly as she returned her attention to her books, jotting down another ingredient she found that she thought would be useful. Her lips curved into a slight smile and if recent events hadn't been so sour, she might have taken the time to set aside her books and flirt but well.. now just wasn't a good time for such things.

That was just great. Did she really see that? He chuckled to himself, relieved he hadn't actually fallen, moreso as he recognized the face and came around the far end of the bench. He was cautious, not sure she remembered him, and now it seemed to make sense why the warnings hadn't told him much. He couldn't remember her name right off, either, but he attributed that more to the pain that was creeping up from his ankle at the moment. "Hey. Haven't seen you in a while. Great day to be out here, huh? Good book?" He didn't want to crowd her, but motioned to the pages she was intently mulling over.

The words rattled through her mind in a warm voice that was somewhat familiar, she slowly turned her gaze to the runner who had made his way to her bench and was addressing her. "Oh.. hello." She smiled and then chuckled as she realized she couldn't remember his name but she did know him... sort of. He was a friend of the family or something like that.. "An old book.." She shrugged and gently closed the cover and let her hand rest over it a moment. "Lovely day to be here.. yes. Enjoying your run?" She made conversation, deciding she could afford a couple of minutes to devote to flirting, she didn't want to get out of practice after all.

[Lovely]

She was cautious, too, covering her book whether she was conscious of it or not. Smart woman, he remembered, or made note of now regardless. He pushed the pain out of his mind, trying to force it back into the ankle and away entirely. Her smile made that easy. He flashed a warm smile in return. "Actually it just got better. Do you mind if I borrow a corner here a minute?" He'd need to stretch and move again in a minute.

"Of course not.. you can have more than a corner if you like. I don't bite... or at least that's what I tell good looking men to lure them closer." She grinned playfully and gave the 'nameless' man a wink. She still wasn't thinking of his name which was very odd since she didn't think she would have forgotten the name of one as delicious as him.

He chuckled and sat down beside her. "Alright, if you won't, I will," he said, holding his hand out to her before he started massaging his ankle. "I admit it, I'm stumped. Harvey... and very glad to see you," he said honestly, especially with all the news lately.

"Didn't say I wouldn't.." She reached to take his hand, there wasn't any visible spark but an interesting and pleasant tingle ran up her arm. "A pleasure.. Gabriella." She didn't mention that she'd also forgotten his name but didn't feel as awful for it knowing hers had slipped his mind as well.

Her touch wasn't timid and she didn't seem to mind that he'd just run two and a half miles to get here. He seemed to read her expression a moment, though he couldn't reach her thoughts. He could only get ideas about them. Damn the fussiness of his ability to divine out destinies, especially when it was his own he was worried about.. nothing. Nothing to help him. He'd have to resort to small talk which he didn't do so well and was likely why he couldn't fathom the name - he may have spoken with her for hours about nothing and never asked it! He sighed and finally let go of her hand. "So... at the risk of sounding.. um... do you come here... often? I mean I haven't seen much of anyone out lately, not since... all the news."

"Well I'm sure the news has scared many people to staying indoors.. but for me this place is hard to resist and I won't live my life in fear. It's not really living if your afraid and stay inside with the curtains drawn.. unless of course there is a good reason to draw the curtains and stay in." Her eyebrow arched up again as if she was considering one of those reasons right then.

[Lovely]

He chuckled again, and looked away to the rocks and crackling water, sure that he was a little more red now than when he sat down. He was a little out of practice at this, it seemed. "No, I guess that's really no way to live... the.. being afraid part. I mean I'm out here as often as I can be, but lately," he paused, shaking his head, looking at the water hopping around the stones. "A lot going on out there to be afraid of, but me? I'm not hiding. Cautious, but not hiding." He nodded at the book with her notes. "Joy of Cooking, the forgotten language version?"

"Cautious is a smart way to be.. I'm glad ou're not hiding. You're being here has certainly brightened my day." She smiled warmly and reached one hand to brush her her hair back, her other hand brushing the worn cover of the book as he asked about it. "Old family recipies.. I was thinking of trying a new dish.. researching some key ingredients."

"That must be where it was, then. A family pot luck, trying out some of those recipes, hm? Light's getting low for reading," he observed, recalling where it was they'd met, or giving his best guess. It had been a while. "You.. um... do you have any plans later? Hiding or not, it's hard to read out here in the dark. No moon tonight."

"Just a cookin' up a little something.." Her smile seemed to soften into something almost shy but still playful. "Are you asking me out?" Gabby really hoped he was and the sparkle of her eyes might give him and indication that she wasn't afraid if that was his intention.

"Actually, I think I was asking you in," he chuckled, scratching nervously at his cheek over a shadow of a whisker. "Inside, where I've got some good light to read by and a clean shirt. 'Out' might happen after I change... and get some ice."

She paused a moment to consider the offer and the man making it, her smile warmed again and she slowly nodded her head. "Well.. either way I accept." She reached to close the journal that sat on the other side of her, gathering both her books and her pencil into a neat pile on her lap. "I don't seem to have my jogging shoes on.."