2020-06-10 - The Girl in the Garden - Baba, Marcus, Ryan, Natalie and Kester

Petruska Sokal typed away at her kitchen table to the man who had introduced himself as Marcus Lawry of the Alexandra Police Department. She sent him a brief email with two attachments. On was her famous goulash recipe that Natalia loved. The other was a photo. The photo was of a garden scene, it looked like a fairytale garden and Petruska knew that part of it was inked on her granddaughter’s leg and hip. She had seen it when she was in a swimsuit. She was not sure if this man had seen it but the way the kids rolled in the hay in this day and age he probably had. But Natalie had left out a figure to the left in the photo, herself as a little girl with her long dark hair flying in the wind in a blue flowered sundress and her bare feet. She was looking up at a pear tree beside her with all the wonder and innocence of childhood. The accompanying message was as follows

Marcus Lawry, 

I am sending you the goulash recipe and a picture. You are going to think I’m a crazy old woman and I am. But I feel things about people and I’m usually right. I feel that you are a good man, I feel like Natalia was sent to you and you to her. This was my garden and my little Zeli. Zeli means cabbage. I used to call her that. She grew up too fast. Life was cruel. Be kind to each other. She has a lot more light in her than she lets shine.

Sincerely,
Petra


Meanwhile in Statutes, Ryan Yamada was sitting at the table by the fire with a pint of the Mariner’s Polaris IPA. He and Marcus had picked a time to meet and he was a little early so he just scrolled through his social media and enjoyed the fire behind him as the evening chill came in from the ocean. He had changed after work and told India all about his day in confidence. Now he was wearing dark blue jeans, a plain grey hoodie and simple black trainers.

Marcus went about his day as always, which was to say he spent it watching over Kira Delmonico until three in the afternoon.  At three he left the station and headed home to change out of his uniform and into civilian clothes.  But on his way he sent Natalie a text message asking if she was okay.  She replied back immediately with a terse ‘I’m fine’ to which Marcus shrugged and continued with his afternoon plans.  Once he’d changed, he transferred wallet, keys and phone from his uniform to his jeans and headed out, locking his door behind him.  On his way to Statutes, he checked his email and, as promised, there as an email from Petra.  He read it and looked at the picture curiously, thinking of the tattoo on Natalie.  The addition of the little girl would have added to it, but he made a note to talk to her about it when he could.  He thought of the cruelty in her life.  He could only guess, as Natalia had offered no details.  Someday, he thought as he approached the Statutes door and opened it.  As he passes the bar, he nods to the bartender and then to Ryan.  “Whatever he’s having.”  he called as he joined Ryan at the table.  It was early enough and a weekday so the place was not crowded.  “Hey, man.”  he greets simply.  His tennis shoes and jeans accentuate his black polo.  Dark to match his slowly fading anger at the texts he read earlier that day.

“Hello hello.” He greets back and as the bartender brings Marcus his pint too he offers a toast “To scumbags back behind bars?” He says a little dryly. He knew the feelings didn’t go away immediately as soon as the bad guys were caught but it was a start.

Marcus takes his pint with a muttered thanks and clinks glasses with Ryan.  “Amen.”  he agrees.  He takes a small sip and sets the glass down.  “Ms So … “  he chuckles.  “Natalie .. says thanks.  She wanted me to tell you.  Officially, of course.”  he sits back and blows out a breath, beginning to relax, a bit.

Ryan smirks “Shit look at you…” He laughs “I didn’t read them by the way….your and Natalie’s texts. None of my business...but I did notice they go back   to like a day or two after she got here.” He admits to checking that much and then takes another sip.

Marcus nods and shrugs.  “It started after that impromptu concert of your wife’s and Kagiso.”  he admits.  “Came out of the blue and .. well it’s not against regs, but we’re both private people and … “  he shrugs nonchalantly.  “Once she’s done with Kira’s case, she’s going back to Vancouver, so …”  he takes another sip, sort of implying that when the case ends so will the sex.

Ryan raises his brows and then nods. Marcus seems to be making it sound like friends with benefits but Ryan just has a feeling, maybe he’s being too much of a romantic but how much Marcus stammered earlier. He didn’t read the texts but there were a lot, and he surmised an equal number back and forth from each of them. “Well do you want that? Just an easy ender there?” He’s goading a little to see what’s there. “The trial isn’t ending tomorrow….”

Marcus licks and then bites his lips.  “Does it matter what I want?”  he wonders.  “She … has demons. I don’t know if you know what that means.  But …”  he pauses.  “Does it matter what I want?”  he repeats the question and sips.  “Some endings are easier than others.”  although … this one was the hardest yet and it wasn’t even over yet.

Ryan gives Marcus and empathetic look “It does matter what you want...if what you want is her and she has no clue. What if she’s just wishing you’d say it?” He looks intense now “Yeah...I know about demons. I’m going to trust you with this as you trusted me today...India was just out of an abusive relationship when I met her, like just out….her demon was right in our faces. So I decided to just face it with her. The guy broke parole to come after her….we had a network going...Adum Brate, he was the chief here before Greene, and he’s my best friend, Michaal and I. Through the wire we just found out. India and I had just moved in together in Cedar Point...she was pregnant….I don’t know how much you know about Cedar Point. We had earthquakes. One ended us….my brother...my Dad….but the one before….this guy...this ashole Dion…..it was like fate got him before I could. He was crushed by a boulder. I know I’m going on and on here…..short answer, don’t let it end. I can see it’s hurting already. Show up for her….fuck...show up for yourself. I did it. And I have the most amazing wife and daughter now….”

Marcus sighs.  "Yea...."  he breathes at the start.  What if they wanted each other, but were being held back by themselves, he thinks.  Then Ryan shares India's history and the guy that was after her.  He sips his beer.  “I actually know a lot about Cedar Point … and Alexandra.”  he confesses.  “I’m no Quake Taker, but I know a lot about the earthquakes in both towns.  I’m … into … strange shit … histories … it’s an obsession, really.  Very long story that is probably as boring as the texts between me and Natalie.”  he clears his throat.  “I … hear you.  She’s probably more scared than I am.  I already told her I wasn’t going to tell her I was different. She’ll see .. or she won't see.  And maybe …..”  he hesitates.  “Her grandmother likes me, Ryan.  She called just after I got the phone and I hit the accept button … She sent me a recipe of Natalie’s favorite food.”  he bites his lip.  “And I can cook it.  It’s not hard…”  he seems to be rambling .. and maybe not really talking to Ryan as much as trying to talk himself into something.

Ryan looks intrigued that Marcus knows so much about Cedar Point and the history between both places and then keeps listening. He beams about the grandmother and then after a long sip he gives the table a little smack and gestures as if offering it up to the air above Marcus after “That’s your game Lawry! You’re in with Granny...you make the food...you get the girl….Bada bing!” He looks delighted by this plan.

Marcus laughs .. rich and genuine.  “The way to a girl's heart is through her stomach and grandmother?”  he snorts.  “Hell, why not?”  he sips his near again.  “Don’t tempt me man.  The recipe takes like two hours.  I could have it done by the time the sun goes down.”  he jokes.

Now Ryan looks totally into it “What do you need for it? Thrifty’s is still open ....” He nudges Marcus “I’ll help you but only if you promise to tell me if it works. Don’t trust me to actually cook...just chop. My family only ever let me be a su chef…and even then I saw Garett rechop things…” He jokes “They ran the sushi place in town.”

Marcus considers.  “I actually have everything I need but the beef…”  he pulls out his phone and double checks.  “Yea ….”  he looks up at Ryan and his offer to help.  “I’m good.  Thanks Mr Su Chef.”  he chuckles.  “Yea I heard about the place among all the others lost …  and then the Alexandra Quake and the Fog…”  he shakes his head and looks at the recipe again.

Ryan grins about the cooking plan “Awesome….” And then Marcus mentions losses in the quake and fog and he swallows hard “Yep...it’s pretty much everyone you meet here.”

Natalie was in her room at the Parthenon in a bit of a state. She was relieved Matthew Timmins had been picked up. It had been a good day with Kira. All the texts had stirred up a bunch of baggage for her as things like that were prone to do. Not only that but they were wiped from her phone. Who had done that? Marcus? This Yamada? Who had read them all? The idea that Marcus had made her both want to run to him and away at the same time. But she hated to feel like some stupid damsel in distress so when he texted to see if she was ok she pushed him away. It was what she was good at after all. She hated it though. She wanted nothing more than to beg him to come over and just throw herself into his embrace. Natalie tried to distract herself by going to a yoga class and then watching TV.  She finished her bottle of gin and was actually feeling it a bit. Maybe it was the exercise. She decided to drink a big glass of water. Food wasn’t calling her yet. She looked at her phone, considering texting Marcus or even calling, not that she called much. She set it down again and flipped the channels. She was still in her yoga clothes, black tights and a grey tank top with now a loose long sleeved top over both.

Marcus nods.  “Yea, I know…”  he looks at the recipe again.  “Fuck it.”  he grumbles and looks at Ryan.  “Can I get a rain check, man?”  he asks.  “Suddenly I feel like cooking …”

Ryan just nods, grinning “Uh huh….tell me how your “recipe” turns out.” He teases. “Cheers Marcus.” He sips his own beer now in the second half of it.

Natalie decides to try and watch a movie on the Parthenon’s hotel pay per view. It takes her a while to choose but she opens a bottle of wine and settles in to try Whale Rider. It’s one she’s seen before but she liked it. She had forgotten how weepy it could get though. Maybe not the best choice for a tough day.

Marcus laughs and takes another small sip of his beer which isn’t even a quarter gone.  He stands.  “I will .. the digest version.”  he promises.  He moves to the bar and pays for his drink and is out the door in literal seconds.  He jogs across the park and between the radio station and Earthcakes, then across the street to the Thrifty’s where he buys half a pound of beef.  Then he jogs home, takes off his shoes and socks and starts cooking.  Close to three hours later, the food is almost done.  He reaches for his phone and takes a deep breath, then sends Natalie a text.

Dinner?  Out your door and right to Water, then right to 1st, then the building just past Perkatory.  Apartment 1F.

He looks at it for a long time and, before he can lose his nerve, he sends it.  If she doesn’t show up … he’ll eat it all himself.

Natalie is dabbing her face with tissue in the final touching scene. She really should have texted Marcus to come watch this movie with her. Did they do movies? Maybe they should start. She hears her phone buzz and startles. Not Matthew Timmins…...he was gone from her phone. It was Marcus...inviting her for dinner...at his place? She blinked at it. This was new territory. A bit weepy from the film, raw from the day, and if she was being honest with herself, a little drunk, she stood up, still in her yoga clothes and decided to answer him in person. She splashed some cold water on her face, used the toilet, brushed her teeth and stepped into her flat shoes. Anyone who saw her around the town world hardly recognize her at the moment. She slid her small black purse over her shoulder. She followed the directions and walked to his apartment. As she got inside the building a familiar combination of spices hit her nose and she was confused. Did he have Eastern European neighbours? That would be a funny coincidence. She made a mental note to ask and knocked on his door, as the smell became stronger.

When he heard the knock, Marcus was in the kitchen, hich was literally off of his apartment door.  His apartment was a very small one bedroom.  Moving to the door, he opened it wie and motioned her in.  If she comes he will close the door.  “I’m glad you came.”  he tells her with a smile.  He knows she can’t possibly NOT smell the goulash.  “And before you say anything ….  I have a confession to make …”  and, right out of the shute, he tells her about the call from her grandmother, what she said, what he said and the email she sent him later.  He stops short of telling her about the picture she sent … he’d see if what he already confessed will get him stabbed before he got to eat anything.

Natalie stepped in looking more perplexed than before. The smell was from Marcus’s kitchen. Why the hell did his kitchen smell like her Baba’s kitchen. But then he explains and she goes from perplexed to just wide eyed and blinking at him as she stepped out of her shoes. As if she needs to confirm she goes and looks into the pot “Baba Petrushka’s goulash alright….holy shit Marcus.” The day, the horrible texts, the sad movie, the booze and now this incredibly comforting food smell from her childhood Natalie finds herself fighting tears beside this pot of food. She looks at Marcus, trying to hold it in but she just can’t “I lied to you...I wasn’t fine. I’m not fine….and I’m glad you texted me…” She just sobs out. “Shit I’m not normally like this...I’m sorry…”

Marcus is glad she named the dish.  That was a good sign he had gotten it right.  He watches her fight and, as she begins to basically lose that fight, he turns the head off under the food and by the time she says she is glad he texted her, he is trying to take her into his arms.  Holding her close he only offers her two simple words.  “No sorry.”

Natalie continues to sob as he pulls her close, burying her face in the warmth of his chest as she wraps her arms around his waist. She didn't normally lose it with people, especially men. Something about Marcus was different, and it wasn’t just the sex although that was more connected for her as well. She tries and tries to catch her breath and after a long while she manages to and look up at him “I can’t believe my grandmother…” She laughs a little “What did you say to her? She’s a bit picky about who she likes in life….but...she’s kind of a magical being when she does pick one.”

Marcus just holds her until she is crying a little less, then works to move her to his couch, which is more like a daybed with storage drawers at the front.  “I don’t honestly know.”  he tells her.  “Just that you were alright.”  he tells her.  “I think the uniform scared her at first.”  If he can get her to sit, he’ll cant his head.  “Can I serve you dinner, ma’am?”

Natalie nods “Oh yeah that would…..and yes you can if you promise not to call me Ma’am again.” She teases. “I’m sick of being formal with you...I will of course when we’re working but right now it's the last thing I want….I decided to try and cheer myself up by watching a super weepy movie...because clearly I’m a masochist.” She looks around his place now. It as small but sweet. “Am I technically sitting on your bed?”

Marcus chuckles.  “Fine.  I don't when we’re alone together.”  He promises and motions for her to stay put.  His kitchen is in the same room, so he hardly has to shout.  “What do you want?   Nat?  Natalie?  Natalia?  And what do you want to call me?”  he asks as he dishes up two plates that double as shallow bowls of the goulash,  He puts in the silverware, fets cloth napkins and returns to the living room, setting both on his coffee table.  “No, my bed is in the other room.”  he tells her.  “But this had drawers and the more storage the better in an apartment this size.”  he loads up his spoon.  “To your Baba.  I hope I’ve done her good .. or my own might just kick my ass…”  and he tastes it.

Natalie smiles, thinking about the name choices “Funny no one’s ever asked me before. And clearly you have been chatting with my Baba because the only people who call me Natalia are she and my father. And if you keep talking to Baba I’m sure she’ll tell you silly things she called me as a kid. Nat is actually my preference for a shortened name. Do you have a preference? “ She looks down at the drawers and nods and then takes her bwl and gives him a curious look before taking a bite. She stares at him while she chews like she’s stunned “This is like 99.9% exact….how did you do that? We could be sitting in Prague…..seriously. Have you ever been to the Czech Republic?”

Marcus smiles as she speaks.  “Then Nat or Natalia it is.”  he tells her.  “And for me .. as long as you don’t ever call me Marcus Michael Lawry, I don’t really care, although I admit I’m not a fan of Marc, but if you're in a hurry it’ll get my attention.”  He tastes and enjoys it but loves her reaction much more.  “My G-mama and mama taught me to cook.  G-mama always said, you got to love food and making it good or all you doin is heating it up.”  he tells her.  “So maybe that’s it.  We’re definitely not in Prague and no I’ve never been to the Czach Republic.  I’m flattered.”  He notices that when he is alone with her they both become more chatty.  “So I can tell Petra you approve?”  he dines on more of it and knows it won’t last long.  Part of him now wishes he’d more than two servings.

Natalie giggles “Marcus Michael Lawry? Oh you got off easy on the middle name train. Is that what your G-mama? Calls you when you’re in trouble? All I ever do is heat up food…..like frozen dinners in the microwave. Or premade salads. I’m big on those...instant noodles, cup a soup. And of course take out.....your grandmother would be as horrified as mine. And yes you can tell her….are you planning on hanging out with my grandmother all the time now?” she laughs. “She’s going to start demanding I bring you over.” She digs in again. It really was so good she couldn’t stop eating it now.

Marcus swallows and laughs.  “When i have done anything that provokes an extreme reaction from her, good or bad.”  he admits to it.  Listening to her list of basically processed food he winces.  “Oh, I need to cook for you more often.”  he proclaims.  “And …”  he pauses a moment.  “I’d rather hang out with you, but your gran is pretty cool by me.”  he admits.  “And .. I like to think there are worse things for your grandmother to demand.”  he looks at her then finishes his food.  “I hope that won't be a problem … she seems to like me and I’d hate to disappoint her by driving you away … not that I’m trying.”  He lays the fork in the plate.  It’s actually quite the opposite, he realizes.

Natalie laughs and then looks at him sweetly “Deal on the cooking. Like I say she’s picky, and she has a sense. And if she likes you...that’s actually kind of monumental. She’s pretty much dismissed everyone I’ve been romantically connected to before that she’s met. She’s not terribly fond of my mother...my mother is complicated so I understand why they butt heads. And it’s why my time with Baba has often been separate from my parents. She and my grandfather used to have a little cottage by Maple Ridge along the Fraser River. They moved there because it reminded them of the Morava river they lived by in Charavaty....back home, before the holocaust. They had my father pretty late in their lives for the era. I spent summers there...not in Charavaty but in Maple Ridge obviously...kind of a hobby farm with a big garden. She gave it up about 5 years after my grandfather passed away for an apartment in Vancouver.” She slides her hand to her right thigh shere her tattoo is “I carry a piece of it with me.” It dawns on Natalie she’s sharing a lot with Marcus….more than she has with anyone in a very long time and definitely more than she maybe should at this point with someone. She looks a little self conscious for a moment and then finishes her goulash. “I’ll wash the dishes.” She offers and reaches for his plate to stack with her own.

Marcus listens and nods.  He likes cooking, so he’s good on that.  Natalie explains that Petra has not liked anyone she’s been romantically involved with and Marcus almost grins at the word ‘romantically’.  So far … this was the most romantic night they’d had and, with their relationship under raps he decided he would just have to get more romantic to make up for discretion.  He listens to the story and his eyes drift to her hip a moment before she gets self conscious and reaches for the plates.  He lets her go to do the dishes.  “I can’t really say too much good about the Devil’s Kitchen.”  he calls from the couch where he relaxes.  Maple Ridge sounds incredible.”  He moves his phone so it's within his reach on the coffee table.

Natalie easily finds the dish soap and scrub brush and washes up the plates, the pot, anything she could see he used to prep the meal like knives or a cutting board. She lets it all air dry in the dish rack on one side of the sink. She saw there was a dishwasher but she still washed by hand. Baba’s training was deeply instilled in her. A dishwasher would never get things as clean. She wiped her hands on the dish towel and walked back in “well it used to be more charming when it was mostly farmland. As with everything, development progressed and now there are more malls than farms out that way. It’s a bit depressing….”She settles back in beside him “Thank you for dinner. I needed that meal today….and thank you for earlier….with the phone and the trace. I feel better knowing Julie Tyler can go home tonight. He was using me to get to her….she was my client.”

Marcus chuckles to himself at the sound of running water and dishes being washed by hand.  He wasn’t against dishwashers, but his own mother and grandmother did their dishes by hand and he, as a bachelor, saw no point in using a dishwasher just for himself.  “Progress isn't always pretty.  I used to play in an abandoned lot and you could see nature trying to take the place back, but it never worked.”  she came and settled in on his right side and thanked him.  “You’re welcome.  For all of it.  I’m glad Julie Tyler can go home tonight.  And I know how that works.  But I’m more glad you’re safe.  Maybe its the training but threats sometimes are not threats.”  he drops that line of thought right there.  “By the way, Ryan is a friend.  And a confidant … now … and he’s very discrete.”

Natalie nods, a little tiredly “I’ve had a lot of that but his were pretty extreme.” She sighs a little “I was wondering about the texts on my phone between us. You cops all use last names so I’ll surmise that Ryan is Yamada. He knows about us then? I’ll trust him if you do. And I’m not in any way embarrassed by our connection...but I wouldn’t want anyone questioning either of our abilities to be competent and undistracted when we need to be.”

Marcus laughs, lightly.  “Sorry.  Yea.  Ryan Yamada.  And I trust him.”  The smile remains on his lips hearing her trust of him and that she is not embarrassed by what they are.  “We’re professional.  Ryan actually looked shocked and he’s pretty observant.”  he pauses and moves closer.  “There was something I wanted to ask you about…”  he will half turn and try to place his left hand on her right hip.  Where her tattoo was.

Natalie looked approving of all that he said about Ryan and then curious as he put his hand on her hip. She grinned a bit “Either you’re trying to get into my tights or you’re looking to get some ink done?” She was aware his hand was on top of her tattoo “I got it at a place called Golden Spirit on Kingsway in Vancouver…..a woman artist named Miranda but she doesn’t work there anymore. And it’s possible they’re closed for Covid….”

Marcus grins.  “The guy who lives on the top floor owns that tattoo parlor you passed .. before you get to Perk?  They’re still closed for the most part because of Covid.  Voluntary thing at this point.  But … no …”  he removes his hand and gets his phone, opening the email from Petra and the attached picture.  “I was sort of curious.  Seems it's based off of this picture … but you're missing from it…”

She takes his phone in her hand looking at the picture silently for almost a full minute. Then she hands the phone back “I know you read up on me….you said so. I got the tattoo after my own rape trial case fell apart. Way after….hell after my second marriage fell apart and my...attacker…” She closes her eyes “Aaron...was on trial again. Sentences didn’t stick to him until he nearly murdered a woman….but this was two before her. Every time I read about him in the news I…..well it affected my life. When Baba gave up the farm I wanted a tattoo from this picture….” She sighs “I could see the garden so clearly….but I couldn’t see me in it. I don’t know if I’m making sense.” The picture still open, she lightly traces the little girl “Maybe it was the hair...I cut mine off after realizing he had a type. Long dark hair, under 18….this body type.” She gestures at herself “ I watched them come out of the courtrooms….he was repeating a pattern. I think I tried to erase myself…” Natalie slides back onto the couch,protectively shrinking a bit into herself. It was a lot to say. Without even realizing it she  pressed the nail of her middle finger into her right palm. It was instinctual.

Marcus listens to the story and nods.  “Makes sense to me.”  he tells her.  “You’re like Kira.  Aaron killed that Natalie and this is the woman that remains.”  he watches her as she presses her nail into her palm.  He considers saying something, but then he just reaches over and takes that hand and, if she allows, will open the fingers, expose the palm and kiss it.  The callous, the palm.  Then he looks at it and kisses it a second time.

Natalie hears his words about Aaron killing that Natalie and they sink into her right to her core. It was too true. She understood Kira so well. She lets him take her hand and open it looking almost frightened. When he kisses the spot it’s like a portal opens, raw, exposed trauma, where she’s been holding it, containing it, controlling it. He’s drawing it to the surface, making her feel it. Natalie feels the strong urge to yank her hand away. To bolt from Marcus and just keep on running but she allows the first kiss to happen. He looks at it and she’s sure he can see every part of her that’s still filled with such ugliness. She recoils but doesn’t pull away yet. Something is keeping her here beside him. On the second kiss she starts to tug her hand away and then her body shifts from him too but then something pushes her back towards him and instead of running from him she runs to him and curls her body into his and begins to sob like she had been in the kitchen but even harder. “What are you doing to me Marcus…” She barely gets out in a hoarse whisper.

Marcus feels her tug away, but doesn’t stop her.  Then her body begins to move away and, for a second, he thinks he pushed her too far too soon.  But then she is in his arms and crying harder than he’s ever seen.  At first he doesn’t reply, just holding her and thinking of how to word his feelings.  He considers how to word it so she will get it and yet won’t shove him away and run screaming away into the now dark Alexandra night.  “I’m doing what needs to be done.”  he murmurs into her short hair, even as he caresses it.

Natalie lets him hold her, comfort her, confront her even about the worst of the worst. She had been feeling like ehs had no idea why but she wasn’t sure she could keep telling herself that. Marcus was safe and he was like no one else she’d met in her life. It was simultaneously the most beautiful and terrifying realization. She cried it out again for a while and then  felt her nose running and didn’t want to just let that happen into his shirt. She pulled back, catching her breath, still with tears flowing “I need kleenex…” She admitted. “I also need you...but at the moment kleenex is winning in my body.” She confesses and laughs lightly.

Marcus continues to hold her as she cries and when she’d done and pulled back, asking for kleenex, he remembered something from his childhood that both his mother and grandmother had done for him when he was upset.  He backs up a little and pulls his shirt up, wiping her nose with the soft cloth.  He offers it to her, still on his body.  “Blow.”  he tells her.

Natalie shakes her head “I’m not going to snot all over you. Or your shirt.....what are you doing?” She laughs “I appreciate the offer….” She carefully kisses his cheek and makes to stand like she’ll hunt for something that’s not his shirt “Toilet paper even?”

Marcus chuckles and pulls her gently back into a sitting position.  “Snot washes off.”  he tells her and he will stand.  “The town pays me enough for trips to the laundromat from time to time.”  he teases as he heads for his bedroom.  In a few seconds he comes back with a nice big box of tissue.  “Living the bachelor life.”  he quips, hinting at the need for the tissue and sets it on his coffee table in front of her.

Natalie makes a little face about him needing to wash off her snot and then looks relieved when he comes back with tissue, and a dirty joke, which she catches. She’s lived with a few men. She takes two tissues and doubles up, blowing her nose and then wiping it “This is still pretty full.” She comments “Have you not felt such a frequent need recently?” She teases him. She knew how often they spent the night together. Her need for personal relief had lowered too. She pushes herself up from the couch and walked into the kitchen seeking a garbage can. Then she washes her hands after depositing the snotty mass and comes back for his reply.

Marcus laughs.  “Now that you mention it, I did have to shake a little bit of dust off of the box before I brought it out.”  he tells her.  “My needs in that area are well taken care of.”  he watches her throw the tissue away and come back to him on the couch.  Come back to him.  A good sign, in his opinion.  “How you doin?” he asks.  She looks tired and drained and that makes perfect sense.  And the question is multi leveled.

Natalie lets herself lean back towards him, dropping her head to his shoulder as she chuckles at his reply. Then she sighs “I’m ok…..a little tired but um...oddly maybe a little better than I’ve been in a long time. I don’t normally open up to people….and not like that. I can do it intellectually talking about the work I do for women….but I’ve gotten really good at being detached...like it all happened to someone else.” She opens up her right hand and acknowledges it “Maybe how I deal with that isn’t the healthiest still. Most people don’t notice….”

Marcus puts his arms around her as soon as she leans into him.  “Better is good.”  he pauses to consider his words.  “Maybe I’m not people.”  He suggests he’s different.  “Or I’m your people.” he emphasises the word ‘your’.  “Healthy or not, it keeps you goin.  And … trained observer .. remember?”  but it’s more than that .. even if he has enough issues of his on he isn’t verbalizing them yet.

Natelie soften sinto him and lifts and turns her head to give hima  sweet kiss on the lips if she can “I like the your people option better...you can be my person. It seems more rooted than calling someone a boyfriend and not as cheesy romance novel as calling someone a lover….” This is more commitment talk than she’s ever strayed into before “Besides I have to tell the rest of my family something before Baba gets to them.” She laughs.

Marcus happily accepts the kiss.  “Then that settles it.  I’m yours.”  because he agrees about cheesy romances and the like.  He chuckles.  “Yea?  I guess I gots me a phone call to make too…”  he blows out a breath.  “The scariest part of all of this for me…”  he looks greatly concerned.  “I think my G-mama and yours gonna get along a little TOO well…” and he lets another chuckle bubble up.  How this all made him so happy, he didn’t know.  But … it would cool off … surely ..  Kira wouldn’t be in jail much longer and her case would be closed, he predicted by the start of July at the latest.  Then what?  Then he would travel to Vancouver as often as she’d let him, he decided.

Natelie laughs hard at the idea of their two grandmothers “You want to set up some kind of grandmother playdate? That could be great or frightening…” She kept laughing and looked at him as if trying to figure it all out herself.

Marcus winces even as he laughs with her.  “I think frightening.”  he casts his vote.  He sees her look and shakes his head.  Placing his hand to cup her face he grins.  “No planning, remember?”  and he leans in to kiss her softly before breaking it.  “Enjoy what we have minute by minute if you have to, but too much planning … it’ll kill us.” and he realizes that if he has a fear .. that’s it.

Nateli gives him a curious look, leaning into his hand cupping her face a bit “OK Mr. Spontaneity….I’ll try it.” She kisses him back and then nods “Ok...so what’s our next minute to minute?” She asks with a smile.”No plans of course...off the top of your head…”

Marcus grins.  “I like what we’ve been doing.  Tell me what you want and I will do my best to do it.”  he kisses her again, a bit harder this time, giving her a moment to decide what she wants.  He will do it.  Sleep, sex, watching the weather channel until dan.  He was all in it.

Natalie kissed him back intensely when he kissed her harder but then pulled back “Cards on the table, I’m not sure I’m up for sex after all the stuff I got into tonight. I’m sorry….” She looked outside at the darkness growing “Maybe some fresh air though?”

Marcus arches his brows at her rejection and apology.  “Hey.  You should know me well enough by now to know … I’m not in this for the sex.”  he doesn't elaborate on what else there was between them, but making it clear he feels there is more to them than carnal pleasures.  “And don’t apologize to me about that.  If I an’t handle not having sex with you, I’m not much of a man, am I?”  he  follows her gaze and smirks.  “A nice moonlit walk along the beach.”  something that appeals to him, despite it being in more cheesy romance novels than should be allowed, he guesses.  He stands and offers her his hand.  She may note no tent in his jeans.  “Lets go ….”

Natelie inwardly chastises herself “i do know that...old tapes playing in my head. Ugh I hate that. And you’re the best kind of man so far Marcus Lawry.” She takes his hand and is aware of his body’s state of rest. She steps into her shoes and grabs her purse ready to walk in the moonlight in her yoga clothes after bawling her eyes out in the oddly sweet man’s apartment. This new friend of her Baba’s, her person.

Marcus is glad to know she has a handle on them.  He grabs his wallet, phone and keys and pockets them, then leads her out of the apartment, locking the door behind them.  It’s later than he thought and the street seems empty and many of the apartments are actually dark.  “I know the perfect place.”  he announces and leads her along 1st street .. towards the beach but at the end of the buildings, he turns right and heads up an incline towards the children’s park.

Natalie walks with him, enjoying the night air around them and the quiet. When he stops at a playground she looks both amused and confused “Oooo K….?” She says slowly. “Are we cutting through to the beach from here?” She can still see an edge of it.

Marcus looks delighted at the park.  “Nope.  The beach doesn’t have swings.”  he sounds nearly offended at that fact.  He takes her hand and leads her to the swings.  “Now this is between me and you.”  he tells her.  “Well .. and maybe G-mama …”  he admits.  “But there are parts of me that never managed to age past ten or eleven.  Or younger.”  He sits in the swing which looks much older than the rest of the park.  “Now you want your own, you can or we can test this one.  I’m pretty sure it’ll take both of our weight.”  He wants to sing with her, because swings are wonderful in his mind.  His inner child is often hidden and he’s never shown that side of himself to any other woman … they never got that far into his mind or life before.

Natalie giggles as she’s pulled to the swings “You are a marvel...Marcus.” She looks between sitting with him and on her own swing and a little part of the girl in the photo peeks out at her as she says “I love being close to you….and I want my own swing.” She sits down on the one beside him “I haven’t done this in a long time…” She takes a deep breath and backs herself up and then lifts her feet, swinging forward. Her muscle memory kicks in and she pumps her legs, going higher. As she kicks forward one shoe flies off and she laughs “Oh shit...we’ll have to find that later.” She lets the other one drop, not being too concerned as the free feeling of flying through the air makes her adrenaline and dopamine levels soar with her.

Marcus loves the sound of her giggle.  It’s not a sound anyone else in town has ever heard and he enjoys it.  Even though he pouts, he is glad she is taking her own swing.  He swings with her, easily matching her height.  Natalie’s laugh is music to his ears when her shoe goes flying and he laughs with her.  “Nice shot.”  he compliments.  “Maybe we should try basketball next.”  not likely at their current state as the closest to a court is the hoop on the town hall.  At this park, the trees obscured the view from the buildings and apartments across the park and even the building behind them.  This late at night they were truly alone.  He watches her out of the corner of his eyes, making a mental note that the shoe flew up and over behind the slide and the toy train beyond.

Natalie kept swinging, amazed at the feeling “Oh no I’m not a sports person. You don’t watch a bunch of them do you? I honestly won’t even feign interest. I’ll just go watch a movie and ignore you.” She freely admits.

Behind the train structure is Kester the dog. He’s escaped from the deck where his master was having a little cup of cocoa and reading a book. Kester does this often, he knows the area and he always comes back. But before he does tonight he finds a great smell and collects a lovely little shoe which he carries quietly to his favourite tree and drops into the hollow in it’s center. He hears George calling him. George is his family. George has his treats. Kester trots home.

Marcus only has eyes for Natalie and so he misses the theft.  “Not really.  I play pick-up now and again.  Will watch parts of games at Statutes.”  he looks at her.  “I’m glad to hear that.  I don’t want you pretending you like something you don’t, Nat.  I want your honesty .. hell more than anything else.”  for him honesty is more beautiful than the most curvaceous body.  It borders on a kink for him.

Natalie laughs “Oh I’m good at honestly, don’t worry. I’m not always good at admitting when I need help...I didn’t mean to lie to you earlier tonight about being fine. I think I was lying to myself. But I’m brutally honest with pretty much everyone else. Not everyone enjoys that…” She laughs a bit. “When you say pick up? What games are you talking about? I really am not a sports person at all. I started yoga...because it’s in the same building as my hotel. It’s alright so far. I get a bit impatient with it from time to time but I know it’s probably good for me.”

Marcus keeps on singing because swinging rocks.  “If you brutalize me with your honesty … more the better.”  he checks his words in mid-sentence.  “Oh, mostly basketball because it's easiest to ‘pick up’ but I like being active, if I can.”  he slows a bit.  “Yoga?  I’ve never tried it.  I know it's supposed to be relaxing but it doesn’t look it to me.” he laughs.  “Well I think I have patience enough for both of us, so you don’t have to worry there.”

Natalie smiles and slows her swinging a little “I have every faith that your patience outweighs mine...and your kindness. My mother has a bit of a cruel streak and I think I inherited some of it. I feel more remorse than she seems to when it happens but it’s there. Maybe I feel like yoga will help. And she’s not like abusive….well maybe emotionally but...I don’t think she’s even aware.” She circles back to sports “Where do you play basketball here? I’ve seen one hoop up by the city hall I think.”

Marcus listens to her and slos a little more, reaching for her hand.  “I think you’ve tried to push me away already.”  he’s actually quite sure of it.  It’s not working out for her and he’s not going to make it easy for her, either.  For the first time in his life, he feels he found a woman worth being patient for.  He notes the abuses she has suffered but doesn’t comment.  He just files it away.  “Yea .. There's a nearly half court at the municipal building.  There's a full court at the school but I’ve never been there.”

Natalie nods, admitting it “I did yeah...I might again but so far so good. I’ll try not to be unkind about it if I need space. I was pretty awful to my second husband about that and he really did try to reach out. I just couldn’t.” She replies on basketball locations “Did you say you were going to teach at the school? Maybe you’ll get your chance there.”

Markus nods and takes his hand back to himself.  “I told you I’m not going noplace.”  he reminds her.  “If you need space … take space.  I’ll be there when you come back.”  she’ll have to be very blunt and break it off to get rid of him.  Then he nods.  “Yup.  I’m sort of looking forward to it.  A history degree doesn’t always help in law enforcement.”  he chuckles

Natelie realizes as he retracts his hand that she missed his cue and  moves her swing closer to his and reaches for his hand now “Sorry I missed that…” She chuckles “You’re very determined . I appreciate that. “ She nods about the history teaching “Are you hoping you get to mostly work with the older kids? Sounds like a high school job….I did notice those two on the street seem to like you.”” She observes.

He takes her hand.  “I know what I want.”  he tells her.  “Alexandra doesn’t have a traditionally graded school, really, but I will be teaching the younger kids too … maybe in a different way and glossing over the darker areas until they’re old enough to understand it.”  he shrugs.  “I like kids.  A lot of adults .. they’re minds snap closed at a certain age and don’t open again easily.”  he glances up and sees George Arnett walking past with Kester on his leach.  He doesn’t speak to the man or the dog .. they seem to just be on their way home and may not even notice them, but if George does notice, Marcus will speak to him.

Natalie feels herself melt a bit at his words and then is forthright “I definitely prefer kids to adults. Less bullshit. I don’t have a lot of kids in my life and my work doesn’t really connect me...teenage girls sometimes but those are the hardest cases. And you’re right about the brain being more open in youth….the stuff I could take in as a kid….it’s so much more work now.” She sees a man with a  dog further off but they seem to be walking away from them after a minute. Natalie has more to say and ask about kids but she’s hesitant as it’s a possibly high pressure topic, one that’s ended relationships before. She’s not being dishonest, she’s just going to pick her time unless she gets a direct question on the topic.

Marcus stops swinging and stands.  “I should find your shoe.”  he tells her.  “Stay there.  I’ll find it.”  and he walks the short distance to the train and begins to look.  And look.  And look.  He pulls out his key which has a small flashlight and looks some more.  “The fuck?”  he grumbles, still looking.

Natalie hears him moving around and swearing and pulls out her phone, engaging her flashlight app. She can see his little light as well.  “It’s probably just dark. She picks up the other shoe and carefully makes her way over, watching for broken glass as she’s in bare feet. She steps in closeby and shines her light in all directions “Oh for fuck’s sakes….” She mutters. She turns and looks to the street. “I couldn’t have kicked it that far….”

Marcus sees her coming and almost tells her not to, but settles on.  “Your feet are going to get filthy.”  he points out instead and continues the hunt, now using his phone's flashlight on the sidewalk.  “We’ve been getting reports the last couple of weeks.  Shoes going missing all over town.  Never the whole pair .. just one.”  he moves back to her side.  “Some cop I am, eh?”

Natalie looks down at her feet and nods “Well yes...but I can shower them off. One shoe? Who wants one shoe? Is it some kind of prankster? And not to be petty but I spend good money on shoes…..that’s annoying...if someone’s going to steal a nice pair at least take them both so it’s not a waste. All over town?” She laughs in disbelief and then shakes her head “You know what, I’ll come back in the morning. It’s probably here somewhere…..”

Marcus can’t help himself.  “So the Bittetto’s pay you enough to afford soap.  Good to know.”  he quips.  Then he laughs.  “I’ll keep that in mind if I’m the arresting officer.  And yea .. all over town.  We might have some kind of fetishist in town.”  he makes a note to ask Kira if any of her … old friends had a thing for feet or shoes.  “Can I see you back to your hotel?”  he asks.  “The least I can do is wash those filthy feet.”  he winks at her.  He doesn’t have a foot fetish but if she’d like him to he'll wash her feet.

Natalie swats at him “Yes I have soap.” She laughs “I’ve never understood the foot thing. I could actually see a shoe fettish though. I think I have that. It’s not sexual just more of my own weird obsession. Do you have a foot thing?” She jokes about his offer. “It might be helpful to have two flasshlights so I don’t walk on glass.” She shines her own light to the ground and looks ready to start walking back barefoot and carrying one shoe.

Marcus laughs.  “There are worse obsessions.  Trust me.”  he shakes his head.  “No, I don’t have a foot thing .. but with you I’ll be willing to do that favor.  It was my idea to come out here and play like a kid.”  He uses his light and heads towards her hotel.  Emely is deep in conversation with her replacement, a strapping young blonde man and neither of them see the two of them head up to her room.  Once the room door is open, Marcus scoops her up and brings her through, kicking the door closed behind them and takes her straight into the bathroom.  He sets her down and leans over to start the water.  “Warm or hot?”  he asks of the looming foot bath.

Natalie is laughing silently as Marcus carries her over the threshold so dramatically. “Marcus…” She laughs out. She sits on the closed toilet lid and watches him “Warm please but a hot warm if that makes sense. You spoil me...goulash...foot baths. If you’re trying to make sure I never leave this island you’re doing a very convincing job of getting me to stay…” She only half jokes.

Marcus aims for warm and fills the tub only a little.  He offers her his hand.  “Your bath m’lady.”  he intones and then he tells her.  “Let me spoil you.  Someone should.  And maybe its time someone opened an office here on the island.”  he half jokes back.  He’ll wash her feet efficiently not massaging, or really trying to be erotic about it.  He pulls the plug and lets the water drain and reaches for a towel to dry them before he carries her to the bed and sets her in it.  After the play in the park and the whole emotional day, he’s actually tired himself.  “No pressure, but would it be OK if I caught a quick nap before I head home?”

Natalie doesn’t discount his suggestion of a law practice here. They did need one. He’s so sweet about her feet it’s touching. She feels more cared for than she ever has before with any previous partner. He was her person. She let it roll through her head. He actually carries her to the bed even after her feet are clean and then asks to have a nap? She feels herself getting teary eyed again “I want you to stay the night….I know we don’t normally sleep together all night unless we have other reasons but...I need you beside me Marcus….” She tries to tug him to lie down with her. “We can set a really early alarm for the morning if you want so we arrive at the PD from the right directions…”

Marcus nods as she asks him to stay the night and his heart soars.  “Sure.”  he lays with her.  “Early works.  I need to go home and change into my uniform so … there’s that.”  He kisses her softly and then undresses.  Completely naked he gets under the covers and waits for her to join him.  Not undressing her … lessening the pressure that he’ll want sex.

Natalie breathes a sigh of relief. She kisses him back and then says “Give me two minutes…” She has a bit of a bedtime routine and she heads off to do it. She’s back in the bathroom for face washing, night cream and tooth brushing but she’s efficient. She comes back out ina  simple black lacey nightgown. She’s aware that he’s nakesd but she also knows that’s just him so she’s not taking it as anything other than how he sleeps. She slides back under the covers and snuggles in beside him feeling totally exhausted but safe with him. She feels her eyes closing as her head hits his shoulder.

Marcus is not so exhausted that he misses the lacy nightgown.  As she snuggles with him, he puts an arm around her.  “Remind me some night to rip that incredibly expensive nightgown off to ravish your body.”  he half yawns saying it, he’s so tired.  “The Bittettos can buy you a new one.”  he snuggles into her a bit more.  “Night, Nat…”  and he drifts off in comfort in mere seconds.