A Love Restored

(Now!

After the day I had had yesterday, coming to work had been…a lot. I had barely slept, but I didn’t regret it all. Not after the great day I had had with my dad. In the morning, he had still been asleep when I had left, I had made him some food and left a sweet note for him.

I was hopeful that this could be a new dawn for our relationship. Slowly but surely, we could mend our relationship and be back to normal again.

So, despite my sleep deprived state and my worry about Felix since he was probably still sick, there was a spring in my step as I frolicked inside the house from my car.

I didn’t know my happiness was visible until Liam stopped me. He called me from behind, “Flora!” I stopped in my tracks and turned around. He jogged to me, a grin on his face.

“You seem happy.” He remarked, “Any special news to share?” He wiggled his eyebrows at me like I was a child, and I laughed.

“Just like that,” I smiled, “How are you?”

He shrugged, “Alright. Nothing special going on. How is the master now?”

“The master?” I rolled my eyes.

His grin grew bigger, somehow. “The Boss, if you will. Masters sounds funny and apt, though.”

I would have agreed at any other job, but him taking jibes at Felix made me feel annoyed.

“He was really sick yesterday, so I’m not sure. I was just going to check on him. Is your mother around today?”

He shook his head, “She’s taking retiring too seriously,” he chuckled, “And she keeps going on about how efficient you are and what a good cook you are, so she’s not so

worried about things.”

I smiled. I was glad Linda liked my cooking. I actually did not mind taking care of things on my own. In fact, I preferred it. I liked being on top of things and being in control of what I was doing. I liked the freedom to work here.

Te really happy to hear that, Liam.”

“I need to try that cooking, now.”

I nodded happily. I loved feeding people, especially my friends. “Lunch with me, today,

then?”

“Woah, that was quick! But I’d love to.”

“What do you like?”

He smiled, “You’re so sweet, Flora. I’m not picky, though.”

Linda had told me in the beginning that it was okay for us to eat from the kitchen. If we were cooking something, we could have a portion ourselves, too. I had never used.

anything from here, I always brought my own lunch. But I had always seen Linda eat whatever we had made for Felix. So, I supposed it would be fine. Whatever I made Felix for lanch, Liam and I could have it, too.

Cooking for others had been my primary love language since I had first learned to cook. I had been about twelve or thirteen, I think. I had made b**es from a YouTube recipe and my father had loved them, so had Felix. Albeit it wasn’t a difficult dish to bake, but the praise that day made me feel really good. And there was really something nice and rewarding to watch someone eat what you made and relish it.

But before that, an important task. I quickly went to the kitchen and kept my bag in a corner. Then, I ran up to Felix’s room. I heard coughing from the other side of the door. I knocked, and it took a moment for Felix to open up. When he did, I saw that his nose was red and he was sniffling. His eyes had bags under them. He was still really sick.

“Mr. Corsino,” I said softly, “I just came to check in. May I get you something?”

“Some breakfast would be nice,” he snapped, “Where’s Linda?”

“She’s not here, today.” I hesitated, “Um, did you contact a doctor?”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “Why is that your concern?”

“Sorry.” I mumbled. “I’ll get your breakfast in a second.”

Bring me some tea.” He ordered as I turned around. I nodded and ran to the kitchen.

I made him some chamomile tea because it was either this or some Moroccan mint tea for hen I wasn’t sure how he’ll like mint on an aliady sore throat. For breakfast I made him some poached eggs with toast and two sausages, He’d need his protein to recover,

When I took it up to his room, he was in the balcony adjoining it. I knew he heard me come in because he turned a little to spare me a glance. I kept the food on the table and rushed back

He didn’t seem like he was in a good mood. Had something happened? Or maybe it was just the sickness getting to his head. Anyway, I didn’t want to get in a thing with him today. 1 had had a good night and was teeling hopeful in general.

1;

I went back to the kitchen. I needed to do laundry today so I got to doing that. Time passed soon enough. I was excited to make lunch. I decided to make a quick stew with veggies and chicken. It would be a hearty meal for Felix and Liam would also like it. Along with it, some freshly baked sourdough. I remembered Felix really loved the breads I used to bake. Especially the sourdough. He’d finish it all in one day just having it with butter.

I got to work, playing Taylor Swift as I cooked. I was probably lost in my own world for about an hour or two as I worked, singing along to my carefully curated Taylor Swift playlist, because when Liam popped into the kitchen and called my name, it took me by surprise so much that I dropped a ladle on the floor. It fell with a crank and spilled some stew on the pristine white. I cursed in my head, quickly bending down to pick it up.

CContent bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

S