As One
A Chez Gastronomique Suite Story: Part 7
As One: lyrics and melody by Bill Ferguson
“I don’t like her,” Lee Stone said in reference to Valerie Hutchings as she placed her hand on Talbert’s back. Her voice was low so both the Maitre D’ and the other people in the restaurant could not hear her as they walked towards their table.
“Who? Valerie? She seems nice enough.” Talbert Steele responded. Lee sputtered at Talbert’s statement but stayed silent. “I would never have guessed you felt that way. If you don’t like her, why did we stop at their table?” continued Talbert.
Lee leaned towards Talbert with a smile as she placed her hand on his arm. “In one word, politeness. She could be an ally if I need her to be at some point in time.” Lee lifted her hand and placed it on his back. Energy radiated from her touch that put smiles on both of their faces. Lee let the gesture linger a bit longer than she normally would.
“For the off chance that you may need her help at some point in the future, you are polite to her?” replied Talbert with a grin. He was happy to be spending this time with Lee. She always made his mood improve when they spent time together. Discussions came alive when they talked.
“Here is your table,” said the Maitre d’ with a knowing smile. They may have been behind him as they walked towards his seat but he could feel the heat they were giving off. “Madame,” he said, offering Lee the chair he held out for her.
“A window seat.” she observed with the usual bounciness to her voice. “Thank you,” she replied as she settled herself onto the chair as she kept her eyes on Talbert through the whole seating ritual.
“Could we start you with drinks?” the Maitre d’ inquired.
“A bottle of Sauvignon Blanc,” they both said at the same time as they looked at each other with satisfying smiles. Both of their eyes sparkled with amusement.
“As you wish,” replied the Maitre d’ as he walked towards the bar. Everyone working stopped what they were doing and looked at Lee and Talbert. They had noticed the particular look that was on the Maitre d’s face when he had spotted something interesting.
“You pulled your hair back from your face,” observed Talbert with more than a little appreciation. He liked it when he could see her full face rather than having it hidden behind a ribbon of hair.
“Since you indicated that you preferred it I have taken to pulling it back. It feels freeing in a sense,” she noted. She had added a touch of the perfume he adored as well as a gesture to his interests.
Talbert sat back in his chair as the waiter approached presenting a bottle of Sauvignon. The waiter uncorked the bottle and offered it. “Who would like a taste?”
“Always start with the lady,” remarked Talbert. “It is not only polite but the right thing to do,” he replied in deference. He loved putting Lee first when he could.
“Of course,” stated the waiter a little nervously. He finished pouring the wine and handed Lee the glass as he looked down the room into the knowing eyes of Marcel.
Lee sipped what was poured into her glass. “Excellent!” she said as she set her glass down. “Just the way we like it.”
The waiter filled Talbert’s glass and set the bottle into the wine bucket and inquired about appetizers.
“Give us a few minutes,” replied Lee as she looked at Talbert with intense eyes. He nodded in agreement.
“I will be back,” said the waiter as he turned and headed towards another table.
“That’s a bad impersonation,” said Lee.
Talbert laughed. “What he needed was a little more emphasis. A growl maybe.”
Lee looked at Talbert. “God, this man is wonderful,” she thought to herself. “Thank you for making the reservation,” she said as she sipped on her wine. “I always wanted to eat here.”
“I thought you would like it. It has a great ambiance. There is something special about eating here. But then again there is something special about eating anywhere with you. Every place is so much better when you are sitting across the table from me.”
“And you as well.” The pause was just long enough for both to take in the sight of each other. Lee reached across the table and took hold of Talbert’s hand. “Thank you for being patient. I know it is a lot but I feel that building a friendship first is important to any relationship.”
“I agreed to this as well,” he stated. “Romance is important when it is transcending from a deep friendship that is appreciative of the other person to something much deeper. One should not want to overstep or impose but simply accept what is. Too many times a relationship moves too quickly without an appreciation for the finer points that getting to know each other well leads us into.”
“Background is important. It builds depth and connection. No loving leaps or assumptions. Only what is presented.”
“Exactly. It’s about finding the person that can complete your sentences, who knows your thoughts, says things before you say them. Some people are intuitive that way. In others it takes time. I need the time.” he looked across the table pulling her into his arms with his eyes. “A meeting of the minds.”
Lee acknowledged the heat flowing. “When you talk I feel like I am part of a discussion where you know the right questions to ask or the right answers to give. There is a true art to your attentiveness. It is who you are. You draw the depths out of me so that I feel so much more when I am with you. I didn’t know that some of these depths were there.”
“It’s interesting how we both feel the same way. A meeting of the minds. Two people who live and breathe as one.”
Lee looked into Talbert’s eyes as a feeling of satisfaction was creeping through her body. “We may have to take our relationship up a notch.”
“Oh?” Talbert inquired with an interesting tone.
Lee quietly whispered across the table. “I have been dreaming of you at night.”
Talbert paused with his wine glass midway to his mouth. He looked over the rim at Lee before setting it down. “How fascinating.” The look between them held anticipation. “You were satisfied?”
“Intensely.”
The waiter was heading in their direction but changed course when he observed the depth of the intentions they were giving off.
Marcel appeared in the doorway from the bar and walked over to their table. “Madame. Monsieur. Every night I observe and feel. Then I present this token of appreciation for the connections I see. You have brightened up our restaurant.” He placed a rose in a silver vase on the table between them. “Bon appetit.” he turned and walked away.
“A little too intense?” Lee inquired.
“Possibly,” replied Talbert as he put his hand on the inner breast pocket of his suit before setting his hand on the table. “Why don’t you tell me about your day?”
“I’ve been working on an article about trust. Most people on a staff don’t feel the trust they should feel from their boss or employer. The superior in the room does not give a thought towards trust other than to say I trust my staff. They simply don’t know how to go about giving it and as a result frequently undermine their staff by blowing any opportunity they have to deliver trust.”
“So as an example the Maitre d’ here is supporting his staff.”
“Oh definitely. He talks to them. He discusses things. There is no anger or dissatisfaction showing so far that I can see but I haven’t been paying close attention. With you here it is harder to notice those qualities. “
Talbert smiled. “You will have to excuse me for a minute.” He rose and walked down the room. As soon as he was out of sight a petit woman glided over and sat down on Talbert’s chair causing a bit of shock in Lee.
“Hello?”
The woman looked at Lee. “Oh honey, you know eventually, if you throw enough stuff against the wall, some of it sticks.” she paused. “And some of it doesn’t. You can’t explain it, you don’t expect it, but some things are just meant to be.”
Marcel raced over. “Ms Fairchild, your presence is needed in another room.”
“Ta ta,” waved Svengy Fairchild as she took hold of Marcel’s arm and they strode away.”
Talbert returned and seated himself. “Was that Sevigny Fairchild?” he inquired.
“Indeed,” Lee replied.
She noticed that Talbert had placed a card on the table. “What’s this?”
“A little something just for you.”
Lee picked up the card.
Sparks floating amongst your knowing eyes
You listen and respond in inviting ways
Your patience and understanding are reassuring
There is depth of meaning in what you say
Life has its little romances
The steps we take to get there are not a mistake
Our heart captures special meanings
In a love where we relate.
“Aw!” she said warmly as she rose and walked around the table placing a kiss on his lips and following it up with a hug. She seated herself and raised her glass. “Here’s to building more memories,” she said, her face reflecting the joy she was feeling.
Talbert smiled. “The more we do together the deeper our relationship becomes. The right moment is approaching but we are not there yet.”
The waiter veered away once more. “It is going to be a long night,” he observed quietly.
Missed Previous Chapters? Here are the links to them:
Chapter 1 and 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
I enjoyed your reading
So sweet. Full of intense looks and the heat of an advancing relationship.