“I used to. When I had time off. I spent an extraordinary amount of time at the hospital,” Robert explained, anchoring a hip on the counter, watching as Landon gathered something from each of the selections.
“You know I’m part Italian, right? My dad cooks. He thinks it’s a skill that comes with birth, but nothing like this.”
“I hoped you liked Italian food. I grew up at La Bella Luna. That’s where I learned the ropes. Right after we moved to DC, when my dad was working long hours, I wasn’t really acclimating well to the change. I missed my Minnesota home and family. My daddy would spend hours in the kitchen with me, occupying my mind. I always connected closest with him—I’ve told you all that. He taught me everything he knew. Now, after all this time, I understand I wasn’t the only one struggling with all the changes. I think it helped him with everything he gave up in Minnesota when we moved.” Robert was silent, staring down at the table when Landon looked back over his shoulder. “Whatever the reason, it’s a de-stressor for me.”
“You can de-stress for me anytime.” His tease got the desired effect when he heard Robert chuckle. Landon loaded his plate full, throwing two pancakes on top. He wasn’t a huge eater, but every bit of this food looked better than anything he’d ever eaten in his entire life, and he wasn’t going to let a little thing like appetite get in his way of enjoying every bite.
He was looking for where to sit when he saw the place settings Robert made in the center island. He set his plate in the spot before heading for the coffee pot and pouring himself a cup.
“I made that fresh about thirty minutes ago.”
“Doc, you outdid yourself.” He claimed his seat, taking a sip of the hot coffee before looking at Robert. Penetrating blue eyes caught his as two deep lines formed in the area just above the bridge of Robert’s nose.
He couldn’t help but grin; an intense Robert Adams would be a formidable opponent.
“What?” he asked as if he didn’t already know.
“Please call me Robert. Colleagues and patients call me Doc.”
Landon’s grin broadened. He couldn’t hold off the chuckle that rose from his chest any more than he could help breathing. He only gave in, not drawing out the teasing a little while longer, because his food and his coffee were getting cold.
“Robert, thank you for breakfast. You have serious kitchen skills.”
That instantly appeased Robert, who went back to preparing his plate.
A few minutes passed and neither had spoken, something that rarely happened when they were together. It wasn’t awkward—maybe because he was busy stuffing his face as fast as he could with the spread in front of him.
“Mmm. This is delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Robert said, his eyes brightened by the smile on his face as he took his seat next to Landon. “What’re your plans today? I was thinking if you didn’t have to work, I have a friend with a boat…”
“Can’t,” he said, swallowing his bite. Disappointment nagged him as he explained. “I made a commitment to the PT clinic. I texted them that I’d be late, but I gotta go soon.”
Robert took a napkin Landon hadn’t noticed in Robert’s lap and wiped his mouth. The doctor’s table manners were so much better than his own. He reached for the napkin still on the tabletop. Robert’s appropriately sized bites contrasted with Landon’s shovel-the-food-in technique too. He gave himself a break on that one. Robert was used to the tasty fare. Landon wasn’t at all.
“How long do you work today?”
“Usually until about five thirty,” he replied, wiping a napkin over his mouth. “What d’you got going on today?”
“Not much.” Robert gave a non-committal shrug.
“How does that feel?” he asked, watching for any signs of the sadness he’d noticed haunting the man in Germany.
Robert took a bite of his food, swallowed, and took a drink from the glass of water nearby. “Weird.”
“I bet.” Landon nodded. He wasn’t a medical professional on any level, but he didn’t pick up anything other than the good-natured man he’d been reacquainted with yesterday. Robert shifted in his chair, turning toward him, this time bringing the coffee cup with him.
“You haven’t used much of the place. The car doesn’t look like it’s been moved. How have you been getting to your appointments and rehab?” Robert asked, the weight of his warm hand came to rest on top of Landon’s. Robert curled strong, skilled fingers around his hand as if testing the hold. Probably the only thing that would slow his primary goal of cleaning his plate before he grew too full.
In more of an instinctual move, definitely nothing planned, Landon lifted Robert’s fingers to his mouth, kissing his knuckles. The intimacy of being seated so close to Robert, who seemed to want him near, somehow erased all the reasons he shouldn’t be there. There was no denying, in many aspects, he and Robert seemed to fit together like pieces to a puzzle. This moment, like so many others, felt right and calmed his soul. He relaxed around Robert, remembered to just breathe and take life as it came. It was all so foreign to him.