The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow on the garden. Mr. Montgomery was tending to his plants with care, his wrinkled hands expertly pruning the leaves. I approached him quietly, not wanting to startle him. He turned around and smiled when he saw me.
“Good morning,” he said, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. “Did you sleep well?”
I nodded. “Yes, I did. Thank you for letting me stay here.”
Mr. Montgomery waved a hand dismissively. “It’s no trouble at all. I’m glad you’re here. And I have to thank you, too.”
I raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Thank me? For what?”
“For convincing my son to stay here for a while,” he replied, his eyes twinkling. “He’s been so busy with work lately that he hardly has time to stop by.”
I smiled at the thought of Marco coming here often. It was nice to imagine him taking a break from his busy life and spending time with his father. “I’m glad I could help,” I said, feeling a sense of pride.
Mr. Montgomery then turned to me and looked at me intently. “You know, you remind me of Marco’s mother.”
I felt a lump form in my throat at the mention of Marco’s mother. “Really?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes,” he said, nodding. “She was beautiful, loving, kind, and sincere, just like you. Marco once said that he saw his mother in you.”
I felt a warm feeling spread through my chest at his words. It was a compliment, of course, but it also made me feel closer to Marco in a way that I couldn’t explain. “I’m honored,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I had already guessed that perhaps Marco’s mother was gone, but hearing it directly like this from Mr. Montgomery still made me a little sad.
Mr. Montgomery then went on to tell me more about Marco’s mother. He told me how she had always put others before herself and how much she had loved Marco. “At that time he was just an innocent five-year-old boy.”
I listened intently, feeling a pang of sadness for Marco’s loss. It must have been hard for him to lose his mother at such a young age.
“Why didn’t you remarry?” I asked, curious.
Mr. Montgomery looked at me, his eyes filled with affection. “Because I loved her too much,” he said simply. “She was the love of my life, and I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else.”
I nodded, understanding his sentiment. Love like that was rare, and it was something to be cherished.
As we talked, I couldn’t help but wonder if Marco knew how much his father loved him and how much he missed his mother. It must have been hard for him to grow up without a mother. I made a mental note to ask him about it when I saw him next.
Just then, we heard a car pull into the driveway. Mr. Montgomery turned around and squinted at the car. “That must be Marco,” he said, his eyes twinkling.
I felt my heart skip a beat at the thought of seeing Marco again after last night he had excused himself to leave again after driving me home. I wondered if he missed me as much as I missed him. I couldn’t wait to see him again.
As Marco stepped out of the car, I could only stare at him in awe. He looked even more handsome than the last time I saw him. His hair was disheveled and he was wearing a black leather jacket over a white shirt and jeans. He walked over to us, a small smile on his lips.
“Good morning,” he said, his eyes twinkling as he looked at me. He hugged me lightly, then pecked my lips. “Did you sleep well?”
I couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down my spine at the sound of his deep, husky voice. It was as if his voice had the power to awaken every nerve ending in my body. I nodded, trying to keep my facial expression neutral, but I was sure my cheeks had turned a shade of pink.
“Yes, I did.” I replied, feeling my heart race.
Marco then turned to his father. “Good morning, Father.”
“Good morning, son,” Mr. Montgomery replied, a smile on his face. “How was work?”
Marco shrugged. “Busy, as usual. But it was a good day.”
He then turned to me again, his eyes lingering on me for a second longer than necessary. “I was thinking of taking you out for breakfast,” he said, a hint of a smile on his lips.
I felt a surge of excitement run through me at his words.
“Yes, that sounds great,” I replied eagerly, unable to hide the smile that had formed on my lips. I said a quick goodbye to Mr. Montgomery. He just smiled and waved lightly.
As we made our way to the car, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Marco. His tall, muscular build and chiseled jawline made my heart skip a beat. The way he held himself with confidence and ease only added to his allure.
We arrived at a small café in the heart of the city, and as we sat down to order, Marco’s hand brushed against mine. The electric shock that ran through me was almost palpable, and I couldn’t help but look up at him with wide eyes.
He smiled at me, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, feeling my cheeks flush.
We had breakfast with some small talk. He annoyingly said that I must not have slept well last night because I didn’t have him beside me and that I had to say the bare minimum because of Mr. Montgomery. I glared in annoyance, but there was no denying that he was entirely right. Sometimes I felt really annoyed at how easily my face could be read, especially by Marco. He seemed to know everything, while I didn’t.
***
0608’23, Anne Joyce
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