Cain (installment #3a)

Dec 29, 2007 - 07:17 AM PST

Cain placed a coaster under the steaming cup of tea before setting it on a large oval table in the middle of the living room. A pale brown and green couch, accompanied on either side by a loveseat and padded chair encompassed the area around the table. The wood grain appeared rough and lackluster, but was smooth to the touch.
Light filtered in through the dark curtains that clung around the double-door entrance to the side porch. The drab look on the exterior of the house fooled any by-passer of the simplistic class of its contents.
Silver-framed works of art adorned the creamy green walls of the living room. The soft color reminded the blue eyed man of lime sherbet. Beautifully hand painted vines bordered the room and crept up the ceiling. Directly above the oval table hung a five-finned fan that blossomed three flower-shaped bulbs to delicately light the room with.
A well-sized china cabinet covered most of the wall in between the opening into the foyer and the door leading to the basement. Expensive sets of dining ware and crystal could be seen through the frosted glass doors. Light brown carpet covered the floor beginning at the grayish tile of the foyer and ending at either the mahogany of the dining room or the clean white granite of the kitchen. A green Flokati rug the same shape and size as the table cushioned its feet from making indents.
Cain curled her toes into its shaggy length as she sat down on the edge of the armchair’s seat. The Curly black haired man occupied the middle of the couch. He cupped his hands around the warmth of the tea and blew off the white vapor before taking a sip.

“Ten years”, Cain’s voice whispered, breaking the silence.

The man sighed deeply and took another sip without looking up. Cain waited. He placed the cup back down on the coaster and rested his hands on his knees. His back straightened and his jaw set; he looked into her hazel eyes.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again”, his thick voice coated the air like honey, “but I never stopped hoping”.

They both sat quietly as he searched her expression.

“You know I hoped this day would never come”, she sighed.

The words bit into him like ice. Cain reached out her slender hand and brushed a stray curl from out of his face. She cradled his cheek in her palm and studied his features.

“You finally grew into those eyebrows I see”, she chuckled lightly.

The corners of his lips curled faintly.

“It’s never going to be the same. Is it?”, he asked.
“Never”, Cain agreed.

She slid onto the end of the couch and hooked her right arm around his back. Heat radiated off of his skin, stirring up a spicy scent at his slightest movement. She burrowed her nose into the hair at the nape of his neck and breathed in deeply. He lifted his hand and slowly traced the outline of her jawbone. His fingers felt unfamiliar on her skin. She parted her full lips as she sighed.

“You are no longer my Timotéo”, she whispered, “No longer my Timothy”.

She lifted her head and smiled weakly.

“You’ve become a man.”