Spirits

Chapter 8

After the craziness of the day, I found myself starving. Luckily I had some miscellaneous ingredients throughout the pantry and decided to make us some pasta puttanesca. Filling and comforting, plus it was easy to make. The aroma soon filled the cabin, bringing Matilda to the kitchen.

"Lena, it smells absolutely incredible, anything I can do?" She smiled delightfully, she seemed to eager to help, sadness washed away from her eyes.

"Well, if you wouldn't mind slicing the baguette and lightly brushing it with olive oil, that would be a great help!" It honestly felt good to have company tonight, I was always making dinner on my own. Sure it was something I wasn't used to, but it felt so nice not to be alone. She walked over and rolled up her sleeves, starting to slice. That's when I glanced over, trying to make out the tattoo on her arm she so desperately had been hiding the whole night. From what I could make out it looked like a ram, maybe a goat. Thorns wrapped around its horns and a red marking under it. I still couldn't make it out, but glanced away as I saw her look my direction.

"Is this how thin you want it?" She asked in a now firm tone. I smiled to her and nodded, her smile coming back, but she had a strange look in her eye. Had she seen me looking? Caught me in the act? I thought to myself trying to keep calm without giving my anxiety away. I stirred the tomato sauce and put it to a simmer, adding the rest of the ingredients to the pot. Dumping the pasta, the steam blowing up, facing me, I saw something. A face briefly in the steam... my mother? Her face looked as if she was in a panic, a look I had never seen before and she mouthed something, "RUN." Maybe I was just seeing things, I quickly brushed it off and focused on dinner. Matilda asked if there was anything else she could do, and I shook my head telling her to take a seat. She gave a half smile and sat down, Zeus now had entered the room. He was sitting beside me while I dumped the pasta into the pot with the sauce, and gave it a good stir. I brought over the pot and said in the cheesiest accent ever,

"Bon appetit!" Matilda chuckled and grabbed the ladle, scooping some onto her plate as I took my seat. Zeus scooting under me now, he was trying to get as close as possible. I reached down and patted his head, he was such a good boy. I kept thinking about the steam and what I saw. My mind must of been playing tricks on me, but it was so vivid and real. I can't just forget it, I need to stay calm though. Stop thinking about it Lena, stop now. The ladle dropping into the pot loudly stopped my thoughts and made me jump. Matilda apologized and proceeded to pick it up and hand it over. I took it from her and our hands touched, hers were so cold. She jolted her hand back grabbing her fork, and started to eat. Her face lit up and she exclaimed,

"Lena, this is to die for, you must give me the recipe! I might have to help myself to more." She said with a grin on her face. I smiled back thanking her and responded,

"Well I'll have to write one up for you. I don't exactly go by a recipe, I just use whatever I have in the pantry and throw it in the pot." I beamed back at her. She seemed to not sense my anxiousness, and I was thrilled. There was something I couldn't put my finger on, and I wasn't going to let it go. I've been so careful and cautious towards anyone for as long as I could remember.

I wasn't about to just let this go, and let my guard down, as much as I wanted to. We finished the rest of our dinner with casual conversation, about our likes and dislikes. Trying make normal conversation as best as we could. We cleared off the table and cleaned up the dishes. Matilda asked if I was ready to talk more, as she had more things to get off her chest. I shook my head and told her there was no time like the present. Looking out the window I noticed that a storm was making its way through. The lighting penetrating through the clouds in the horizon, thunder faintly heard in the distance. It wouldn't be here for awhile, but I still took notice, remembering what happened during the last one. Matilda and I walked into the living room. I took my seat in my comfy recliner and she at her spot. She jumped up and asked if I happened to have any tea. I responded in the cabinet to the left of the fridge. She made her way back into the kitchen and called out.