Obsessive Passion

Chapter eighteen

Friday.

They were sitting at the table, having breakfast.

"Mary," she said to Justin's cook, who had just come in with a bowl of eggs and bacon. - Did you know that Justin can help you prepare food? He is an excellent cook.

- Hmm. - Justin laughed.

- What's it?

- It's just that I didn't prepare yesterday's lasagna, it was her.

- But I saw you preparing the ingredients.

- That's easy, the difficult part that Mary did. - He winked at Mary. - You were on your cell phone and didn't see it.

- Well, it's just that I was telling my friends in New York that I'm fine. And one of them asked me, if you snore when you sleep.

- And what did you answer?

- Hmm. Yes, and very tall. - she started laughing so contagious, that even Mary laughed.

- That can't be true.

- I'm kidding. But I can't believe you lied to everyone!

- Deep down they know I didn't cook.

- Hmm. You should learn Justin. It is wonderful. - she took a bite out of her eggs.

- Justin, I'm going to take a look at your gardens. Do you want to go?

"Hmm." He raised an eyebrow. - The gardens?

- Yes. It's a beautiful place. I was seeing from here ... your plants are very well cared for ... colorful and I wanted to see it up close.

- That's what we have a gardener for. - he laughed. - Let's go?

- Come on.

The two walked to the gardens of the house. A place with shrubs and some flowers all well cared for, perfumed and pruned.

- These roses are so well taken care of. - She approached the roses and smelled one.

- Hmm, that's what the gardener gets for. To leave the flowers looking after. - he laughed.

She made a face at Justin and rolled her eyes.

- Did you know that each of these roses has a different meaning? My grandmother loves roses, she told me several stories. And I loved it.

- Love it?

- Hmm. Actually, I still love it. But that she lives in Brazil.

- Hmm.

- They are so beautiful ...

- None is more beautiful than you. - he approached a red rose. - What does that mean?

- The red one? Hmm, passion.

Justin took off the rose, and gave it to her, his eyes shining with anxiety, and with a beautiful smile on his face.

- Thanks. Well, other people claim to be ... desire, seduction ... pleasure.

His eyes were darker. He was too close to her.

Justin pulled her around the waist. And the two were glued together now. He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ears and approached her. But when he heard a noise, the two walked away as if they were about to do something wrong.

When she looked back. She saw that the gardener had accidentally dropped a spade. He was wearing denim overalls up to the cadres, with earth splattered on the fabric, he had a red rose hanging from his pocket, and he was shirtless.

- Excuse me. - he said to Justin. - I accidentally dropped it. - he picked up the shovel.

- You can only be kidding, right? - Justin almost shouted.

- Hmm. It was nothing Justin. Hello ... my name is Letícia, and yours? - She approached, extending her hand, with a smile on her face.

- Jacob. But call me Jac. - He shook her hand quickly.

- Jac. Is a pleasure. Are you the gardener?

- Yes. And it's a pleasure to meet you too. I didn't want to disturb you ...

He looked at Leticia, who was smiling. And then to Justin who was, remarkably, very angry.

- There are no problems. Justin and I were just ... talking.

- So ... - Justin cleared his throat. - Shall we continue with our tour?

She didn't seem to have heard what Justin was saying. She was looking at Jacob with a certain look of admiration.

He looked to be no more than twenty. A muscular man, light brown, with very black hair, and teeth as white as snow.

- Hmm. Justin, do you mind if I stay and talk to Jac about his work, a little?

- You will disrupt his work. - Justin said, clearly annoyed.

"No problem ..." Jac said gently. - I'm done here. What do you want to know about?

Justin didn't take his eyes off him. The withering and irritated look.

- Well, I wanted to know what you do to make these flowers look so ... beautiful. - she approached the roses. - They're the most beautiful I've ever seen.

- Thanks. - Jac said, smiling. - I think the most important thing ... is to give them affection. You have to be very patient with the thorns, but I love what I do.

- Don't you think it's just ... trimming? - Justin said. The two looked at him. He crossed his arms and shrugged.

- No. There is much more than that Justin. - Letícia said impatiently, and looked back at Jac. - I understand you perfectly. How long have you been working in gardening?

- Since college. - He gave an incredibly beautiful smile. - I actually work at another house in New York.

- What an incredible knowledge. I live there.

- Hmm. I have a house near New York. It's not that big, but it's mine.

- You don't live with your parents? - she looked scared.

- No. I think that at the age of twenty-two, I have to touch my life, don't I?

- Yes sure. But you don't look so ...

- Old? - he laughed. - It's just that I always wanted to be independent. And after I got the job ... I bought a house.

- Hmm. Do you live with your ... girlfriend?

"No," he laughed. - I live alone. I don't have a girlfriend.

She raised her eyebrow, as if what he was saying was absurd.

"I know it seems strange for a guy to say that ..." he continued. - But after trying and failing, it's hard to trust someone. I always looked for a nice woman, who understands me, who is affectionate and who has a charming smile, just like hers ...- he ignored Justin's destructive look, and continued. - I think that's why it's hard for me to find someone.

- Hmm. - Justin interrupted. - We were talking about roses ... and now, girlfriends. What a radical change of subject.

- Justin. - she scolded him, and turned to look at Jac. - Thank you for the compliment. But this is not at all strange. I think so too. But it is very difficult to trust people. - she lowered her head. - And I think it's amazing that you live alone ... I always wanted that.

- Hmm. Why are you in Atlanta?

- It's a long story. But in short, I came to realize a dream, and ended up in a hospital. - she laughed. - But Justin is being great with me.

- I'm sorry for the arm. - Jac said, looking penalized.

- I'm fine. - she laughed. - Ready for another one.

Justin raised an eyebrow at her.

- Hmm. I mean. Not so ready.

- You're funny. - Jac was laughing.

He hurried on, picking up the gardening tools.

- Hmm. Thank you. - she fumbled. - You're cool. Are you in a hurry?

- Hmm. Actually, yes. I'm going to take a shower, and in a little while, take care of the other part of the bushes.

- I would love to help you.

- If you want, I'll be here at one o'clock.

- Of course. I will be too.

- I'll wait.

- Thanks.

He smiled, and came over to kiss her face. But he gave up when Justin looked at him.

She was walking by the pool with Justin. She had been thoughtful since she met Jacob.

- What happened in the garden?

- Sorry? - she was distracted.

- In the garden. You and the gardener. That intimate conversation. It seemed to me that you already knew each other.

- Is not it? - she smiled. - I think it's because we are from New York. But we talked like that, because we have a lot of things in common Justin.

- Things in common? - He raised his voice. He was angrier. - You just met him. And I? You didn't say anything about the two of us.

- You have nothing to say. We are just friends.

- Friends? He swept his hair through his fingers, then looked away into the water. - All right. Friends. -he said to himself. - Just friends.

And then, he walked out towards his house.

- Justin! Where are you going? she shouted. But he was walking too fast. - Justin!