Re: Dietre A./Hugh C.: On the patio
“Doggy treats will have to do.” It was a good thing that dogs could be delighted by the smallest of things. Sieglinde would probably be happy enough to see Dietre come home, him coming home with treats would make her ecstatic.
Dietre discovered, much to his pleasure, that his stomach was actually capable of food, and that as he ate the better he felt. His usual breakfasts consisted of toast or cereal, or sometimes just coffee all by itself. Hugh had prepared quite a feast in comparison. Dietre ate all he was given, washed down with two cups of coffee that chased away his headache and all remaining drowsiness.
“She could never”, he assured Hugh as he helpfully cleared his own dishes. “Not by her own hand, anyway. She’ll just give you a look that will make you die of guilt.”
After a quick trip upstairs to get back into last night’s clothes, Dietre was ready to go. Ready, but not entirely willing. It seemed a shame that the night had to end, that he and Hugh had to go back to their separate lives. Of course, they’d spend time together again and likely soon. But as they say, ‘partings are such sweet sorrow.’
Dietre was perhaps a little more quiet than usual as they drove. It was a thoughtful quiet, he was going over the events of the night before. There was a lot to think about, many feelings to assess. More than once he turned to study Hugh’s profile while the man’s eyes were on the road. He smiled a little to himself as he so, unaware of what he was doing.
“Last night was nice,” he said after a while. “And this morning too.” A pause. “Next time I should bring Sieglinde so I don’t have to leave so soon.”