They walked away from the vender. Orion took her hand, guiding it to his nose. He took a deep breath. It smelt the same as the perfume he had sprayed on the back of her neck.
“What do you smell?”
He continued walking. A white cape caught his attention. She lost sight of him for a moment, finding him through the window of the shop.
When she entered he spoke to her, “feel of this.”
She did, “Wow!”
“This is the second softest thing I have ever felt.”
A laugh caught them both by surprise. “Surely you jest.” A woman approached them. “This is Winter Mink. There is nothing softer.” The sales lady reminded Sarah of a snake.
“I’ll take it. Put it in a box please.”
She choked. “Yes sir.” She took the cape off the hanger delicately doing as Orion wished.
“My sister’s birthday is in two weeks. I’ve never saw her with anything like that.”
“I am sure she will love it.” Sarah smiled. “I would.”
He walked to the counter to pay for and collect the gift.
Sarah wondered across the street to a pretzel shop. “Hmm.” She moaned.
“May I help you?” The girl behind the counter asked. She couldn’t have been more than 16. She froze. Sarah wasn’t paying attention to her. She was selecting the perfect pretzel. “I want that one, third from the front with cheese dipping sauce.”
Orion took her bag.
“I love these things. I can’t pass them up when I find them.” She looked up to notice the girl was fixated on him. She scooted next to him. The tone of her voice scolded the cashier. “Honey, my pretzel. He didn’t order one.”
“Oh,” she gasped. “I’m sorry. Which one did you want?”
“Third from the front with cheese dipping sauce.”
The cashier quickly filled her order. “It’s on the house.”
“Thanks.” She wiggled as they left the vendor, “being with you has its advantages.”
“You have no idea.” Orion smiled.
The train whistle blew. They headed back to the station.
“Have you ever tried these?” She giggled.
“No.” His answer was dry. She was having a difficult time figuring him out. One minute he would be open, the next minute he closed up like a clam.
She broke off one little piece. It was smaller than a half an inch, and smothered it with cheese. “One little bite?”
He studied her face for a moment before accepting the pretzel. He took his time. She held her breath as he licked her fingers. That wasn’t necessary. She thought. It caused her skin to tingle.
“This is really good.” He groaned.
“Stick with me; I’ll change your world.” She giggled.
“I bet you can.” He moaned.
“Want another bit?”
“No thank you, one’s enough.”
Before they got to the train, Orion started to drag.
She turned asking, “Are you okay?”
“Tired.”
“Here, lean on me.”
“No, I’m fine. We are almost there.”
“Is it because I’m a woman that you wish not to accept help from me?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“An honest one.”
“No, I need to,” he stopped closing his eyes.
“I’m right here.”
He knew he was defeated. His energy was spent. He did lean on her to get back on the train.
When they were safely aboard, he fell on the seat. She took the box from him putting it away in the closet along with her bag.
He groaned as his head wobbled from side to side. “Lay down.” She instructed, extending to him the same courtesy he had shown her. She covered him up after removing his shoes.
“You are too kind.” He drew a sharp breath.
“Sleep.”
His eyelids were heavy but he had to take one more look at her smiling face. “Talk to me.”
“What would you like to talk about?”
“Anything.”
“Well, I’m a doctor. What does a Crown Prince do?”
“When I’m not sick, I run the finances of our humble country. I’m like an accountant in any firm. And I also play with import export markets.”
“Play is a pretty loose word for something so important.”
He was asleep.
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