Perilous Assurance

  ******

  She opened her eyes, and saw that she was alone on the sofa. The curtains were still drawn, but she could see that the light filtering through was that of an overcast morning, and she took a deep breath and sat up, peering around her.

  "Clay?"

  "I'm in the kitchen," he called to her, and she could smell the coffee brewing. She turned to see him smile at her from the kitchen door. "I'm fixing pancakes, if that's okay with you."

  "That sounds wonderful." She stretched her arms out. "I'm going upstairs for a minute."

  "All right. I'll bring out breakfast in about five minutes, then."

  She headed up to the bathroom and freshened up. By the time she returned, she saw that he'd laid out their plates of pancakes, over-easy eggs, and bacon on the coffee table, with juice and coffee to the side. Hmm..m. Perfect for a day snowed in.

  "That looks wonderful." She reached up and kissed him softly.

  "Sorry I fell asleep last night. I didn't realize I was so tired." He laughed as they sat together on the sofa and started into their meal.

  Mattie gazed out the window as they ate, seeing that the snow was still falling, a little lighter though, in her opinion. She looked over at Clay and thought that her life had taken such a dramatic turn the last few weeks, that she must be in some sort of perfect dream. But, it was real, he was real, and they loved each other. They would figure out the details as they went along.

  "Oh, Clay, I almost forgot. The box with your supplies came yesterday." Mattie leaned back on the sofa and tucked her leg beneath her as she sipped her coffee.

  He wiped his mouth with the napkin. "Already?" He set down his cup. "I'll check it out, if that's all right with you."

  "I'm interested to see what he sent you. It's beside my desk."

  Clay gathered up their dishes, and headed back to the kitchen. He grabbed the large, flat, corrugated cardboard box on the way back and set it on the coffee table, immediately tearing off the tape and pulling apart the flaps. He pulled out a piece of paper, and smiled as he read aloud...Brother, Hope this is everything, Cal

  "He's a talker, not a writer," he laughed, as he pulled out a black leather case, and set it on the sofa. "That's what I store the tools in....my compasses, protractor, and mechanical pencils," he explained to her, as he pulled aside the wads of newspaper. "...as well as templates, and some other tools. Would you open it while I get out the tubes?"

  "All right." She reached over and flipped the metal tabs up, and lifted the top, and smiled as she saw the red, felt-lined compartments filled with various metal and wood tools of the architectural trade. She ran her hand over the shiny tools, then watched as he pulled out several cardboard tubes.

  "These contain my drafting papers, tracing papers, and I hope the specifications for the mountainside house." He exhaled loudly. "Well, it looks like everything is here." He smiled at her and looked around as he held one of the tubes. "Where do you want me to keep all of this."

  Mattie stood up and headed to the kitchen. "There's a large basket beside the back door that may work."

  "Here, let me get it." Clay followed her into the kitchen, and as she set her cup in the sink, he walked into the small laundry room, and pulled out the square basket. "Yes, this will be fine." He turned to her and smiled. "I have a used drafting table in the back of the Jeep, and as soon as I can get back to the car, I'll set it up in here, if that's all right with you."

  "Of course. How about putting it in the space right behind the sofa, facing the wall?" They walked back into the office space, and he rubbed his bearded jaw as he thought about it.

  "I think it will fit there." He smiled at her. "Mattie, I appreciate your allowing me to set up my equipment here."

  "I'm glad there's room for it," she smiled.