Chapter 50 CHAPTER 50: A Blast from the Past
William
Waking to an empty space beside me, I rolled over to find Hazel nestled peacefully at the far edge of the bed. The discarded duvet revealed a glimpse of her thigh in her purple nightgown which had ridden up, making my mouth water and my morning wood throb with want. A smile played on my lips as I recalled her tendency to throw off the covers in her sleep. Hazel had always moved a lot in her sleep, and her unique sleeping posture needed to be studied.
I smiled at the thought and reached out to gently wake her, but I paused, choosing instead to simply move closer and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The morning light softened the planes of her face, making her irresistible. Just as I contemplated a kiss to awaken her, Hazel shifted unconsciously, her arms instinctively wrapping around me as she burrowed closer, wrapping her arms around my middle and tangling her legs with mine. A contented sigh escaped her lips, and I found myself leaning down to press a soft kiss on her forehead. Her peaceful slumber warmed me more than the morning sun.
I planted a soft kiss on her forehead and gently caressed her back, but I still needed to wake her up somehow so I could treat her to a nice breakfast as a thank you for how she took care of me the night before. Her thoughtful remedy had eased my morning significantly, sparing me from a hangover with only a mild headache thanks to her recommended garlic soup which had worked its magic.
Her eyes fluttered open, she stared at me for some seconds, trying to make sense of her environment before she smiled and blinked at me, rubbing her eyes.
“Sleeping beauty finally awakes,” I teased. She buried her face on my shoulders as I smiled up at her.
"Good morning," she murmured, her voice muffled against my shoulder. "Good morning, babe," I responded, turning to face her more directly, cradling her in my arms. She gently touched my forehead with the back of her hand. "You seem to be in better shape today," she noted with a wink. In response, I leaned in for a passionate kiss that conveyed more than words before pulling back slightly.
“Thank you so much for last night…I don’t know what I would have done without you” I smiled gratefully.
"You would be lost without me," she replied, her smile mirroring mine.
“On that note, I have made a reservation at Hawksmoor, one of my favorite restaurants in town. “What do you say?” I asked.
I watched as a flicker of something I couldn’t seem to place crossed her features. Was that a doubt? Uncertainty? I didn’t know, but I vowed to myself to clear whatever it is she feared about me or the relationship we were struggling with. I could not lose Hazel again. She was one of the best things that had happened to me in a long while, even if she didn’t realize it yet. Her smile slowly returned, and she nodded, then gasped, sitting up suddenly.
"But I don’t have anything to wear," she exclaimed.
"You always say you have nothing to wear, Hazel," I chuckled, gently urging her,
"Go find a dress. Our breakfast reservation expires by 10:30 am so we have to hurry”, I urged.
She nodded and slid off the bed, her nightgown showing off her curves that had become more pronounced after she got pregnant. I stood up and went into my room to freshen up and dress up for the outing. I opted for a neutral outfit – gray turtleneck top, black loosely fitted trousers, black leather jacket, gray sneakers and a black neck scarf”. I admired myself in the mirror before heading to Hazel’s room.
As I was about to knock on her door, the door opened. I couldn’t help but whistle at the outfit Hazel finally settled on – a white shirt that had three buttons open at the neck and showing a bit of her boobs, a coffee brown short that was turned up at the hem, brown shades that matched her shorts, and exposed her full straight legs, and then she topped it off with a brown sneaker. She had a small purse across her body. Although her face was devoid of makeup except for lip gloss, in my eyes, she could pass for a pregnant model for the cover of a Vogue magazine.
I walked up to her, closing the distance between us. “Maybe we should order in instead. I could have you for starters though, because you look absolutely breathtaking”. I complimented. She blushed fiercely.
Then she looked at me from head to toe. “You look good too” I smiled and thanked her. “After you, milady”, I cooed as I extended my hands towards the stairs with a half bow which made her chuckle. As we got down, the driver was waiting for us.
I opened the back door of the car and helped Hazel in before closing it and, turning to the other side, slid it down. Once we were settled, the driver hit the road.
Fifteen minutes later, we were at the restaurant. The Hawksmoor restaurant was a place I had always wanted to go for breakfast with someone I cared about. I had gone there on numerous occasions for lunch and dinner with investors but never for breakfast. Hawksmoor was best known for their steaks and burgers, but was rumored to have the best full English breakfast in the country.
The restaurant offered a welcoming atmosphere upon entering. A well-stocked bar area transitioned into the main dining space, reminiscent of a grand American banking hall. Warm oak paneling adorned the walls, and comfortable brown leather seating filled the room. The clientele consisted of scattered couples, creating a peaceful ambiance. Tucked away at the side were booths ideal for larger groups, and fortunately, we were seated in one with a pleasant view of the entire restaurant.
The menu, presented upon settling in, offered a concise selection of breakfast options. Two main choices stood out: The Hawksmoor Breakfast for Two and the Hawksmoor Full English for One. After discussing it with Hazel, we opted for the shared Hawksmoor Breakfast. We also requested two glasses of freshly squeezed juice to complement the meal.
While catching up on emails and enjoying some light conversation with Hazel, our breakfast arrived at impressive speed. The presentation left me momentarily speechless. It was a true full English breakfast served in a large, rustic iron casserole dish, clearly designed for sharing between two. Nestled within the vast tray was enough food to satisfy a small family: plum pudding bacon, a mix of pork, beef, and mutton sausages, black pudding, fried eggs, hash browns, grilled mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, baked beans with trotters, and a generous portion of toast. It was a feast for the eyes! Hazel mirrored my initial surprise and her expression was one of delightful astonishment. I couldn't help but chuckle at her genuine awe.
“This is a feast” she exclaimed.
“Exactly my thought” I replied.
“There’s no way we are finishing this,” she said.
“Let’s dig in and see where it leads” I smiled while she nodded and took up one of the plates to serve herself while I did the same.
The chef or whoever was in charge of the breakfast outdid him or herself. They managed to think about everything and were very generous with their portions of food, especially the protein. The sausages were thick, juicy and a combination of pork, beef and mutton. Hazel moaned each time she put food in her mouth and each sound she made went straight to my groin.
“Tone it down with the moaning woman! You’re going to give me a hard on before we leave here” I said in a playful tone which made her chuckle and blush fiercely.
She cleared her throat. “William, this is the best breakfast I’ve ever had” she said. “Me too,” I replied. After that, we enjoyed our meals in silence. It wasn’t a surprise when we could not finish our order. Frankly, the breakfast was pricey, but it was worth every penny seeing the smile of satisfaction on Hazel’s face and I wouldn’t blink twice before doing it again for her.
Hazel
I was pleasantly surprised by the breakfast invitation by William. Nearly a year into our marriage, such shared morning meals had been rare. This thoughtful gesture, this glimpse of a caring side I rarely saw, warmed me more than the sunshine streaming through the window. The moment felt perfect as we sat there, sipping freshly squeezed orange juice after our delicious breakfast and just relishing the moment and enjoying each other’s company.
Then suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Glancing across the table, William's expression revealed nothing. Turning, I scanned the unfamiliar face hovering behind me. A strange sense of déjà vu prickled at my memory. Then, her smile broadened, transforming her features, and recognition dawned on me. Shocked, I clasped a hand over my mouth, a shriek escaping my lips. I bolted upright, a name catching in my throat. "Funke?" The disbelief hung heavy as I lunged forward and threw my arms around her.