Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

T he day seemed to drag on before Byron headed home from work. He realized he had a couple of hours before sunset, so he set his alarm and laid down.

Startled awake, he was surprised to see Angela crouched in the corner of the room, watching him. Sitting up, he peered over at her and then the clock. The sun must have just gone down.

She didn’t move, and he wondered momentarily if she was awake.

He thought about her every moment of every day. He ached to be with her, to kiss her. “How about a pizza before we return to the clover field?”

“Pizza? I know not, other than having heard the word.”

“Then you are in for a treat.” Whipping out his phone, he placed an order.

“I’m going to take a shower. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. The pizza should be here shortly.”

Unsure what to do, Angela busied herself with his things around the house, exploring and trying out the various gadgets .

The doorbell rang, and her wings popped out, ready to attack whoever was on the other side of the door.

Byron came out, rubbing a towel on his head, dressed in jeans and little else.

He took her breath away.

When he saw her, he shook his head. “It’s just the pizza. Hide the wings. It’s okay.” Pulling his wallet from his back pocket, he opened the door, paid the deliveryman, and closed it, holding a large flat box. “Let’s eat.”

Setting the box on the table and grabbing some paper plates and napkins, he opened the box. “This you eat with your hands, so no utensils.”

“I’m used to eating with my hands,” she announced, gingerly taking a slice of pizza and sniffing it slightly before she hesitantly took a bite. Tilting her head slightly as she chewed, she nodded approvingly. “It's very enjoyable.”

They quickly polished off the meal, talking about what life was like in her village, with the burning of peat for fuel, thatched-roof houses, and dirt floors. They mostly ate fish because she lived in a coastal town.

“I’ll dispose of the garbage after we return tonight. We should go so I have more time to find what we need—what I need.

“You have three days left, including today.”

“Then, we better go so I can complete everything on time.”

She wrapped her wings around him, and they were off to the clover field.