Cahpter 5 - Endings and New Beginnings

 

As the days grew even shorter and the snow deeper, Rose buried herself into work. She spent hours after hours in front of the machine trying to get her mind of Stein. It worked to some extent. But still, the thought of him kept her busy most of her waken hours.

 

 

Of course her sister had been right. Being involved, even for the shortest while, with a married was  truly wrong and her work had obviously suffered for it. In their last letter to her, her benficiaries had sound less than impressed with her and she started to worry that she would not be able to stay the full year out if she diid not start to produce any result soon.

 

 

The sales from the bees and her first produce had enabled her to order some really rare book about molecular biology and associated techniques and to keep her mind busy she used the short afternoons. She had always been a fast reader and had a cunning way of being able to see connections from written text that noone else saw. Hence, she was not surprised when it dawned on her what she could do. No, what she HAD to do. She was just a tad annoyed that she had not realised it sooner.

 

 

She was invited to Stein and his families Giftgiving party, since she was "the New girl" and would benefit from meeting new people as well. She felt very uncomfortable being there and in his house. He treated her with uttermost respect. Were polite and cortious. But just like a freind. Like nothing between them ever happened. When she saw his brother Stefan kissing his wife intensly she felt so ashamed of herself. What would they think if they knew what she and Stein had done?

 

 

Later that evening she was taken to a tour of the house. It was huge and she realised that Stein actually was rich! Beyond her wildes dreams. But her heart almost stopped a heartbeat when they came to the very beutifully decorated nursery. A child? Was his wife expecting? Or had they been working on it for years? If so why was the crib still empty? Then it dawned on her: One of the reason why that nursery were not filled with lots and lots of children laughing could be her! She was the stick in the wheel and a homewrecker. Stein may be hot and a damn good kisser, but she realised that he was not worth to sacrifice an entire family over! Especially since there were other ways for her to get what she wanted!

 

She found Stein making a snowman outside. He smiled and came towards her as if he was gonna kiss her and hug her.

-Hey baby! So how do you like the party?

-Its nice I guess, she mumbled, feeling even more uncomfortable now than before if that was possible. Look Stein...

He interrupted her:

-I have to stay here of course for a few hours. Being the entertainment of the party as well as host. But if you like I can sneak away and meet you in the garage.... Both his language and the look in his eyes made it very clear what he meant without saying a word. She hugged him gently and then pushed him away when he tried to snuck up close to her.

-Look Stein, you are a great guy and all. I totally have enjoyed every second of our times together. She pushed her away and he looked at her with a hurt expression in his eyes for a short second then they flashed into anger:

-Have it your way! You were not that special anyway!

-I should not have been special Stein she sighed, suddenly feeling very old. Your wife should have though. Go home Stein. Just go home to your family.....

 

After Stein had stomped of, muttering something about crazy scientists under his breath, Rose carefully put the sample of Steins hair she had manage to pull in their last embrace in the samplebag she had brought with her and hurried home . She went into her bedroom and looked at the new crib that was standing there with its pink cover. She felt calm and relaxed for the first time in a long, long time. Finally she new exactly what she should do!