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Robin, who had been busy with paperwork all day was getting distracted. Everyone from the office had gone, but she felt compelled to wait until Strike had returned from his surveillance. She walked round in the dimming light to his desk and idly touched the back of his chair with her finger tips, tracing over his notepads and scraps of paper. He had left a pullover slung over the back of the chair which she lifted to her face and inhaled. With eyes closed she breathed in everything that was Strike. As she breathed she experienced a deep sense of calm and peace. As long as he was around she'd be ok. Robin allowed herself to be still, this garment clutched to her chest and pressed to her face. She imagined he was there, his arms wrapped around her and his presence consuming her.
It wasn't until a familiar tread up the stairs broke Robin from her meditation and, replacing the pullover, moved back to her desk.
A clatter from the outer office door was quickly followed by Strike shouting if she was in.
"Yeah - just finishing some stuff up" replied Robin cheerfully. He was back.
"I got something for you."
Robin - curious with a tinge of worry moved to the outer office to meet Strike who was standing with an arm around his back. He had a broad smile on his face.
"Hmmm - do I need to guess? In which case I guess takeaway?"
"Nope" and with a flourish Strike produced a four large sunflowers wrapped in gauzy paper.
Robin startled was momentarily speechless. Flashbacks of wedding roses and star gazing lilies came to mind, but before she could over analyse the gesture Strike interjected.
"I know you don't like flowers, but when I saw these I thought of you - and the words you are the sunshine of my life came to mind and ... well ... here we are.
"It's not that I don't like flowers" Robin commented softy moving to take the flowers "and .... well ... wow - these are amazing Cormoran!" Their stems were thick and heavy, the flowers bright yellow with deep petals. "What's the occasion?"
"Well, that's just it, you see. There is no occasion. "
"They are beautiful Cormoran - thank you so much - this means a lot."
Robin laid the flowers onto Pat's desk and took a small step forward thinking to go for a hug before Strike stopped her. "I'm not good at showing you how much you mean to me Robin and sometimes I do fall into taking you for granted which is wrong. You are my best mate, but so much more. I might want to buy you flowers now and again. Would that be ok?"
Robin could feel tears prickle the corner of her eyes as she looked into his battered, yet beautiful face replying "yeah, that would be ok."
As Strike wrapped her up in his arms she said again in a whisper "yeah, that would be ok."