Damned If I Do *Matt Murdock* (book one of Damned)

17) ...The parting line

The Monday night was extremely cold, the weather unpleasant – Vera couldn't decide whether it was raining or snowing when she was getting out of the car, returning from the atelier after the tailor had taken her measurements – like all of them. They actually had settled on a reasonable price, both sides content. Nina promised she would bring Vera for fitting on Thursday – Vera was hoping that by that time, she would have her shoes and purse (she took a picture of the miniature, so she could look at it when shopping). She realized she had to switch shifts with someone – in a perfect world, she would have the morning ones for the rest of the week except Sunday. She had to do it as soon as possible.

Vera turned on the heater in her apartment to maximum, hoping Matt wasn't outside that night. In better case, he would catch a cold. In worse, he would slip on the white frost and fell from a rooftop. Luckily, he called her around ten p.m. to tell her he was staying in.

Remembering his mocking, she accepted the call with all politeness. "Hey, Matt. How are you?" she asked him as sweetly as she managed.

"Hi, Vera. As good as ever. Can't get one of the carols from my head though..." he admitted and Vera thought is served him right. "What about you?"

"Well, that's what you get when you're eavesdropping. Which one?"

He huffed. "Well, I don't remember the words. No idea what they mean," he fell silent for a while and when she spoke again, his voice was soft, "I looked up your words though."

Vera smiled for herself. "Did you?"

"Yeah," Matt took a deep breath, "taky tě miluji."

Vera covered her mouth to keep the delighted laugh in. He had the weirdest accent, but it was right. He said it right. It warmed her heart and made it to race in an incredible speed. She uncovered her mouth so he would understand her words.

"Miluji tě."

"It's beautiful when you say it."

"Well, I don't really think it matters which language you speak. The message is more important. I love you, Matt. You're not going outside, are you?" she demanded, worried.

"No, I'm not. Unless I hear something urgent. I am not suicidal." Vera sometimes doubted that, but she didn't say it out loud. "Anyway, you've never answered me how you're doing. What's up with the baking?"

"Christmas are coming. Well, creeping in slowly. I won't celebrate Thanksgiving, so Christmas it is. Gingerbreads need time. I'm good otherwise." She wanted to add she started preparations for the benefit, but stopped herself. He didn't need to know that.

"Hm. I wouldn't know. We never baked."

Vera gasped, horrified. "Ever?! That's it. You're getting the biggest batch once the sweets are finished. I'll try to find the purest ingredients for decorating and gluing it together so it wouldn't offend you delicate taste. Šmarja..." She had to admit she kinda understood that his dad probably hadn't been much of a baker and in the orphanage.... God, his life was so sad.

He laughed, not sharing any other heart-breaking fact from his childhood. "Thanks. I appreciate it, Vera... you... you're not getting any second thoughts about Saturday, are you?"

Vera blinked in surprise. Why would he ask that? "Uhm... no? Should I? Is everything okay? Something came up and you can't go?"

Matt rushed to disprove. "No! No, everything is fine. I realized I haven't told you what time it is. Toast is at seven p.m., I thought we would pick you up at quarter past six? We would like to be there around quarter to seven. Foggy is taking Karen and your apartment is the closest to the event. Is that okay?"