Helen shuffled quietly to the makeshift stove -- a large plate of smooth grey metal hung just above a small patch of growing embers William drew up in the fireplace. On it she placed two cleaned and gutted fish, sprinkling on it wild rosemary and drenching it with salt water from below the mouth of the river which she and her husband -- we previously called him William -- lived by. She took a slightly wilted head of cabbage and cut it into quarters before throwing it into a small pot of boiling water hanging on the other end of the fire.
"Darling?" Helen called. "Please get some cheese and bread from the cupboard?"
William grunted unflatteringly but did as Helen asked, moving up from his cushioned chair and taking from the cupboard a loaf of dark sourdough bread and a roll of goat cheese, placing them on ceramic plates and arranging them neatly on the wooden table in the center of the living room.
Helen came to the table with the boiled cabbage -- having added garlic and salt to it previously -- and the seared fish. She placed the food into other earthen plates, and filled two shallow drinking bowls with a cool red wine.
When all the food was prepared, she and her husband briefly locked eyes and a moment of unspoken love passed between them.
And...the moment finally passing...they began to eat, speaking of the now finished day.
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