Chapter 15

 

Mornings always came extra early for Tony and Minerva. There was breakfast to be made and delivered, cleaned up after as well as the pressing of suits and arrangements of schedules. So while most of the world were just getting up for their day, Tony and Minerva had found their morning break time. By the time that Tony had returned from laying out their boss’s suit and making up his bed while he showered, Minerva had the kitchen cleaned up and was beginning to set out Fall and Halloween decorations. “How is Negan this morning?” She asked as Tony headed for the coffee pot. She knew that he had skipped his morning run and hadn’t eaten much of his breakfast aside from his toast and the cup of fresh fruit. She had been with The Coldwell’s for many years. She had hired on when Negan’s parents, Nic and Nora had their third son, Nox. Negan had been just a boy then. She had originally signed on as the three boys nanny but as the boys grew she had become less of a nanny and more of a right hand to Nora. It was when Negan had married Emily that she had followed them and become the nanny to their son, Ethan. Emily, like Nora, had absolutely fallen in love with Minerva but when she and Negan divorced, she insisted that she follow Negan regardless if Ethan was just 4 years old. Negan needed her more. Negan had protested this change at first for he wanted his nanny to stay with his son to see him grown like she had for he and his brothers but Emily had insisted on this. Minerva had never heard the truth out loud for the reason of the divorce but she knew. She had been with Negan since he was a boy. Even though Negan and Emily were very much a happy pair and in love, it was only a matter of time before the marriage would fail and in which case, it sadly had. Nic and Nora’s older at son, Niles was a gay man and Nic and Nora had never faltered  in their love and support of Niles but Negan had refused to out himself. Nic and Nora waited and still was in waiting for Negan to come out as well as Minerva had. Minerva knew the immediate spark that had happened in Negan’s life having met Officer Howlett and she’d be happy for this union but Negan had also made a serious change since his divorce with Emily. He had chosen the path of his heritage and that was to become a vampire. It was a choice that he hadn’t previously wanted but his split from Emily had been a very dark and depressing one for him. His choice to become a vampire and follow his bloodline had come from his need to punish himself for hurting his dear Emily and unable to change the way that he was. Now that he had found someone that he was interested in, Minerva knew he’d not accept this well. It showed in the way he had skipped his feeding as well as him picking at his breakfast and skipping his run. Negan was starting to punish himself for other reasons and Minerva saw it plain as day. She had seen the best of Negan as well as his worst. Her concern was that of a mother’s and had even promised Nora, as well as she had Emily, that she’d look after Negan as if he were her own and she did. 

“He looks a lot better then he did last night.” Tony answered with his back turned to Minerva pouring himself a cup of coffee. “He shouldn’t have waited so long like he had. A low like that is dangerous for him.” She scowled pursing her lips. She knew Tony to be a hopeless romantic and would brush off the severity of Negan coming within a hair of something quite dangerous. “I’m sure he lost track of time. I hardly think it was intentional, Minerva. I really think he and Officer Howlett are hitting it off. I could tell in meeting him last night. Although, not exactly what I’d always imagined for Mr. Coldwell but I can certainly see his attraction. Officer Howlett is quite impressive. I should’ve considered Mr. Coldwell’s taste in horses. Hmmm….” He pondered to himself returning the pot and then pulled a chair out at the bar for himself. “That’s no excuse and I will warn you not to meddle in Negan’s personal affairs.” She spoke flatly arranging baby’s breath into a pumpkin floral arrangement. “I’m not meddling, Minerva.” Tony groaned. He knew that she had a strong tendency to mother him as well even though they had been working and living together here at the mansion for the past 10 years since Negan’s divorce. “Tony, I know that you are excited about this but your mustn’t meddle. You are the butler. You are not his friend I may remind you of.” She added continuing to fuss with her arrangement. “Ouch, Minerva.” Tony replied scowling on his own. “Well, Tony,” she said in pausing to look up at him “Negan is a vampire.” She stated of the obvious flattening her palms on the counter. “Officer Howlett is not. This is not going to end well and I don’t want you meddling in the destined to fail love connection.” She ordered and picked up her baby’s breath once more. “Well aren’t you just a real kill joy?” He questioned taking a drink of his coffee. “I’ve been with Negan since he was a boy and I want nothing but happiness for him but he has chosen his life.” She grounded. “Yes, Minerva. I’m well aware that he’s a vampire.” He said rolling his eyes and stood hearing the service door ring. “It is the reality of the nature and I do not wish for your to persuade him into something that could put Officer Howlett in grave danger.” She argued. “You read too many books, Minerva.” He pointed making his stride towards the door. “And you watch too many movies.” She fired back. Tony tasted his tongue sarcastically and rolled his eyes once more with his back towards her. “He has a right to love.” He pushed back and answered the door for the delivery. Minerva dismissed the agreement for the moment and carried on with what she was doing while company was with in ear shot. 

Tony couldn’t help but become excited when he saw the surprise delivery. It wasn’t uncommon for them to receive floral deliveries because Negan liked fresh arrangements threw out the mansion or for his lapels but these hadn’t come from the local florist and they weren’t intended for Negan’s piano or foyer either. They were a personal delivery.  “Beautiful home you have here.” The delivery man complimented as he handed Tony the arrangement wrapped in green tissue paper. “Thank you.” Tony accepted with a big smile. Minerva had heard the conversation and knew it had to have been someone who wasn’t familiar with the mansion or Canton for that matter. Tony closed the door holding the heavy, what he was sure to be a crystal vase with a big smile standing in the morning sunshine rays. He knew full well who had sent these flowers  and his heart soared as if they had been sent to him. He was at odds with Minerva over this because while Minerva was entitled to her opinion and had justifiably been with Negan most of his life, she was not as close to him as he was. Tony had seen his fair share of his boss’s suffering and loneliness. It was a loneliness and suffering that Minerva could never understand and it had not a damn thing to do with him being a vampire. Tony worked closely to him. Much closer then Minerva had. Maybe she had when he was a boy or when he was married but he had been with Mr. Coldwell for the past 10 years and Mr. Coldwell rarely ever went anywhere with out him. Minerva didn’t travel the world with Negan. He did. He was the one who woke Mr. Coldwell every morning. He was the one who turned down his bed. Tony had seen plenty and what he did see, for the first time in 10 years was a smile that had nothing to do with his horses or his money or even the laughter of spite when he’d get under the Mackey’s skin. His smile was because he was excited about Officer Howlett and that’s what Minerva hadn’t seen. Mr. Coldwell didn’t just smile. 

Minerva looked up from what she was doing to see what Tony was holding. “Mr. Coldwell received a personal delivery. Looks like romance wins.”  He laughed turning now to meet Minerva mid stride back to the bar knowing full well that she’d try taking it from him. “Tony, it’s not that I’m not happy about this.” She sighed. “I love Negan.” She added watching Tony set the vase down. “Well, so do I, Minerva. I have been by that man’s bedside and beckon call for 10 years.” He shed light on. “I know.” She soothed and ran her hand down his shoulder. “This is just none of our business and logic says that it shouldn’t be encouraged.” She found a way to protest. Tony decided to ignore it all. This made him happy. To see his boss happy made him happy. “I wonder what he sent?” He chose to reply with instead and took a peek inside the paper. “Roses.” He smiled.