Later they were sitting in a Thai restaurant.
“I think I’m going to order curry.” Nathan looked up from the menu card.
“Dad… You don’t agree with curry…” Rose said at once.
“But I really like curry!”
“How about the chicken with rice? You also love chicken. This would be better for your health.” Rose was pointing at the menu card.
Nathan rolled his eyes. Angela looked from Nathan to Rose and vice versa.
“You would do better listening to your daughter.”
“If it makes you happy, I will order chicken with rice…”
The waiter came to take the orders and after Rose and Angela had ordered, he looked at Nathan.
“I take the chicken – curry.”
“Eh… Why?!” Angela and Rose shouted at the same time.
“I want curry. There is nothing that would change my mind. Claire, what do you want?”
“The stir-fried Asparagus but without the garlic sauce, please.”
With a little confusion in his smile the waiter wrote everything down and left.
“Really dad, curry? Don’t complain if your tummy hurts afterwards.”
Nathan shook his head.
“Let’s drop the subject… What are you two going to do after dinner?” Angela looked at Rose and Claire.
“I don’t know. Do you have any plan?”
“If you want to, I could show you the sea. During sunset it is even more impressive!”
Nathan, Angela and Claire started to laugh as they saw Rose’s bright face again.
“I don’t have to show it to you” a bit offended Rose turned her head away.
“Oh, honey. Don’t act like a prima donna.” Claire carefully took Rose’s face and turned it back to kiss her on the cheek, “I would love you to show me the sea.”

As everyone had finished eating, Nathan looked a bit afflicted.
“I would have done better listening to you, girls.”
Rose rolled her eyes and Angela was the one who started speaking.
“We told you… I accompany you to the house, make you a cup of tea and the girls can go to the sea on their own.”
“Thanks, Angela. Let’s go. Claire, do you want to get a jacket first?”
“No, I think it is warm enough.”
Rose nodded, put her own jacket on andwalked off towards the sea with Claire.
“This is really your first time at the sea?” Rose asked curiously.
“It is and I am really happy to be here with you.” while she was speaking she took Rose’s hand. Although Rose didn’t feel very comfortable in this situation she didn’t take her hand away. She didn’t want to hurt Claire and if she had taken her hand away, Claire would have surely been hurt. She really liked Claire. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to show her feelings out in public. On the other hand everyone at home knew and here the people could also know. They went down the street hand in hand. The sound of the waves streamed through the silence of the night. A slight gust of wind felt tingly on Rose’s cheeks.
“Listen. Can you hear that?” Rose asked tenderly. Claire turned her head in the same direction and listened.
“What is that? I have never heard it before. It’s beautiful.” Claire asked impressed and anxious about it. Rose smiled lovingly and pulled up Claire’s head to her own until her lips softly touched Claire’s ear. She whispered suggestively.
“These are the chimes of life, its origin and its final destination. Life couldn’t be purer than this. Many people can hear it all over the world. But right now it’s just you and me who matter. Give this feeling a chance to flow through you until it captures a place in your heart. I want you to know, I will always be there for you. Spending time with you feels like every drop of this infinity fills my heart with joy and happiness.”
Claire’s innermost filled up with warmth. It made her feel like Rose’s hands cupped around her heart. The squeeze of their hands tightened. None of the girls wanted the other one to depart. A sudden desire to hold on to these beautiful seconds emerged in Claire. She closed her eyes and in front of her she could see a rising sun between two majestic mountains. Each single ray of light chased away night’s shadows and brought back life’s breathing. With an unexpected jerk Claire found herself running next to Rose who had just shouted “Come on!” and dragged Claire with her. Within seconds they closed up to the sea and stopped where shallow waves quietly seeped away in the fine white sand. The sun’s red silhouette gleamed on the calm surface of the water and created a moment of affection when the two girls gazed to the horizon. Claire was amazed by nature’s beauty and couldn’t take her eyes off it.
“You’re shaking.” Rose noticed caringly because Claire was shivering slightly. Without any hesitation she laid her arm around her. Claire flinched because she hadn’t expected her to be that thoughtful. Silently Claire moved closer to Rose and laid her head on her shoulder.