Entering the house Thomas calls, "Mrs. Marva I need something cold to drink and we have your favorite guest."
Taking the tray, Christa walks into the study, "Tom you hired a new servant?"
Looking up he saw Christa standing with the tray, standing up immediately. "Sorry honey, my friend mistook you for a servant, Bill meets my wife Christa, Honey this is my Vet Bill Gibson."
"Hello nice to meet you," Thomas observes her as she passed the glass to his friend first, then him.
"I am sorry but Mrs. Marva is not feeling well, so if you will excuse me, I am trying to fix the family dinner. If you are not too busy you are welcome to join us for dinner, Mr. Gibson."
Thomas was happy when Christa invited Bill, asking him, "Bill, what you say, will you join us?"
"Thomas, I am tempted to, but I promise Jill an exotic dinner, and she is expecting me to take her out this evening."
Before turning to leave Christa responds, "Why don't you call her to join us, it might not be exotic, but it will be nice having your company for dinner. And I am already preparing extra."
"You won't mind?" Bill questions.
"I will if you don't accept," Christa replies.
Christa notices the way he smiles when he said, "Okay, but I have a condition.
Replying to him, "I see, and what may that be?"
Thomas see how curious she was, thinking, 'Bill, was going to ask her to be his assistance now?'
"You must call me Bill."
Thomas heard her laugh, loving the sound of it, recalling that day in the washroom when 'She laughs, 'It's was not so happy as today.'
"Okay Bill, and you can call me Chris," seeing Thomas looking at her. When she chuckles saying, "With my husband's permission of course?"
"Then that is settled and when I return with my friend, I want to have a small business discussion with you, if that is okay?"
Seeing the nod, "Then I will see you in a little while, and thanks for accepting."
Seeing her smile when Bill drinks the juice she gives him and left. Returning to the kitchen to complete the preparation of dinner.
Half six, Thomas enters the kitchen, the aroma of chicken fills the air. Wanting to know what she was cooking, it was smelling so good but instead, he ask, "What help do you need?"
"Everything is under control here, but the table needs to be set. Then you can take those dishes to the table.
"How about I take the dishes out and rest them on the table and you set it?"
"Whatever it's a help anyhow," Christa thought, 'It doesn't matter, just as long, as he was not standing next to her. I am unable to think straight by his closeness.
The aftershave lotion he uses, was intoxicating, or is it him that has my body ready to betray me?'
Thomas notices the chicken was ready, and she seems lost in whatever she was doing.
Stretching his neck seeing she was just holding the grater in one hand and cabbage in another and nothing was doing.
Thomas took the chicken out, yet she did not shift. Placing the others into the pot then took a piece with some source she made and begin eating.
When she had invited the family to have dinner, Jerome could not stop eating. I now see why, it tastes very good. I was uncertain thinking what she might say.
Or what the family might think. That food tasted like sawdust in his mouth, but tasting it now. I now comprehend why her younger sisters miss her so much.'
Hearing the oven timer go off Thomas notices her as though she was in a daze as she jumps.
Christa turns to check only to see Thomas smiling, he was eating a piece of chicken.
Looking into the pot seeing the rest of the chicken inside she whispers, "Thanks."
"I see you were daydreaming, so I help myself."
'Oh Father, was I that obvious, and thank you so much. He took out the chicken or it might have been ruined.'
Set the table as he attends to the neatening of the kitchen, then went to the room.
Standing in front of the wardrobe wrapped in her towel whispering, "What should I wear?'
"Let me help you choose something for tonight?"
Turning so suddenly to the sound of his voice, the towel hooks the dresser handle leaving her bare to stand speechless.
Unaware of what happens next, Christa just closes her eyes and stoops down. Felt the towel covering her, but his words were like a needle piercing her soul.
Knowing she cannot face him, with her eyes still close wanting to get away from him. Unaware of where he was and afraid to open her eyes.
Feeling his hand encircles her in his arm. As he dips his head bend, touching the nape of her neck with his lips.
Feeling her body trembling, Thomas thought that she was feeling cold. Removing the towel quickly, he dried her skin. "Hurry up and change, you are feeling cold and soon we will have our guests."
Ashamed to look up to him, Christa. just turn and open her dresser draw and took out an undergarment trying to avoid his eyes.
When he opens the door and started to browse through her dresses. "Here this will look lovely," with her head still bend Thomas lifts her head to look at him.
"Now there's no need to be ashamed, we are husband and wife and your body is very beautiful. Now complete your dressing."
Glimpsing at him, only to see he took out a red turtle neck jersey, discarding the one he had on.
It was matching to the dress he has chosen for her. Trying to think straight Christa fumble with the zipper at the back of her dress.
Feeling like her knee was about to give way to her any minute. She slump down on the bed and started to cry.
Having no control over her limbs, Christa rested her hand on top of her knees to stop the trembling.
"Oh God, I am a nervous wreck. I cannot face his friends like this?" Lying down, "I need to rest, I am sure I overwork myself."
Thomas seeing her covered, sitting on the bed beside next to her, taking her hand "Now tell me something?
How is it you invites guests over for dinner? And now you are going to sleep, it's the first I have heard of this one?"
"I am sorry," Thomas could not believe it her lips were trembling, and her teeth were rattling.
Taking her in his arm, "Now, now there's no need to be afraid or nervous." Feeling her head shaking on his chest. "Look we cannot turn them away.
I am sorry, I startled you, but you will be a lovely host and I will be right there."
"You won't leave me?"
"That's not fair, it's my line." When she chuckles, Thomas took her face in his hand. "You, my beautiful wife, are looking very stunning in this dress. You are a good cook and I know you will be a lovely host."