At 6p.m., Priscilla left the military HQ. She stopped by a grocery store to get a few stuff to take to Richard's house. She felt it would polite if she could bring something along with her. The idea of the dinner excited her a bit.
She arrived at the house later at 7 and was welcomed by Lily who offered her a hug. Priscilla glanced at her hand and noticed that she didn't have her phone with her. That phone had been her greatest companion the last time she had been to the house.
She smiled in returned and handed the grocery to her. The house wasn't very different from the last time she had been there. The TV was on.
"You should make yourself comfortable," Lily pointed her to the couch, indicating she should watch the movie. "I was very excited when Richard informed me that you were coming."
"You're still cooking?" Priscilla dropped her small bag on the couch while rubbing her palms together.
Lily nodded. "Richard usually comes home late so I've adapted to cooking late too."
"Can I cook?" Priscilla asked with a pleading look. "I want to cook one dish for Richard."
Lily was about to protest but the last part of her words made her think twice. This was surely something that could get Richard excited not to mention her employer! This would be the juiciest gossip of the evening.
Another thing she considered was that it might actually help her to match make the two. She nodded after thinking for a while. "Fine but one dish."
'Still so bossy.' Priscilla noted. The last time she was here, Richard had been very stern about her going near his kitchen. That and the fact that she knew that she was a horrible cook made her stomach turn when she thought twice about her request.
She was in and couldn't back out now. She also couldn't ask Lily to teach her in the short time as that would be akin to her cooking the meal. She sighed. She had to cope by herself and pray that the food would come out tasting a bit acceptable.
What would she make?
She followed the enthusiastic Lily to the kitchen. The space was still good and shiny. She could swear that she saw Lily sneak her phone up at her to take her photo. She sighed, how will she handle this other problem?
….
Richard arrived home a bit later than 9. The two ladies were bonding over a movie they were watching.
"I thought you'd never come back," Lily gave him a glare. "Our guest would eventually need to go home you know?"
"She's staying for the night." Richard shrugged off his jacket maintaining his shirt.
Lily glanced at Priscilla who only smiled. She then shot a look of surprise at Richard and mouthed, 'I never knew you were so efficient!'
Richard shrugged. "I'll go change then join you later."
He waved and headed to his room to shower and change.
….
The dinner began shortly after and the three sat at the table to eat. Priscilla ate quietly not knowing what to say to start a conversation. She wasn't used to being overly silent especially after years of being near Donald.
Lily on the other hand was a good conversationalist. It took her just a little bit of effort to spark the table. "Does he smile during his training at the military HQ?"
"Huh?" Priscilla wasn't sure what the question meant.
Lily pointed a finger at Richard who just raised an eyebrow at her.
Priscilla came to a realisation. "He smiles a lot. At least not as grumpy as the first day we met."
'I'm getting the juice out now!' Lily squealed on the inside but outside, however, she said, "and I wonder why that is."
Priscilla shrugged, eyeing Richard from the side. "Maybe he's got a good team?"
Richard scoffed a bit. "Being a soldier who's experienced the battle field, there's nothing to smile often about."
"True but lately there's been sort of calm." Priscilla added, "at least the peace efforts are working."
Richard grunted. "Nothing works. Cruderia are still lingering around in the shadows just waiting for a Crevanian soldier to step foot into Gavdos. Don't get me started on the Losnians."
Lily sat back with a deflated look. With the way the conversation was going, it was almost certain she wasn't getting any gossips tonight. Such a bore. All she could do was glare at Richard to get him to change the topic but the man ignored her. It was rare for someone to discuss the current political and military tensions with him. He had his own views on the matter.
"The Losnians," Priscilla mused a bit. "One would never have thought that the power house would be interested in claiming Gavdos."
"They don't really want Gavdos," Richard sighed dejectedly. "The recent war between Crevania and Cruderia regarding the island was chaotic so somehow Losnia stepped into the war forcing the two warring countries to sign a peace treaty.
"The Gavdosians weren't very happy that their holy sanctuary had been tampered with. They make it a habit to guard their island."
"Maybe the Island should be left alone?"
"It is already autonomous as it stands yet I'm sure the other countries are thinking of ways to take the Island. As it stands, any uniformed soldier from any of the countries stepping foot into Gavdos is an invitation to war. The others are also closely watching the Island for such changes."
Priscilla sighed as well. The war was complicated and even the peace treaty was kind of forced. "What prevents Losnia from simply overpowering us and Cruderia and taking the Island given they have more weapons?"
"Simple," Richard smiled. "That would make Cruderia put aside their war with Crevania and form and alliance and attack the Losnians. No matter how strong they are they can't take the two countries combined."
Priscilla thought about it a bit then nodded. "True. But at least the war efforts here in Crevania are helping. The refugees are…"
"You haven't been to Baywich recently have you?" Richard cut her short.