After the stop over to the market, I made my way home to cook the usual dinner. I followed the same routine, religiously. When I arrived home, I dropped everything on the kitchen island and rushed to get dinner done. I went for something easy, Caesar salad. I didn't want to be stuck in the kitchen for hours since I had to get ready to go out.
" Evening, dear" Enid greeted as she walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on. Over time the stiffness in the air around us had mellowed, and we'd grown quite familiar with each other.
" How was your day at the beach?" Enid asked as she pulled a cup out of the cupboard and a bag of tea.
" Tea?" She offered to make me some, smiling even though it was almost a rite to have a cup of tea together while I or Enid cooked dinner. I cherished the time that we spent with each other.
" Yes, please. It was good. I met up with David and Laira. We are going to the cinema later." I quickly glanced at her when she reached to place the cup of tea in front of me. I was making the salad dressing, so I wiped my hands and took a sip.
" That's good. You're finally leaving the house. And not just to go to the soup kitchen." Enid chuckled and flipped the chicken on the grilling pan.
" I've been busy. Not much time or energy left after spending an entire day in the soup kitchen." And rolling in the sheets with Mason. The man had quite an appetite. I glanced away trying to hide, my giddiness at that thought.
" I see," Enid hummed, smiling, at a joke that wasn't privy to. She'd been doing that a lot lately.
" Miss Morston popped in earlier, while you were at the beach. I told her that I didn't know where you went." Ava wasn't looking for me she was looking for Mason. She was relentless and her impromptu visits were starting to get on my nerves.
" Thank you. She doesn't give up easily " I cut through the lettuce a little more forceful than I intended. I imagined Ava's neck on the cutting board. Mason and I, we've been sleeping together for over a month now. I had no idea if he'd been sleeping with other women as well. He'd stopped bringing any at home.
" Nope," Enid sighed and placed the bacon on the grilling pan while I stopped whatever I was doing, contemplating the thought of Mason and another woman. Enid pulled a jar of anchovies out of the cupboard and that was enough to bring me back to reality.
" No anchovies," I wasn't a big fan of fish, and I avoided it at all costs.
Enid nodded " I'll put some on my plate. Have you heard from the academy?" Enid asked as she took a seat in her chair at the table.
" No," I sighed, worried that they might not accept me.
" It's alright dear. If they would have rejected you. It would have come through the mail already. They are very thorough with their admission process. Only the best get to squeeze past their gates." Enid replied nursing her tea. She was slow when it came to eating and drinking, just like Mason. If I didn't know any better, I would've thought that they were mother and son.
" How are you feeling? Are you still getting dizzy?" I glanced over my shoulder. Enid's heart was causing her a lot of trouble. Mason had forbidden her to do anything around the house anymore.
" A little. I'm just plodding along. Harriet is doing most of the things around the house now. I help here and there but not much" Enid added with a frown and sighed.
" Don't overdo it. If you need anything done. Just tell me and I'll do it." I said as I turned around with a pointed look. Mason seemed to care dearly about Enid, even if she was just an employee.
" I'm not dead yet " Enid chuckled and stood up to lay the table.
I giggled at her retort. She said that a lot lately to get out of being admonished for her naughtiness whenever she got caught doing things that she wasn't meant to.
" I know. But if you keep pushing yourself, you might get there sooner than you wished." I amusedly said and turned to take the bacon off the grilling pan. It was almost half six and dinner was ready. My timekeeping had improved, over time and I was able to get things done on time.
I quickly ate dinner, rushing through it to get ready to go out. Going through the usual works of cleaning up as fast as could. I said my goodbyes to Enid and made my way to the bedroom to get ready.