Tuesday night, Blake arrived at his parents’ mansion at seven pm on the dot. He climbed out from the back of the car and walked up to the front door. The door opened before he could knock. It was Jolie, his sister who opened the door and welcomed him with her smile.
“We’ve been expecting you,” she scowled up her face, still smiling. “You kept us starving?”
“Sorry,” he kissed her on the cheeks. “Vanessa wouldn’t let me leave the office until I signed some documents she just remembered they need tomorrow for some distribution.”
“Hey man,” Perry, Jolie’s husband, came nearer to them.
“How is it going man,” Blake greeted back and they hugged.
They asked about each other’s kids.
“You are here,” their father said, emerging from the sunroom with a warm smile on his face.
Their mother came out from the kitchen, followed by one of the kitchen staff who placed a big dish on the dining table and returned to the kitchen.
Blake exchanged a handshake with his father and went ahead to kiss his mother’s cheeks.
“Now that Blake is here, let eat, please.” Their father announced. “I’m starving.”
“I’m so sorry for keeping all of you waiting,” Blake apologized as they all strode to the dining room. The place was sparkling as usual, with crystal chandeliers and flickering candles, which their mom always liked to use during family dinners and whenever they had guests.
Mr. Carter senior pulled out a chair for his wife and went to take his seat at the top of the table. The others took their seats around the ornate table.
Jolie opened the biggest serving dish and the aroma of onions and tomatoes filled the room.
“Holy moly,” Jolie sniffed the air. “Did you smell that?” Her eyes sparkling with pleasure. “Moses is the best chef in the whole wide world. Moses had prepared lasagne Alla bolognese tonight.
“I am going to steal Moses away from you one of these days, mom,” Blake said as he served himself some lasagne.
“Moses is as faithful as they come, young man,” their mom said, smiling at his son. “There’s nothing you can use to lure him.
“Moses can never desert your mother now,” their father said, and they all agreed as they savored the meal paired with the best Italian wine from the family wine cellar.
“Blake, I have been meaning to ask,” Perry set his wineglass back on the table. “Any news about this fraud thing from the police?”
“No,” Blake chewed the meat in his mouth. “But I believe the police department is working hard on it. I spoke with Reynolds yesterday.”
“That’s good to hear?” he remarked. “I just hope they will apprehend him before he causes too much trouble.” Jolie opined.
“I hope so too,” their father said. “I can’t just understand how some folk’s minds work. It’s terrible.”
“So bad,” their mother chipped in. “He must be made to pay for his sins.”
“Sure, he will,” Blake said, and everyone agreed.
Gerald asked Perry about his family business and he told his father-in-law about the projects they were presently handling.
Conversation flowed effortlessly between the five of them. They shared tales of past adventures and cherished memories. The clinking of silverware and the symphony of laughter created a harmonious ambiance, filled with love and camaraderie.
Their father was the first to leave the table, saying, “I think I am okay now.”
“I’m okay too,” their mom said and went with her husband to the den.
The children finished up too and retired to the den after sometime.
“Jolie, honey, tell Moses we are ready for dessert,” their mother said.
“Yes, mommy,” Jolie left for the kitchen and returned with Moses in tow, carrying a tray of four single serve Panna Cotta.
He set the silver tray on the enormous coffee table in the middle of the room.
“Thank you, Moses,” Jolie smiled at him. “Don’t worry, we will help ourselves from here.”
Moses gave her a mock salute and left them.
Perry served everyone, and they indulged in the decadent treat, praising Moses’s skills all the way as they savored the flavors that danced on their palates, cherishing the moments of joy that surrounded them.
Halfway into their dessert, Gerald cleared his throat and asked Blake, “how is it going with you and your Engineer lady?”
“Engineer lady?” Jolie didn’t get who their father was talking about at first. “What engineer?”
“I mean that Harrington girl.”
“Uh…,” Jolie rolled her eyes mischievously at her brother. “That Harrington girl…the engineer.”
They all burst into laughter, including Blake.
After sometime, he dropped his dessert on the side table next to him and said, “listen everyone, I am not dating Cassie, we are just friends.”
“Friends?” Perry gave him a side eye.
“Just friends?” Jolie asked.
“Okay, okay,” Blake shrugged and raised his hands in a sign of surrender. “Friends…with benefits.”
“Oh my goodness,” their mom whispered beside her husband. “What…? Aren’t you too old for that?”
“Exactly my point.” their father dropped his dessert too. “I think it’s time for you to remarry. I was thinking about Elliot’s daughter before.” He looked around the faces of his children and wife, “but there’s nothing wrong with that Harrington girl, anyway.”
A terror went through Blake listening to Gerald. He wondered why he would deem it fit to find a wife for him again.
“Father, you can’t possibly be thinking of doing that to me again?” He stared at his father, eyes widened in irritation. “Are you?”
“Yes, what is bad about that?” he said, his voice hollow, indicating that he saw nothing wrong in what he was saying.
“No sir,” Blake said emphatically. “I will not allow you to do that to me again.”
“Do what to you?” He actually looked angry.
“Shove a woman down my throat, Dad,” he clenched his fists on his thighs. “Like you did seven years ago.”
“Then get married!” Gerald’s voice rumbled with impatience. “You need a wife, not a damn sleeping partner to sneak around with!”