Cade dropped Ophelia off at the salon and then went on to drop off the specimen at the centre before going home. He had suggested coming to pick her up, but she told him she had her car and needed to take it home that night just to be safe. He agreed and told her that he would make dinner and be waiting for her. The people in the salon were touched by his gesture and would not stop going on and on about how sweet her husband was and that they were shocked that they had not been playing a show for the media and that they were actually interested in each other.
Cade got home and decided to make some chicken soup and some noodles for her. He specifically asked that the staff steer from the kitchen; that was his tuff now. He wanted to impress her and that was why he was going all out. When she strolled through the door, she was drawn to the kitchen by the scent that hit her nostrils.
“What smells so heavenly in here?” she groaned as she came in. “It is you?” She stopped and stood midway in the kitchen as she saw Cade carefully dish into a bowl.
“I made dinner; have you had any?” he asked, dropping the plate to the counter.
“No but what is all this?” she asked, walking to him.
“I made chicken soup and some noodles, and you made it right in time for the serving,” he added, pointing to the countertop. “Do you want to change before we have dinner or do you want to have dinner first?” he asked.
She walked to the table that was supposed to serve breakfast for them and pulled out a chair first. “I am so famished that I think I would take up your offer to have dinner first.”
“Okay then, settle down, and I will have the food right with you,” he said, bridging the plates to her one by one.
He finally settled down and they had the food. “I want to say thank you for today.”
“For today? What did I do?” Ophelia asked before slurping a noodle into her mouth. Cade was glad that she was enjoying the meal. At least he was able to show his gratitude in her way.
“For coming, I thought I would be able to handle the situation. If I was left alone, I would have frozen and probably accepted that she was my mom without thinking that I needed to do a maternity test,” he said, and she nodded.
“Well, I only did it because I thought you would do the same for me, and moreover, I have read so many books that I thought that something was definitely for me,” she said, and he laughed. “Is this meal to thank me?” she asked him and he nodded.
“Rhen, are you going to add a bit to the meal for me?” She asked, pushing her nose to him. He nodded and stood up, going to the pot and filling her pot up.
“Do you perhaps want a drink? I can run to the wine cellar and get a bottle.”
“Wine? It’s been so long since I had one. I guess I should take up his opportunity while I can, but just a glass because I will be resuming tomorrow,” she said, and he shook his head.
“Maybe that was a bad suggestion from me; let us forget that I said that. Tomorrow is a huge day for you; let us have the wine tomorrow after you resolve,” he said quickly.
“Who said we cannot have one day and another tomorrow?” she asked, and he walked to her, dropping the plate with shock written all over his face.
“What do you mean?”
“I am saying we can have wine today to thank me for a job well done, and we can have another bottle tomorrow to celebrate my achievements.”
He laughed and nodded. “If you insist,” he said and went out of the room. He emerged later with a bottle of wine. “I have to say those who filled up the hose have good taste.” He shook the bottle in his air to her, and she nodded.
“I asked them for the best, but let us see what you got there,” she said, clapping as if he was about to put on a show for her.
“A bottle of Malbec,” she nodded and stood up. “I will get the glasses; you get the ice to cool it down a bit. She moved to the cabinet and got two glasses before running them briefly under the tap to get rid of any dust that might have gathered inside of them. She walked to the table and put the cup down before she resumed to continue her meal.
“I think we should do a bit of wine shopping; there are options there, but we can try to customize it to our taste,” he suggested, and she nodded.
“I also think that is a fantastic idea,” she nodded, and he walked ‘to the table and sat down in his former seat. He waited a few minutes before pouring out from the bottle to the cups. She took the wine glass and swirled it in her hand before taking a sip from it.
“Oh my god, that hit a spot,” she moaned with her eyes closed and her head thrown back. “This meal, this wine, tonight,” she said, and then her eyes shot open. “Everything is just perfect. Thank you.” She felt like this was one of the perfect nights she had had in a long while.
“I did this to say thank you for helping earlier, and now I get a thank you from you,” he said, and she nodded.
They went on to drink, and soon enough, Ophelia was already getting tipsy and acting cute. “Let us get you to bed so you can feel better for tomorrow,” Cade said when he noticed her.
“I do not want to,” she said, clutching up to her cup as if he were about to snatch it from her hands. She opened her eyes gently and smiled at him.
“You are mean.”