Chapter 5: Dinner Preparations gossip

Knock, knock.

Chris turned his head to the open door with a smile. “Come in,” said Chris. 

Samantha and her little daughter Judy stood in the doorway. They had several containers of Tupperware filled with food in their arms. Samantha also had a shoulder bag and a towel hanging on her left shoulder.

The little girl walked up to Chris with a bright smile. This little six-year-old with long brown hair in a ponytail bobs back and forth with every step. 

Her little yellow dress made her look like a flower. She had a little bit of a smug look from the good job she had done that made anyone that saw her would instantly think, “Aww, so cute.”

“Here Uncle,” Judy said, holding up the food. He smiles and takes it. Chris stands up and motions for her to follow him to the kitchen. 

Judy pulls Chris’ arm, pointing at Jessie, and says, “Who is the pretty zombie lady?”

“Judy,” Shouted Samantha. “Don’t be rude. Come and say hello.” 

Judy finches a little while closing her eyes before running up to Jessie, putting her back and grabbing the hem of her skirt, wiggling in place. Her big smile made one wonder if her behavior was calculated. 

“Hello, pretty Lady. Are you okay? Cause mommy says that if not, they have either been in an accident or a slob like Uncle.”

“Judy,” exclaimed Samantha as her eyes darted back and forth, looking at Chris’s shocked expression or her daughter’s innocent smile. “I am really sorry about this. You know what they say about kids,” said Samantha.

Jesse looks at this moment, and a natural smile merges with a burst of light laughter. “Hahah. Thanks, Judy. I am fine. I am fine from my accident, but I will need to get some new clothes. Don’t need to look like I’ve been in a toad’s mouth, right,” said Jessie as she patted Judy’s head.

“Yes, that is why Mommy brought you new clothes in her bag. She said she wanted some girl time with you while I set the table with Uncle for dinner that we brought over,” said Judy with a bright smile before running to Chris and pulling him by the sleeve to go the kitchen.

Before stepping in, she stops, turns around, runs in front of her mother, and holds out her arms. “Mommy knows, no eating in the bath. So let me take the food to Uncle in the Kitchen,” says Judy, taking the food out of Samantha’s arms and carefully walking them over to Chris.

Judy scratches her head a little with a smile. “Seriously, who does this girl take after,” berated Samantha to herself. Letting out a sigh, she walks over to Jessie and offers her a hand to the bathroom to wash up and change.

Chris places the food on the counter. Judy stands on her tiptoes and leaves the food there as well. She looks a Chris expecting something, only to have him think he understands while opening a cupboard and handing her the plates for the table.

Judy gave him an annoyed stare while turning to the table. She placed the stack of plates on a chair before lifting them one by one on the table for each seat.

Chris was fumbling for the silverware and placed them as a bundled mess at the edge of the table before he turned around to grab glasses. He continued to make this bunched-up mess only to be rewarded with an exasperated sigh from Judy before she looked determined as she reached up and took the napkins and knives before placing them at the right of the plates. “This is why mommy calls you a slob, Uncle,” says Judy, who is trying to keep the knife strait on the napkin.

Chris can only have a strained smile. He places the cups above the plates, following after Judy. He continues to help her set the table until they are done, and he ruffles her hair a little. “Good job, kid,” said Chris. “Think they will like the job we did?”

“I think Mommy will be happy. The pretty lady with Mommy will also like it, I think,” said Judy. “But don’t call the other lady pretty in front of Mommy, okay,” she says with a little stern face.

Her nose crinkling a little left Chris distracted and unable to focus cause of her cuteness. He shakes his head and tries to focus. “Why is that,” said Chris.

Judy’s eyes lower slightly before looking back up to him point her right finger at his nose. “You’re dense like Mommy says,” said Judy.

Chris straightens his back with a complicated face. He walks into the other room to get his notes, places them on the table, and sits. He decides to focus on his notes while getting his notes in order. Maybe I can distract her with some of the techniques for breathing?

Judy pulls on the side of his shirt until he looks down at her. “Uncle, you should stop being an uncle or a teacher and be a daddy instead,” said Judy.

Chris smiles. “Thanks for the compliment, but I don’t even think I think of a girl that could be a mother along with me,” said Chris. “Though your mother has set me on a couple of blind dates before, ” he mutters, looking to the side, thinking of all those past train-wrecks. “Besides, I am almost ready to publish most of my studies. I mean, make study books to help children and adults learn.”

“Dense.”

“Does getting married change anything?”

“You will stop being a slob, says Mommy.”

“Does she really need to say that to you?”

“She says that when we fold laundry. She says we can’t leave the clothes around the house.”

“Does she now?”

“Yes, she said you need more family responsibility with a smile on her face.”

“Well, I don’t see that happening any time soon.”

“Why not?”

“I just said so.”

“I say so then. Just be my daddy and not think about it,” said Judy with sparkling eyes.

“Ugh. Relationships aren’t that simple, Judy. Both parties need to like each other first.”

“But mommy likes you just fine.”

“Is complaining about me.”

“Both of you are blind”

“Why?”

“Mommy and Uncle both smile really dumb while talking about each other.”

“Since when?”

“Look in a Mirror, Uncle.”

Chris puts done the papers covering his face and picks up a spoon. In his upside-down reflection, he sees the goofy look of a young man that gushes about his new wife all day. Do I really see her that way? No, don’t let Judy’s cuteness confuse you. How can Samantha, the lioness, have a cute side? Though a dragon would be. No. But then again. No. Don’t walk down the rabbit hole.

“Well, what about your daddy?”

“Mommy says that he died in some ditch and couldn’t care less.”

“That does sound like her.”

“So, will you be my new daddy then?”

“What are you saying, Judy,” questions Samantha. She walks into the kitchen with a blushing and shocked face. She wanted to take her daughter and run but saw the dinner ready to be put on the set table and stopped. Barley is able to hold herself together with a new stone face that doesn’t move. She pulls Jessie into the light from behind her.

Jessie’s had an embarrassed face looking to the left. She was in a set of old pajamas that Samantha brought in. “Doesn’t she just look adorable,” said Samantha. She regained her composure and had a smug smile on her face.

“But why pajamas? We are sitting down to eat dinner,” said Chris.

“Cause she needs to rest comfortably after a big meal after what just happened to her,” said Samantha.

“Do not worry about Sam; Mr. Chris will be giving a tour tomorrow after I exchange trinkets for money,” said Jessie.

“A Date,” questions Samantha with stars in her eyes. Her eyes were pools of chaotic bloodlust, interest, and confusion of a predator looking for new potential prey for the first time. Her racing heart and killing intent calmed down, but not before Jessie jumped to the side, giving a questioning gaze at Samantha, who she believed to that they were building a bond with each other since earlier.

“Look, let’s eat first before we talk about other things, okay Judy,” questions Samantha towards her daughter.

“Yes, Mommy,” said Judy as she got to the seats at the table to eat dinner. She sat down, waiting for everyone else to join her.

Samantha was a little exasperated but guided Jessie to the table to sit down. She turned to the counter and got all the food ready to dish everyone up with a stiff smile on her face.