AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I shake my head, about to knock again when I pause at the sound of a voice clearing.
“I’ll be right out,” she says. It’s quiet and hesitant, as if she’s uncertain about the consequences of this.
I feel quite similar, wondering what will happen once all is said and done. Will we be back at each other’s throats once I test the waters again? Or has all the anger and frustration just been a backlash from extreme circumstances? I don’t know honestly. This is all so new for me, a situation I would never choose to do again if given the chance. But I won’t back out now that I’ve agreed. I need to see this through.
I’m setting up the plates and a buffet of choices when Amelia finally walks out. She pauses and sniffs the air.
“Do I smell onion soup?” Her eyes flash as I nod.
“Yes, wine and garlic frog legs.” I gesture to each plate of food as I list them off. “There’s a tasting plate of escargot, freshly baked croissants, though I thought you might want to save those for the morning, and we have mille-feuille for dessert.” When she stands there not saying a word, my confidence dips. “I-I bought cheese, two of their baguettes, and some cured meats to start.”
Amelia continues to just stare, and suddenly I feel like this wasn’t such a good idea. Though I don’t know why I care as much as I do. I feel frantic, nervous, and my mouth is going dry. I’m about to ask her if she just wants to go back to her bedroom before a tear glimmers down her cheek. Now I’m just dumbfounded. What did I do to make her cry?
“It smells like walking down the streets of home,” she whispers, a soft crack in her voice before she clears her throat. “Why did you do this?”
I shrug, hesitant to answer because I’m still not sure she is okay. “I… I guess because I realized things got out of hand before between us. I want to discuss things. I thought it might be easier if you felt more at home.” My eyes dart around at the different dishes…did I fuck up?
But then she laughs, even though more tears still trickle down her face. I feel like I’ve either driven her crazy or maybe I’ve done something right. I wait with a white knuckled grip on the dining chair in front of me.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “I haven’t smelled food that- that brought back so many good memories of home in years.”
I exhale out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding in. I really did care if she liked it. I push the thought from my mind, I will analyze my emotions later, right now is about fixing this issue. Because I have a much bigger one to bring up to her once she’s on board with the house rules.
“You said you had a charcuterie board, oui?” she says, her accent slip telling me she’s more comfortable in this moment.
I nod and pull out the platter dotted with sliced bread and cheese, salami, and a little bit of specialty whipped herb butter. She smiles at me, wide and happy, and motions to the table. It’s the first time I’ve seen her so unguarded and my heart catches painfully. I frown against the feeling.
She doesn’t notice anything off though, and I merely pull out a chair and join her as she bites into the bread with a satisfied sigh. I let her have a few moments of soaking in the flavors of her home country, taking a bite here and there, before I bring up what happened this morning.
“So, about this morning,” I say slowly.
“I’m sorry,” she immediately blurts out, covering her mouth as she talks around some cheese and bread. “I don’t know why I couldn’t be more levelheaded. I guess everything has just been moving so fast and it’s been a little crazy.”
She wilts like an unwatered flower in the seat across from me, and I can’t help but sigh. She flew off the handle for the very same reason I did. I know there was no real animosity between us, we don’t have enough of a connection for that. Something inside me doesn’t like that reasoning and a small, localized ache in my stomach makes itself known.
I shake my head and shrug. “I apologize as well. Things got out of hand on my end.”
My words feel thick on my tongue and there’s a stiffness to them. I’m not used to apologizing when I have feelings invested. And for some reason, this wasn’t just a disagreement between business partners. Somehow this has become something emotional, and I can’t deny that anymore.
“I would like to… discuss the guidelines,” I carefully amend my words to something softer, an act I would usually never do. “I don’t see anything wrong with you wanting to buy your own food, especially if you think it’s something only you would eat. But I would like to make a list before any grocery shopping is done that we can both look over.”
Amelia swipes a piece of butter on her bread and then piles it with two types of cheese and a slice of meat. She makes me wait as she considers my compromise, chewing thoroughly and swallowing before finally nodding.
“Yeah, that sounds fine,” she smirks as I sigh in relief. “Can I have some of that onion soup now?”
I scoff at her polite request, surprised at her formality, but hand her one of the to-go cups. She doesn’t pour it into a bowl, but her table manners are still impeccable, and it brings to mind the next venture I must ask of her. We eat in silence for a few minutes, other than the happy noises coming from my dinner companion and the occasional pleading whines from the dogs when they get up from their cushioned beds to beg. However, it isn’t long before I’m ready to approach Amelia with my other problem.
“Amelia, there is one other thing I need to discuss with you,” I put down my utensils and sigh as I sit back, stretching.
“Hm?” she asks, and I can see the hesitancy in her eyes to stop eating.
I wave her to continue enjoying her meal while I begin to explain. “My family is rather… high up in society, if I were to put it lightly. And with that comes all sorts of stupid little parties that people expect during big life events.”
Amelia actually puts her spoon down, even though she is only halfway done with her soup. She winces when she hears the words describing my family’s status and I raise a brow curiously.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
I know why I don’t want to do this. Any sort of familial gathering sucks for me. I hate the fake affection and care my family shows. It’s all just a giant political agenda for them.
