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‘Look, why don’t you research the available courses and see what’s involved. Some only take a few months. You’ve already acquired the level of physical fitness it takes, so in no time at all you could be up and running. Who knows, maybe you’ll get to work alongside me!’ Naomi’s excitement escalated the pitch of her voice. Gina thought Naomi might jump up at any moment and say, ‘Drop and give me twenty!’ Instead, she held Gina’s hand. ‘Promise me you’ll look into it.’
‘I’ll look into it. But I’m not promising anything.’
Gina openedher front door that evening and tentatively stepped inside, her heart pushing against her chest. She dreaded the confrontation bound to greet her after her behaviour with Marvin this morning. She could imagine him sitting frozen in the same position she’d left him, toast still unbuttered in thetoaster, a look of disbelief on his face. She’d never spoken to him in that tone before, having always been polite to avoid conflict.
Instead, she was greeted by classical music and a warm glow coming from the dining room. She found Marvin placing a serving dish on the candlelit table, and the scent of roses filled her nostrils.
‘Ahh, you’re here.’ He stepped towards Gina. ‘Honey, I’m sorry I upset you this morning, I was just overtired after last night.’ He gestured to the table. ‘Let this be my way of making it up to you,and, adding some romance to your life.’
Relief flooded her body. Gina had to hand it to him; he’d outdone himself this time. His usual apologies consisted of offering to unload the dishwasher, or ordering pizza so she could have a night off from cooking. But his peace-keeping attempts created their own problems: he would no doubt put things away in the wrong spot, and pizza was too high in calories.
‘I ... I don’t know what to say.’
‘You don’t have to say anything, just have a seat and enjoy a home cooked meal.’ Marvin pulled out her chair. It was as though he’d had a total personality transplant. Maybe her outburst this morning was exactly what their relationship needed; a little kick in the pants to shake things up.
He ladled steaming chicken casserole into her bowl, bite size chunks of carrot and broccoli colouring the meal. Her belly grumbled at the tantalising smell, and she lifted her fork and started eating. Marvin joined in.
‘This is delicious,’ she said.
‘It sure is.’ Marvin ate at double her pace.
I can’t believe he cooked this!She tried to remember the last time he cooked anything. Apart from a barbeque theyhad last New Year’s Eve, and the occasional packaged meal, he’d never cooked a proper meal before.Maybe he’s been secretly watching Masterchef while I’m at the gym.
‘I know things have been stressful lately, honey, and today made me realise what an idiot I can be sometimes. I hope you’ll forgive me.’ He looked at her, his bottom lip jutting out.
‘I do. I’m sorry for biting your head off earlier. But by criticising the book it felt like you were criticising me.’
‘Let’s forget about it, shall we? You go ahead and read what you enjoy, and I won’t say a word.’ He shovelled another mouthful of food into his mouth. ‘Geez, Mum sure is a good cook.’
‘What?’ Gina looked up.
‘I dropped by Mum’s house after work today, and she was cooking this casserole. Before I could say ‘Hi’ she scooped up half of it into a container for us.’
Gina sunk into her chair.
‘Wait ... you didn’t think? Oh, honey, you know I can’t cook!’ An apologetic smile spread across his face.
Can’t, or won’t?
‘I should have realised it was your mother’s.’ She diverted her gaze from his.
‘Anyway, what does it matter? Why turn down a free home cooked meal? It saved you having to cook tonight.’
He had a point. ‘Well, itisreally good.’ Gina was too tired to nit-pick, and Marvin had made an effort with the candles and flowers. ‘Thank your mum for me.’
He nodded. ‘Plus, we’re having dessert too: Chocolate Bavarian.’ He ran his tongue across his lips.
‘Courtesy of your Mum?’ Gina asked.
‘No,Sara Lee.’ Marvin got up to fetch the dessert from its cardboard packet.
Of course.Gina chuckled.
‘Speaking of mothers, yours rang the landline earlier,’ Marvin called out from the kitchen. ‘Nothing important, just call back when you can. She didn’t want to interrupt you on your phone at work.’
‘Okay.’ Gina decided to call back tomorrow. Talking to her mother required mental preparation and a double dose of multivitamins.
After the table had been cleared, Gina folded her side of the bed covers over into a neat triangle and slipped into bed while Marvin had a shower. She was going to read, but his words kept popping into her head; ‘What are you reading this crap for?’... ‘These books are rubbish.’... ‘Look at it!’ He did apologise, and she truly appreciated the candlelit dinner, but hedidmean what he said this morning, without any regard for her feelings. She didn’t have much in common with Marvin, but they shared a life together and had promised to love each other ‘till death do us part’. ‘Loyalty and commitment keep the foundation of marriage strong,’her mother had said.
