Page 75 of Seasoned
“I didn’t sleep with anyone else though I thought about it, as a way to exorcise the ghost of you in my head.”
He closed his eyes briefly and squeezed her hand again. “It wouldn’t have made a difference to me if you had, but I…”
“Didn’t want to know,” Adelaide finished for him.
“Right.”
She wished she hadn’t asked him about Rita. Knowing he’d been with someone else, even once, hurt. But knowing he loved her and regretted what he’d done, eased the pain.
“We should call the waiter. I’m starving.” She sent a reassuring smile across the table.
“Te amo, mi rosa,” he said, gaze intense.
“I know. I love you, too.”
They loved each other, and that’s all that mattered.
15
“My favorite couple has arrived! I don’t care who else shows up.”
While it was strange to be considered a couple again, Adelaide took the compliment in stride. She always enjoyed dinner at Matt and Eleanor’s house for the adult conversations, good food, and plenty of laughs.
Eleanor flung her arms wide and embraced first Hector and then Adelaide. Decked out in a black dress, pearls, and heels, with her blonde hair pulled into a low ponytail, Eleanor was, as usual, overdressed for her own dinner party.
Behind her, her husband Matt, dressed more comfortably in jeans and a short-sleeved button-down shirt, nudged his glasses higher on his nose and smiled. “Welcome.”
Adelaide and Hector entered the open great room and were greeted by the other two couples present. A Caucasian couple named Jessica and Brad—both lanky with dark hair—and the couple she’d been looking forward to seeing—Martin and Paula.
“Eleanor acts as if we’re not even here. I’m kinda hurt.” Paula stood and greeted Adelaide with a warm hug. A statuesque woman with brown skin and thick natural hair, Paula wore her hair in a blonde Afro. They hadn’t seen each other in a long time, since Paula was busy flying back and forth to Jamaica to look after her family.
“You know I love you, but I’ve never made a secret of my love for the Floreses, and of course I have a soft spot for Adelaide because she always brings the most delicious dishes.” Eleanor removed the casserole dish from Adelaide’s hands. “Please tell me this is mac and cheese.”
“Mac and cheese, as you requested.” Adelaide knew she couldn’t walk into the house without the dish. Though Eleanor was hosting and provided the food, Adelaide was the only one she asked to bring side dish. “I also brought an apple crumb cake. I practically had to beat Hector to keep him from cutting a slice.”
Holding the plastic cake dish in hand, Hector deadpanned, “I’ll show you my bruises later. Just know that it wasn’t easy to behave myself.”
“But I’m so glad you did. I would hate to cancel our friendship over crumb cake.” Eleanor shot him a teasing smile and then glided toward the kitchen. Matt took the cake from Hector and followed. “The roast is warming in the oven. Give us five minutes and we’ll be ready,” she added.
Little more than five minutes later, they were all seated around the dining room table with the food spread out family-style. Matt said a short prayer and then they started passing around the dishes.
“I have good news,” Jessica said, spooning a hearty serving of macaroni and cheese on her plate. “I got the promotion!” Blushing and smiling, she accepted the round of congratulations that filled the room.
“I’m so glad to hear your hard work paid off. You’ve worked in HR for how long…twenty years now?” Eleanor asked.
“Almost, and when Lola retired, I knew this was my chance to become HR director, but I wasn’t sure if they’d give me the position or hire someone from the outside.”
“I retire next year and she starts bringing in the big bucks. Perfect timing,” Brad said with glee.
They all laughed.
“I predict you’re going to be very bored at home. Ask Matt how he feels about retirement.” Eleanor looked pointedly at the other end of the table where her husband sat.
Matt grunted as he placed a portion of the delicious-smelling roast onto his plate.
Plates continued to be passed around before everyone settled down with their meals. Eleanor arched an eyebrow. “Can I be the one to mention the elephant in the room?”
“Eleanor…” Matt warned.
