“When I told your mother that your mother that you had not even hired a maid, she almost went berserk.” He put his package onto the counter and looked around the large and cozy room. Athena did not like to cook but she made breakfast for him when they got up in the morning. Even when she did not have to go out, she would insist on doing her ‘wifely’ duty as she called it. “You keep a neat kitchen.”
“I wonder if the rest of the place looks like this.” Deidre McGregor peered into the fridge and noticed that it was well stocked. “I can interview a couple of maids for you or have one sent over from the manor.”
“Mother, it’s okay.” He told her hastily as she took her arm and hugged her, taking the opportunity to lead her towards the dining room where the table was already set. “I will find someone when I am ready.”
“The place needs a woman’s touch.” She murmured as she looked around the scantily furnished dining room. Both he and Athena rarely ate in here, preferring to eat in the kitchen. He would eat with her on his lap, where they feed each other. The thought of that sent heat straight through his body when he thought of what it would lead to. He missed her so much that it was like an ache inside his heart. She had called as soon as she landed, and they had spoken briefly. He had promised to call as soon as his parents leave.
“We brought Chicken Primavera.” His mother told him as he pulled out her chair.
“Would you like me to open the wine?” his father asked him.
“Thanks Dad. I will get the meal.”
*****
Athena seriously thought about ignoring the knock on her hotel room door. The flight had been long and tiresome and checking in had been a hassle. The four-star hotel had been unable to find their reservations and they had stood in the lobby for close to one hour before it was all sorted out. She was tired and irritable, and the simple meal of the thinly crusted wheat sandwich, fruits and Merlot was not filling, but she just wanted to get some rest. She certainly will not be going to sleep without talking to her husband. How easily the term came to her! She thought wryly as she looked through the peephole and saw Miguel standing there.
“Come on Athena, I really need to talk. Please.”
She opened the door reluctantly and stood inside the doorway.
“Are you going to let me in?” he held up a tray with several different cheeses, grapes and sandwiches. “It’s a peace offering. That meal they served us was certainly not adequate. I thought you would welcome something else to eat.”
She hesitated before stepping aside to let him in. “One funny move and you are out.” She warned him.
He placed the tray onto the table and turned to look at her. She had taken off the denims and sweater she had worn and put on a simple floral dress that tied at the neck. She lifted her brows at him, and he looked down at the meal.
“Where did you get the food?” She asked as she pulled out the chair and sat down.
“I charmed the sous chef in the kitchen and prevailed on her to fix me something else.”
Athena nibbled at the cheese and looked at him. “What did you have to pay her with?”
He grinned and poured the wine. “I promised her a free bottle of the face cream.”
“Can you make good on that promise? I thought they were tightening up on how many complimentary jars they hand out.”
He shrugged. “I will just give her one of mine.”
“The ones that says for men?” she asked him in amusement.
“You could always give me one of yours.” He pointed out.
“Why the hell not!” She said carelessly. “There was a rumbling coming from my stomach, so you actually saved the day. Unless there is an ulterior motive attached.”
He held up a hand as he sipped his wine. “None whatsoever! I already figured out why you are not into me.”
“Why is that?”
“You are involved with someone.”
“Okay.”
He grinned at her evasive response. “You don’t have to tell me, but I know that a beautiful woman like you has to be taken. Who is the lucky guy?”
“You don’t know him.” She lied and laughed silently, wondering what he would say if he knew that she was actually married to Alan McGregor. Suddenly the thought of not being able to tell anyone made her feel down and taking up the wine, she downed half of it.
Whoa!” he laughed. “You don’t want to get drunk the night before a big shoot.”
“You are right.” She got up and went to the fridge to get a bottle of water. “Since you are here, let’s go over our lines.”
*****
Alan waited until they were eating the Crème Brule before he brought up the topic. The meal had been finished and his mother had gotten an abbreviated tour of the place while his father sat in the living room and drank bourbon. There is something I am very curious about.” He said casually as he went to pour his father some more bourbon.
“What is that?”
“Growing up, I was always told to keep away from people of color.”
“You know why.” His father told him gruffly as he sipped the drink. “But you would never listen to reason. We allowed you to have black friends….”
“Allowed?” Alan’s eyebrows lifted.
“Maybe that is not the right word,” his mother said hastily, sending her husband a look of caution. “We have nothing against people of color darling. It’s just that in our days and even before that, we were not allowed to mingle with them. We had often been told that we should stick to our kind.”
“You are not encumbered by that archaic thinking now.” Alan looked from one to the other. “What do you think now? We have a number of employees who are black, and some are even Mexicans and Chinese. Dad, you told me that was not allowed when your dad was alive and running the company.”
Daniel shook his head as he crossed his feet at the uncle. “Your grandfather’s father was a member of the Klan….” He lifted his hand at the look on his son’s face. “Those were dark times son and I am not saying that I agree with all that, but you have to admit that we come from a very different culture. We speak different and we basically have different concepts of things.”
“We are all humans.” Alan pointed out.
“We agree on that.” Daniel eyed his son speculatively. “We are tolerant of the minority….”