Chapter 21.
Dinner was served on Drovers. Jodi 's hand slid over Matt's who sat right beside her at the right side of the table. She pressed out a thankful smile to her cousins who had been busy preparing a fantastic welcome's dinner for Matt. Although she appreciated a lot, she rather had spend it alone with Matt, and she was sure he exactly thought the same.
'So …', Marcus mumbled. After folding his napkin on his lap to rest; 'what are your plans now you're back?' Matt shortly gazed at him, not sure what to say to that. He had to make a living, but nothing was planned so far.
'Spend time with me of course', Jodi now answered for him, smiling widely and patting his arm. 'Luckily Drovers is big enough to raise our own family.'
Grace looked at her, taking another bite of the chicken apricot. 'We surely need to organize, cause the main house does get crowded.' She chewed and swallowed the food easily away, her fork pointing up in her hand. Luckily Regan joined in, cause a quick flash around the table had let Grace know that most of her friends were obviously elsewhere with their minds.
Ben just kept staring at Jaz with that idiotic grin of his, as her sister avoided his stare once in a while a little shyly or at least uncomfortable. Marcus and Ingrid seemed to be just as uncomfortable, stealing glances non-stop. Stevie was in another world too, twirling her fork around on her plate, while struggling to stay seated up. At times she clearly tried to sit up and showed some interest in the couple sitting at her right.
'Time for desert', Regan cheery spoke, placing her glass of wine back on the table.
'Oh we better go than', Ingrid breathed down. Her facial expression showing all signs of need to get out here as soon as possible. Marcus didn't even seem to be surprised, agreeing with her.
'Really?', Grace asked; 'we made chocolate dessert. Marcus?' She looked at him, surprised Marcus Turner was one to skip dessert. She could remember Christmas dinner, and he had eaten tons.
'We … we have an early morning and all, so we better get back to Killarney', he mumbled, already standing up.
Ben easily stepped in; 'oh yes, good you remind me of that. I really should be going too. Jaz?' His brown eyes looked pleadingly at her. But his girlfriend felt rather uncomfortable with his sudden decision, but she decided to at least walk along with him to not make a fuzz at the dinner table.
In the hallway she threw a quick glare. 'I can't just leave like that, and leave the girls with the dishes. They already made such an effort.'
Ben couldn't suppress a soft grin on his lips. It was so typical Jaz, and that expression on her face even rather cute. Yes she was cute while being mad. 'We'll make up for that next time, they'll understand you wanting to spend some time with her hunky boyfriend.' His smile grew and she hit his arm.
'It's not funny Ben. I'm serious here.' Her bright eyes gave him another stare as she crossed her arms before her chest.
'Okay', he spoke, lifting his hand in defeat; 'you know what; we'll do the dishes now, while the other have dessert.'
***
Ben and Jaz had just left when Regan and Grace were up for the last bit of dishes. 'Well what a great night. What's wrong with everyone?', Grace mumbled, while she wrapped a tea towel over a wet plate.
Regan reached up to place some clean dishes back in the cabinet; 'Stevie obviously is trying to deal with Matt and Jodi's happiness. We need to cut her some slack the upcoming days.'
'By her an extra beer tomorrow at the pub party', Grace grinned softly, although she felt bad for Stevie. But it was the inevitable. 'And maybe Russ can lighten her up', she stated, now resting her back against the kitchen counter.
'Maybe', Regan answered; 'dunno what's up with Jaz and Ben thought'. She just stated it between breaths, letting it only wander on her mind for seconds.
'Ingrid is acting weird too, and Marcus skipping dessert. Since when is that, maybe Ingrid has put him on some diet', Grace just joked. But her sister stayed quiet and slowly Grace looked sideways, a little suspiciously at her sister. 'No way …', she slowly let out.
'What?', Regan asked.
'What on earth have you told them?', Grace now spoke, turning towards Regan, holding a plate towards her. A bit unsure Regan glanced down, her fumbled her lips. 'Regan!', Grace now nearly shouted.
'Okay, I did say something, but that's just the fact they are rubbing it in. And you have been in love with Marcus for so long, they should at least bear that in mind a bit more', Regan now clarified. Cause well, she had, at least for more than a year.
Grace stared at her sister, her mouth dropping open out of surprise and to protest. 'I'm not pathetic and I'm not breakable. I can deal with it without you butting in. You make it far worse!'