The Dinner—Part II
Alicia rang the doorbell and stepped back, attempting to settle her pulsing thoughts by focusing on the three brass numbers nailed to the door. She gripped the handles of the shopping bag tighter, hoping the forced tension would counteract with her budding anxiety as she exhaled a nervous breath. During her drive here, their phone conversation from earlier rewound in her mind. His sweet gesture coupled with an innuendo ignited nervous jitters in her stomach that still bubbled, hours later. She took extra measures to freshen up at the office before leaving instead of going home; the office was closer to his place. And the chosen route nuked the opportunity to overthink his simple invitation and result in her never coming.
It's just dinner, she thought, further trying not to entertain her buried desires. Dinner with the kids…
About to ring the doorbell a second time, she heard the sound of his voice from the other side; in seconds, the frame swung open.
Peter reached a hand up to grip the top of the widened the doorframe and straightened his posture, ensuring she got an eyeful.
"Hi," he said with a smirk.
A slow smile began to spread across Alicia's face as she ingested the sight of him leaning against the widened door with a frilly, blush pink apron tied around his neck, decorating his pale blue collared shirt. Tucking her lips into her mouth, his growing, smug smile caused her to burst into a chuckle.
"Hi," she said, laughing. "I like your…outfit choice this evening."
"Get in here," Peter snickered. He reached for her hand and gently pulled her inside. "Mom left this here, and Grace insisted I wear it since pasta sauce was involved while making dinner."
She smiled knowingly, watching as he closed the door. "Uh huh."
"I thought Owen would've tagged along with you," he said as they treaded towards the kitchen.
"I mentioned it, but he wanted to stay back and rest." She extended the bag to him. "Oh, here. I brought red. I hope it pairs well for whatever is planned for dinner."
He took the bag and set it on the island countertop. "I'm sure it will," he said with a wink, helping her to remove her jacket and draping it over the back of a barstool before looking to their two teenagers bickering at the stove.
"You're adding too much salt," said Grace, reaching out to snatch the salt cellar but was too slow for her brother's reflex.
"The directions say two tablespoons." Zach continued to generously measure out the grains.
"You already added more than—"
"Kids, your mom is here!" said Peter, halting their endless bickering.
Zach and Grace spun around to look their way. "Hi, mom," they said in unison.
Alicia neared them, draping her arms around their shoulders. She planted a quick kiss to both their cheeks.
"What are you two making?"
She eyeballed a simmering pot of meat sauce, dry noodles and a small pile of Roma tomatoes and herbs along with grated cheese on a cutting board.
"Lasagna," said Grace, finally grabbing the container from Zach.
"Who's done most of the cooking? You two," she looked over her shoulder, seeing Peter in the dining room rummaging through the buffet table for wine glasses, "or dad?"
Zach smiled. "We all have. Dad's cooking has actually improved."
Alicia's eyes narrowed. "Really? How?"
"What's that about dad's cooking?" asked Peter, setting two glasses on the countertop along with a wine opener.
"I hear it's gotten better," said Alicia, eyeing him as she walked over and made herself comfortable on a barstool.
"Better?" He began to uncork the bottle. "What was wrong with it before?"
She flashed him a knowing smile, biting words of criticism and instead greedily watch as he poured a glass.
"Oh, mom, now that you're here, I want to ask you something," said Grace, wiping her hands on a dishtowel and nearing her seated position.
Alicia mouthed a 'thank you' to Peter when he pushed a filled glass her way before turning her attention to her youngest.
"What is it?"
"Uh, excuse me for a minute." Peter held up his vibrating phone. "I need to take this." Pressing the phone to his ear, he exited into the other room.
"What do you want to ask me?" asked Alicia, bringing the glass to her parched lips.
Grace leaned against the countertop and inhaled a deep breath. "There's a party at a kid's house on Saturday that I want to go to with Shannon. The house that the party will be at is only fifteen minutes outside of the city and it will be supervised. Shannon's mom will take us and pick us up."
She stared into her mother's fixed gaze over the brim of her wine glass, expecting her to have interjected and fire off a storm of questions. Instead, she received a blank but welcome expression.
"May I go?"
"She just wants to go see Scott," piped in Zach, beginning to line a baking dish with lasagna noodles.
Grace whipped around, shooting daggers in his direction. "I do not!"
"That's all you were saying on the phone earlier." He paused to turn around and clutch his chest, purposely mocking her and speaking in a higher tone, "'Oh, I wonder if Scott will be there…I want to look cute for Scott.'"
Alicia covered her mouth, suppressing a laugh.
Grace reached for the dormant dishtowel on the counter and threw it at him.
"Stop listening to my calls! Now that you're off punishment, you have nothing better to do but eavesdrop on me. Mind your own business!"
He threw the towel back at her to which Alicia reached out and caught right before it landed on Grace's face.
"Okay! Cool it," she said sternly, easing back onto the barstool. "Grace, who is the person having this party?"
"Samantha. She's a junior and invited nearly half the school. Apparently it's a big thing."
"If she invited nearly half the school and it's a big thing…" Alicia looked in the direction of her occupied son, confusion masked on every inch of her face. "Zach, are you wanting to go as well?"
He scoffed, topping the final layer of the lasagna with meat sauce.
"No, I actually have better things to do. Like trying for my license." He looked at his mother, hopeful. "And get a car?"
Alicia arched her brow. "Later."
"How much later are you thinking? As soon as I get my license, later?"
"Later, Zach." Lifting the glass back to her mouth, she drank a longing sip, wondering if Peter had more bottles to aide her strength in dealing with their children alone tonight.
Sighing in defeat, he wiped his hands on a towel and grabbed his cellphone from the end of the island. "Grace, I've done my part. You can do your cheese topping or whatever you were talking about earlier. It's ready to bake. I'll be back. I'm going upstairs to put this on the charger."
Grace nodded, making sure he was out of earshot before looking back to her mother, the look in her eyes nothing short of pleading.
"So, can I go?"
Alicia licked her lips and slowly set her glass back down. "Grace, I don't know this girl, or her parents. And you've never been interested in going to parties before. Why now?"
"Because…I want to."
Alicia sighed and removed her blazer, her eyes meeting Peter's when he reentered the room.
"Sorry about that." He set his phone on the counter and trotted back towards the stove. "You didn't touch anything did you?" he asked her knowingly.
"No," she said with a smile. "Didn't lift a finger."
"Dad, it's all set. It only needs to be topped with cheese then we can bake it. The cheese mix is on the top shelf in the fridge."
Peter smiled widely, throwing his hands up in surprise. "Wow, you two did everything! I guess I'll do the topping and start on dessert."
He quickly washed his hands and got busy.
Alicia honed her gaze in on her daughter. "Back to you. Who is Scott?"
Grace clasped her hands together and rolled her eyes. "A boy."
"Yeah, I guessed that. A boy that…" Alicia tilted her head to the side. "Wait a minute. Why is that name familiar?"
Panic set off in Grace's mind, as her eyes grew round. "Mom—"
"Is this the same boy you were caught with months ago, and I had to pick you up from school?!"
Grace looked to Peter, glad to see his back was to them and appearing as if he was tuning them out.
"Mom, that's not the point!"
"Oh, so, it is him?" She leaned back against the chair and folded her arms across her chest.
"Yeah, so? That shouldn't change anything."
Flipping her hair over her shoulder, Alicia exhaled a slow breath and sat up straighter.
"Grace—
"Dad already said I could go," she blurted. "But that I needed to make sure it's okay with you, too."
"Just a second," said Peter, closing the oven door and removing his apron. "What's this about a boy and what did I approve?"
Alicia looked at her daughter, waiting for her explanation.
Grace groaned. "It's the party I asked you about earlier. You said I could go," she stressed, hating when they tag teamed.
"Yeah, but you didn't mention a boy."
"Oh, the boy's name is Scott," said Alicia with a wink as she reached for her glass.
"Why should that change anything?" asked Grace, her voice rising higher. "I'm around boys all day at school!"
"Alright, time out. Why do you want to go to this party so badly?" Alicia asked, her tone rigid, hinting at her growing impatience. "To see Scott?"
"No," she mumbled. "I have other friends that are going, too."
Alicia eyed her with reservation, wondering when she got more of said friends. She only knew of Shannon, and for the longest her youngest had complained about not having any friends since they moved to the city.
"But he's a big reason as to why you want to go?"
"No, mom! Why am I getting the third degree on going to a party after what Zach did?"
"After what he did is why you're getting the third degree," Peter said, sternly.
Grace gulped and looked down.
"Okay," Alicia said tiredly. "I trust you." Her eyes shot to Peter for any objections. His slight nod gave her the green light to continue. "And you can go. But I want details before Saturday and I want you home at eleven. Not a minute late."
"Also, to that," said Peter, "since you'll be staying with me this weekend, I'll drive you and Shannon there and back."
The argument Grace wanted to hurl was immediately short lived when she saw the look in his eyes. She had witnessed it only a handful of times. It meant his terms were nonnegotiable.
"Okay, dad." She gave Alicia a quick hug. "Thanks!"
"We're going to talk before you go," Alicia whispered in her ear.
Nodding, she pulled back then went over to her father and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Peter leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"Tell Zach to come down and help you set the table."
"Okay." She skipped off from the room.
"What do you think?" Alicia asked, lightly swirling the soupçon of wine in her glass. "Is Scott our future son-in-law?"
Peter grinned. "From the little we know, I hope not."
"I don't get it. Why is this phase happening so fast? With both of them!" She reached for the wine bottle.
He slipped his hands into his pockets and walked around the counter, easing into the chair beside her.
"Actually, I think they're a little behind. I started sneaking out a ten," he teased, smiling at her before his expression changed to alarm when she began to refill her glass.
"Hey. What do you think you're doing?"
She paused pouring and looked around the room, stupefied. "Pouring a glass of wine…?"
"No, you're not lifting a finger tonight. We're catering to you."
She smiled when he seized the bottle and finished the task. "I'm not the queen. Peter, I can—"
"No." He set the bottle down then grabbed the other empty glass and began filling it. "I know you can. But I want to." Raising his glass, he leaned into the space between them. "As I said before, tonight is for you."
He clinked his glass with hers.
She felt herself grow warm inside at his smoldering gaze. "Well, thank you. But I'm not an invalid and I feel as if I've only been a dictator since I sat down. I want to help with something."
He swallowed a mouthful before pivoting his body to face her. "Alright, you want to help with something?"
She practically beamed at the possibility. "I do."
"You can help with," he lowered his head to hers and tilted her chin up with his thumb, "this," he whispered.
Grinning, she cupped his face and met his lips in a kiss.
"Hey, dad—ohhhh, okay. I'll come back."
Peter smiled, swiveling around in the chair as he wiped the corners of his mouth.
"No, Zach, don't leave," said Alicia, peering around Peter's shoulder. "What is it?"
The teen slowly turned around, surprised to be greeted with their relaxed faces. "This is still weird, you know. Seeing the two of you…like this."
"Would you rather us fight?" asked Peter, rising from the stool.
"No." He braced his hands along the edge of the countertop. "It's just weird. But I'm glad you're back together. Right?"
"We are," said Peter, winking at Alicia. "Okay, come on." He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and slung a towel over his shoulder. "Is the table all set?"
"Mostly. Grace didn't want my help so I came in here."
"Alright. Let's finish up dinner and make dessert." He looked to Alicia, flashing a Cheshire smile followed with a lick of his lips. "Your mom is hungry."
She nearly choked on her mouthful of wine at his words. The momentary shock was instantly doused by a stroke of heat daring to settle in the apex of her thighs.
"Okay," said Zach, oblivious to their nonverbal sidebar conversation.
Collecting her composure, she inhaled a calm breath and picked up her glass, then hopped from the stool. She overlooked his undertone—for now—and circled the island to grab Zach's hand. He wryly smiled upon seeing her open her arms.
"Oh, mom, come on," he groused.
"You knew it was coming." She pulled him into a hug. "Thank you for helping with dinner. I love you."
"Love you, too."
Squeezing him a second longer, she reluctantly let him go. Before leaving, she glanced back at her boys, embedding the image of them together in her mind and enjoyed the wholesome feeling that encased her heart. Here and now is why she was grateful that she chose to give it a second chance.
With a lasting glance, she left the room.
# # #
"You just went to jail and rolled doubles again," said Peter. "How are you already out?"
"We're playing monopoly the new way," said Zach, shaking the pair of dice in his hands.
"The new way? You two didn't want to share this with me and your mom before we started playing?"
"Dad, I did tell you the rules," said Grace, propping her elbows along the edge of the coffee table. She watched her brother, exasperated, as he continued to shake his cupped hands.
Peter looked at her in utter doubt while second-guessing he and Alicia agreeing to an impromptu family game night.
"I don't remember this," he mumbled.
Readjusting himself along the back of the couch, he observed the kids debate over who was going to buy or sell a property when Alicia strolled back into the room from the restroom. She eased down to the floor beside him, tucking her feet beneath her.
"Who's winning?" she asked, surveying the board.
"More like who's cheating," noted Peter.
"Oh come on, dad. Don't be a game judge," said Zach, finally throwing his dice onto the board. "Six! Yes."
Propping his arm along the seat of the sofa behind her, Peter ensured the kids were distracted by their latest unofficial tactic before he leaned in and angled his body to face her.
"So, how was dinner?" he whispered. "What's our verdict?"
Alicia slowly licked her lips and smiled coyly at him. "I'd give it a…ten out of ten."
Peter's eyes grew wide then settled in mirth as he reached back to pat his back. "I'll have to thank Ina Garten for her recipe later."
Laughing heartily, she looked back at the board noticing her game piece was still on 'GO', before checking the time.
"Hey, you two. It's getting late. And it's a school night."
Peter also looked at his watch. "Eh, your mom's right. It's almost ten. Let's wrap this up and head on to bed."
"Okay, but I need to get Zach's last monopoly," said Grace, vigorously shaking the dice in her palms then dropping them onto the center of the board.
Peter continued to monitor them, his brows furrowing at their unabashed vigor. "Why are you two so competitive?"
Alicia smiled. "It's like looking in a mirror, isn't it?"
Rising from the floor, she gathered their empty bowls previously filled with pie from her favorite bakery, and headed in the direction of the kitchen.
Peter ogled her retreat with heavy eyes, focusing on the slight sway of her hips in her tailored skirt and shapely legs. After a full meal and one too many glasses of wine, one thing burned on the forefront of his mind…
"You better not clean anything!"
"I'll try not to," she called back. "No promises."
"Yes," yelled Grace, drawing her father's attention back to the game as she pumped her fists into the air. "Monopoly!"
"You cheated," said Zach, falling back against the base of a chair, shaking his head.
"You both cheated with your fabricated rules," said Peter, watching in disbelief as his daughter celebrated.
"Dad, they're new, not fabricated," reiterated Zach.
Peter eyed him. "Regardless, you two need to go to bed. I'll box up the game," he said, standing up. "Say goodnight to your mom on your way upstairs."
"Is she staying the night?" asked Grace.
Peter paused bundling the colorful money. Even though he flirted during their call earlier in the afternoon and they shared many looks over dinner, he didn't expect anything more than her presence tonight.
"Umm…I don't think so. Why?"
"No reason." She smugly grinned. "Goodnight. Love you!"
"Mm-hmm…love you, too."
Zach shook his head, following his sister's retreat. "Night, dad."
"Night."
Sitting on the edge of the seat, Peter looked to the game and then to his family in the kitchen. The second her eyes met his, did he begin to ponder what the next hour could bring.