Abe and his family were gathered around Angelica's dining table. The veterinarian had invited them to her house for dinner at seven. When they got there, Dianna was in shock. Angelica's two-bedroom house was huge. It had a large dining room, which housed a large, maple wood table. A large master bedroom with a walk-in closet and a large bathtub, a medium-sized room, a full bathroom, a large living room with an expensive entertainment center, and a patio that was just a stepping stone to a moderate backyard with its own garden made up the rest of the house. The dining room had a couple of art pictures hanging on its white walls.

Angelica, with the help of Dianna, walked in with a tray of chicken, a pot of macaroni with Alfredo sauce, and a glass bowl of cooked vegetables. The plates, forks, napkins, and drinks were already set on the table. Angelica and Dianna sat down.

"Angelica, it looks real good," said Abe.

"Thanks," she smiled. "Let's just start serving."

"Mom, can you get me food?" asked Kassandra, trying to hand her plate to Dianna.

Dianna smiled and got the plate.

"Of course, Dear. Alex, do you want me to serve you?"

"I got it Mom. Thanks though."

The brown haired and eyed kid reached for the pasta, grabbed the steel pasta fork and managed to get the serving on his plate without a mess.

"Alex does take after you," Angelica commented to Abe.

Abe nodded. Dianna gave the plate with food back to her daughter and faced Dianna.

"In almost every way."

Abe faced his wife.

"You say it like it's a bad thing."

Dianna smiled.

"You're just imagining, Dear. Here, I'll serve you."

Dianna gathered his plate and starting putting food on it. Angelica was serving herself at the same time and finished before Dianna. She grabbed her fork and struck the macaroni with it. She ate and swallowed it.

"So, you got the tickets for tomorrow?"

"Yes," answered Abe.

"Here you go," said Dianna, handing him the plate.

"Thank you, Dear. Yes, we will be leaving tomorrow around ten I believe. I probably have to be there around eight thirty just to make sure I still don't miss my flight."

"You know, with improved technology, you would think the airport would make things go faster."

Abe shook his head.

"Making the airports go faster is like wishing a cure for cancer. There is one, but the government denies it."

Angelica nodded.

"Yes. I believe that also. Whatever we get from nature, there's a cure for it in nature. So, how long are you two going to stay there?"

"Oh," said Dianna. "I can't go. The kids have school."

"But Mom," started Alex. "We're not going to do anything. School's about to end in a week."

"And? You're still going to school."

"But Mom-"

"Alex, don't argue with your mother. You're going to school."

"But you're going to have fun while I stay here."

Abe shook his head.

"This is strictly business."

"Like that trip to Las Vegas when you saw the show."

"The fellas wanted to meet there. It wasn't my fault that they wanted to see the Spice Divas."

Alex thought about it. He had heard of the female band, but he had been told of something else.

"But your friend Justin told me that it was something naughty."

Abe fringed a bit. Dianna looked at her husband with narrowing eyes.

"It was. I mean, for kids, belly shirts are very inappropriate."

"That's not naughty, Dad. We go to the beach, and girls are in bikinis, and that is not considered naughty. Justin said it was too naughty."

"Alex, don't worry. This trip of mine will take two days tops."

He faced Dianna.

"Yeah, two days," said Abe with reassurance.

Dianna's look told Abe it was going to be a rough night tonight. Abe faced Angelica and smiled.

"Kids say the darndest things, huh?"

Angelica nodded and continued eating. Abe faced Dianna.

"I'll explain things later. My explanation is a good one too."

Dianna looked into Abe's eyes and saw his sincerity about him telling nothing happened. She relaxed and placed a hand on Abe's right thigh.

"Alright," she said moderately.

A squawk was soon heard, which was followed by Salvia landed on the table next to Angelica. She looked up at Angelica and squawked.

"Oh, that's right. I'm sorry. Usually, Salvia eats with me. Let me serve her a plate. I'll be right back."

Angelica got up and left the dining room. Salvia followed. Abe pecked at his chicken breast with his fork and paused himself. He looked up at his wife, who gave him the look.

"Listen, I promise it is a good one."

"I'll be the judge of whether or not you sleep on the couch again," she said in a calm voice.

Angelica grabbed a foam plate from the cupboard. She served a small portion of pasta from the leftover pasta on the pot sitting on the stove. Angelica set it on the kitchen counter, where Jalin was patiently waiting. Salvia landed next to him.

"Well, eat up you two."

Angelica left to the dining room. Salvia smiled and pecked at the macaroni.

"She made it with Alfredo sauce this time."

"Alfredo? Why don't they call it just white cheese sauce?"

"Why? It sounds more exotic."

"But when I think how they make it, I just imagine someone named Alfredo getting squeezed out so some of his stuff needed to make this sauce."

"You're disturbing, Jalin. Now, c'mon. Eat."

"But I'm not sure if I should-"

"Have you had spaghetti before?"

"Sure I have. Linda made some when I was little with tomato sauce."

"Well, this is no different. Well, it's just a new flavor for you."

"Okay then."

Jalin bent down and nibbled on some pasta. He picked his head up and smiled.

"This is good."

"See?"

Salvia took another beakful of pasta. Jalin looked at her, as if he had to explain himself.

"Salvia, the reason why I had the image of Alfredo was because I related it to tomato sauce. They squeeze tomatoes to mix it up in the sauce."

Salvia faced Jalin.

"Oh, that's understandable. I was thinking you got the idea from one of those gross movies like 'Saw'."

"No, I wasn't even thinking of that… Hold on. Then it's you with the disturbing thought."

Salvia narrowed her eyes.

"Just eat Jalin."

She continued to eat. Jalin smiled and soon joined her. Within minutes, the small foam plate was almost done. Jalin stopped eating and looked at Salvia.

"So, are you excited about tomorrow?"

Salvia stopped eating and faced Jalin.

"Tomorrow?"

"Abe's taking us back to Rio."

"Oh," she said.

Jalin dropped his excitement.

"You sound like you don't want to go."

"Of course I do," smiled Salvia. "It's just…"

She yawned.

"I'm a bit tired. That's all. Well, I'm full. I'll just be sleeping, okay? It has been a rewarding day."

"Alright," replied Jalin. "I'll…I'll just finish the pasta and join you."

Salvia gave Jalin a goodnight kiss. She flapped her wings and took off to Angelica's room. Jalin watched her go. He resumed eating the remaining macaroni, slightly confused at Salvia's taste of going back to Rio.