Winter blaze, you've been a wonderful reviewer! Thanks for all the encouragement. I really hope you like this chapter!
Thanks to everyone else who's been reading! Review, it's good, it lets me know where the interest level is!
Enjoy!
Lizzie staggered into the kitchen, and plunked the two large brown paper bags onto the table. A sigh of relief slipped past her lips at being freed from the weight. Her relief soon vanished as the bag just out of reach toppled over, spilling it's contents onto the counter.
Lizzie let out a groan. Not only did she not want to cook this dinner, now the ingredients of this dinner were attempting to attack her.
She turned to the cabinets and began to select then pots and pans she would need. The pots clinked as they hit the white Formica counters. Her eyes raked over the items littering the space, finally landing on the box.
She wasn't sure why she bought it, she was already sure of the result. But, somehow, she wanted a more finite answer. So, it'd gone into her cart then to the bottom of the bag. She grabbed the bag of vegetables then her slender finger slid around the faucet. She let the water run over the food and her fingers as she tried to recall everything she would need to do for tonight's dinner.
David had said he would be home with Aaron between six and six thirty. A quick glance at the clock told her she had a little over three hours to get everything ready.
Clearing her mind, Lizzie grabbed the white apron that hung in the pantry. She slid it carefully over her hair, then tied it around her waist. She rolled her pale blue sleeves above her elbows and flicked on a faucet, filling a pot with water then set it to boil. Mentally checking off that task, then she lugged the wooden cutting board from its nestled spot between the microwave and cabinet.
She was suddenly struck with how white the kitchen looked besides the black of the appliances, and silver of the stove and sink. Maybe if she could hang up some pictures it would liven it up a bit.
With this thought in mind, she turned back to the grocery bags and gently pulled out the bouquet of flowers. The room almost instantly seemed to brighten up as she riffled through shelves to find a vase. Humming gently to herself she finally found one, filled it with water and slid the flowers inside.
The vegetables were quickly finished and added to the water to cook. The she slid the chicken from its packages and onto the prepared pans. She double checked the temperature of the oven before sliding the poultry inside.
She turned to the sink to wash her hands. Her eyes landed on that long, narrow box she'd managed to avoid looking at. Her eyes slowly looked up at the clock. She still had an hour until six; that could be enough time...
She placed it back down on the counter. Her hand locked around the vase of flowers which she took to the table.
She walked back into the kitchen to get plates, but there way the box. It lay on the counter, like a magnet, drawing her attention to it, almost challenging her to turn away from it once more.
Lizzie blew air past her lips as she finally picked up the box. She tapped it against her open palm as she looked at the clock.
With a moan of aggravation at her own impatience, she squeezed her fist around it and disappeared into the bathroom.
When she emerged several minutes later, Lizzie firmly shut the door behind her. Once dinner was ready, she could go back. When it was time to change clothes, she could see then.
She selected the best set of plates and silverware then perfectly set each place. She meticulously made sure each place was set to perfection, that each glass shined and each fork was in its place.
Finally satisfied with her work, she removed the cooked meal from the stove and hurried into the bedroom to change.
She selected a pair of black pants, looser at the waist than her favorite pair of jeans. That was the last time she was going to let David do laundry. She wasn't sure how he'd shrunk the jeans, but she was sure he was responsible. She paired it with a red button up shirt then headed towards the bathroom.
She paused outside the door, her hand resting gently upon the knob. She hesitated, took a deep breath and went inside.
She could hear keys in the front door, and quickly swept the small tube off the sink and into the trash. She hastily covered it with excess toilet paper and glanced into the mirror.
A grin was tugging at her lips, she couldn't stop it. With a deep breath, she washed her hands and doubled check the wastebasket. The small white tube wasn't showing, neither was the box. Drying her hands on the towel she walked into the living room just as David managed to get the door open.
Lizzie's smile seemed to get stuck on her face, but this was not the secret smile of joy she'd just had, this was a smile that showed she was trying to remind herself to be nice. Standing behind her husband was a beautiful woman.
"Honey," he greeted, holding open the door. "This is my assistant Erin."1