Casey put the noodles on to boil, Derek was mixing a sauce, Edwin was making salad, and Lizzie was setting up the table. Marti was upstairs playing with Dolly, who she thought had run away because she felt neglected. After a long day at school, the kids were at home while their parents ran to work and the grocery store. They had less than an hour to prepare the dinner they had planned last night. Now that everyone was certain Nora and George had to get back together, they had come up with a plan that could not fail.
They had set their large table for two. It had a red tablecloth with candles and the good china. They would have a spaghetti dinner for them all set up when they got home. Spaghetti was a very cliché thing to prepare for a romantic dinner, but it always worked in the movies, according to Lizzie. Just as they were putting on the finishing touches, George walked through the door.
"What's this?" he asked casually.
"Mom told us to put it together!" answered Lizzie quickly. George looked surprised, but didn't say a word.
"Well, I'm going to go get changed, but I'll be down in a second." He went to the bedroom, humming.
"Mom told us to put it together?" asked Derek. "Come on. You could have at least said something more romantic."
"I got nervous. I don't like lying!"
"Come on, we better get going before Mom comes home." Casey waved for them to leave the kitchen. Right on cue, Nora came in. All four of them dove behind a bookcase in the living room.
"Hello?" Nora called out. Luckily, Marti did not answer; she must have fallen asleep. Nora shrugged and continued into the kitchen. "What is this?"
"The kids said you made it," came George's reply. He must have come back without them noticing.
"The kids…what?" Nora poked her head out of the kitchen door, searching the room. They practically held their breath, but she did not see them.
"It's only set for two. Why don't you have a seat?" She must have hesitated because he added, "Please?"
"I have work to do," said Nora sternly.
"So do I." Outside Casey and Derek exchanged nervous glances. Inside Nora and George stood on opposite ends of the kitchen.
"Alright then," she said moving past him, but he grabbed her arm.
"You are my work. We need to talk." Nora shook him off, shaking her head. George impatiently stepped in her way. "Nora, I did not have an affair with Abby. What you saw was a desperate woman trying to make me come back to her."
"Well it worked." Tears threatening to fall, Nora turned away. "I can't love a man who goes around kissing his ex-wife."
"You don't have too. She is never stepping foot in this house again. I'll get a restraining order against her. I'll do whatever it takes to-"
"To what? Keep her away from you? To make sure the attraction isn't too strong," she choked out. "I gave you my heart, George, and I was afraid I was going to get hurt. I took my walls down for you. I brought my children into your house. My girls moved schools and sacrificed so much for me…all because I loved you."
Nora sunk down to the floor, tears of hatred and pain running down her cheeks. She resented him for cheating on her and hated the way she still loved him. Any other man would have walked away- packed up and left. George loved her too much to do that. He was standing by the table with a look of compassion and worry in his eyes. Slowly he sat down beside her, but left space so they were not touching.
"Nora, I know that Abby kissing me meant nothing. I know that I made the right decision in marrying you. I know that I love you. And what hurts me the most is that I know you love me too, but that it's hurting you do to so." Gently he wiped away a tear from her cheek.
"When I saw her all over you…" began Nora in a shaking voice. George shook his head, cupping her face in his hands.
"I know it hurt you, but it never meant anything to me. Nothing between you and me has changed." She searched his eyes, afraid of what she might see. However, the calmness of his face and voice surrendered her to the fact he was telling the truth.
"I love you," she murmured. George's eyes brightened with anticipation. "But I don't know if I can trust you. I want to so badly…"
"Let me help you get through this."
He stood up, offering her a hand. She accepted it, letting him pull her to her feet. George swiftly walked over to her chair, pulling it out for her. Laughing slightly, Nora took a seat. He went to his place at the table and began spooning out the spaghetti.
"They really didn't like seeing us fight did they?" asked Nora, thinking of her children with affection.
"I think they didn't want to see us hurt," came the reply. "But I hope Casey cooked the spaghetti, because Derek is hopeless with noodles."
The two's joyful laughter reached their anxious children beyond the door. They all breathed a sigh of relief, glad that they had succeeded at making peace between their parents. It was high-fives around the circle, and then off to give Nora and George some well deserved privacy.
A/N: I know it wasn't very long, but I split this chapter with the next one. Only one more chapter guys! Thanks for the wonderful reviews and for hanging with me through the horribly spaced updates.