Author's Note:
A lot of you pointed out that you do not see this story in the updates on the main page. This story is rated M using the fanfic guidelines and the main updates page doesn't show M rated stories; you have to specifically select to see all rated stories.
One guest pointed out that Ana is keeping a secret about the gun in the house. I won't respond to that directly as it might give too much about the later plot away but I will say that there can be many different reasons as to why she didn't bring that up. If you would like a more detailed answer with the risk of spoilers, PM me.
My Author's page has the list of when I will be updating each of my stories so feel free to check it out. Also, this story has a pinterest page: /FanficAri/hometown-glory/
"Cooking is at once child's play and adult joy. And cooking done with care is an act of love."
-Craig Claiborne
Sunday August 15
Anastasia POV
We've had a wonderful weekend so far. Yesterday, we three spent all day together mostly just sitting around, chatting and getting to know each other more. We said we were going to do a fishing trip as soon as I felt up to it and I can't wait!
My dad left yesterday after I insisted he took uhmm.. M.. May..? Maggie? Yea, Maggie out to dinner. I still can't believe that my dad has a girlfriend, and one that he didn't tell me about no less. Although I do understand his reasoning, I still feel bad that I've kept them apart all these weekends. This is another reason I can't wait to tell Christian's family. I'm really starting to realize how my sickness and the decisions Christian and I have inadvertently made because of it. I don't want to feel like I'm hiding any more because for the first time since this started, I'm actually really optimistic.
I'm gonna call Kate.
I slowly climb out of bed careful not to wake Christian. We may not have known each other that long but I know that this has really affected him too and he needs a decent rest. I grab my pants and sweater before going in to the bathroom to do my daily routine. After relieving my bladder, I carefully brush my teeth and am grateful to see that there's no blood. Christian showed me a special drawer that he cleared out for me and he put some scarves in it; he really is sweet. I pick out a scarf with a flower pattern that also has green, which is one of my favorite colors. I secure it by wrapping it around twice and then securing a bow to the right side. Once that is done, I slowly make my way out of the bathroom and give Christian a gentle kiss on the cheek. He mumbles something but then rolls his head and falls back asleep. I grab my phone and head out to the living room. I sit on the one of the overly large white reclining chairs and take a deep breath before dialing her number.
"Oh my God Ana!"
"Hey Kate!" I say with as much enthusiasm as possible. I want to be optimistic but I don't know how she's going to react.
"I was gonna call you today, great minds think alike right? Anyway, my internship is almost done but I have been asking around for a while and long story short, I'm moving back! I got this like really beginner job at Seattle Weekly. It's a small fairly new company but I think it has potential and most of all I can move back to my life. I'll be coming back in two weeks and we have to celebrate!" She sounds so excited.
"Wow, Kate that's great. We relay do have so much to celebrate."
"Yes, Ana, what's been happening in your life? I'm sorry I was just so excited!"
"A lot Kate." I say carefully.
"What's wrong?" She says picking up the uneasiness in my voice.
"Nothing's wrong I don't think but I have a lot to tell you. I think it'll be best though if I tell you in person."
"Okay, Anabee, you're really starting to scare me, do I need to come back sooner? Becaus-"
"No, you enjoy your last weeks in New York. I promise I'm fine now and I will tell you everything when you get back, okay?"
"Okay.. I just pulled up to the office so I gotta go but we'll talk soon okay?"
"Yeah. Love you."
"Love you too babe." And I hang up the phone. I'm glad that she's coming back because I think all that I have to tell her should really be told in person.
I now go in to the kitchen and sit down
While I'm looking through one of the cabinets, I feel a pair of strong hands wrap around me which startles me a little but I know that it's Christian. When he touches me it feels like my body comes alive.
"Shoo" I wave my hands at him. "I got this. I want to do this, you go do something."
He smiles at me before finally conceding and stepping away giving me a chaste kiss. "I'll be in my study."
Once he leaves I get back to my task. I've been looking through each of these cabinets every time because I can't remember where something is after I don't see it. Ugh, this is frustrating. I finally come up with a plan that may help me out. After taking a journey through this floor of the apartment, I finally find Christian's study. I slightly knock before stepping inside.
"Hello Beautiful."
"Hello Handsome."
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit." He jokingly asks as I go to sit in his lap. I lean in to give him a real good morning kiss that starts off innocent enough but as he goes to break it off I my hands grab the back of his neck to pull him closer and accidentally scratch him but that seems to spur him on as he audibly growls and puts his hands on my waist squeezing just a little bit. The kiss slowly comes to a stop and we break apart breathing heavily.
"Do you have any sticky notes?" I ask. He laughs a fully belly laugh after my innocent question after our not so innocent make out section.
"Yes, I do."
"Can I have a few?" He juts his head pointing towards the stack on his desk. I hop off his lap and grab a bunch of notes. "Thank you!" I say happy with my plan. Before leaving the room I turn around and ask him if his family likes southern food which he replies that he's sure they will like anything that I make.
I decide to stick with the meal I already thought of and make my way back to the kitchen. I use the sticky notes to put labels on the inside of the drawers and cabinets so I won't have to look through them anymore; they are generally very organized but I think I need the little bit extra help. Once I'm done with that I get the ingredients I need for my first dish.
While the chicken and vegetables starting on the stove, I start to heat up a meal that Gail has left us and get Christian from his study. We eat in mostly comfortable silence; I tell him what we will be eating tonight and he tells me about a company he's been looking in to all day as well as answering the question of how I should dress. I really want to make a good impression on his family; much like I wanted Ray and him to get along, I want to get along with his family.
—
I've been cooking for some time and I decide that it's time to get the ingredients for the biscuits and desserts so I go in to the pantry. While looking around I hear a female voice call out for Gail. I don't know what to do so I'm frozen to the spot and kind of freaking out because I have no idea who that is. As I brave myself to come out of the pantry, I hear Christian's voice.
"Mom?" He asks.
Okay, now I know who it is but it doesn't make me feel any better. My husbands mother, who doesn't even know I exist, is currently just a few feet away from me and I look like absolute crap. I don't have any makeup on, my wig isn't on, shit, I barely have any clothes on.
"Hi, what are you doing here?"
"Well, I got off and I had a little while before I needed to go home so I thought I'd help Gail with the cooking. You know you've never had us over and I don't want Gail to be overwhelmed. What is she cooking? It smells delicious."
While she was talking I figured I should still gather everything needed to finish up the meal. As I'm walking out I hear Christian say, "Actually Gail isn't cooking, Ana is."
"And who is Ana?"
"I am." I say putting the things down on the counter. I wipe my hands on the side of my bodysuit before going to shake her hand. "It's nice to meet you ma'am." Wow, even I sound nervous to myself. Christian senses this because he puts his arm across my shoulder and pulls me close to him; this should probably make me more uncomfortable but it makes me feel safer.
I see Mrs. Grey looking between us two; me in practically nothing probably looking like an alien and Christian still in his t-shirt and pajama pants; but she doesn't say anything.
"Oh.. okay, Well I guess I will see you two later." she says before walking away. Christian looks at me before walking after her.
Great. To keep my mind busy I just go straight back to cooking. Mostly everything is already done so I lower the flame on the greens and corn and then pop the chicken in the oven for it to finish cooking a little more.
Christian comes back in to the kitchen and gives me a reassuring smile but I don't feel so confident.
"Let me help with something. You've been slaving away all day in here."
"I don't mind, I always loved cooking."
"I still want to help with something." he says while reaching for one of the slices of apple I have cut but I swot his hand away and he puts playfully.
"No taste testing, but you can mix up the apples to make the filling."
"Yes ma'am." He salutes me making me smile. I instruct him on how to fill the mini pies without major spills or messes and he pops them in to the oven before I tell him to go off to wash up for dinner.
While he is washing up I finish up the batter for the biscuits but leave them on the counter because I want them to be fresh and hot when served. I take the chicken out of the oven and put the dish in the warmer before starting to put everything that I used away and wiping everything down. Christian comes back in looking sexy as ever in his dress pants and shirt.
"You go, I'll finish up here."
"Are you sure?" I remember him telling me he can't cook.
"Sure." He answers shaking his head but frowning.
"Okay.. everything is almost done so take the apple pie sticks out in about 15 minutes and if they let you know they're on their way put the biscuits in the oven. I should be done before they are ready to come out." I kiss him chastely and scurry away only turning back to look at him once.
I take a quick but much needed shower to relax my muscles, clam my nerves, and get this food smell off of me. I go in to the closet and sit at the vanity that Christian had installed for me. I start the makeup process that I sort of crafted over my months in the hospital. I have my foundation, concealer, mascara, eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, eyelashes and eyeshadow. I know, it sounds like a lot but its what I have to use to look normal until I get some of my color and hair back. Even with all the products I decide to keep my makeup very natural but add a little pink eyeshadow to match the color of my nails and my tinted lip balm.
Going in to the regular part of the closet, I pick one of my casual-but-could-be-dressy dress with an abstract print that will match both Christian and my makeup. I pair it with a simple pair of black flats and then go back over to my vanity to put my wig on. I massage my head a little before because putting it on is a little irritating and then put the cap on (since my hair isn't long enough to not need to use one) and then put on my wig situating it to make sure that is is on snug and that it looks natural. I like the wig I chose and I'm glad it actually came out the way I wanted it. It looks like my natural hair whenever I would get it done.
I take one last look in the full length mirror and see Christian appear behind me so I turn around.
"Well, you look very different."
"Good different or bad different?"
"Well, I miss my beautiful wife who is hiding behind all of this but I still love the person you are." I turn in to an absolute pile of mush and give him a hug and a chaste kiss.
"Everyone is here by the way."
"What?! Why didn't you tell me? How are the biscuits?"
"They're fine. I took them out when I noticed that they were starting to golden. Yes, I know a little something." He smirks. "Now, I'm sure my brother and sister have no idea you are here but I think my mom tipped my dad off."
I take a breath supposed to be cleansing breath but it doesn't really help my nervousness and I'm sure anyone can read it all over my face.
"Hey, hey. They are going to love you. They're going to get to know you and just like we discussed if our marriage or your sickness come up, we will tell them right." I can only nod my head. "Okay. Now close your eyes." I do. "And breathe." I take another breath and this time it actually helps a little.
"Now come on, I told them I just had to go get something." I smile at his little joke.
He takes my hand as we walk out of the bedroom and kisses my hand right before we get to the opening where you can see the rest of the apartment. His family is in a circle talking with each other and don't notice us until Christian clears his throat.
Author's Note:
I'm thinking about making keeping this story mostly in Ana's POV, any thoughts?
Also, I'm not going to torture you much longer. The family will meet Ana in the next chapter.
As always, Thanks for reading! Please review, comment, ask questions, etc.