Bree Hodge walked down the steps, and headed into the kitchen. It was really early in the morning, about five or so. Bree had become a fan of waking up early so that way she could get up and start the day early.
Bree had also spent the night thinking about Gabby. For the past three days, Gabby had stayed confined in her house. Both Bree and Ria had gone over to see Gabby, but Gabby looked disheveled each time that they went over.
Gabby had told them that for the past three days she had been feeling extremely nauseous. She had recovered from the one night, only to catch a bug from Juanita and get sick all over again. Bree turned on her kitchen light to see Ria sitting at the counter.
Ria was calm as always, and eating her ice cream. Bree put on a nervous smile. "Ice cream in the morning? Aren't you….flexible…" Bree stated. Maybe hiring Ria was a bad idea. Bree had been getting this creepy vibe lately from Ria.
Ria seemed to always have this cat-like air about her. She would always give people the most cautious looks, and Ria did have a tendency to come from no where at times.
"It really does help me get through the day. Chef Tamney always told us that it was good to start the day off with a….treat…" Ria said, before eating another spoonful.
Chef Tamney was a very well respected chef. Bree's reason for hiring Ria was because Ria had worked with him. Ria was also, in a way, a huge help to Bree. Bree had begun to get exhausted with Orson's somewhat controlling behavior.
Not to mention that Katherine almost never seemed to bee around to help anymore. Katherine had been rather giddy when Bree had seen her lately. Bree took it as a new man in Katherine's life, but that was no excuse. A man shouldn't interfere with a woman's work, especially if it was Bree's work.
"Oh well…Chef Tamney seems like a good man. I was thinking about bruschetta for today's lunch. Maybe we could even help out with Lynette and Tom. Their business has plummeted ever since the police took Porter away to be having problems with their business….maybe I could help them out alittle…" Bree said, drifting off into space.
Ria watched Bree cautiously. The more Bree would be out of the house, the better. Ria needed less Bree time, and more Gabby and Carlos time. Sure, Ria did love to cook but she also loved revenge.
She loved the feeling of it boiling inside of her, and she couldn't wait to lash it out on Carlos after all he had done to her and her family.
Bree was lucky that she wasn't an annoying, essential 'boss'. Ria would have to kill her too otherwise.
"Well, she is your friend…I think you should support her in anyway possible…" Ria suggested. Bree turned to look at Ria. "Oh, but I don't think that Lynette would like that…you don't know her. She would probably take it as me seeing pity on her…" Bree stated, shaking her head.
Ria raised an eyebrow. "Well, aren't you?" she asked.
Bree looked over at Ria. Ria had a point.
"Well…you're the younger one. The more…in it. If you think that it's a good idea, then I'll pull through with it…" Bree said, with a tight smile.
"Always glad to help my boss…" Ria stated.
Bree cleared her throat, and began to pour herself a glass of water.
"I really do hope that Gabby is better. I don't understand how someone could get sick so suddenly as she did. She told me that she came home from shopping, and then she got sick right before she went to bed…" Bree said, with a sigh.
Ria bit her lip, but nodded anyway. If Gabby hadn't drank the drink she had mixed up for Carlos, Gabby never would have been sick.
Ria also noticed that Gabby was losing some of her weight. It was probably because Carlos was getting his eyesight back, and Gabby wanted to look pretty for him.
"I was going to stop by today and see how she was doing…" Ria stated.
Bree turned to look at Ria. "Oh, that's very sweet of you Ria. You seem to have become very fond of Gabby and Carlos…" Bree said, with a small smile.
Ria forced a smile. No she was not fond of Gabby and Carlos. She despised them. However she was fond of causing them pain.
"Astera is pretty friendly with Gabby as well. Astera is such a nice person. Mike is lucky to have a cousin like her to straighten him out," Bree said, with a small laugh.
Ria stared down at her bowl in thought. The mere mention of Astera's name was starting to get to her. Bree was right. Astera seemed to love talking to Gabby, and that was a problem. Ria couldn't get close to Gabby if Astera was filling Gabby's head with ideas. Some of the ideas could even be about Gabby herself!
Ria had often tried flirting with Mike, just to peeve Astera, but it never worked. Mike would never flirt back, and Astera seemed to be occupied on other things. Astera was also late for a lunch at Lynette's on Monday, and she was late for tea on Wednesday.
Ria had been suspicious about this behavior. Astera never used to be late before, she had always been on time. Lately, Astera had seemed distracted…and very self conscious. Ria would notice that Astera would make all of her moves as if someone was watching her.
"Yea, Astera seems like the role model cousin. She just…fits in so well with everyone on the street…" Ria said, finishing her ice cream.
"Well, she's such a gentle soul. Mike really seems to trust her. I bet Astera is the kind of person who would keep a secret, no matter what the cause…" Bree said, with a sigh.
…………………………….
Astera felt her back press against the tree as she wrapped her arms around Dave's neck. Dave stepped closer to her, deepening the kiss. Astera smiled, before pulling away from him.
"Wow. Good morning…" she said, with a small smile. "How is the lovely Astera Hart doing this morning?" Dave questioned.
"To be honest…pretty tired. Are you sure Edie isn't up yet?" Astera asked, looking around the tree, at Dave's house.
She had been out on her morning jog when Dave appeared from behind a tree, and pulled her into him.
Dave smiled. "She is never awake when I go out in the morning to get the paper…" he stated.
Astera closed her eyes and sighed. "Yea, but someone else could be on the street…this is kind of dangerous…" Astera said.
"No one is awake at this hour…unless its Mike going out for an early plumbing job. Hey, is he planning anything big with Katherine any time soon?" Dave asked.
Astera shook her head. "Not that I know of. Not anything big at least. I think they were planning a day trip up to some springs or something…" Astera replied.
Dave smiled. Astera had begun to tell him anything he wanted to know. For the past few days, Astera had been telling him different things about Mike and Katherine. They had gone from what they were both allergic to, up to where they had gone for dinner on Tuesday night.
Dave had followed them there, and watched them through the restaurant window from his car, watching as the man who he swore to punish got closer to the woman he was coming to love. Astera was really being a huge help to him, but Dave still was not fully satisfied with their current situation.
They had done pretty much everything…but one thing.
"We should tell Mike," Dave suggested. Astera blinked up at him, in shock. She let out a small laugh.
"Are you serious? Wonder how that would go…. 'Hey Mike! I've found a man for myself, you know him very well! Who is he? Oh, its your best friend Dave! You know…the one who is married!'…" Astera said, giving Dave a look.
Dave touched her face, softly. "I think as long as your happy…Mike won't care who you are dating…" he said, with a small smile. Astera opened her mouth to protest, but Dave beat her to it. "Do I…not make you happy?" Dave asked.
Astera shook her head. "No, you…do. But I don't want Mike to think that I'm a homewrecker…" Astera stated.
Dave looked down at the ground. He wanted Mike to know about how Dave and Astera were engaging in an affair. That way Mike would see him as 'Astera's Man' and they would probably spend a lot more time together, and Dave could have more of an open window for revenge.
Dave had no choice. He needed to play a cliché card. No matter how tough Astera was, she was still a woman. There was nothing more that would make a woman break than when a man broke first.
"I'm sorry you feel that way…its all my fault…I conned you…" Dave said, turning away. "Dave, no its not your fault. You didn't con me either. I willingly go along with the sex and everything…" Astera said, pointedly.
She was falling into the trap, and Dave had the perfect next line.
"You've just made me so happy lately…I can be anyone with you. I'm not just some rich motivational speaker. I'm…Dave. I just wish I could have the chance to express my happiness…" Dave said, looking down.
Astera's gaze softened. "I didn't know you felt that way…but if your not happy with Edie then why are you still with her?" Astera questioned.
"Edie is fragile, Astera. She tried to kill herself apparently when she found out Carlos was leaving her. They weren't even married, and she was devastated. How will she feel if her husband leaves her?" Dave questioned.
Astera paused, in thought. It did make sense.
"But…I can completely understand…" Dave said, pulling away.
Astera grabbed him by the tie of his bathrobe and pulled him back towards her. Dave turned to look at her, and he could tell by the look on her face that the tears he'd been trying to force were working.
"Okay…we can tell Mike…but…not yet…" Astera said, looking at him.
Dave smiled, and stepped forward and hugged her. "Thank You…" he said. He didn't mind too long of a wait. Just as long as Mike thought that Dave was making Astera happy, that was okay.
Dave pulled away and looked at Astera, and smiled.
"I better get home…and you better get back inside…" Astera said. Dave smiled. "Kiss goodbye?" he asked. Astera smiled. "No," she replied.
Dave leaned closer to her. "No?" he asked, his lips brushing over hers. "Definitely no…" she said, before kissing him softly.
She pulled away after a few seconds, and slid out of his arms. She gave him a small smile, before jogging back down the street.
Dave watched as she jogged away. If Astera didn't tell Mike about it soon, then Dave would have to find a way to make it clear without actually saying it.
………………………………………….
Ria knocked on Gabby's door, and a few seconds later it flew open. Gabby stood there, a smile on her face. "Ria! Come in! I have to show you something!" Gabby said, motioning for Ria to step inside.
Ria raised an eyebrow, before stepping inside. "You seem a lot better…" she stated. Gabby nodded, before leading Astera into the kitchen.
Ria walked in, and saw Carlos Solis sitting in a chair. At the sound of them walking in the room, he turned around.
Ria noticed that the bandages were now off his eyes, and he stood up. "You must be Ria…" he said, with a smile.
Ria forced a smile. Carlos had now officially gotten his sight back, and now he knew what she looked like.
Carlos tilted his head as he stepped closer to her, while Gabby rested her head on his shoulder.
"Have we ever met before?" Carlos questioned.
Indeed they had, only Ria was different. She had black hair then, but now she had dyed her hair and even gotten slight surgery done so Carlos wouldn't recognize her.
"No…" Ria replied, bluntly.
"Oh, that was weird…well…I heard you've been helping us out a lot. I'm going to try to make it up to you in any way I can…" Carlos stated.
Ria smiled. Carlos would indeed make it up to her. Carlos would be sure to repay her for everything he'd done to her.
"How do you feel about ice cream?" Ria questioned, with a wide smile.
