Chapter 41

AJ walked over and took her in his arms, "Krista, what's wrong? We're here to help, let us."

She turned in his arms and smiled brightly, too brightly, and said, "Nothing at all, lets eat!"

"If you're sure, then everybody let's eat. Is the tea ready, Krystal?" AJ asked helping Krista up and to the table.

Looking at Tom, Krystal replied, "I'm not sure, how can you tell?"

He shrugged, he had seen what Krista was doing to the mugs and he had never seen tea made that way before, he had no clue how to tell.

"It's ready," Krista said, "just bring it to the table and the honey is here for anyone that wants it sweet."

"Alright, I think I can do that," smiled Krystal bringing over the mugs.

"Thank you all for bringing dinner," Krista said as she looked through the boxes for the vegetarian selections.

"It's been awhile since we picked them up, do they need to be warmed up?" Krystal asked setting down the mugs.

"I hope not! I don't own a microwave thingy," Krista informed them.

"Someone check, quick and we can warm it up in the oven," replied AJ.

Krista had found a veggie only dish and held it to her as if he would steal it away, "You are not getting this Albert! I am hungry enough to eat it cold!"

Tom laughed at the fierce look on her face and announced that the box that he opened was still hot.

"Boy this is good," laughed Krystal with sauce dipping down her chin. Wiping her mouth. "We have to eat there again, Tom I love it."

"Tom's a pretty good cook himself, Krystal. Have him cook for you sometime," smiled AJ taking another bite.

"Hey! What about me? Will you cook for me too Tom?" Krista asked batting her eyelashes at him flirtatiously.

Stunned Tom didn't know what to say.

"Sure he will. We'll have dinner together tomorrow night - the four of us. How does that sound to everybody?" asked Krystal looking at Tom with pleading eyes.

"Sounds great to me, Tom. What are we having? Remember Krista doesn't eat meat," grinned AJ.

"Or anything cooked in animal fat!" she said clearly.

"Um, sure…we'll have you both over and we can grill out, that way there'll be no worries about anything," Tom assured them.

"See why I love him so, Kris? He is so wonderful and handsome and giving. He is definitely a keeper," grinned Krystal kissing Tom on the cheek.

"I don't know, I think Albert is better looking..." Krista said and then blushed.

"Well, thank you, Krista. It's been a long time since a beautiful woman said I was better looking than anyone," he smiled gently. "See Tom? There are women left in the world with great taste."

Krista just blushed all the more. Tom looked from his friend of several decades and his fiancée's sister. Would things ever work out for those two? They had so many strikes against them at the start. "She has to say that, old buddy, she has your buns in the oven!" Tom teased. "And since I'm already taken she has wisely decided to settle for second best!" he added.

"Tom! Will you say things like that when I carry your baby?" Krystal asked pouting. "Carrying a baby is a beautiful thing, you eat buns, mister."

"Well, I don't know. If you'll look anything as beautiful as your sister does when you're carrying our baby, then you can bet I'll think you look good enough to eat!"

AJ had just taken a sip of his tea when Tom said that and sprayed it across the table as he laughed at the double entendre that he was sure his friend had not meant!

"What's so funny?" asked Krystal looking at AJ with a frown on her face. "And the ring is not on my finger yet, Tom. Care to switch twins? Beside carrying a baby is supposed to be a beautiful thing, not something that sounds like you're going to take out and eat," pouted Krystal. "Are you going to say such awful things when I carry your child."

"Dufus! He was giving us both a compliment! Geesh, sometimes you can be so dense sis!" Krista said as she reached for seconds.

To be continued…