When they got back to Rossi's, the first thing Hotch did was usher Christine into the sunroom and make sure she was comfortably situated on the loveseat with her feet propped up. Then, he gathered up all her packages, and took them upstairs to her study.
"Aaron," Christine protested the treatment. "You don't have to do all this pampering. I'm just a little tired – I'll be okay!"
"You always take care of everyone else," Hotch sternly told her. "This time, I am taking care of you!"
He then quickly assembled leftovers from the previous evening, heated them up in the microwave, and served lunch for both of them in the sunroom.
"Why is it that some things taste better the next day?" Christine wondered as she ate the impromptu meal. "And, by the way, you are a wonderful cook!"
"I had the easy part. I just applied the heat," Hotch smiled at her. "And, now," he continued, "You are going upstairs to lie down for a while."
That evening, Hotch was waiting in the foyer when Christine came down the front staircase ready to go out. He had dressed with care in his usual well-tailored dark suit, with a white shirt and silk tie. However, he was curious about the outfit Christine had chosen.
When she appeared at the top of the stairs, he caught his breath. She had found a gauzy, chiffon top that fell about her in a way that suggested rather than showed the curves concealed underneath, and had paired it with a pair of pajama-style trousers. A pair of her trademark 3-inch heels completed the ensemble.
"Do I look okay?" Christine worried as she descended the stairs. "It has been a long time since I have gone someplace fancy."
"You are going to turn heads, and in a good way," Hotch assured her. He looked closer at her ears. "Are those the infamous diamond earrings?" he asked as he offered her his arm.
"Yes, and it's a good thing Dave confiscated them," Christine told him as she put her arm in his. "It turns out they really are diamonds! This is the first time I have worn them since – Well, in a long time."
When they arrived at the restaurant, the mater'd greeted Hotch by name and guided them to their reserved table where he held Christine's chair for her.
"My family has been coming here for years," Hotch confided to Christine. "I remember him seating us when I was a boy, home from boarding school for the holidays."
They had just begun examining the menu when an older, grey haired lady walked over to their table. "Aaron Hotchner – I knew it was you!" she exclaimed.
"Mrs. Thomas," Hotch stood up as he greeted her. "It has been a long time. Are you and The Judge dining here this evening?"
"Oh, yes. We are right over there at our regular table," the woman turned to indicate a location on the other side of the room. "You know, we have tried a lot of the new places, but we always end up back here. The food and the service are always so dependable."
"That's what my mother always used to say," Hotch agreed. He looked down and smiled at Christine.
"Mrs. Thomas, I would like you to meet a friend of mine," he began the introduction. "This is Christine Nielson. Christine, Mrs. Thomas and her husband, The Judge, are old friends of my family."
Christine began to stand up, but Mrs. Thomas waved her back down. "Don't bother, my dear," she told her. "It is a pleasure to meet you. But, you'll have to excuse me, I need to get back to The Judge. He has trouble ordering without me there to steer him right."
"I'll stop by to say 'Hello' to him before we leave," Hotch promised as she turned to go.
Dinner was excellent, served with traditional formality. After they had finished desert, Christine excused herself to go to the ladies' room. When she emerged from the stall, Mrs. Thomas was standing in front of the sinks.
"Hello, Dear," she greeted Christine.
"Hello Mrs. Thomas," Christine replied. "Are you enjoying your evening?"
"Excellent as always," was the enthusiastic reply. "And you?"
"I have been very impressed," Christine replied carefully. "The food was very good and the service has been extraordinary."
"Aaron has always had excellent taste," the older woman informed her. "From his mother's side of the family, you understand. How long have the two of you been seeing each other?" Christine could swear the woman was trying to inspect her mid-section through the gauzy top.
"Oh, we're not dating," Christine hastened to clarify the point. "Aaron and I know each other through work. He knew that I was going to be alone this weekend and, like the gentleman he is, offered to take me to dinner."
"He is indeed a gentleman," the older woman agreed. Christine could swear there was a glitter in her eye as she left the restroom.
"I was just quizzed," she reported when she returned to the table.
Hotch looked at her curiously.
"Mrs. Thomas was in the ladies room," she reported. "And, she was curious about whether we are a couple. You will be happy to know, that I told her otherwise."
"Great!" Hotch moaned. "That means I will probably be getting an invitation to one of her gatherings to meet yet another of her female relatives. You should have told her the truth!"
"At the moment, I'm not really sure what that is," Christine replied.