The Dinner

It was a really long day. I initially said no when he called the house and asked me to come and have dinner with his family. When he asked why, I just said that I was too tired and that I wanted to get some rest so that I could study on the weekend. He insisted. He was coming in from Philadelphia and he offered to pick me up on his way so that I didn’t have to drive. He knew that I hated night driving and that I didn’t feel safe driving when I was tired. I folded and agreed to go.

He was so excited to see me. When I answered the door, he wrapped his strong arms around me and squeezed me tight lifting me off of the ground. “Oh, I missed you so much!” he whispered in my ear as he tightened his grip. “I hate being away from you.”

I closed my eyes to relish in his warmth. It felt so good to once again be in his arms, to feel his breath on my neck, and to breathe his cologne. “I know, I missed you too,” I murmured into his shoulder.

His grip loosened as he lifted his hand to touch my face, stroking my eyebrow with his thumb and staring deep into my eyes. He smiled, showing his perfect white teeth. “We better get going,” he said as his eyes sparkled.

I grabbed my purse and my coat locking the door behind me. We walked across the yard to his car. He had always been such a chivalrous man; he opened the door for me and helped me into his SUV. We were soon well on our way to his parent’s house. They lived on the opposite side of town. The city wasn’t all that large, but it was still a bit of a drive to get there. We talked in the car catching each other up on everything that happened since the last time we had talked on the telephone. He had done very well on the last test that he took. He was convinced that he had failed. He called me the night before the test; I will never forget the phone call. It was a midterm test that he was very stressed about. I tried to calm him down, but he was too frantic. He had been studying since the beginning of the semester and there really was no reason for him to fail. I tried to tell him that and I tried to convince him to get a good night’s sleep. Being a medical resident, I knew where he was coming from. There was no talking to him. He began to become defensive and angry with me. I decided to end the conversation before it ended in a fight; that was the last thing that he needed that night. He also shared some funny stories about his crazy roommates. I really didn’t have much new going on other than the usual to share.

Before we knew it, we were at his parent’s house. He went into the back seat and pulled out his bags and then he opened the car door for me. Together, we walked into the house. His father greeted his son with open arms giving him a huge hug and patting him on the back while giving me a look that could kill. His father wasn’t very fond of me. He felt that I was white trash because of where I grew up. I grew up in the suburb, but the city that was only 15 minutes away had a very bad reputation. I guess that he felt that I just wasn’t good enough for his well bred son. Whoever would have thought that a doctor wouldn’t be good enough for someone’s child? His mother greeted me with open arms and directed all of us to the table.

I was quiet throughout the dinner. I spent most of my time picking out the mushrooms in the main dish. Rick spent most of his time talking and sharing stories of dental school with his father. His father glared at me several times until he finally spoke, “What are you doing? My wife worked all day making a wonderful dinner for you and you have hardly touched it! Didn’t your parents teach you any manners?”

“Richard! That’s really not necessary! Maybe she just doesn’t like mushrooms! I’m sorry dear, I should have asked,” she said trying to intervene and keep the peace.

“No, it’s okay. I didn’t mean to insult your cooking. It’s very good, I just don’t like mushrooms,” I replied hoping to stifle the argument.

More glares from the father. There went my appetite, not that I really had much from the beginning. That man just made me feel sick to my stomach. Rick put his hand on my knee and squeezed, while looking at me pleadingly. I found comfort in his hand. I put down my fork and wiped my mouth with my napkin. I folded my hands in my lap and lowered my head, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault; it’s your breeding; it’s where you’re from. No one ever taught you how to act properly.”

Thankfully, the conversation ended with that and dinner continued quietly. I just pushed my food around the plate. I was so upset, I couldn’t eat. I just wished that once, just once, I could stand up to him without fear of ruining my relationship with Rick.

After dinner, I helped Rick’s mother clear the dinner table and clean up the kitchen. She maintained that I didn’t need to help her, but I did anyway. I felt so horrible about being the cause of the argument at dinner; I felt that the least that I could do was help clean up. Rick came up from behind me and grabbed me around the waist resting his chin on my shoulder. I stopped and just closed my eyes embracing the moment.

“I appreciate what you are doing, but I really wanted to spend time with you. Won’t you please come and sit with me on the couch?” he mumbled into my ear longingly.

At that moment, his mother looked at me as if to give me permission. I put down the dish towel and I interlocked my fingers into his and he lead me to the living room where he started a welcoming fire. He sat down on the couch resting his arm on the back. I sat next to him. He placed his arm around me. I finally felt safe. He began to stroke my forearm with his hand and before long; I nuzzled my head into his chest and was fast asleep.

I felt something touching my face, so I raised my hand to brush it away. I hit a warm strong hand then I felt his lips caress mine. I opened my mouth slightly to allow his tongue to slide through and fondle mine. He slowly pulled back, kissing my lips and then my forehead. I opened my eyes to his affectionate and loving smile. He began to stoke my face again.

“I’m sorry sweetheart; I fell asleep and it’s really late. I think you better just stay here tonight,” he spoke softly.

I forced a smile. The thought of staying in the same house with a man that despises me was horribly frightening. But since Rick drove, I felt the need to comply. The fire was out and Rick turned off the television set. He led me up stairs and while he changed, I washed my face and brushed my teeth.

“Looks like my mother anticipated you staying. She left some clothes here for you,” he said showing me where she had placed them on the bed. “I will be right back,” he said heading towards the bathroom.

I changed into the satin pajamas that she left for me.

Rick returned closing the door behind him. He walked up to me taking hold of my face with both hands and looking into my eyes, “I love you,” he uttered as I reached for his hands, petting them.

A tear escaped my eye, as I smiled. I just couldn’t return the “I love you,” just not yet. I wasn’t ready.

Rick seemed upset as he turned away to turn down the bed and invite me to it. Rightly so, he just proclaimed his love to me and I didn’t return the response. We crawled into the bed together and he held me, massaging my arm until I fell asleep.

I woke up the next morning to a kiss on my cheek. I turned toward the kiss and Rick was sitting on the bed. “I made breakfast for you. I thought that we could have it together in bed, and then I will take you home. We both have some studying to do today,” he said while brushing the hair out of my face.

What a loving gesture, breakfast in bed. It was a glorious morning. It was this morning that I discovered that I loved Rick. I wanted to wake up next to him every morning for the rest of my life. I wanted to share my life with him in every aspect. I smiled looking into his eyes and kissed him. It was my way of saying thank you for loving me. There was a long pause. No, I can do better than that.

“I love you,” I announced with certainty.

He just smiled as if he had known all along. He ran his finger down my nose and kissed me again.

The End?