FATHER ALWAYS SMILING

Chapter 03 ~~~~~~

"Yes, it was amazing! None of us had something that good in so long! Though that's probably because of my parent's jobs and school. It's always been hard trying to find the time to cook. They're both busy, and my brother and I are pretty bad at cooking, so to receive something like that after just arriving was really unexpected."

"I'm happy you enjoyed it," he says with a smile. "Say, would you like to come inside? I can give you a copy of the recipe if you or your family are interested."

"Oh, I don't want to impose. I know you're probably busy."

"It's fine," he says as he heads into the house. Only to stop and look back at her as he chuckled, seeing her not move from where she stood. "It's alright Miss Ortiz. I don't bite."

She felt a flush of embarrassment rush to her cheeks. "Oh, okay..." she says softly as she steps into the foyer and closing the door behind her. "Should I take off my shoes?"

"Yes, please. There are some guest slippers in the closet to your right. You can put your shoes there." He calls from the kitchen of the house.

As Elain did so, her mismatched eyes wandered about, the staircase near the back which led to the upstairs, the wood for the floor were of the same dark colour, possible walnut? Given how old the place was, it wouldn't surprise her. She peered further in, seeing what looked to be an entertainment room to her right where there was a fireplace with a flatscreen TV above it, a couch with a coffee table in the middle and a bookshelf that held more framed photos than books by the doorway.

While on her right led to a rather impressive-sized kitchen, with dark redwood cabinets and black appliances. With a large island in the middle made of black and white marble, it looked to have been one where a professional chief would work. While to the right of it looked to be where what would have been a wall once stood, now had an impressive sliding door that was left open, which led to an equally impressive dining room table lined with several chairs.

The man had a lot of money.

"How are things with accommodating to your new home?" he asked as he flipped through what looked to hold business cards but instead was something to store recipes. Smart. "If you aren't sure of something, I'm more than willing to asset."

"You don't have to do that." She says but then adds. "You know you didn't have to go out of your way to make something like that for us. I mean, we wouldn't want to inconvenience you, especially since my family and I just moved in."

"It was just a simple steak and mushroom pie, and it was nothing of the sort. I merely saw the movers arrive early this morning and thought to myself that you and your family might enjoy something like this since you were all dealing with the move. I was worried I might have been overstepping my boundaries. You can never tell with some folks."

So, he did make the pie. "I don't think you were overstepping. If anything, I think my parents were happy to have a decent meal that isn't frozen or takeout for once."

He glanced at her with a smile. "I personally never liked anything that isn't made by my hands. I've always made dinners for my daughter and myself, sometimes I will go to a local bakery, but even then, I like making what we eat regardless of what it is."

That was an interesting way to look at it, but then Elain wondered something. "Is it just you and Amalie?"

This seemed to bring the man to pause, his back still facing her. "You met with Amalie?"

"Just briefly, I think she was just curious about what was going on since it was so busy. It's pretty normal for a kid."

"Oh yes, I remember now. She did mention that. I suppose she forgot to tell me that you both met. But that's fine. And to answer your question Miss Ortiz, yes, it is just her, and I. Amalie doesn't have a mother, hasn't for a good majority of her life."

"I'm so sorry." She said quickly. "I shouldn't have asked; it was rude."

"You weren't rude at all." He says as he faces her, handing her the recipe in question. She realized that he had written it down, on top of which he had beautiful penmanship. "I find it good that young women your age are so inquisitive."

Elain couldn't help but feel embarrassed. "Thanks, though; people often tell me I should mind my own business and that I'm too nosy."

"I see nothing wrong with it at all." He says as he leaves the kitchen and back to the front entrance. "A healthy dose of curiosity is always good for the mind, regardless of age."

"I guess," was all she could say back as she followed after him while looking at what the recipe initialled before putting on her shoes.

"I'll see you around then, Miss Ortiz." He says as he opens the door. "Tell your family I say hello."

"I will. Thank you again, Mr. Hilmarsson." She said as she headed out the door as he waved goodbye. When he closed the door, Elain looked back at his house and smiled. She felt good things coming from this.

* * *

Alastor watched as one of his new neighbours headed back across the street, smiling while doing so, as he gave her a wave when she looked back. She, in turn, did the same thing as she went on her way.

What a sweet girl. He thought to himself as he headed towards the back of the stairs to the basement door. He paused, then listened, no sounds. His daughter was upstairs currently listening to music while reading a book, a fantasy series that she immensely enjoyed, and would become completely engrossed in it to the point where everything else around her would vanish. A wonderful thing that imagination was.

He then used the electronic keypad to unlock the door as the faint sound of music from the 1930s could be heard coming from below. "Best not keep our dinner waiting any longer." He said with a chuckle as he decided to close the door behind him as he did so.