Mary and Layla

Chapter 5 - Lady of the House

We arrived at Layla's house. It's a small mansion, not overly extravagant, but certainly more so than a common house. Its charm and elegance were evident, and I admired the beautiful architecture.

With the sun setting and the night gradually settling in, Layla turned to me and warmly extended an invitation. "Mary, it's getting late. Why don't you join us for dinner? I'd love for you to stay."

I couldn't hide my delight as I accepted, "I'd love to!"

With that, I gathered her groceries from the back of the car, and I followed Layla and Clara into their home.

Layla, with a gracious smile, said, "Mary, if you could put the groceries in the kitchen, that would be wonderful. Clara, why don't you show Aunt Mary where everything goes?"

"Yes, Mom!" Clara eagerly took the lead, guiding me to the kitchen.

Clara was surprisingly perceptive for her age, already putting away some smaller items within her reach.

"You're a smart girl, Clara. When I was your age I only knew how to drop eggs on the floor," I couldn't help but to praise her.

Clara widely grinned with pride at the compliment.Together, we organized the groceries in the kitchen, with her pointing me to the overhead cabinet where I should store the items.

We returned to the living room where Layla was busy kindling the fireplace. I couldn't help but notice the gas heating switch and controller on the wall nearby and asked, "Why aren't you using the gas heater? It seems much easier."

Layla sighed softly as she continued tending to the fireplace. "Well, the truth is, the boiler in the basement is broken. I've been meaning to get it repaired, but the repairman can only come during weekdays, and I've been so busy."

I nodded, she must have been extremely busy.

"Would you like me to kindle the one in the dining room as well?" I offered.

"That would be very helpful." She thanked me warmly for the offer.

As I worked on lighting the second fireplace, I couldn't help but notice that the refrigerator in the kitchen also made a strange noise. It left me wondering if there were other household appliances in need of repair. As I continued to stoke the flames in the dining room, I couldn't shake the thought that Layla might have more on her plate than she let on.

-

Layla prepared a simple rice-gruel-ish dish with mushrooms for dinner. Despite the appearance, the aroma of the dish was just mouthwatering. As we gathered around the dining table, I couldn't help but appreciate the freshly cooked meal in front of me. It was a rarity for me, as I had grown accustomed to the taste of canned rations during my time abroad.

I savored each bite, not only because it was Layla's cooking, but also because it was a genuine, homemade meal. I turned to Layla with a warm smile and complimented her, "Layla, this is amazing. You're quite the cook."

"Oh, please, it's just a simple risotto." Layla blushed modestly but seemed pleased by the praise.

"Oh, that's the name of the dish? I'm sorry, I'm not exactly familiar with it." I confessed my ignorance.

Layla smiled warmly and began to explain, "Well, risotto is an Italican dish, which is where I came from, and it is one of my favorites. It's made from a special type of rice called Arborio rice, which is cooked with broth or stock until it becomes creamy and flavorful. In this dish I used mushroom stock, which I also made myself."

I listened intently, realizing that I hadn't asked Layla much about her background before, including where she came from.

"Italica eh? I heard it's a beautiful country." I commented.

Layla's eyes twinkled with a mixture of pride and nostalgia. "Yes, it's a beautiful place. I moved here to Harbour City many years ago, and it's been my home ever since. But I always try to keep a bit of Italica in my cooking."

I nodded appreciatively, grateful for the insight into Layla's heritage and the opportunity to connect with her on a deeper level during our dinner conversation.

Clara, with youthful exuberance, couldn't resist boasting about her mother's cooking. "Mom's the best cook ever, Aunt Mary! She makes the yummiest food."

I couldn't agree more with her.

Between bites of the delicious dinner, I couldn't help but inquire, "Is your husband coming home soon? I feel like I should greet him."

Layla's smile faltered slightly as she replied, "Actually, he's abroad for work and won't be home until next week."

I nodded in understanding, but I couldn't help but detect a hint of loneliness in Layla's voice. It seemed that while she maintained a warm and inviting home, it might be incomplete without the presence of her husband.

Well, I suppose I have to play my part, shouldn't I?

I took another bite of the delicious risotto before offering, "You know, I'm something of a handyman myself! I'd be more than happy to help out fixing your broken things over the weekend."

Layla hesitated, a hint of concern in her eyes. "That might be an exhausting job. You don't have to do that."

"I insist! I'd love to help you out. Besides, it'll be a productive thing to do over a slow weekend." I insisted.

Just then, Clara, always eager for some fun, chimed in. "Aunt Mary, can you play with me too then?"

I smiled at Clara and nodded. "Of course, Clara. We can play after I have finished with the repairs."

Layla, seeing the enthusiasm from both me and her daughter, sighed and smiled helplessly. "Well then, that sounds wonderful. Thank you for being so kind."

"Just leave it to me!" I puffed out my chest.

-

As I got ready to leave Layla's home, I turned to her with a warm smile. "Thank you so much for the wonderful dinner, Layla. It was truly delicious."

Layla returned the smile and said, "You're very welcome, Mary. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Clara, her eyes sparkling with excitement, couldn't contain her enthusiasm. "Aunt Mary, I can't wait for the weekend!"

I chuckled and knelt down to Clara's eye level. "I promise, Clara, we'll have lots of fun."

Clara's grin widened, and she gave me an enthusiastic nod.

With our plans for the weekend set, I headed out to my car. Layla and Clara stood on the porch, waving goodbye. As I drove back to my apartment after the delicious dinner, I couldn't wait for the upcoming weekend. The thought of spending time with Layla and helping her with any tasks that needed attention filled me with excitement.

However, beneath my eagerness, a nagging thought persisted. I couldn't shake the feeling that Layla might have more on her plate than she was willing to admit. The broken boiler, the odd refrigerator noise, and other potential household issues weighed on my mind. It felt like my responsibility as a friend to ease her burdens, especially during the absence of his husband.

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