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“Why are you up?” she asked, frowning. “Are you sick?”
She saw the preparation for dinner taking place, and he was dressed and his hair had been cut.
“Honey, no. Come on. I’m making a special dinner for you tonight to pay you back for all the dinners you make me that I take for granted like some old-country chauvinist.”
“Aw, Mike, I don’t look at it like that at all. I never felt like you take me for granted, ever.”
She sniffed the air. “What’s cooking?”
“Twice-baked potatoes,” he said. “Compliments of the chef at the deli.”
Aisling giggled. “That’s about as perfect as it gets. I’m so lucky to have you as my husband.”
Snuggling up to him, she could feel the tension in his body. “Mike, what is wrong?”
“We waited so long to get married,” he said, choking back the tears. “Everything has been perfect.”
“It really has been,” Aisling said, finally hanging her purse on its hook in the kitchen. “And it will keep being perfect. We’ve made the honeymoon last, haven’t we?”
The only thing Mike had not determined was when to break the news. If he told her before dinner, they wouldn’t have an appetite. Waiting until after dinner, she might think he was being a little dramatic. He chose during dessert. She’d have a glass of wine under her belt and be relaxed.
“Get comfortable,” he said. “I have everything ready, just need to throw the steaks on the grill.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back to help.”
“You don’t have to help,” he mumbled when she was out of earshot.
The steaks were sizzling on the prepared grill when she met Mike on the patio.
“This is so nice,” she said.
“I made virgin cocktails, but you can have wine,” he said. “I have to work tonight.”
“Aren’t you going to be tired? You must have gotten up early.”
“Something woke me after noon, so I know I got at least four good hours. I’ll be fine. If it’s quiet tonight, I’ll catnap. Have a seat.”
He pulled her chair out, and when she was seated, he reached behind the grill and brought out the bouquet.
“Oh, how pretty!” she cried. “What’s the occasion? I feel like I’m missing something.”
“It’s just because I love you,” he said, his voice trembling. “No other reason.”
Then she looked at him suspiciously. “You’re not having trouble with that lady Devon knows, his old neighbor Lila?”
Mike couldn’t help himself, he burst out laughing. “Aisling, no offense, but you aren’t serious, right? Lila’s in her mid-thirties.”
“You have to admit this is out of character for you to cook dinner and bring flowers. It’s making my head spin.”
Turning the grill off, Mike pulled the chair out in front of Aisling. “You’re right. I should have been doing this all along. I’m sorry. I’m not doing it out of guilt though, you don’t have to worry about that. I never even look at another woman.”
“I believe you,” she said, looking up at him. “I’m sorry. Let me help you get dinner on the table and we can eat. My sister called me at work. Da is sick again. This time I’m really worried.”
Great!Mike thought.Now I can leave with her old man dying.Old Man Murphy was a personality to contend with, and although he wasn’t one of Mike’s favorite people, he was Aisling’s da, as they called him.
“Oh no,” Mike said, but he was glad for the distraction. Talking about him would take the focus off whatever was wrong with Mike since, evidently, you’d better have a good reason for cooking your wife a meal.
“Let’s eat,” he said, placing the salad bowl on the table and a plate with steak and potato in front of her. “I forgot rolls. Do you want bread and butter?”
