Chapter 56 Meg

Meg checked her watch to find that it was already noon. She'd taken so much time that all she had to do now was go sit in the living room and wait for her gardener. Mary was already gone so she wouldn't have to worry about the young maid catching them. She settled herself on the living room sofa and waited patiently eager for their next session. This affair with Fernando was making her feel younger every day. As usual, he did not disappoint. He came in right on time. He paused at the doorway and smiled at her. She could tell from his wandering eyes that he liked what she was wearing. She couldn't resist the urge anymore. She ran to him and flung herself at him. He held her by the waist and pulled her closer to him. Every day they had to pretend was torture. She wondered how much longer she was going to live like this. He smelled of sweat and her mind immediately ran to giving him a bath. It was part of what they would do every afternoon. "You stink," she joked cringing her face. "You look beautiful," he replied in that thick Italian accent of his. They always said the same things to each other every day and somehow, they never got bored. "We should get you out of these clothes," she said running her hands over his muscled chest. "I have something planned for us before that," he replied. "You do?" she was surprised. Fernando was always doing something unexpected. "Come with me,' he said taking her hand. He placed his hand around her waist and led her outside. She was excited and tried squeezing the information out of him, but her efforts bore no fruits. She let him lead her to the open garage. Her eyes widened in awe when they landed on what he had prepared. He'd cleaned up the garage which was usually messy and placed a table at the center piled with trays of food. Her favorite wine was at the centre of it all. She could spot a few flower decorations around her. Roses were everywhere around her. Fernando must have been listening when she told him about her favorite flowers. Her own husband had never cared. "What is all this?" she asked her eyes widened in surprise. "Only a beautiful gift for a beautiful woman," he replied leading her to the table. He pulled out a chair for her and helped her sit. He reached for some plates and started to serve her some food. All her favorite foods were lain on the table. He mentioned that he' spent hours cooking all of it. Fernando was actually a very good listener. He'd managed to plan this lunch exactly how she would have wanted it even with her favorite music playing in the background. She couldn't imagine a day go by without loving this man. He had come to be a great source of comfort to her. "Why did you do all this?" she asked again. No one had ever been this nice to her. Even her husband would have just taken her to dinner at some expensive restaurant and ordered something that she didn't like. That was if he ever took her out. He never liked to do anything for her these days and couldn't remember the last time they'd gone out. "Because you deserve the best. Besides, I thought we should shake it up a bit," he replied. She placed her hand on his and squeezed lightly in appreciation. "I love you," she said in the middle of their meal. She knew the timing wasn't right, but she just couldn't help herself. "What?" he almost choked on his food from the shock. "I love you," she said her head bent down as if in shame.