7☕

❝So many words to say and no ways to say them❞

As Desiree entered into the kitchen she started getting out the utensils and ingredients to prepare dinner for that evening and also a warm snack for them. She loved cooking and when she had some free time she sometimes invented some recipes.

''Is there anything I can do to help?'' Elliot asked her after a while that he had been watching her rush from one cabinet to another.

''You can chop the vegetables, if you like'' She told him as she pointed to several different vegetables sitting on a plate next to the chopping board and started to stuff the chicken on the opposite side of the kitchen table.

''Sure'' Elliot told her as he washed his hands and got to work.

They had been working in silence for about ten minutes when Desiree's favourite song came on in the radio and she started singing to it softly and dancing slightly as she placed the chicken and the not so neatly chopped vegetables into the oven.

Elliot looked up from the recipe book that Desiree had given him when he heard her singing along to his favourite song as it played on the radio. He immediately closed the boring recipe book and went to stand behind her as he grabbed hold of her hand after she had closed the oven door.She immediately turned around with a confused expression on her face as she looked into his brilliant green eyes.

''May I have this dance?'' He asked her as he bowed slightly with that dimpled smile on his face.

''Em, sure'' Desiree told him as she looked down at the floor and bit her lip, a habit of hers that she did when she was nervous.

Elliot wrapped his other arm around her waist as they started to move slowly but in sync to their favourite song. She immediately felt the air around them start to thicken and her heartbeat started to beat faster than ever before, as the small space between them started to close slowly. Just as their lips were about to touch Alice entered into the kitchen and disturbed their moment.

''What the heck is going on in here?'' Alice asked loudly. Elliot and Desiree immediately jumped apart from each other feeling embarrassed, Desiree was instantly filled with guilt.

''Nothing is going on, would you like some tea and a muffin maybe?'' Desiree asked her as she tried to avoid the questions that her sister was surely going to ask.

''It didn't look like anything to me, and I would love some tea and a muffin please.'' She told her as she sat down where Elliot had been sitting a minute ago.

''Coming right up!'' She told her as she immediately rushed to the kettle and filled it with water before putting it on a burner. They were instantly surrounded with silence as none of them dared to say a word, but that silence was soon broken by the screaming of the kettle.

''Would you like some coffee, Elliot?'' Desiree asked him without meeting his eyes as she poured the boiling water into two mugs for her and her sister.

''Yes please'' He told her as he went to get the milk out from the fridge and placed it next to her.

''Thanks'' She thanked him as she looked shyly up at him and took Alice's mug and muffin and placed them in front of her sister who was chatting on her laptop.

☯

After they had drunk their tea and coffee, Desiree got up from her seat and made a gesture for Elliot to follow her into the hall.

''Would you like to take a shower before dinner? My parents will arrive in about an hour so you'll have enough time to get ready.'' She told him.

''That would be great.'' He told her with a smile as she lead him into her parents' closet once again so he could change from his clothes that were soaked with rainwater. After a few seconds he picked out a black v neck and black jeans, which her father rarely wore because they were torn at the knee.

Desiree lead him to the downstairs bathroom and made sure that there was a towel and the essential things.

''If you need anything just tell Alice since I am going to be upstairs, but I think that you have everything that you need, you can put your clothes in the laundry basket so you take them clean at home.'' She told him with a small smile as she started to make her way out of the bathroom, but she was stopped as he grabbed hold of her hand.

''Thanks for everything that you are doing with me, it means a lot to me,'' Elliot spoke those words with such honesty in his eyes that she just stood there for a few seconds before she spoke.

''It's my pleasure'' And with those words, she left the bathroom and went upstairs into her bedroom so she could take a warm shower and reflect on the events that had happened in just one day.

☯

When Desiree went downstairs after she had showered and got changed into a comfortable pair of jeans and a sweater that had belonged to her mother, she found Elliot serving the chicken and the vegetables on plates for them.

She couldn't help but think that he looked amazing wearing all black except for his American flag bandana pushing back his curly locks from his forehead and she was glad to see that he had removed some of the butterfly stitches from his face.

''Dinner smells delicious, I can't wait to eat!'' Desiree said cheerfully as she walked into the kitchen and started to decorate the table. Her parents were going to be back home any minute now.

''You are a good cook'' Elliot praised her as he placed the plates on the table.

''And you're a good vegetable chopper'' She told him with a grin as she lit up the candle in the middle of the table.

He was about to say something when the doorbell rang and both Desiree and Alice rushed to open the door to let their parents in.

They both looked tired but had a grin on their face like they always did as they hugged their two daughters and kissed the top of their heads before they walked down the hall and into the kitchen.

''Elliot, it's nice to see you again! How are you doing sweetie?'' Amber asked Elliot with a grin on her face as she placed her work bag on the floor and sat down in her usual seat at the kitchen table.

''I'm much better, thank you Mrs.Lock'' He told her with a grateful smile.

''It's Amber, and it's our job to help people.'' She told him as she looked at her husband who was sitting on her right hand side, who was looking hungrily at the food in front of him.

''Who cooked dinner today?'' Rupert asked as he looked up from his plate to look at his daughters who were sitting opposite them.

''I prepared the chicken and Elliot chopped the vegetables,'' Desiree answered as she smiled to her left where Elliot was sitting.

''You make a great team because this dinner looks better than anything your mum has ever cooked.'' He told them with a smile as they laughed while Amber complained.

After the laughter had died down Rupert bowed down his head and his family did the same, except for Elliot who looked confused at Desiree, who motioned for him to do as they were doing.

''Father of us all, This meal is a sign of Your love for us: Bless us and bless our food, And help us to give you glory each day. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen'' Rupert prayed and after he was finished his family repeated amen and made the sign of the cross before they started to eat.

Desiree peeked at Elliot and saw that he had an unreadable look in his eyes, and she made a mental note to ask him about it later.

About halfway through their meal, they heard the doorbell ringing.

''I'll get it!'' Desiree announced as she hurriedly got up from her chair and ran out of the kitchen to open the front door.

When she opened the door she froze as she looked at the person who was standing in front of her with a smile on his face.

''Noah, what are you doing here?'' She asked him with her eyes wide open in shock.

''I'm here to see my baby girl of course!'' He told her with a smile as he leaned in and placed a swift kiss on her lips.

''Desiree, is everything ok?'' Her mum's voice asked from the kitchen, but she didn't reply as she closed the door behind the two of them.