Rachel and Clay-the-man stood in the kitchen together making an early dinner. Surprised, I hesitated in the doorway. Rachel typically spent her free time with Peter or at work. And Clay tended to stay in his fur when she was home.
Rachel paused her one-sided conversation to wink at me. I glanced at Clay, stepped further into the room, and slowly closed the door behind me. Clay remained focused on the food he stirred in the pan. Rachel walked past me on her way to get silverware.
“You didn’t tell me he could cook,” Rachel stage whispered.
Giving her a crooked smile, I made my way to a kitchen chair. I was exhausted.
“He cooks, he cleans, he warms up my feet at night, and he keeps the toilet seat down...so hands off. He’s mine.”
Rachel laughed, and Clay turned to give me an undecipherable look. I had a feeling he liked the “mine” part.
“How you feeling?” Rachel said, coming over to touch my forehead. “I asked Clay, but he didn’t say.” Rachel gave Clay a pointed look. Clay shrugged and went back to cooking at the stove.
“Not the best, but it’s getting better. I think it’s mental exhaustion, nothing contagious.”
“Mm,” she said in a noncommittal way as she eyed me speculatively. “I still think you should go to the doctor. Could it be something you didn’t think of yet?” She casually leaned close to me. “Pregnant?” she whispered.
Clay dropped the spoon. It hit the stove and bounced back at him. He caught it tight after a close fumble. Both Rachel and I stared at his back, but with dignity, he stayed facing the stove and kept cooking.
I turned back to Rachel with a wide smile. “No. Now, behave.”
We ate dinner companionably. After we finished, they shoved me out of the kitchen with orders to rest while they cleaned up. I went to my room and changed into my lounge clothes while listening to Rachel tell Clay about a cute pair of shoes she’d found. It made me smile. She would never break him. He’d never talk.
Dinner, though delicious and entertaining, had drained my reserves. I lay on top the comforter thinking I’d rest for a bit before I tackled that day’s homework. I still needed to talk to Clay about what I’d seen in the woods at the Introduction.