Chapter Two Hundred and Sixteen - Late Night Dinner

"What?" Adian sat up quickly, disoriented, he blinks away the sleepiness. Reaching out he grabbed my shoulders, his brows twitching. "What happened? What's wrong?" He questioned me, still half asleep.

Embarrassed for scaring him, I slowly slid between the sheets.

"Hailey?" Adian frowns, "talk to me," he requests softly, with an encouraging smile.

I looked at him nervously, "I'm hungry," I responded shyly, turning to stare out the window.

"Me too," Adian agrees with me, instantly sliding off the bed, wearing a boxers, he searches for a pants.

I followed him off the bed, but I went into the washroom instead, to relieve my bowels, happy to see him waiting for me, when I returned into the bedroom.

After brushing my teeth and washing my face, feeling clean, I smile brightly at him, not missing his surprise frown.

Pointing behind me, "you need to use that?" I asked, but he shook his head. Dressed in a joggers, he led me downstairs, our hands entwined. It was not until I looked at our joint hands at the bottom of the stairs, I realized, he didn't fall!

Following my gaze, to our entwined hands, "I didn't fall" he whispers, nodding to the kitchen.

"Let me," I insisted when Adian moved towards the refrigerator. "You take a seat and relax," I instructed him, already opening the door and peering inside, unable to remember what Mrs. Harris made for dinner.

Looking over my shoulder, "There's fried chicken and macaroni from lunch?" I suggested to Adian. as he nods with a sleepy grin.

"Make an extra plate," Basil says, startling me.

I spun around to yell at him but stopped when I saw Mel with him, my eyes glancing quickly at the clock.

Why's the kitchen so busy at one thirty in the morning?

Tiptoeing I reached for two extra plates, since we have company and one's already requesting a plate.

Suddenly I felt self-conscious of my short PJ's, which must be riding up as I stretched for extra plates.

"Can you help me?" I turned to ask Adian, but I bumped into his bare chest, which was literally in my face.

Chuckling, "you smell good," I whispered, as he stretched over my head to retrieve the plates. "Two" I reminded him, "two plates," I clarified.

"Aren't you having the pie?" Basil asked taking a seat beside Mel, putting two beers on the table, causing my mouth to water.

"Oh is that what Mrs. Harris made for dinner?" I asked, turning to see if Adian wants pie.

Mel got up and took the pie out of the refrigerator and started cutting pieces, for us, putting a smaller portion on my plate.

We ate in silence, ensuring that I kept close to Adian, listening to him discuss work related stuff with Mel. My mind slowly drifted off to Emmy, who was sleeping alone upstairs.

"Did Emmy have dinner?" I wondered out aloud, interrupting the conversation between Mel and Adian.

Basil nods, with his mouth full, grossing Mel and I out.

Screwing my face in disgust, "remind me, never to double date with you at a restaurant again." I told him, hearing Adian chuckle besides me, before taking a sip of the beer.

Mel looked away from her beau, laughing.

"Don't worry, she had one and a half PBJ, juice and a glass of milk, plus she didn't con me into adding late night snacks for her." Mel laughs at Emmy's antics, her eyes twinkling as she speaks about Emmy.

Jealousy stabs me instantly!

This is the way Emmy makes me feel. She's brings joy and laughter into my life on many occasions and I'm the one who should be having these moments with her.

Emmy's mine!

Since she's staying here, maybe Adian and I can apply to adopt her, like I originally intended too.

Happy with my decision, I dug into my dinner, anxious to discuss Emmy's adoption with Adian, later.

I need to be stronger and better for her so that she can depend on me.

But I have so much to do in the meantime and the first thing is, David Sullivan!

I took sneak peeks at Adian, while he ate and discussed a friend of Basil, who just returned from the Marine, injured.

Adian is already discussing ways to help him, get back on his feet as soon as possible.

He's really a good guy, with a good heart, a heart I hope will always be mines. I thought as I continued staring at him, lost in my thoughts.

"Earth of Hailey,! I heard Mel laughing, while Basil snaps his fingers in front of me. "You okay in there?" Basil asks, chuckling.

I stare back at him unsmiling, finding his question insensitive, especially with what I've been through.

Pushing back my chair, I stood up, "yeah, I okay inside here," I responded, flicking my forehead, but not in here" I added, pointing to my heart, which I realize was too much when I saw, Basil's laughter disappear.

Looking away embarrassed, "I'm sorry," I quickly apologized, turning to Adian, hoping he's not angry at my response to his friends joke. "I... I..." stammering, I shook my head at Basil, "I took that the wrong way and I am sorry," I started stacking the empty dishes on the table.

Mel stood up and stopped me, "you've nothing to apologize for and yes, Basil's comment was insensitive," she admits, turning to glare at a remorseful looking Basil. "So he'll be remaining to do the dishes and clean up while we sleep." Mel smirks, while my husband remained silent looking on thoughtfully as he listens to our conversation or bickering.

"I'm sorry," I whispered to Adian, whose eyes were on beer bottle, which he keeps rolling in his hand.

Turning to Basil once again, "I'm sorry," I tell him again, before leaving the kitchen without waiting to see if I am being followed by my husband.

On my way to the bedroom, I stopped outside Emmy's door.