Chapter 10 - Kitchen dinner

The kitchen was slightly lid and the curtains drawn, keeping the darkness of the night outside.

"I should be getting home soon," Silas said as they finished eating.

Jenny nodded. "I should be going to bed as well.

"You are not going to…" Silas paused, "never mind, I should not interfere – anymore – in your business."

Jenny shook her head, "please, it doesn't matter. I owe you a great deal of thanks."

Silas smiled, "you owe me nothing." He stood up, rinsed his plate, and put it in the dishwasher before he turned around to face Jenny. "I will be going now, but here is my contact information," he said as he handed her a card. "If you ever need anything and if you would like to go for dinner any other time."

Jenny took the card and put it in her back before she escorted him back to his car. "I hope you have time enough left for a good sleep before your next shift."

"I have managed on less," he said with a grin, "though as a doctor, I do not condone neglecting sleep."

Jenny smiled, "I should be making sure to get some sleep as well then if the doctor commands it." She thought for a moment before she dared to wink at him.

"The doctor does indeed command it," he said, answering back in a slightly more flirting tone than before, and with his eyes slightly narrowed accompanied by a wicked smile.

"Goodnight then," she said and reached out her hand.

He took it and squeezed it gently. "Goodnight Jenny," he said in a sweet tone as he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, "take care of yourself. And be more careful in the future."

And then he drove off before she could come up with something more to say. She wished she had dared ask him to stay, not to get back at her husband, but simply because she liked Silas. She wanted him to stay by her side, supporting her when she needed it, and letting go when she could stand on her own.

Jenny walked back inside and soon found housekeeper Linda without any trouble.

"Linda," Jenny asked, "any word from my husband yet.

"No Mrs." Linda answered.

Jenny nodded, "alright then, would you give me a word, when he does – even if I'm asleep."

Linda nodded and was about to leave the room, as Jenny remembered another thing. "Oh, and as soon as my husband is home, would you send Maia to my room."

Linda lifted her brows, "and if she is asleep,"

"Send her anyway. She will forgive me for the untimely disturbance."

Linda nodded once more and left.

Luckily there was no need to wake Maia up in the middle of the night as Ezra hadn't arrived home when the sun rose and as the sun approached the middle of the sky, still no one had seen any sign of him.

Jenny walked to Lora's room, thinking that perhaps he was hiding there and had somehow snuck his way past Linda in the middle of the night.

Maia was right behind her with a tray of sweets, drinks, perfume bottles, makeup, and an array of stuff – possibly clutter – Jenny had asked her to bring.

Jenny closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she knocked on the door to Lora's chambers. One deep breath and she would have answers. Another deep breath and she could act calmly. One last breath, and she would not blame Lora for the faults of her husband. She knocked on the door.

"One second," a shaking voice answered from the other side.

Jenny feared the worst. Had she caught them in the… No she hadn't. She had heard them before and Lora's voice was far more… expressed, when they. She supposed Ezra like this.

"I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting," Lora said as she swung the door open to see Jenny's face. They looked at each other with much of the same expression: surprise and confusion, their mouths slightly spread and their eyes a little wider than usual. "Would you like to come in?" Lora asked and let Jenny and Maia inside.

Jenny was still trying to get the images she had been imagining out of her head and just numbly walked inside and plopped down in a chair.

Maia glanced from Jenny to Lora before she decided to take matters into her own hands and began serving the sweets and drinks she had brought. The rest of the stuff she placed on a desk away from the couch area.

"Please," Jenny finally remembered what she came here for, "have something to eat."

Lora sat down in a chair next to Jenny and grabbed a macaron, somewhat suspicious at this strange display of… affection, or care for her. "Was there anything I could do for you Mrs?"

Jenny blinked rapidly a couple of times, "no no, I just wished too." Jenny stopped herself. "If I might speak frankly with you, I came here to see if my husband was with you."

Lora stopped biting her macaron and just sat quietly like a fish with her cheeks puffed out. "I thought he was with you - for the dinner," she said, trying to speak through her food as elegantly as possible. It wasn't elegant but might be considered cute if you can stand people speak with their mouths full. "Sorry," she mumbled as she hurriedly finished her macaron.

"Well, he was… Until he wasn't. I came home before him."

"Okay…" Lora paused, "and what would you like me to do then?"

Jenny considered it for a moment. "If you have any way of contacting him, please. I have something to tell him."

Lora nodded eagerly. "Of course, I can do that. I think at least."

Jenny smiled widely, "good, good. Right Maia?"

Maia looked from one lady to the other. "Yes. Good. Indeed. Good." She nodded quickly and left the room, slightly more hurried than usual.