Spending time together

Chapter 14: Spending time together

The evening was calm, and the kitchen was filled with the

rich aromas of a home-cooked meal. Aunty Maggie and Jane stood side by side,

working together in harmony. The sound of Pots clinking and the occasional hum

of Aunty Maggie's favorite cooking playlist filled the air. It was a special

evening—Michael was coming over for dinner.

Jane was bustling around the kitchen, ensuring everything

was perfect. She wanted tonight to be memorable. Michael had always been kind

to her, and the gesture of him helping with her fees had weighed heavily on her

mind. She couldn't wait to thank him properly, and this dinner felt like the

right moment.

"Jane, don't forget to set the table, love. It's almost

time," Aunty Maggie said, glancing over her shoulder as she stirred a pot of

stew.

"I'm on it, Aunt Maggie," Jane replied, walking over to the

dining table. She carefully set out the plates, glasses, and silverware, making

sure everything was just right. As she placed the last fork down, the doorbell

rang, and her heart skipped a beat.

"He's here"

She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. Aunty Maggie,

sensing Jane's excitement, gave her a knowing look. Jane waved at her, silently

signaling that it was time.

With a quick glance at the door, Jane hurried over, her

footsteps light and eager. As she reached for the doorknob, she could hear her

own heartbeat quicken in anticipation.

She opened the door, and there he stood—Michael, looking

effortlessly handsome in a simple shirt and jeans. His smile was warm, as

always.

"Good evening, Jane," Michael greeted her, his voice smooth

and sincere.

Jane beamed, her cheeks flushing. "Good evening, Michael.

Come on in," she said, stepping aside to let him enter. "Dinner's almost

ready."

Michael nodded with a smile and stepped inside, his presence

making the house feel even more inviting. As they walked to the dining room,

Aunty Maggie greeted him warmly. "Well, well, look at you, Michael. You clean

up nicely."

Michael chuckled, giving Aunty Maggie a polite nod. "Thank

you, Aunt Maggie. It's a pleasure to be here."

The three of them sat down at the table, and the atmosphere

was filled with the sounds of soft chatter and the clinking of cutlery as they

enjoyed the meal. The food was delicious—comforting, home-cooked perfection.

Aunty Maggie took a moment between bites to speak up.

"Michael, I just want to thank you again for helping with Jane's fees. It means

a lot to both of us."

Michael waved a hand dismissively. "No need to thank me,

Aunt Maggie. Jane is a bright young woman. She deserves the best education, and

I'm happy to help in any way I can."

Jane felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. She had been

too shy to express it properly earlier, but now, sitting across from him, she

wanted to say how much it meant to her. But before she could speak, the

conversation naturally drifted into other topics, and the evening flowed on

comfortably.

 As they talked and laughed, Michael and

she seemed to lose track of everything else around them. Their conversations

felt like they existed in their own world, their gazes meeting, and then

drifting into comfortable silences before picking up again.

Aunty Maggie, who had been watching them from the corner of

her eye, cleared her throat loudly. The sound was enough to make both Jane and

Michael snap back to reality. They both blushed slightly, quickly adjusting in

their seats and avoiding each other's gaze for a moment.

"Well, it looks like you two are getting lost in your

conversation," Aunty Maggie said, a playful glint in her eye. "Don't let me

interrupt."

Michael chuckled softly, a faint color rising to his cheeks

as well. "Sorry about that. We were just talking about—"

"Don't worry about it," Jane interrupted, trying to hide her

own flustered expression. "We were just reminiscing about some old school

memories."

Aunty Maggie smiled knowingly but said nothing more. The

rest of the evening carried on smoothly, with the three of them talking,

eating, and enjoying each other's company.

Eventually, Michael stood up, signaling that it was time for

him to leave. "Thank you for a wonderful dinner, Aunt Maggie. Jane, I had a

great time tonight."

 Jane stood as well, walking him to the door. "Thank you for

coming, Michael. I'm glad you could make it."

Aunty Maggie stood in the background, waving as Michael

stepped outside, and Jane followed him to the door.

"Take care, Michael," Jane said with a warm smile, watching

him step onto the porch.

"You too, Jane. See you soon," Michael replied, his voice

soft as he turned to leave.

As the door closed behind him, Jane stood for a moment, her

heart full. Aunty Maggie, who had been watching the exchange closely, winked at

her.

"That went well, didn't it?" she said, a knowing smile on

her face.

Jane rolled her eyes, but her smile was genuine. "Aunt

Maggie…"

The two of them stood there for a moment, the house quiet

again except for the soft sounds of their breathing.

"Well, at least the dinner was perfect," Jane murmured.

Aunty Maggie chuckled, her voice full of mischief. "I think

Michael would agree with that."

They both laughed softly, sharing a quiet moment as the

night settled around them.