Pauper's Yearning Page 3

  "Well, dinner is served." Harriet said, extending her hand to uncover all the pots.

  What Preston saw made his mouth water. It was really beautiful and well cooked cheese, potato and sausage casserole, flat iron steak with parmesan sauce, spaghetti and some fruit salads. Preston couldn't wait to taste that food.

  "Wow," Preston gushed, rubbing his hands together. "This looks delicious and mouthwatering."

  "You can have the first bite and tell us what you think." Gregory said, looking straight at Preston. "I'll give you the privilege of having the first bite, courtesy of your future father in law."

  Tiffany was really scared as Preston took a spoon ready to dive into the cheese, potato and sausage casserole. She promised that if Caleb had made even a tiny mistake, she was gonna send him to hell with his mother. She was really nervous. It was undeniable that the food looked absolutely mouthwatering but anything could go wrong.

  "Wait," Janice said after a chuckle. "Don't you think the mother in law has more privilege? Why should my son taste? I'll do it."

  They all laughed.

  "No, I'll do it." Elena said. "I am the eldest so I should get to taste first."

  They all watched as she took the spoon and tasted the scrumptious looking meal. She began chewing really fast at first but it became clear that she didn't like as her jaw movements became slower and her smile was lost. Preston knew that the taste was not so good and that had been the reason why his grandmother lost her smile. Had it been tasty, she would have been smiling.

  "Whom did you say cooked this food again?" Elena asked.

  "Our...house help," Tiffany stuttered. Caleb was going to hear it from her now. She had given him a chance not to mess things up but ended up messing everything up. What if Preston' grandmother chose to go home in anger? It was gonna be a disaster.

  "You also said that we can punish him if this food isn't nice, right?" Elena said wearing a serious look on her face.

  "Yes," Tiffany nodded.

  "Well, call him for me because this food is not good at all." Elena said. Preston had never seen his grandmother act like that and he got worried. Even if something was bad, she kept quiet and ate in silence. That was unlike her.

  "Grandmother, please," Preston felt he needed to help the poor guy who had made that dinner. It was just dinner and the poor guy just made a mistake.

  "Don't worry, Preston." Elena said without any sign of emotions on her face and then directed her face at Tiffany. "Call him, please."

  Preston had his hands on his face. He had no idea what was going to happen because his grandmother had never acted like that before. It was obvious that she was gonna scold whoever made that dish. He heard the door to the dining open and after about two minutes opening again. He knew the poor boy had come and he slowly raised his face only to face the shock of his life. He saw the same boy he had seen and spoken to at the supermarket and his heart began racing again.

  Preston didn't want that boy to be insulted by his grandmother. He somehow had a connection with the boy and it would hurt him to see the boy cry. So many questions ran through his head. He couldn't understand what was going on. He had been to that very house several times but never for once did he see that boy. Preston knew there was something special about the boy because he had dreamt about that particular boy that night he had gone to sleep.

  "Here he is." Tiffany said. Preston watched as his grandmother stood in front of the boy who had cooked the food.

  Caleb was really scared and he was quivering. Tiffany had really warned him about that particular thing. He was now ready to die that very night.

  "Are you the boy who made that food?" Elena asked.

  Caleb couldn't afford to answer the old woman. He just nodded in fear.

  "They told us that if the food is not good then we can punish you." Elena said with a serious face that made Caleb shiver. He had never met the woman but it was clear to him that she didn't like the food.

  "I am really sorry Mrs. Miller," Tiffany apologized to make to the old woman even madder. "I should have taken charge of the kitchen but since it's his fault, you can do whatever you want to him."

  That statement from Tiffany really made Preston' heart to skip. He expected the woman to defend her house help but she was just supporting for his grandmother to do more on the poor scared boy.

  "Grandmother," Preston said, moving out of the chair. "Please, it's okay. It was probably a mistake and..." Before Preston could finish his sentence, his mother raised her hand and signaled him to shut up.

  "What do you have to say for yourself?" Elena asked the scared looking boy. Caleb was at the verge of crying. His aunt had just given an angry stranger permission to do whatever she wanted. What was worse than that at that particular time?

  Preston was about to say something before William pulled his shirt and he found himself on the chair again. He stared at William and the guy was smiling like he was enjoying what was going on. Preston was scared and he had no idea why but he couldn't watch his grandmother doing something to a poor innocent boy.

  "I'm...I'm really sorry ma'am." Caleb apologized. "To the best of my knowledge, I think I did my best. It's just a pity that my best wasn't enough." Caleb was really hoping for a good outcome, he was really hoping for one.

  "I have heard what you have to say and I must say, the food is not good," Elena said slowly touching Caleb's shoulder. "It's perfect and the reason why I called you is to see the boy who made such wonderful food. I must tell you; this is one of the best foods I have ever tasted."

  Caleb froze for a moment. He had been worried for nothing after all. Finally, someone who appreciated his cooking and it brought tears of joy to him. He had no idea how to express that joy so he just covered his mouth and smiled at the old woman who was touching him so sweetly on his shoulders.

  Preston smiled after hearing his grandmother's remarks. He found himself relieved and all his worries went away. He was happy but he noticed that William and his family's faces were down. It only meant that they wanted him to get punished, but why?

  "Thank you so much ma," Caleb gushed as he suppressed his tears.

  "You don't have to thank me," The old Woman said with a bright smile. "If the food was terrible, we were given permission to punish you and now that I found out the food was perfect I had to see you. And you are as handsome as your smile my dear."

  That statement melted his heart and tears fell down his cheeks. He tried to rub them but they kept on flowing. No one had called him handsome ever since his mother died. All he heard was ugly, alien, bitch, witch and many curses that were rained down on him. He was really happy.

  "Hey," the old woman said to him sweetly. "Did I say something wrong?"

  "No," Caleb said, trying to put up a smile as he rubbed his tears. "I am just happy that's all."

  "I am happy too." Elena said and squeezed his shoulder. "I never thought a boy could make such delicious food. So to appreciate for what you have done I am going to..." Elena paused and touched Caleb's cheeks. "...give you a kiss."

  Preston' mouth opened wide after hearing what his grandmother had just said. He tried to come to terms with it but he just couldn't. He had no idea if his ears were deceiving him but he heard his mother telling a stranger that she was going to kiss him, something that she had never done to William since she had known him. A kiss was as good as a blessing and if the boy didn't know, Preston' grandmother was about to bless him.

  Caleb watched as the old woman cupped his cheeks sweetly, made him bow softly and then kissed his forehead and then the cheeks. Caleb had known about the traditions of Cordovia and so he knelt, one hand on his chest and the other heading for the woman's feet. He touched the feet and then he felt the woman's hands on his head and it was final, she had blessed him.

  Caleb's mother had told him that a blessing from an elderly woman was really special than others. Caleb had just cooked some simple food and it brought blessings to him. He prayed for those blessing to send someone to rescu
e him from his prison and take him to liberty.

  Preston still couldn't believe it. His grandmother who rarely blessed people had just blessed a boy she had only met. He was both happy and surprised. Looking at his fiancé, Preston could clearly see that the guy was burning with anger and it got him worried. Somehow, Preston had felt a connection with that particular boy the first time he had seen him and now his grandmother too. Something was definitely beautiful about that boy.

  Caleb got up and the woman squeezed his arm the last time before she sat. Caleb was really happy but the moment he stared into Preston' eyes, he got scared and worried. Those green eyes were definitely telling him something but he quickly blocked his gaze and stared at everyone else at the table.

  His uncle's family was all looking so mad and Caleb really hoped that he wouldn't get beaten over such a little issue. He also noticed that Preston' mother was not happy at all but he excused himself and quickly went out of the dining to wait for whatever he was to be given.

  Preston stared at the spot where the boy had stood until he was snapped out of it by his mother. Something was telling him something that he didn't understand. He suddenly felt like his whole world was changing quickly.

  "Bon appetite ," Tiffany said with a controlled smile.

  Preston dived into the food and it took him to another dimension. That was the kind of food that would make someone in love with the cook. Had Preston not been engaged, he would have definitely tried his luck with the boy, kidding. But seriously, there was a being inside of him that was telling him that boy had a role to play in his life but what? He was neither related to William nor him but it was still telling him otherwise.

  Preston ate the food until he was full and couldn't take anymore. He felt his stomach getting bulged but he ate to every last piece. He noticed that no one said anything throughout the entire dinner. In fact, William and his family barely ate but he enjoyed it a lot and awarded himself with a glassful of champagne. Some kind of dinner that turned out to be, Preston thought.

  After dinner, Preston noticed that William was rather angry and so he took him outside where the guy stared at him in anger. Preston was so full that he didn't even have time to argue.

  ""Did you see that?" William angrily pointed to the house. "Did you see what really happened in there?"

  "Um, what are you talking about?"

  "Your grandmother," William yelled angrily. "I have tried everything possible just so that she could like me and bless me. What did she just do," William said breathing so heavily. "She just embraced and blessed a total stranger and a wretched house help for that matter."

  Preston was tired, fully packed and really had no strength for an argument so he tried to reason with William. Preston wrapped his arms around William and brought him closer to his body, planting a kiss on his lips.

  "Don't worry, my love." He planted another kiss on his lips, making him vulnerable. "That was nothing compared...err...to what's coming to you. Grandmother just liked the cooking and that's all. You are the one that I love and therefore, my grandmother will have no choice but to accept you."

  "You think so," William muttered.

  "I know so," Preston said, slowly turning William around so that he was holding him closer.

  Preston buried his face in William's neck, kissing him sensually, drawing a moan from him. He kissed for a few seconds and then moved to just holding him. Now that was he was calm, Preston had avoided a huge argument from heating up, at least for that night.

  "Honey," Preston muttered.

  "Yeah," William said as he held on to Preston' hands which were holding him tightly.

  "Can I ask for a favor?"

  "Anything, my love," William chirped, slowly turning his face to face Preston. "You know I can do anything for you."

  Preston laughed and then planted a kiss on his temple. "Can you prepare food for me every week day? For my lunch,"

  William gave out a long chuckle that left Preston stunned. He hadn't expected that kind of reaction from his fiancé. He needed to taste William's food so that he could fall deeper in love with him. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach...right?

  "What's so funny?" Preston asked, wondering whether he had said something funny. "I think it's about time I stopped eating food from the restaurant. You can prepare food in the morning and..."

  "Me," William hollered, releasing himself from Preston' hold. He needed to stare at the man that suggested that he began cooking for him every week days. William found it funny. He was not William the fucking chef; he was William the business man.

  "Uh uh," Preston nodded. "Do you think it's a good idea?"

  "No," William said after he had finished laughing. "I don't cook. I am a businessman remember? Besides, it's the reason why I have that stupid house help. That's his work."

  To be honest, Preston was disappointed by that answer. Even he who was richer than William knew how to cook. What sought of husband would William be? In the Miller house, every daughter or son in law had to cook once in a while. It was a family tradition and failure to do so create a very bad relationship with his grandmother. As it was, William was not on the good side of his grandmother. Preston really hoped that William would impress his grandmother with cooking. It was now hopeless.

  Preston had known that the reason why his grandmother had blessed that boy was because of his cooking skills. His grandmother really liked those that impressed her with their cooking skills. William in that case, was...uh...on a worse side of his grandmother.

  "It's okay," Preston tried not to sound disappointed.

  "I won't cook but I'll have my servant cook something for you every day and he'll deliver it to you."

  "No," Preston chuckled. "I don't want to bother him with..."

  "Come on," William hollered, looking straight at Preston. "He's my servant and what I say, goes. He'll deliver homemade lunch to you every day. This is my promise to you."

  "Are you sure it's fine?" Preston muttered. "I can just continue having lunch from the..."

  "You know what?" William said, moving closer seductively. "You talk too much."

  William grabbed Preston and they shared a hot kiss that was both sensual and sweet. It was a kiss that made Preston wonder why he felt so attached to William's kisses yet he was drawing far apart from him as days went by. His behavior was turning out for the worst.

  After the long kiss, Preston and William headed inside the house where they reunited with their family and just had wedding talks over champagne. It was really a happy family occasion but Preston' mind suddenly took him to think about the boy and how his grandmother had kissed and blessed him. He shook his head as he needed to forget about all the things that had happened that night.

  Preston just let the night take him and in about two hours, they exited the door after saying goodbye. His mother promised that they would soon visit and they were all happy. Preston couldn't wait to taste that tasty food once again, he couldn't wait for Monday when the boy brings more food. From food now Preston was thinking about the boy. What was really happening to him?

  *****

  Caleb scrubbed the pan slowly, remembering the kisses and the blessing he had received from the woman. They had already gone back home but Caleb couldn't stop smiling. He had been wearing that smile ever since the old woman blessed him.

  He prayed for those blessing to bring him luck and a knight in shining armor to take him away from his life of misery. He didn't care whether the guy would be rich or poor. All he cared about was finding the love of his life and for that, he allowed nature to take its course.

  Caleb opened the tap, waited while the water removed the soap from the pan and smiled. He had just closed the tap and was ready to put the pan back into its rightful place when all of a sudden he found Harriet standing behind him with a serious face, folding her arms on her chest.

  "Mom wants you in the living room now." Harriet said rudely, eyeing him in a disgusting way up and down.

  "Just g
ive me a..."

  "Didn't you hear what I said? Mom is ordering you and not requesting." Harriet yelled making Caleb lose his smile.

  Harriet turned and left shaking her ass like a whore on the runway. Caleb was really scared. What had he done now, Caleb thought as he went back to the past? Last he remembered, he had followed all her instructions, just like she had said,

  "Follow my instructions or I'll kill you" Right?

  Caleb rubbed his hands and then rushed to the living room where he found the welcoming committee sitting on the couches with their arms folded on their chest. This was one of those moments where you knew you had done nothing but at the same time, you were gonna get beaten.

  Caleb's heart was racing, he could hear the blood passing in his ear, his body quivered in terror and his tears were just a second away from flooding his face.