The One

Dinner's at Randale: Part 1

The night before the Randale family was set to return to their home, they had extended an invitation to the Ethelwulf family for dinner, ostensibly as a gesture of gratitude for the barbecue they had hosted for them. However, beneath this friendly façade lay William and Anna's true agenda: they were eager to introduce their son Christian to the Ethelwulfs' youngest daughter, envisioning him as her potential future husband.

That evening, William and Anna discreetly probed the Ethelwulf family with carefully crafted questions, gathering insights about them without raising suspicion. After learning more about the Ethelwulf family, they decided the moment had come to introduce their daughter to Christian. To William and Anna, Christian was not merely kind; he was a paragon of virtues—handsome, well-built, a family man through and through, polite, straightforward, and blessed with a sharp intellect. He seemed the perfect fit for their daughter, who was as cunning as a fox, slippery as a snake, and yet fiercely loyal to her family and anyone dear to her.

The following day dawned grey and dismal for Christian. He found himself restless, deprived of his daily dose of his mate's presence, as her window remained tightly shut, the curtains drawn against the world outside. Each furtive glance he cast towards Karol's window yielded only the oppressive sight of her deep red curtains, leaving him yearning for a connection that felt perpetually out of reach.

Yet, unexpectedly, his gloomy day took a turn for the better when his father mind-linked him with an announcement: they were to return early for dinner at the Randale household. They had graciously invited the Ethelwulf family to share a meal as a token of appreciation for their hospitality during the previous night's barbecue. The excitement surged through Christian; the thought of finally being reunited with his mate face to face brightened his spirits as if a storm had passed.

As hours flew by, it felt like a lifetime for Christian, who counted down the minutes until dinner with a palpable anticipation. In contrast, Karol swiftly prepared an array of dishes, moving through her tasks with eager, fluid energy, creating a delightful spread designed to please a range of palates—from cold appetisers to spicy delights, ensuring something for everyone's taste.

"I'm home!" they announced, entering the house with Jason by their side and making their way straight to the bustling kitchen.

With their recent engagement, Sharon and Jason's bond was visibly strong; they seemed inseparable, a new dynamic that the family had come to accept with warmth. For Karol, unaware of the special dinner guests, her welcoming smile sparkled with sincerity as she greeted them, "Welcome home, everyone! Dinner's almost ready!" Oblivious to the fact that it was the Ethelwulf family who had been invited, she carried on with her joyful preparations.

"Wow, sis, you've prepared a feast! Who are we inviting?" Sharon inquired, her eyes widening at the sight of the meticulously arranged plates adorning the large dining table.

"Daddy and mummy asked me to prepare plenty since they invited a family over for dinner. I made enough food for about twelve to fifteen people," Karol responded happily.

She moved closer to her sister, surveying the impressive spread, before patting her back with encouragement. "You're going to need to rest after this," she said playfully, snatching a morsel of food before bounding up to her room to get ready.

"I saw that, and I'll definitely catch up on my rest afterwards," Karol scoffed, watching her sister sneak away, knowing too well that Sharon intended to pilfer a few bites before vanishing.

Thirty minutes later, the food was nearly ready, set aside but not fully plated, as Karol dashed upstairs to shower and freshen up. Time slipped by as she hurriedly showered and dressed, finally making her way back downstairs. Clad in a simple oversized black T-shirt and shorts, she halted midway as the doorbell chimed. Rushing over, she swung the door wide open to reveal Beo and Accalia, their friendly smiles brightening her afternoon, accompanied by a few others trailing behind them.

"Oh, hi! Come on in! You must be Mr and Mrs Ethelwulf? My parents are in the TV room; please, follow me," Karol said cheerfully, ushering them inside before leading them to the cosy TV room where she announced, "Mummy, Daddy, your friends Mr and Mrs Ethelwulf are here." Both William and Anna rose to their feet, extending warm handshakes as greetings filled the air.

"Beo, Accalia, this is my daughter, Karol Randale. Karol, this is Uncle Beo and Aunty Accalia. We enjoyed their barbecue last night," William said, introducing them amicably.

"Ah, yes! Hello Uncle Beo, Aunty Accalia! I'm so sorry I missed your barbecue; I was feeling a bit under the weather. Now that I'm better, I'll go serve the food—if you'll excuse me." Karol said, feeling a tad awkward at being the centre of attention, and quickly retreated to the kitchen.

Unbeknownst to her, Christian had been trailing behind her like a devoted pup, eager to be near his mate and offer his assistance. As Karol busily grabbed a few plates from the counter, she turned suddenly, startled to find Christian standing close by.

"Oh my lord, you scared me!" she exclaimed, hugging the plates tight against her chest.

"Sorry! I just thought I'd lend a hand since two is better than one," he replied, a sheepish grin playing on his lips.

"Sure, why not? Could you grab the big bowl for the salad? Do you know how to make a salad?" Karol asked, a hint of playful challenge in her voice.

"Emm, I guess I could learn to make it. Just direct me what to do and I'll whip up a mean salad," Christian said, enthusiasm bubbling in his voice.

"Alright then! Grab some salad vegetables, cherry tomatoes, cheese, mayonnaise, lemon, red cabbage, and some beef strips for the salad," Karol instructed briskly.

"On it, boss!" Christian smiled, his confidence soaring. He flung open the fridge door, digging for the ingredients like an eager puppy, but ten minutes later, he was still rummaging around, muttering to himself as he wrestled with the chaos of the shelves.

Karol, watching him, shook her head in amusement. "Move over, let me help," she said, nudging him aside with her shoulder. The brief contact sent a delightful tingle through him, causing him to beam at her.

"It's hard to find them," he protested, standing close enough to catch her scent, which only made him feel more flustered.

Karol arched an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips as she swiftly retrieved the elusive ingredient from the back of the fridge. "Of course, it's hard for someone who's never set foot in a kitchen!" She turned back to him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Now, wash those first and chop them into bite-sized pieces, okay?"

"Okay, I'll try my best," he replied sheepishly, as he gave her a determined look.

"Oh, we never exchanged names, have we?" Karol asked, busy plating the last of the food.

"Right! My name is Christian Ethelwulf," he declared, extending his hand enthusiastically.

"Karol Randale," she replied, shaking his hand before returning to the stove.

"Nice to meet you," he smiled, trying to keep the moment light.

"Nice to meet you too! Now, could you speed it up with that salad? And remember to wash your hands again after shaking mine," she urged, her no-nonsense gaze fixed on him. "People are starving, including me."

"Yes, ma'am! So sorry," he replied, hurriedly washing his hands before diving back into his salad-making.

Little did they know, their playful back-and-forth was being watched by everyone at the entrance of the dining area, observing the exchange of names to Karol's gentle yet firm prodding for Christian to hurry along.