Delectable Benefits

Eighteen

The following morning, Anya was surprised to see Jock in her mother-in-law's kitchen. She let out a small squeal of delight and ran to the old man's arms. "You're here!" She said and wasn't ashamed of the tears that fell from her eyes.

"Ah, my little treasure, your Papi is worried about you and your little bambelina." the man said, scolding the woman gently. Anya wiped her tears, chuckling at the same time "Would you like some breakfast?"

"Let's make them breakfast, a breakfast fit for kings!" Anya said.

"No, you're not going to make such a massive breakfast, Anya. We have a lot of things to do today." Ann said as she marched in and grabbed a cup of freshly brewed coffee. "We will have service first and then we'll start on the festivities."

Anya nodded, "Thank you, mama, for bringing them here," Anya said with a smile and tears were about to fall from her eyes again.

"Ah! A-class B is here!" The head chef said with disapproval.

Jock spoke in rapid Italian that burned Anya's ears. She had never heard him talk like that. "She is not Ryushka," Jock said. "You are not even worthy to stand in her presence," he snapped.

The chef looked at her and saw he was badly mistaken. "Who are you? Why do you look like her? Like forbidden angel?"

"More like the black sheep," Anya said softly.

Ann changed the topic, "Anya, will you be making the-"

The head chef shook his head, "No, madame, I already have taken liberty of crafting a full menu for the week's festivities."

Anya looked at the Chef, his arrogance was overwhelming. "Very well, Chef, you can instruct the others in making what you already know. Mama, if I may, I would like to utilize the women in making the new menu."

"You're not allowed to overwork yourself, Anya," The woman said concerned about Anya's condition.

Anya smiled, "I'll be fine, mama, do not worry."

"If you say so. You are hard headed as your husband, my dear." Ann said with a shake of her head.

"Dad, can we talk?" he asked as he found his father in his study. "Where's mom?"

"Spoiling your daughter, said it was her turn," Dennis said and regarded his son's expression. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong."

"You seem troubled, is it Anya?"

Nick looked at his father in surprise. "How did you know?"

"It always takes a woman to get you this troubled," his father said with a smile. "So, what's the matter?"

"I don't think she's happy, she's also avoiding me."

His father was quiet, "I can't answer that for you. But when Your mother did that to me, I find out she was hiding something from me."

"Really? What was she hiding?"

"The name Eric Stone, a person who I personally despised," he replied fondly.

Nick saw the irony in his father's words and  tone of voice. "You sound like you love this Eric Stone."

Dennis laughed, "Of course I do, Eric Stone is your mother."

Nick frowned, then he realized what his father had just said, "Mother is Eric Stone? But shes's mom! She's only stayed at home."

"When you're in school she works here at home. When you're home, she's mom. I go to the office to oversee everything else. She handles the business, I take care of the other things," he said proudly.