Sleeping With the Enemy

Chapter Twenty

"Everything smells incredible, Mom." Brandon smiles, pulling the chair out for me as we all take our seats at the table. Eli is in town for the weekend, and we spent the afternoon visiting with everyone and are now sitting down to dinner. I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but it is nice to be all together, To be with family. It's something Adam and I have desperately missed the last few years. So far, the mood's been light and I'm actually enjoying myself, but that will change as soon as Brandon announces our news.

Everyone knows what went on with Herrera, and me being attacked, and I'm thankful no one has brought it up. Most of my bruises are starting to heal and fade, and I tried to cover the few that are still visible as best I can.

"Thank you, sweetheart." Lorraine beams, setting a few other platters of food on the table. She practically made us an Italian feast, complete with seafood linguine and all the marinara and garlic bread you could dream of.

"It really does, Lorraine." Adam smiles, settling into the seat on the other side of me and nudging me with his elbow. "We don't get food like this at home, do we Sadie?"

"I don't know if I believe that." Brandon jumps in, resting his hand on my knee underneath the table. "We stayed at one of the apartments at the St. Regis last night and Sadie whipped up an incredible meal in seconds. She's an amazing cook. It is the best fra diavolo I've had in a long time. No offense, ma." Brandon smirks.

"I don't doubt it." Lorraine grins ear to ear, taking her seat at the head of the table. "I did teach her everything she knows. In the kitchen department anyways."

I smile, taking a sip of my wine. "You did. I'll never forget all the hours we spent in your kitchen, especially the day you tried to teach me how to make the homemade pasta. We are both completely covered in flour and exhausted by the end of it."

"But you figured it out!" She smiles. I have as many mother-daughter type memories with Lorraine as I do with my own mother. My mom wasn't much of a cook, and so I was fascinated every time that I came to the Avenettis' and Lorraine was busy in the kitchen. She was never too busy to include me in whatever she was doing.

"I figured out it was way more work than I ever wanted to go through." I tease, realizing I hadn't even attempted it since that afternoon. Maybe I'd have to try again one day soon, since I'm revisiting my roots and all.

"Why'd you guys stay at the St. Regis?" Alex asks, a slight smirk on his face as he pokes the bear. Alex is the only one who knows that Brandon and I are married and he is definitely egging him on. Brandon shoots him a harsh glare.

"Just wanted to try it out." I shrug. "We used to watch the firework show at the park all the time when we were younger and Brandon took me up there to see it. It was really sweet."

"How adorable." Eli rolls his eyes, smirking. "I'd love to meet the sweet side of Brandon you speak of, Sadie. Normally, all we get is the uptight, brooding side."