CHAPTER 41
"I'm sorry." Jason said when Evan opened the door. He had left Miami as soon as he rounded off his meetings with the developers and some investors and rushed down to see her. Since speaking with her parents, he felt eager to work out the chemistry between them. He either had to quench it or see where it goes. But it had to be done. His child was involved, and he didn't want any tension between them.
"Can I come in?" He asked, looking at Evangeline, whose stomach seemed a little rounder. She also had this glow about her.
Stepping aside, she showed him in and locked the door firmly after him. "Water? Wine?" She asked without any enthusiasm.
"I brought groceries. I was hoping to cook." That got her attention. He turned away then smiled so she wouldn't see him smiling.
"Cook? You cook?"
"Better than most ladies." He announced proudly. "You don't look like you believe me." He laughed as she shrugged and went to the kitchen. Jason followed her. Then dropping the bags on the kitchen table, he looked at her bulging stomach again. She definitely was beginning to show. "You look... hasn't it just been two days ago that we saw?" He wondered out loud.
The words hung in the air. It was two days ago when they hadn't completed a path they started. After which, he had looked at her with sorrowful eyes like he regretted treading that path with her. Evangeline shrugged and replied to his comment about her bulging stomach. Not that she noticed any difference yet, "It's expected." Changing the topic, she asked, "What are you making?"
"I was thinking something light. My special Korean barbecue with fried chicken rice. Just to thank you again for doing this."
"But you bought me a car already." She smiled
Finally! Her smile. He let himself bask in that joyful moment. She probably wouldn't forgive him for the long silence. "And this is just a Thank-you meal." He started bringing out the items he got, putting them gently on the table.
"You need anything?" She asked and began to clear away the table. She had been about cooking when he came in. "I was going to make dinner when you walked in." She told him. "Sure you need nothing?"
"I got everything I'll need here." Then, smiling at her, he added, "But your company would be appreciated. All you need is sit down and let the chef do his thing."
"Chef Jason sure has a nice ring to it." She pulled out a chair and sat down.
Jason got an apron hung on the wall and put it on. He turned around so she could help him secure the back with the ropes, "Thank you." He said, walking away to get started. "For the company too."
While he chopped the carrots, she helped him dice the lettuce. "Cube shapes, please." He told her.
"Sure, chef. By the way, what's a special Korean barbecue again? How did you come across that? Koreans and the food."
"Well, though my developers are Ukrainians. I have a few Korean friends that I work with. Some work for me, offshore, though. So, I go there every now and then. They are really good with their computers. They come up with amazing designs. When I visited for the first time, I was surprised that they have so many dishes too. Those people know how to eat, my dear." He poured the chopped carrots into a bowl and started to wash the meat. "Their love for meat is another story. Anyways, one of them noticed how fascinated with their food I was. He taught me how to make some. This barbecue with chicken fried rice is my favorite. And I'm sharing with you."
"How nice." She smiled. The way he washed the meat and began to dice the chicken with expertise made her ask, "Have you always loved cooking? Or it's just about the food?"
Turning on the gas, he sauced the meat, added onions and some other ingredients then covered the pot. "My parents weren't always around while I was growing up. I was always alone with plenty of time and nothing really to do other than surf the net. I stumbled on a cooking site one day and tried one of their menus. I sent our driver to get me the items which he did. When I got it right the second time, I went on to try others. It became something I do to pass off time anything my computer bores me. The chef could have gotten it right off course, but I wanted to do it then. But it's long I cooked. I have chefs and restaurants that would get any dish I want right. Where's the time anyways." He shrugged.
"Hmmmn. I can't wait to taste this then."
"Sure... There's a special way they grill using a hot plate. I'm not sure if you have that."
"I do." She said and pointed at the cabinet behind him. "Up." She directed.
"Good." He said, seeing the appliance. He brought it down and began chopping the meat. He was also washing the tiny sticks he would use for the stake. "For the grill." He replied to her straightforward question. She nodded. He washed and sauced the meat, poured the chopped items and covered it. While it boiled, he reached for the chicken.
"Have you thought of a name yet?" She asked him, watching him work his way around her kitchen. He looked so confident, like he was in his home.
"Yes. Nothing excites me yet, though. But the baby us as well yours. What would you name him or her?"
She had never thought about it. "I didn't think I was going to have a...."
"Of course, you should." He rebuked her for thinking he wouldn't let her name her child.
"What's your dad's name?" She asked, smiling.
Her intention wasn't lost on him, "There's no way I'm naming my son after my dad or even my mom. I barely knew them." He told her. "Forget it."
"I think you have it all wrong. Naming kids after your patents is like something dear you want to hold on to. How about we name her Ellen if she's a girl?" His face lights up immediately. She could see how much he loved his late wife. "See? You want to keep her memory. You remember her every time you see your child or use the name."
"This is different. I want to keep this memory because it's good. The other one, I don't." He checked the cooking meat. "I've always wanted to name my child Isle or Isabelle." He chuckled when she pouted. "Doesn't sound right?"
"No."
"I just want it special. How about we deliberate on it and come up with nice names?" He suggested as he scooped out the meat and drained the water out. Evan passed him the sticks and let him stick them out in fives per stick. He was so meticulous.
"Deal." She agreed.
