Chapter 5

The next morning, I climb out of bed and walk down to the kitchen.  When I enter the kitchen, Ace is cooking at the stove, wearing my apron over nothing but his briefs.  “Good morning, sunshine.  I made some French toast, some pancakes, fresh fruit, and fresh-squeezed orange juice.  Pick your poison,” Ace smiles and shouts loudly.

               “Too early for that,” I grumble. 

               He hands me a cup of tea, “Peppermint tea.  Nature's own caffeine, try it, you’ll love it.” I thank him and take a seat at the table, stifling a yawn.

               “How long have you been up?” I ask him.

               “I’m up every morning at four.  I get a good workout before the day even begins. My sleeping habits haven’t changed since we were kids,” Ace explained as he brought over the selections of food he’s made.  I take a few sips of the tea and wait for it to take its effect.

               Zander ventures down dressed in his suit, complete with a tie.  “Morning, Sara,” He says as he kisses my temple.  “I’m sorry we were out so late.  We ran into a group of old friends and lost track of time.”

               “It’s okay, I was pretty tired anyway,” I reply, forcing a smile before drinking some more tea.  “Ace has been cooking for at least an hour,” I gesture to the table.  “Dig in, before he starts baking.”

               “Hey, I only bake when I’m sad.  I’m stressed, not sad, Saraphina,” Ace protests from the kitchen.  “Don’t go promising someone that I’m going to start baking.”

               “That’s right.  It’s your mom who bakes when she’s nervous,” I recall. 

               “There’s a reason I haven’t moved her pans yet,” Ace chuckles as he sets more food on the table.  “If you don’t want any of these, I can make something else, Zander.”

               “This is fine, thank you, Ace,” Zander replies.

               “It’s my way of thanking you two for letting me crash here while I help my mom move.  It means a lot to know I have such a good friend.  Jake would have told me to stay at a motel, but not Saraphina.  She’s always been the sweetheart,” Ace comments before turning around and walking back to the kitchen.  Zander practically choked on the orange juice he was sipping when he saw Ace’s backside only had his briefs covering him.

               “Are you okay, husband?” I ask, faking concern.  “Ace, did you happen to brew some coffee?  Zander prefers coffee with his breakfast in the morning.”

               “Certainly did,” Ace calls back, bringing the coffee pot full of black coffee to the table along with a mug.  “Do you need any milk or sugar, or cream?”

               “Cream and sugar, please,” Zander answers.  He takes the pot and pours the coffee just as Mariah comes into the kitchen wearing lingerie that hardly leaves anything to the imagination. 

               She wraps her arms around Zander as she wishes him a good morning, and Ace turns around, removes my apron, and joins us at the table.  “It was so nice to catch up last night, Saraphina.  Two years is too long,” Ace states, pulling the attention to him.  “But one of these days, I’ll get you to come camping again.”

               “Hell, no,” I reply with a shiver, recalling the last camping trip we took together as teens.  “After what you boys pulled last time, you’ll never get me out there again.”

               “It was just harmless fun.  The sky sure was pretty, though,” Ace smirked.  “Do you remember which star I named after you?”

               “I still have the certificate,” I admit.  “It was the sweetest gift anyone has ever given me.”

               “Zander, I’m sure you know how much your wife loves the night sky.  When we were teens, I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, and she asked me for a star.  I tried to get a comet, but that required some connections,” Ace commented.  “The things I used to do for Saraphina, and yet she married you.  You sure are lucky.  Don’t worry, I don’t step on toes.  I can respect your relationship with your wife, while maintaining strictly friends with her.  If I tried something, Jake would have my ass anyway, and we both know how crazy Jake can be when it comes to Saraphina.”

               “Right,” Zander replied.

               “Don’t worry, Jake hasn’t been to prison in three years now.  He got out before I did, yeah, it’s been three years.  It was a simple misunderstanding that led to that bar fight,” Ace continued, and I looked at him, wondering how true this story is.  “Guy hit Jake over the head with a stool, and I stabbed the fucker.  I’d do it again, if I needed to.”  I watch Zander shift in his chair uneasily.  “Saraphina, remember what Jake and I did to that asshole who cheated on you in High School?”

               “You both got expelled over it.  How could I forget?  The two of you together are too overprotective,” I reply.

               “I should look him up, what was his name again?  I wonder if he remembers us,” Ace said thoughtfully.  His eyes locked on Zander.  “I’m sure he remembers the two guys who broke his legs and ruined his football career chances.  I bet he never cheated again.”

               “It’s so good that I found Zander.  He’s too good to me,” I add.

               “I don’t know, I think I could treat you better.  After all, you are my childhood friend, so I wouldn’t be distracted from you,” Ace continued.  “If you were my wife…”

               “I’m not, and will never be, Ace.  That’s inappropriate; time to change the subject.  I’m a happily married woman,” I cut him off. 

               “I’m just saying, I think you could be happier,” Ace added, holding his hand up.

               “What’s that supposed to mean?” Zander asked.

               “I told you last night, if I had a wife who spent hours cooking a meal for me and my guest, I would have eaten it, even if my guest didn’t want it for some reason.  I would have ordered my guest some takeout as another option.  That’s all,” Ace states.  “You can continue to tell me how much she’s just your friend, but the way you allow her to hang off you, barely dressed, never mind how she speaks to your wife.  I’m beginning to wonder.  I know Jake wasn’t pleased when you abandoned your wife at a restaurant to run your said friend to the hospital over a bellyache because she wasn’t getting any attention.”

               “Watch it, you are a guest in my house.  You don’t know what you are talking about,” Zander snaps.  His eyes narrow at Ace.

               “I just call it like I see.  I think Saraphina looks better than your friend anyway.  You definitely married up,” Ace continues with a nod of approval.  I kick Ace under the table, and he just starts chuckling.  “If it’s clear skies tonight, maybe we can go star gazing at our old spot,” Ace says, turning his attention to me.

               “It’s supposed to rain,” I reply.

               “Bummer, well, maybe we’ll get to it before I have to leave again.”

               “That’d be nice,” I smile.

               “Our anniversary is coming up, maybe we can go together,” Zander adds.

               “Our anniversary was last month, Zander.  The same day as Mariah’s birthday, apparently,” I inform him.

               “No, it’s…” Zander begins.

               “May 12^th, Zander.  We’re in June,” I help him out.

               “Oh no, Zay.  You took me out for my birthday, but I didn’t know it was your anniversary.  Now I feel terrible,” Mariah pouted, leaning her head on his shoulder.

               “It’s okay.  We can celebrate tomorrow, right, Sara?” Zander replied.  “Please?”

               “Sure thing, husband.  I wouldn’t want Mariah to feel guilty or anything.  It’s not her fault you forgot after all,” I answer.

               “Too bad it’s going to rain tomorrow,” Ace added.

               “I’ll take her to her favorite restaurant,” Zander announced.  “Just the two of us.”

               Mariah’s mask slipped for just a second when he said that.  “Zander, my favorite restaurant closed its doors three months ago.  Don’t you remember me telling you that my birthday was the last night they were going to be open as the owners retired?” I explain.

               “Oh, right.  Maybe we can go dancing.  You love to dance?”  Zander stated.

               “With her two left feet and no rhythm, I doubt that’s true,” Ace snorted.  “Saraphina, have you taken dancing lessons?”

               “No, you’re correct.  Mariah likes to go dancing, not me,” I reply.

               “Damn, three for three.  That’s got to hurt, man,” Ace commented.

               “Ace, that’s enough.  I thought you said we wouldn’t notice you’re here.  Now, day one, you're trying to start an issue that doesn’t need to be poked or turned into an issue,” I scold.  I appreciate what he’s trying to do, but I also know if Zander feels a certain way about what’s being said, it's going to come back to bite me.

               “You're right, I’m sorry,” Ace apologizes.  “I’m going to start my dishes.  I’m sure you have to get ready for work and I have made quite a bit.”

               “Thank you, Ace.  I appreciate breakfast and cleaning up after yourself.  I’m going to get ready for work,” I state, standing up from the table.  “Have a good day at work, husband.”  Yes, I’m making a point to refer to him as my husband in front of Mariah to get a rise out of her.  Every time I say it, she cringes, which brings me some joy.