NovelEnglishBy the tAlaric left with the kids, Hertha was still glaring at him, fuming.
It was all his fault for not having the sense to make the kids wash their hands before dinner! Had he taken the initiative to clean their hands, she wouldn't have had to remind him, and they could have avoided this awkward situation altogether.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIn Hertha's mind, the bllay squarely on Alaric. She thought he was clueless and lacked common sense! Everyone was seated around the dinner table, each person quietly eating their meal, enveloped in an awkward silence. Hertha was especially focused on her food, not daring to look up at Remington and Beatrice across the table.
She felt justified in her actions until that indirect jab she threw earlier made her feel utterly embarrassed in front of Remington and Beatrice. Just when the silence grew so profound that all you could hear was the sound of chewing, Beatrice set down her fork and, with a voice full of warmth, said, "Hertha, dear, don't feel bad. Remington and I are just here to see the kids. Seeing them so lively and well-mannered under your care reassures us. We won't interfere with you and Alaric's decisions." Beatrice had guessed Hertha's worries about the Falconer family wanting to take the kids away. Being a woman herself, Beatrice understood Hertha's feelings perfectly.
With Beatrice's reassurance, Hertha felt a wave of relief wash over her. She quickly looked up and said, "Thank you for your understanding and kindness. I wasn't expecting visitors today, so I didn't prepare anything special. I hope you'll forgive the simplicity of our meal." Hertha wasn't one for pleasantries, so managing even this much was difficult for her. Previously, Hertha had been wary of Beatrice and Remington, thinking they were using her to have Alaric's children. Her attitude towards them had been less than cordial during their few encounters.
But hearing Beatrice say they wouldn't interfere or try to take the kids away lessened Hertha's prejudice towards them. She even started speaking more politely.
"Oh, don't worry about it! Your mom's hcooking is delicious, much better than what we have at home," Beatrice said with a beaming smile, glancing appreciatively at Kimberly.
Kimberly was so pleased with the compliment she couldn't stop smiling.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHertha was taken aback by Beatrice's overly polite words. The Falconer family's meals were elprepared by a professional chef,- after all. Her mother had been making the sfew dishes for years. Her cooking, though good, couldn't compare to a chef's.
Beatrice's words were clearly meant to make Kimberly happy. Hertha thought about setting the record straight but seeing her mother so joyous, she decided against it. After all, as long as her mom was happy, that's what mattered.
After dinner, Beatrice and Remington left, with Kimberly warmly seeing them out. Once the door closed NO behind them, Hertha's gaze turned cold as she looked at Alaric, who was still interacting with the kids. "You've had your dinner, tto leave, don't you think?"
Alaric's face, warm with a soft smile, paused before he responded, "What? No one kicks someone out right after dinner: Can't I sit for a while and let the food settle?"
"Hey, Alaric, stop being a nuisance!" Hertha snapped, he irritation clear.
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