“Of course we did,” despite his assertion, he looked remarkably uncomfortable; he shifted his shoulders restlessly and shoved his hands into his jean pockets.
“Those other times were official work-related dinners, the ones you have to take your wife to.” He frowned even more but chose not to respond to her statement.
“Well, then I’d say it’s about time we went out together don’t you?” He asked in an artificially cheerful voice and Theresa slanted her head as she tried to read his expression. As usual he was giving nothing away. Her lips tilted slightly in a cynical and unamused smile.
“I don’t think so, Sandro,” she shook her head. “I think I’ll go to my cousin’s place like I’d originally planned.” He nodded thoughtfully, swaying back and forth on his heels in an uncharacteristically restless manner.
“Suit yourself,” he shrugged. “What time were you planning to leave?”
“Soon.”
“Right,” he shrugged again looking strangely awkward. “See you later then.” She nodded and he turned away and left without saying another word.
Rick and Lisa were doing nothing more productive than watching DVD’s when Theresa came around. Lisa, in her advanced state of pregnancy, couldn’t do much else. They were both lounging in the den, Rick looking devastating in a snug, well-worn pair of jeans and a grey t-shirt that had definitely seen better days. Lisa, in the meantime, looked miserable in a huge blue and white striped football jersey that Theresa knew had once belonged to Rick, who was a capable Sunday afternoon player, and a pair of stretchy blue leggings. She was about the size of a baby whale. Therese simply melted when she caught sight of her cranky younger cousin and once again resolved not to do anything to jeopardise her happiness and health. She dropped a kiss on Lisa’s cheek and one on the top of Rick’s head as she passed behind the sofa on which they were sitting. Rick grinned up at her.
“Nothing exciting planned for today, sweetie,” he informed cheerfully as Theresa sank down onto the other sofa. “I’m afraid we’re feeling a bit out of sorts today, a touch grumpy, if you will. So we’re staying in, in the hopes that it will improve our temper… ouch!” The last as Lisa swatted him in the back on his head.
“Stop talking like that, you know it drives me crazy! I’m not a two year old throwing a tantrum, I’m the hormonal woman you knocked up! So don’t push me…” Rick slanted a rueful gaze at his amused friend and mouthed a wisely silent “see?” Theresa grinned before kicking off her shoes and dragging her feet up under her. She was dressed casually too, wearing an old pair of jeans and a bright blue t-shirt with a large, stylized butterfly printed on the front of it.
“What are we watching?” Theresa asked, leaning forward to help herself to a handful of the popcorn which was in a glass bowl on the coffee table.
“Some romantic thing that has Lisa dissolving into tears every two minutes or so,” Rick shrugged dismissively, ignoring the way his wife was glaring at him over the top of her round little glasses. “God, the sacrifices I make to keep this woman happy,” he groaned and Lisa gasped in outrage.
“Well if you had your way, we’d be watching some macho jerk swear and punch his way through two of hours of relentless explosions, car chases and gunfire,” she retorted and he grinned down at her.
“Your point being?”
“Aaargh!” She actually said “aaargh” and Theresa for the first time in a long time felt a giggle bubbling up in her throat. Rick suddenly grinned before dropping one arm around his wife’s narrow shoulders to drag her closer. He placed his other hand protectively over her stomach and Lisa put up a token struggle before sighing contentedly and dropping her head onto his broad shoulder. Theresa watched them enviously for a few moments before trying to focus on the movie. She had thought Rick was exaggerating about her cousin’s response to the overly-soppy film but it was true, Lisa sniffled on an average of every two minutes. Theresa was just managing to get somewhat absorbed in the plot when the doorbell went. Rick excused himself and jumped up to answer it.
Lisa watched him go with a slight smile on her face. She was quiet for a while before shaking her head in exasperation.
“You know, if I didn’t love him so darned much, I would probably have killed him by now,” she admitted sourly and Theresa surprised herself by laughing out loud in response to her cousin’s disgruntled confession. She couldn’t believe that her sense of humour was still intact after the events of the last forty-eight hours. Rick made his way back into the room, looking uncharacteristically grim and all the laughter and light drained from Theresa’s face when she saw who was standing behind the tall blonde man.
“What are you doing here?” She finally managed to choke out after a moment of shocked silence.
“I thought I’d join you all for lunch,” he shrugged, nodding apologetically to a still gaping Lisa. “May I sit down?” He indicated toward the sofa Theresa was occupying.
“Yes, of course,” Lisa nodded graciously.
“No!” Both Rick and Theresa all-but yelled at the same time as Lisa. Sandro smiled humourlessly before choosing to ignore their vehement rejections and sitting down beside Theresa. She shied as far away from him as she could but Sandro chose to ignore that too. He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his spread thighs with his large, masculine hands dangling down between his legs. He focused intently on Lisa.
“How have you been, Elisa?” He asked gently. He was the only one who ever called Lisa by her full name and Theresa could sense Rick bristling.