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"I guess you're right. I'll just have to be happy with what you're willing to say." Replied Angela, she wished the girl would say more, now she felt Araima had something to hide from her. Nonetheless she was grateful.

"Well I think this calls for a celebration. Araima, how would you like to have dinner with us?" Asked Gale's father.

"No, no, I think its best that I take Araima home before then." Said Gale, he wrapped his arm around her waist with a smile, instinctively walking out of the room slowly till he was stopped by his father.

"Nonsense, I'll take her home if that's a problem."

"That's harder to do than you think." Muttered Gale with a facepalm, now he was really worried. His parents may ask more about her at the dinner table.

"Ryan and I would love for you to stay, dear." Said his mother, mentioning his father by name. Her sweet demeanor is what could change a decision.

"Excellent." Smiled Angela, she rose from her bed. Her husband helped her up as well. "Now than, how does roast chicken sound? I believe it's defrosted by now."

"Don't get too elaborate now, Angy, remember what Araima said."

"This will be no trouble at all, I'm sure they would prefer a mother's touch to their meal."

"Well you were always the better cook, but you know I make a mean stake myself."

"Of course dear."

Gale couldn't help but smile, it's been some time since he heard his parent's banter like that to each other. They walked back to the first floor and into the kitchen. His mother was already arguing with his father about how he arranged everything in the kitchen. The contents of the drawers and cupboards were off limits to the men in their home. She wanted no help from Ryan nor Gale, for months she has felt useless being confined to her bed.

Angela was busy cutting vegetables at the time. She didn't miss a beat when Araima came to her with a question. "If you insist deary, as long as it's just you and me." She picked up another knife and gave it to Araima, pointing to the remaining carrots and the like.

"If it's quite alright to ask, how taken up are you with my son. I've noticed how you look at him with those endearing eyes you have. Are you more than friends?"

Angela gave a short smile, putting the ingredients into a pot for a stew, which she also used for her roast. "Sometimes I don't want to see him taken away from me, but it's eventual when one becomes a grown man. It's the mother's plight, you'll understand someday." She said quietly, she could tell that this was where things were going to go for them. She then took Araima by the hand. "Please, take good care of him for me?"

"I look forward to it, but not too soon, right? Now lets not keep them waiting, shall we?" She joked, her husband was the least impatient man she knew, although the growl of his stomach mentioned otherwise.

Gale was being grilled by his father about Araima. There was not much he could say without lying to him. He was saved when his mother eventually hollered for them to set up the dinner table. Had she taken any longer he would be sweating bullets.

As the two men got the the table ready, Angela asked Araima to help her carry the roast chicken to the table. She had the notion that the young girl would not let her do it alone.

"That makes two of us." Said Gale, it's been so long since he has had his mother's cooking. He slid out Araima's seat right beside him, his father doing the same for his mother before leaving to get the stew pot. It was a hospitality that his family has obviously instilled in him.

Turns out the roast chicken and the stew was just as bit as good as it has always been. His mother's ways of cooking always gave it an unfamiliar texture you often rarely find, but in no ways bad.

"Mother, this is still by far the best roast chicken I have ever had."

"Your opinion's a bit biased, son. How about we have Araima's outside opinion?" She chuckled, looking at her partner in the kitchen.

"Hmm, are you sure..." Angela peered her eyes at her son, which quickly shook his head, trying to clear his name.

"Don't look at me mom, I didn't put her up to it."

"I believe you, thank you for the warm compliment Araima." Said Angela with a smile, she truly wondered where did Gale manage to find such a sweet girl. "Its a family recipe, would you like to know?"