Chapter 3
Ines stuck out her tongue. She liked the nagging. It reminded her of her mother, “Auntie, I like living like this; I am fulfilled. Besides, I am pretty enough. I don’t need to dress up.”
“Well, that’s true. You inherited the Page family’s beautiful features. If your mom was still here, she wouldn’t let you live like this.” Rita’s face showed a hint of pain.-
Rita thought of her sister. She had a strong character, only for her life to end tragically. After her husband betrayed her, she committed suicide.
Ines‘ smile faded as her uncle Zander Payne came out of the kitchen, still wearing his apron, “Old woman. You’re getting more muddleheaded, always bringing up the past. We need to live in the present. How don’t you understand that after so many years? It’s getting late. Why don’t you hurry up and pour some milk for Izzy? If Izzy’s late and gets scolded by her boss, will you take the blame?”
Rita glared at her husband, “Alright, enough nagging. You sound more like a broken record as you age. It’s so annoying.” Ines looked at her aunt and uncle in admiration. She longed for such a simple married life. A couple staying true to each other and walking hand–in–hand forever. This was great love.
For some reason, Ethan popped into her mind. Ines rubbed her temples, took the milk from her aunt, and teased Rita, “Auntie, you should be content. Look at how Uncle has been cooking for you all these years.”
“He’s only good for that.”
Zander and Rita taught at the same school, so their schedules were similar. However, Zander took care of all the household chores and always chased Rita out of the kitchen. Rita was a terrible cook even in her 40s. They hadn’t been through many ups and downs, and their love stayed strong for decades.
“Exactly, my niece is so considerate. Some people take advantage and still act ungrateful. Where can you find a perfect husband like me?” Zander chimed in with Ines as he pulled out a chair to sit. He remembered to place Rita’s breakfast in front of her.
Rita tapped Ines‘ forehead, “You sweet girl, I’m your aunt.”
Ines took a bite of toast, “I’m just stating the facts.”
“You always take his side, but I know what you mean. You like men who can cook, so I’ll make sure your future husband can cook too. Otherwise forget about him.”
“That’s right, a good husband won’t let his wife stay in the kitchen every day. She shouldn’t turn into a bitter woman. Izzy, you must find a man who can cook.” Rita and Zander agreed on this, surprisingly.
Ines suddenly shuddered, almost dropping her toast. She couldn’t help but think of Ethan. She figured a man like him probably couldn’t cook.
She forced a smile and said with a dry laugh, “There probably aren’t many men who can cook nowadays.”
Rita glared at Ines and said, disappointed, “Can’t you be a bit more ambitious? Find a good boyfriend. Anyway, you can’t just settle for anyone. This determines your happiness for the rest of your life. I disagree with the idea of getting married by a certain age. I won’t rush you, but if you find someone suitable, get to know them better. Even though he might not reveal his true nature, it’s still better than getting married hastily.”
